Wrekin news 213

Wrekin

News January 2017 · Issue 213

FASHION Denim - it’s going to be big in 2017!

THE REGION’S FAVOURITE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE LETTERS

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Celebrating 150 years of faith

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22/12/2016 18:48

Wrekin

News Published by: Plus Two Media Limited, Bridge Road, Wellington, Telford TF1 1RY

Wrekin

News January 2017 · Issue 213

FASHION Denim - it’s going to be big in 2017!

THE REGION’S FAVOURITE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE LETTERS

2017

Celebrating 150 years of faith

Here’s to a peaceful

FREE

Read George

PLEASE TAKE YOUR COP Y

Ladies only

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No age limit

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56 MARKET STREET · WELLINGTON TELFORD · SHROPSHIRE TF1 1DT Tel: (01952) 872150 email:

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telford@gymophobics.co.uk

22/12/2016 18:48

PLEASE NOTE OUR NEW TELEPHONE NUMBER

Tel: 01952 522562 Fax: 01952 522567 Editor: James Baylis james@plus2media.co.uk Editorial Support: Tania Baylis tania@plus2media.co.uk Publisher & Design: James Baylis Contributing Photographer: Malcolm Couzens Contributing writer: Dwayne Forrester

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Printed in Telford by PCP Every care is taken over the accuracy of material in Wrekin News but the publishers cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions. Views and opinions of contributors, advertisers and interviewees to Wrekin News are not necessarily those of the publishers who cannot accept responsibility for such contributions. © Plus Two Media Limited 2017 - All rights reserved. No part of the publication may be reproduced in any form without the prior consent of the publisher.

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02 · www.wrekinnews.co.uk 2, 3 Welcome.indd 1

22/12/2016 18:58

Welcome Tel: 01952 522562 · james@plus2media.co.uk

Welcome to the January issue of Wrekin News!

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ELLO everyone and welcome to the New Year and the January issue of your favourite local monthly magazine Wrekin News.

I do hope you all had a very enjoyable Christmas and happy and peaceful New Year celebrations.

Here at the Wrekin News HQ we are really looking forward to the year ahead and hope to bring lots of new ideas and features to the magazine.

We’d love to hear from you if you have any ideas for articles that you would like to see in the magazine. Please do get in touch with me or one of the team, remember this is your community magazine here for the enjoyment of all the family no matter what age!

Maybe you have a story to tell or a

picture to share with our readers. The foundation of the magazine has been built upon your words and pictures for over 15 years now. We very much want that tradition to continue so please do find the time to sit down reflect, and share your memories in print with the Wrekin community.

We have another packed January issue for you to enjoy with lots to read and plenty of news about what’s going on in your area.

All that remains to be said is to wish all of you a happy, prosperous and healthy 2017 from everyone at Wrekin News.

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TEL: 01952 257610 www.wrekinnews.co.uk · 03

2, 3 Welcome.indd 2

23/12/2016 09:53

December’s Lucky Winners!

Win a FREE three months membership to Gymophobics

Congratulations to all of our prize winners from the December issue, if you didn’t win this time don’t worry there are plenty of opportunities in this issue to win some fantastic prizes!

Wrekin News has teamed up with Gymophobics, Telford to offer one lucky female reader the opportunity to win a FREE three months membership of Gymophobics based in Wellington.

All you have to do to enter the competition is send your name, address and daytime telephone number to: Tania Baylis, Gymophobics Competition, Wrekin News, Bridge Road, Wellington, Telford TF1 1RY. Or email your entry to: tania@plus2media.co.uk

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Telford’s high streets thrust into the regional spotlight

T

ELFORD’S high streets have been thrust into the spotlight as an example of how town centre traders can turn their fortunes around.

Television cameras descended on Madeley and Wellington as part of a report on Small Business Saturday, and a successful business improvement project running across Telford.

Business owners who have taken part in the Telford & Wrekin Council-funded Pride In Your High Street programme said the day of filming was a great experience.

The Pride In Your High Street project is aimed at rejuvenating Telford’s traditional town centres, and a big part of the scheme is a series of business improvement workshops for traders.

Workshops have covered topics like social media and visual marketing and feature a variety of industry experts from across the country.

A film crew from BBC Midlands Today spent most of Thursday (December 1) talking to business owners in Madeley and Wellington about how the project has been going.

Sally Themans, of the project delivery team, said it had been a fantastic opportunity for them.

She said: “We have had really great feedback from everyone who has come on the workshops, which are continuing in 2017.

“We have a waiting list for some of the programmes but are hoping to be able to schedule in more workshops.

“We are really keen to keep spreading the word

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> John Cooke of John Biddle Opticians in Madeley and Sally Themans of Good2Great being interviewed.

about them, because they are free to attend and have already proved to be an eye-opener for many town centre traders.

“We filmed with Midlands Today in Madeley and Wellington, although the project is taking place right across the borough, and it was a great chance for traders to explain how the workshops have helped them.”

Among the businesses involved in the day were Tink’s Treasures in Wellington and John Biddle Opticians in Madeley.

John Cooke, of John Biddle Opticians, said: “The workshops have been really useful in a variety of ways and I would really recommend other business owners to go along. It was good fun meeting Midlands Today and any opportunities to promote the business is to be welcomed.”

Pam Mansell of Tink’s Treasures said: “It’s tempting to think that you know all there is to know about retailing – especially when you have worked in that environment for a long time.

“But I have benefitted hugely from new ideas and the expertise of some of the country’s top retailers – and of the things I did know, well it’s been a timely reminder!”

For more information about the Pride In Your High Street workshops, visit the website at www.good-2-great.co.uk/piyhs

04 · www.wrekinnews.co.uk 4 News.indd 1

22/12/2016 16:41

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19/12/2016 18:44

The Wrekin Gallery

Lioncourt Homes success in Fast Track 100 for second year

This wonderful autumnal picture of the Ironbridge in the distance was sent in to Wrekin News by Terrance Humphries, thank you Terrance.

If you would like to see your pictures published in the pages of Wrekin News please send them along with your name, age and contact details to: james@plus2media.co.uk - everyone is welcome to take part!

SUE’S HEALTHY LIVING STALL OPENS IN WELLINGTON MARKET

> Lioncourt Homes, Colin Cole, Chief Executive and Neil Chandler, Finance Director collecting the 2015 Sunday Times Virgin Fast Track 100 Award.

W

> Back in November Wellington Mayor Councillor Philip Morris-Jones was pleased to officially open Sue’s Healthy Living Stall in Wellington Market.

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ORCESTER based Lioncourt Homes has achieved national success once again after being recognised by the Sunday Times for the second consecutive year as one of the fastest growing businesses in the UK. The housebuilder has been placed at number 77 in the Sunday Times Virgin Fast Track 100 league table which ranks Britain’s 100 private companies with the fastestgrowing sales over their latest three years. It is compiled

by Fast Track and published in The Sunday Times each December, with an awards event the following May, and alumni dinners during the year. It is estimated that there are currently around 5.4 million private businesses in the UK. Colin Cole, Chief Executive of Lioncourt Homes commented: “This is an outstanding achievement that underlines the great team approach at Lioncourt and how absolutely everyone in the business contributes to our success. We have enjoyed a sustained period of growth which is testament to having a strong investor base, sticking to our tenyear business plan, having

two strong businesses, Lioncourt Homes and Lioncourt Strategic Land and maintaining a strong business ethos”.

Founded in 2006, by executive directors Colin Cole and Neil Chandler, Lioncourt has grown from a small regional player to one of the largest home builders and land owners in Central England. This impressive growth has seen rapid turnover and profit growth and has almost doubled the company’s workforce year on year.

In 2015 Lioncourt Homes became one of only 14 housebuilders in the UK to be holders of the prestigious 5 Star Quality Award which is based on direct customer feedback to independent industry body, the House Builders Federation fivestar rating. The company’s continued success was recently further highlighted when they were awarded the prestigious accolade of Housebuilder of the Year 2016.

Over the next year, the company has exciting and ambitious plans to increase the number of new homes from 300 to 500 and will be setting up three new offices in the South East, Milton Keynes and Bristol.

06 · www.wrekinnews.co.uk 6 News.indd 1

22/12/2016 14:36

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7 Adverts.indd 1

19/12/2016 19:55

George

EVANS Who put all this rubbish up?

and other Christmas tales of long ago

A

S I write it’s early December, a brilliant sunshiny day and I’m looking forward to a visit from my great grandchildren. I hope will do their usual favour of decorating my house for Christmas, which seems to start earlier every year. I remember when nobody ever started Christmas decorations before Christmas Eve ninety years ago, when my earliest memories begin.

My first story is of the days when we lived in High Street. Home was the two storeys over my dad’s shop, called E.J. Evans, Furniture Dealer.

Most small shopkeepers in those days lived over the shop and we were no exception.

There was a lot of talk in those days about what was ‘lucky’ and what was ‘unlucky’. It was reckoned to be very unlucky to put up any decorations before Christmas Eve; almost nobody did so. They didn’t even start before the shop was shut, and because they sold a few things that might make presents the shop was open longer than usual. Mum and Dad were tired when they started to put up the decorations and worn out by bed-time.

First thing in the morning they woke their little boy, who was a bit grumpy. When he came down for breakfast he looked at the beautiful paper ribbons, the little tree and the holly and mistletoe and asked, “Who put this ‘wubbish’ up?”

I don’t remember saying this but this tale was repeated by my parents so often, including to the family, that it’s now a family tradition. We refer to all Christmas decorations as ‘wubbish’.

Good and bad luck were believed in for a long time and regulated most people’s behaviour. There were several superstitions about holly, which should never come into the house before Christmas Eve and always burned on the fire on 12th night. So must the tree. All these and many other superstitions that were kept to, if not actually believed in, by

most people in the years before the Last World War. I wonder how many old customs are now remembered and if anyone keeps them.

During my schooldays, especially when the country was in a financial crisis in the late 1920s and early 1930s, my dad was out of work. It was not easy for a wounded soldier to get a job; employers could easily find a man who was fitter. There was little or no help

The Wrekin’s favourite columnist!

8, 9 George Evans.indd 1

19/12/2016 19:32

Dear James, Many thanks for your coverage of Hadley Methodist Church’s recent 150th anniversary exhibition. We had, to use the local vernacular, a bosting crowd. Here’s another piece for you to consider along with a couple of pictures..

It is a book we are publishing to mark the anniversary.

Regards and thanks, Terry Gilder

See page 22 for Terry’s article . . . available from the Government either even though his disabilities were caused while serving his country in the Great War. Consequently our family was occasionally broke and there wasn’t much for Christmas. At its worst this meant just a few sweets and a scrawny chicken.

At other times there was money and there are three particular presents I still remember with pleasure. One was the whole ten volumes of ‘The Children’s Encyclopaedia’ which taught me a lot of the things that my very boring Junior School left off the curriculum.

Another was my Scout uniform, which opened up the wonderful world outdoors and the joys of Scouting. The third was a ‘chemistry set’ which allowed me to do exciting ‘experiments’ making bangs and stinks in a way that would horrify any present day chemist and be quite illegal too. For all its faults that toy gave me a lot of pleasure, though it can’t have taught me much about chemistry because that was the one subject in which I failed the School Certificate examination (the then current 16+ exam).

In the Army there was (perhaps still is) a tradition that for Christmas dinner the food is served by the officers and sergeants. My first Army Christmas was at a cold, draughty old flax mill in Northern Ireland.

In 1944 we were in The Netherlands guarding the River Maas with German soldiers on the other side of the wide river. Both sides bombed, shelled and shot at each other every day. A mate and I dug out a bunker six feet deep where we were comfortable and safe. We roofed it with planks, covered in soil and topped with snow. We put straw and blankets on the floor and a zigzag trench to get in and we stayed there as long as possible.

On the Christmas Day we noticed a strange thing – the world had gone silent. We heard no guns firing from either side that day. No, there was no football; that was in 1914, but there was no war going on where we were at all. Perhaps this has never been publicised and I can only speak for my own part of the Front. In other places the shelling and firing may have been as bad as usual. This may be the first time this story has been published.

The following year, 1945, the war was over and we were an army of occupation, still in Germany but with no fighting going on. The Herefordshire Regiment was billeted in a German Army barracks in Flensburg, near the Danish border. By this time I was a sergeant and had to serve the meal on Christmas Day. Someone had invited the local Junior School headmaster to bring his children to have a dinner with us on Boxing Day. This was a very interesting experience. To our guests, the children, we could be seen as people to be feared and hated. Their city had been bombed and many of its inhabitants killed; many of their fathers had been killed in the fighting, no wonder they were afraid to come in.

They lined up in the snow shivering from cold and fear.

But inside it was warm and these English soldiers were friendly, helping them out of their coats, hats and boots. They were given a large meal with sweets and toys and rode round the room on soldiers’ backs. There were ‘doggy bags’ to take home. We sang carols together and the kids went home looking much happier. That was a good Christmas party.

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8, 9 George Evans.indd 2

19/12/2016 19:32

, , M M I I N N E D , M I N DDE . . . .

E R E E R H E H W Y R E V E E s l l o h c i N e v E y B t r The Denim Shi

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10 · www.wrekinnews.co.uk 10, 11 Fashion.indd 1

23/12/2016 08:50

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Cotton Traders. www.wrekinnews.co.uk · 11

10, 11 Fashion.indd 2

20/12/2016 12:46

The premier chorus in the region With a top fifteen place in the rankings of the British Association of Barbershop Singers, the Telfordaires is the premier chorus in the region.

Formed over twenty five years ago as the Madeley & District Male Voice Choir, the Telfordaires Barbershop Harmony Chorus was born from the members’ interest in a capella singing. The Chorus now boasts a singing membership of nearly thirty men, from all walks of life, aged between 13 and 70 plus!

Performing a full repertoire of traditional and new arrangements, The Telfordaires entertain audiences at a wide variety of venues from business conferences to charity events.

As a registered charity, the Telfordaires promote music in the community and currently support Prostate Cancer UK as our chosen charity.

The Travellers Quarter The Travellers quartet, all members of the chorus, was placed 10th in the country at a recent Preliminary contest in Manchester and represented the chorus at the finals in Harrogate in May 2016.

They also perform regularly at a wide variety of functions and events, both locally and across the West Midlands.

Contact: 0845 4631618 www.telfordaires.co.uk or find us on Facebook.

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Shropshire businesses are being offered help to grow and succeed at a series of new masterclasses being planned in the new year.

The sessions offer business owners the chance to share ideas, receive coaching and online support to ensure their companies get the right results as they move forward.

The masterclasses are being organised by Bridgnorth-based company, Good2Great, and firms across Shropshire and beyond are being encouraged to sign up now for the events which will start in February.

Johnny Themans, Good2Great director, said there was also a financial incentive

for firms signing up with reduced rates being offered for those wanting to take advantage of the masterclasses.

“Our aim is to help businesses grow and succeed in the workplace and we have had success with masterclasses we have held previously,” he said. “People say they have been of great benefit.

“We are offering eight three-hour masterclasses, with the first one free.

If you attend and don’t think what we have to offer will help then you can cancel.

Each masterclass costs £80, which is half price on the normal rate. For more information and to sign up visit www. good-2-great.co.uk

12 · www.wrekinnews.co.uk 12 News.indd 1

22/12/2016 15:43

ORLETON PARK SCHOOL REUNION

Class of ‘79

It was 1974 when we started Orleton Park School, we were the first cohort to try out the school as a new comprehensive school, how lucky we were. During the next five years we had great fun and we made some wonderful memories.

In 1979 when we left Orleton Park School, some friends kept in touch but unfortunately many did not as we all go our separate ways and settle into our own busy lives.

Duncan Grov es & Steve Minsha ll

Sue Hatton & Richard Pryce

It was thirty seven years later in 2016 when former pupil Sue Hatton thought it was about time she tracked down a few old school friends.

Farr e

l O’s h

After several challenging months of trawling social media and websites, Sue had begun to compile a list but in the main it was good old word-of-mouth that helped Sue achieve her objective. By the summer of 2016 Sue had got over 100 names and contacts and had formed a new Facebook group that many joined, they were soon to become known as the Class of ‘79.

ea

Car o Jack lyn Bar ke ie A rmit r & age

The Class of ‘79 by now was spread throughout the country and scattered around the world with a wealth of skills and knowledge.

David Riddell, Scott Lewis & Anji Fletcher

A long overdue reunion was in sight, a venue and a date was set. The 3rd of December 2016 at the Cricket Club in Wellington.

Sixty school friends and seven teachers attended and there were lots of familiar faces and lots of familiar names to get around it was a fantastic night for all.

We would all like to say a big thank you to Sue Hatton for bringing us together again after so many years, thank you to all the Class of ’79 and their Teachers, to all those who helped bring it together, the Cricket Club staff, Paul Parker and All the Right Friends.

am, a Gwilli Rebecc wards & Ed n Susie ne Fen Suzan

Helen Gor in Diane D g, Jayne Pugh & rummond

Till we meet again!

Richard Pryce (Age 53)

Sherwood Simon Bentley, Ian Nick Harper ggins & & o H n e Steph nnett Paul Be

Karen Jon es & Neil Boy d

Phillip Arnold

Sue Hatton, Jane Rigby, Alan Rogers, Brian Parks, Errol Wright & Amanda Lane

ason & Martin M allam H Vivienne

Mark Bardsley & Mahmood Hussain

Jane Le Riche & Debb ie Newn es

Pete Nicholls, Ewan Paterson & Andrew Blockley

The School may be gone but

the memories live on

m the reu nio n Su rp lus mo ne y fro ve rn Ho sp ice wa s do na ted to Se

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www.wellington-shropshire.gov.uk 12, 13 Wellington Town Council DPS.indd 1

20/12/2016 13:14

ELLINGTON

WELLINGTON TOWN CENTRE LAUNCHES A NEW BUSINESS & RETAIL HUB THANKS TO HIGH STREET FUND

T

HE LITTLE BUSINESS COMPANY will be located in the town’s Market Square and will be the first venue of its kind in the region to provide a mix of coworking desks with popup shop & business meeting space alongside a barista & deli counter.

The idea for THE LITTLE BUSINESS COMPANY came from the county’s Enterprise Partnership having spent the past decade launching business hubs making the move to connect business hubs to ‘high street revival’ regeneration efforts and bring new entrepreneurs into town centres.

With the backing of Wellington Town Council, a bid was submitted to the Telford & Wrekin High Street Fund for part funding of the venture and the launch takes place on Thursday 12th January 2017.

The project has been backed by the Cooperative Bank who have provided the prime town centre premises which will provide space for over a hundred businesses to promote their local goods

and services, co work on a daily basis and attend inspirational events and retail promotions.

THE LITTLE BUSINESS COMPANY promises to be a powerful new addition to the ‘high street’ offer and one which will draw increased footfall and local spend, breathing much-needed new life into the town centre by bringing an empty building back into use and providing a meeting place for the business community as well as a host of PopUp Pitch activities for local people of all ages to enjoy.

The founding Enterprise Partnership is an organisation that works with local people to develop local business, the not for profit company have been supporting entrepreneurs since 1997 and working with Team Wellington since 2015.

Fay Easton, project director said: “We put all our efforts into building the numbers & profitability of small businesses to make the economy of the county stronger and our market towns more vibrant. We have faith in the power of local

entrepreneurs to create high street revival and bring their businesses back to the high streets. The plans for The Little Business Company have been over 12 months in development and we are really happy to finally get this project off the ground.

Wellington is a fantastic town with all the ingredients for ‘urban growth and success’ and with the support from the High Street Fund we can now accelerate the ongoing efforts to regenerate Wellington Town Centre and, we hope, make a very real difference not only to the economy but to the community” THE LIT TLE BUSINESS COMPANY opens in Wellington’s Market Square on Thursday 12th January, for more information email fay@wellingtontowncentre.com

Best dressed window and market stall winners announced

Wellington Town Council announced the best dressed market stall and shop window competition winners recently. The Shop winners were: 1ST POWER POINT STORES and 2ND WOOL MAGIC and the Market stall winners were: 1ST MARGARET’S FRESH EGGS and 2ND BLOOMERS. Pictured are the winners who line up Donna Thomas ( Wool Magic), Sallyanne Blackwell (Bloomers), Mayor Councillor Phillip Morris-Jones, Margaret Robinsin (Mararet’s Egg Stall) and John White (Powerpoint).

John’s daughter helped with the window display and they have decided to donate thr £50 prize money to the charity ‘Teenage Cancer Trust’. Congratulations to all of the winners!

www.wellington-shropshire.gov.uk 12, 13 Wellington Town Council DPS.indd 2

20/12/2016 13:14

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So that was Christmas and 2017 beckons, so how was it returning the Christmas decorations to the loft?

Everyone has a different method of getting access to the loft. Many search the garage trying to locate the trusty step ladders, before scuffing their way through the house up the stairs. Others have a chair, bookcase or other strategically placed piece of furniture to clamber up.

Once through the hatch its balancing time with the torch whose batteries always need replacing and kicking and coughing your way through the dusty insulation. It doesn’t have to be this way.

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16 · www.wrekinnews.co.uk 16 News.indd 1

22/12/2016 13:09

YSS develop projects to help children and young adults across Shropshire

T

HE YSS organisation celebrate their 30 year anniversary with successful projects aiding children and young adults.

The EnHance initiative offers help to children, young people and their families when their needs cannot be met by routine universal services.

Commissioned by the Shropshire Council, the aim of the service is to ensure families receive the appropriate support at the earliest opportunity to: improve family life, improve parenting strategies and build resilience.

The ARC (Assessing Resources in the Community) project focusses on supporting 17-24 year olds at risk or already involved in the Criminal Justice System.

YSS was recently successful in gaining support from the OPCC (Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner) to develop the project.

Referred children and young adults are provided with a volunteer mentor, who then try to encourage the individual to get involved in activities to achieve: community integration, improved emotional wellbeing, engagement in educational programmes and reduction in anti-social behaviour, offending and reoffending.

Operations Manager, David Andrewartha said: “YSS is a fantastic organisation to work for and at the heart of all the work that we do, is the service users that are referred to us.

“We support a wide range of individuals all with multiple needs, our main aim and vision is to seek a society where all people feel safe and have the opportunity to lead positive and constructive lives and to achieve their potential.”

YSS received a referral for a young person on the ARC project, as the individual was at risk of social exclusion, suffering from anxiety, depression and agoraphobia, resulting in the young person not leaving their family home for two years.

With help from the ARC Project Coordinator and a volunteer, the young person eventually agreed to enrol in an Arts college course, as the young person was a skilled artist and showed an interest in the subject.

“I am proud to say that the young person with the support of the volunteer is still attending the Arts course and is enjoying this.

“In addition to this, the YSS volunteer is also working with the young persons family, to improve their relationships and will focus in the New Year on applying for a part time role,” said Mr Andrewartha.

He added: “We have a wide range of funders, who support the work that we deliver, offering a partnership approach when supporting our service users.

“YSS have a very dedicated staff and volunteer base, who are integral to all the work that we deliver.

“In addition to the ARC and Enhance projects, there are a number of volunteering opportunities across Shropshire. From supporting young people in Police custody, to collecting individuals from the Prison gate.

Recently we celebrated our 30 year anniversary, this has given us time to reflect on some of the fantastic outcomes we have achieved. Here is to another 30 years of success.”

> Providing advice and support to adults in the criminal justice system including collecting from the prison gate; > Supporting young adults aged 16-24 to access resources in the community; > Helping people break down the barriers to employability; > Supporting young people (10-17) in Police custody; > Supporting parents and their children.

Contact Mandy Gray on 07977 987386 · email: mandy.gray@yss.org.uk

For more information or advice visit www.yss.org.uk www.wrekinnews.co.uk · 17

17 YSS Advert.indd 1

22/12/2016 10:45

NewYou

The Wrekin News Makeover

Jayne Edwards was December’s lucky winner of the Wrekin News Makeover competition. Jayne was treated to a full hair and beauty transformation at Deighton Hair & Beauty in Wellington.

Barry Deighton writes to explain how Jayne’s makeover was completed.

Jayne’s nomination Jayne was nominated for the makeover by her mother Mrs G Bailey of Malinslee. Mrs Bailey wrote to Wrekin News to tell us how Jayne had recently coped so bravely with the death of her sister. Mrs Bailey also told us that Jayne works locally for the Red Cross charity shop and is a wonderful and dedicated mum.

The team at Deighton’s Hair & Beauty and Wrekin News were united in agreeing to award Jayne this pre-Christmas treat. Thank you to everyone who made a nomination.

Be fo re

Barry completes Jayne’s new look

J

AYNE visited the the salon for a consultation and assessment and integrity of her hair prior to the make over. Jayne’s hair was quite traumatised with a barrage of home do it your self color using the same shade on a regular basis which is not ideal when working with darker brown tones they more often or not end up being very dark and almost black.

People try to color their hair lighter,

something you can’t do and the merry-goround starts and all that suffers is your hair and your image. With Jayne we decided to remove the old color to give us a better working canvas and aimed for a midrange rich brown that the new lighter base would give us the ability to do.

Jayne wanted to keep her hair long so we agreed to take the hair back to were we had hair in reasonable condition to enable us to color and style the hair. Once we had removed some of the old pigment we had quite an even color all though multi-tonal, a great base to work our new color through the hair to give us a rich mid brown with lots of natural tones. The haircut was simple but with strong lines with some light round layers to soften the look I think Jayne was quite shocked at what a difference we made in a few hours. Jayne was great to work with and I hope she likes her new look thanks to Deighton Hair and Beauty.

18 · www.wrekinnews.co.uk 18, 19 Makeover.indd 1

23/12/2016 14:03

A make up lesson for Jayne

by Sara Jackson

Aft e r

Jayne was a great lady to do a make-over on, as she told me she has never worn make-up.

So, as much as it was a make-over, it turned into a make-up lesson to help Jayne in the future.

I started off by re-shaping Jayne’s eyebrows, doing this really opens the eye area and frames the face.

Then to the make-up application, starting with concealer to even out the complexion, which helps to give a good base once the foundation is applied.

Enhancement of the eye area was next, using subtle tones of brown to compliment the hair colour that Barry had chosen, a little pencil to define the brows further and the eye area was complete.

Subtle peach and pink tones on the cheeks and lips and Jaynes look was complete.

www.wrekinnews.co.uk · 19

18, 19 Makeover.indd 2

19/12/2016 23:01

Dea r Editor . . .

Letters 150 Years of Faith - ‘a warts and all’ history

SHARE YOUR SPECIAL MEMO RIES AND PICTURES THROUGH THE MOST POPULAR PAGES OF THE WREKIN NEWS

> A view of the Hadley Methodist Church from the flats in Hadley.

by Terry Gilder

S

OME churches in Victorian England were so popular that members of congregations were paying to reserve a seats in age when it was unknown for people to attend twice on Sundays.

Non-conformist churches, including the Methodists, were particularly adept at asking for a fee of a few pence each week and in that way were short of regular collections for the maintenance of church buildings.

Hadley Methodist Church is this year celebrating its 150th anniversary and its archives once included a pew rent book, now lodged with the Shropshire archives and revealing names of payments made by leading families of the area.

Of course, not everyone kept up with their payments and in such cases would record that nonpayers have been given warnings and were likely to be dubbed as ‘backsliders’.

The Hadley church’s anniversary was marked earlier this year with an exhibition of church and village photographs are now one of its members, preacher and journalist Terry Gilder, has published 150 Years of Faith, a chronicle of the church history from its humble beginnings as a Sunday school.

The author admits that it is a ‘warts and all’ history and includes a shameful episode in which staunch Methodist Halifax-born Lieutenant-Colonel

We love hearing from you!

For 15 years Wrekin News has printed pages and pages of your letters and pictures and we want to publish more!

Please keep our editor’s inbox full and send your letters and pictures to: The Editor, Wrekin News, Bridge Road, Wellington, Telford, Shropshire TF1 1RY or email your contributions to: james@plus2media.co.uk 20 · www.wrekinnews.co.uk 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 Letters.indd 1

21/12/2016 14:16

James Patchett crossed swords with the village’s Anglican vicar.

And the reason for their disagreement? Simply because the vicar turned down an invitation to attend a meeting of the British and Foreign Bible Society on the grounds that he was not in favour of the Bible being in the hands of people.

A much-publicised battle of words appeared in the local paper, the no-nonsense Colonel describing the vicar’s comment as a ‘libel against God’ adding: “Some folk don’t want the sons of toil to develop their brains but kept down like serfs.”

Much of the Hadley church’s growth in its early years is undoubtedly due to the patronage of people like Lieutenant Colonel Patchett, owner of the Shropshire Iron Company; Richard Groom, scion of the Wellington timber family; and John Bayley, founder of the Wrekin College.

The wealth and popularity of the High Street church, with its Sunday school attracting hundreds of children to its morning and afternoon sessions, led to expansion of its premises in 1890.

In later years it earned a reputation for its music-making with the Morgan family, Percy and Ivy and their eldest daughter Joyce, playing a leading role for almost eight decades by staging concerts and annual summer school anniversary services.

Oakengates Carpet Company offer their services this January

T

HE Oakengates Carpet Company are providing their service and expertise to the people of the Telford area.

The January offer consists of a sale on selected carpets, free underlay, free gripper, free metals and free fittings carried out by the specialist staff.

The well-established family business has been trading since 1965, providing a wide service in: carpets, laminate flooring, vinyl flooring, all types of floor repair and blinds for home and office.

Owner Andrew Armstrong said: ‘All the service is done by our own staff and not contracted out.

The team are all very experienced and know exactly what they are doing to ensure we cater to the people in the Telford area.’

The company provides a collection of modern and traditional carpets, rugs to suit any property and blinds that can help control natural light, temperature of a room and ambience.

They also offer a free home consultation, a free blind installation, along with a full guarantee.

He added: ‘We strive to give customers the best possible service and products, this way we can have the property looking stylish with a nice professional finish, at good value for money.

‘This is why the Oakengates Carpet Company has been a trusted business for decades.’

Their success over the years has been due to referrals and repeat business from customers satisfied with the company’s work and advice.

For more information contact the team on 01952 612698 or email oakengatescarpet@aol.com.

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20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 Letters.indd 2

21/12/2016 14:17

d I found myself n this particular

retired veterans, SSAFA has identified a group of working-age veterans between 16 and 64 years of age who are living in pretty desperate circumstances. Although most troops transition well, these men and women are not fulfilling their potential in civilian life and their plight is too easily ignored.

In 2005, 25% of the people SSAFA supported locally across the UK were under 60 years of age, ten years later; this figure had risen to over 40%, showing a trend in more, younger veterans needing support, however many of these younger veterans who are being helped by SSAFA tell us that for a long time after leaving the Armed Forces, they felt too proud to ask for help.

SSAFA’s current ‘Got Your Back’ campaign is encouraging vulnerable veterans, to come forward for help.

We understand that our soldiers, sailors, airmen and airwomen are resilient characters. Whilst serving the nation they become fitter, more robust and more self-sufficient; they are rightly proud of their role and of themselves.

If any of your readers are in need of support and they are veterans or currently serving members of the Royal Navy, British Army or Royal Air Force, or indeed their family members, please would you assist encouraging them to contact SSAFA’s confidential Forcesline on 0800 731 4880 or email via www.ssafa.org.uk/gotyourback. SSAFA feels very strongly that members of our Armed Forces and their families have ‘had our backs’ and now we must, whenever necessary, protect theirs.

hat really captured rogramme. rn in a small village xt to another village add that the english e Forest’, and yes in chapels. ow, I started to watch so ago, and there t village, needless to

Tracking down the Purcells

ng but then, some INFORMATION’, so

knitting’(I learned d) and must have , toys and other

my lovely Les died I so now I made the knit something for

ncing very quickly to cut back on all the

Yours sincerely,

, and we did love longer with me I feel ed with it. as to a point it is not ars past.

Lieutenant General Sir Andrew Gregory, KBE CB, chief executive, SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity

Did you know the Purcells?

Dear Editor,

ack also to when my son ppose that I did ‘go over g them and then hiding p to Christmas). the impression that at it was not a good point ken, and then my lovely y wonderful gift from

now all these years down ery thoughtful lad. ish everyone A VERY RY PEACEFUL NEW YEAR.

research Wellington on the weekend, carrying I am from South Wales and was in could put me in touch with someone that into my ancestry. I wonder if you could is help me?

Jarretts Lane (which I understand on lived ) Purcells (the s ancestor In 1901 my readers at people and finally one of your kind now Glebe Street?). I spoke to several ng Wrekin News. the hairdressers suggested contacti etc. at the time, about the local Iron works I have a few questions about the area of the last aphs of Jarretts Lane around the turn and whether there may be photogr century. that someone could point me to?

There may even be some resources ulations on your magazine.

Thank you in advance and congrat Kind regards

Phil Lewis

Phil that he kind words. We have suggested to Ed. Thank you for your letter Phil and his request for But can you also help Phil out with contacts local historian Allan Frost. be helpful to might that tion informa you have any information about his ancestors? If we will be News (contact details on page 2) and Phil please do get in touch with Wrekin Phil. delighted to pass it on to

Could Jimmy Purcell be related to Phil?

28/11/2016 18:37

In our last issue Phil Lewis wrote from is home in South Wales asking our readers for help tracing his ancestors.

Sue Allen has kindly replied saying that she attended Junior School with a man called Jimmy Purcell and that she still sees Jimmy out and about in Wellington.

Could Jimmy be related to the Purcell’s that Phil is trying to trace? Perhaps if Jimmy is reading this or any of our others readers know Jimmy they could put him in touch with Wrekin News.

Sue also wished to offer her best wishes to Wrekin News contributor George Evans.

Thank you for your note Sue.

Do you remember Purcell s Grocery Shop? etley resident June all (nee Cartwright) phoned Wrekin News last month in response to the letter from Phil Lewis who is trying to trace his ancestors, the Purcells. June was born in Glebe Street in 1937 and lived at number 33 she can’t recall Glebe Street ever being known as Jarretts Lane but of course it’s possible that the name changed at the turn of the century.

June does however remember Purcells Grocery Shop on the corner of Glebe Street and igh Street. June s father worked at the Grocery shop grinding coffee beans.

Thank you all for your help so far.... we will pass on the information to Phil. It’s not too late to help Phil if you know anything about Jarretts Lane or the Purcells family. Please contact the Editor, Wrekin News, Bridge Road, Wellington, Telford TF1 1RY or email: james@plus2media.co.uk

Ron’s speed trials on Wrekin Road

by Ronnie Morgan As an old Wellingtonian myself, though I have now moved to the county of Worcestershire I still have the priviledge of reading the Wrekin News when I visit my dad in Lightmoor and I love reading the letters from fellow locals and thought I might send in my own memories of Wellington life or more accurately that of Wrekin Road.

I

WAS born at no 56 Wrekin Road.

(Later renumbered no 50 after the demolition of houses on the opposite side of the road) in june 1968, so I’m not ancient by any means but things have changed so much since I used to trundle my go kart to the top of Wrekin Road. It was a fair push even in my youth but the resulting trip down was kinnews.co.uk worth it. If alone I would push myself off 22 · www.wre and leap aboard slowly gathering speed, sometimes I would use the pathway, but this had it’s own hazards as people would often step out in front of you and were not best pleased as an almost silent go kart trundled past narrowly missing their ankles or worse still knocking them clean off their feet! So depending on my nerve I would use the road for my speed trials, starting off from Appledore Gardens the first fifty yards or so would give you great impetus before a hair raising left hander past Davie’s shop, which is now a house again, past the house with the lions heads on the wall and still further round the corner and past Mr Dudley’s house, he was the oldest man I knew and I would sit and talk canaries (of which he was a master)for hours with him. And I would get his coal in for him and stack the fire which was a real treat as I wasn’t allowed to do this at home. Onward now, past Wrekin Road school, past my own house hoping my mum hadn’t witness my dare devil stunt as this would end my fun immediately and I would be banished to the back garden for the rest of the day,this wasn’t so bad as the gardens in our terrace were long and still bore the remains of sheds and outbuildings built by my Grandad or previous owners and were full of potential treasure! The road levelled out now and I would still have enough speed to negotiate the turn into Ercall Gardens and come to rest by the Wrekin Inn pub, heady days indeed. sometimes I would be joined by a friend, Nigel Evans, his dad worked at the Waverley Garage with my dad and both of our karts had their origins in the workshop there, strong and well made, possibly a tad over engineered but indestructible.

School life started for me at Barn Farm on the Arleston estate, I didn’t seem to be there long and then a spell at Wrekin Road, this was literally next door for me and I would pop home during morning, lunch and afternoon breaks, I could hear

the bell from the warmth of my own living room and would reluctantly rejoin my class. Things were so much easier then, it was odd sitting in class and you could hear your Mom sweeping the yard or telling the dog off from just over the fence I can still see r ifield the ead Miss Baker with her French plaits and the lollipop lady rs oulston? he old air raid shelters were still there from the war and I was fascinated by these and I can remember the water freezing in the taps in the toilets around the back and the broken panes of glass in the windows, S woul never allow this today he old school seems to have been turned into luxury apartments now and it’s great that it hasn’t been knocked down, but I do wonder who is responsible for the bell tower and the spire? I used to fire hundreds of pellets into that spire from my old air ri e Wrekin Road car park was where many a battle was won and lost. Andrew Mills, Paul Inions alcolm Griffiths we all played there. There were derelict houses behind Speed’s sweet shop. (Later Wase and Wedge Plumbers) and though we were told to keep away they were like a magnet for us kids. I don’t think many days passed that one of us didn’t go home with an injury of some sort or other, there was also a wooded area where we had our dens and woe betide anyone who came into your den without permission, I swear I can still feel the lump on my head where a well aimed stone came into contact with it, another trip to the cottage hospital in aygate oad for an antiseptic swab and a butter y stitch Of course there was a proper park or ‘Rec’ as it was called on the grassed area behind the Wrekin pub, it had a huge conical shaped roundabout that pivoted from a large central pole with a wooden seat around its lower edge, it was monstrously heavy and took a couple of you to get it moving the ipside of this was it took an awful lot of stopping too, so if you were caught out by it you were in a coma! The swings seemed to be in constant use by older kids who seemed to spend their day swearing and spitting, and I can remember long summer nights with Jennifer ull singing od Stewart s I am sailing’ at the very top of her less than harmonious voice until well past dusk whilst she swung higher and higher, I’m

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amazed she didn’t go 360 degrees right over the top. It wasn’t the best rendition I’ve ever heard either, and may well be why I remember it so vividly! To the side of the ‘Rec’ was a sort of waste ground area where someone with far more energy than I could muster had dug a labyrinth of trenches which had been topped off with corrugated iron sheets, wood and just about anything else you could imagine, this created a series of tunnels which to be honest I didn’t care for much, it was said these tunnels had been dug by the lads from the Mount, this was a sort of children’s home, and I’m not sure what they were feeding them on but the lads from their always seem to be built like the proverbial outhouse.

The Wrekin Pub was run in those days by Mr & Mrs Millington, these were the days when eight-year-olds could go to the off sales counter and buy 20 Players No.6 for your mum, oh and a bottle of vimto please. If it coincided with a Friday night then I would pop my head round the door of the smoke filled bar where my grandad would be playing dominoes, so I would generally get a bag of crisps then as well! No wonder I grew up overweight!

1979 loomed and it was time for the big school, having been warned by all that big school was where you got beat up and rolled in the nettles daily it was with a sigh of relief that I was accepted to the newly opened Golf Links Lane school,(and so we would be the oldest year throughout). The old Grammar school, which hadn’t even been named by this time. Ercall Wood Secondary would be chosen

later by the parents and pupils and a school badge which bore an uncanny similarity to the ‘Ban the Bomb’ badge which had been so prominent through the cold war years was chosen. My Form teacher was Mrs Ward, who turned out to be nothing close to as nasty as her photo in the school reception would have you believe, in fact in later years I sold her cars and we became good friends. Mr Needham was a kindly enough headmaster and Mr ward had his car MOT’d by my dad every year so we got on alright! I didn’t spend a lot of time at school, using the old excuse, I’m letting the others catch up. If only this were true!

I will finish where I started, me and my old go kart, and I wish to apologise in advance to the driver of the teal blue Austin Marina in advance if he or she is reading this.

One Sunday morning, having called for all my mates and for whatever reasons they were all busy either visiting their nans or helping their dads or more likely just couldn’t be bothered going out with ‘Fatty’ Morgan, I decided to create my own fun and pushed my trusty steed through the grave yard and up alongside the Bowring Park over the A5 and up to the very top of Hampton Hill, by the time I reached the top I must have been pretty out of puff. My intention had been to set off down Hampton Hill, build speed then as I passed the bungalow on the left which belonged to some relatives I’d met once or twice but not recently or often enough to cadge pocket money off, I intended to start to brake with the real car handbrake that my dad had fixed to my kart

and which in turn put a rubber block into contact with my right rear tyre thus slowing me down and eventually stopping me. Then I planned to make a right swing into the car park of the hairdressers shop that then sat at the bottom of the road, all was going well, I was putting in easily one of my best speeds ever and as I passed the bungalow I mentioned earlier I applied the brake, possibly a little too enthusiastically as by now I had reached a most alarming speed, I was taken by surprise as the rubber block and the ½ inch bolt that secured it to the handbrake sheared clean off and went whizzing past my right ear. I had now only the heels of my trusty black pumps to bleed off the speed that I had attained, and the thought even then of the friction and possible hurt that would cause made me stick with it and go for a complete overshoot of the main A5 London to Holyhead Road, thank heavens it was Sunday, the road was certainly quieter than normal but as I shot across the road and onward onto Herbert Avenue I was only too aware of the Austin Marina travelling along the A5 minding their own business and to suddenly have a very low, very fast go kart speed across in front of them at no more than a cars length in front of them, I can see the pair of eyes like saucers glaring at me through the windscreen and I’m sure I felt the heat off the engine as the car disappeared behind me.

I was lucky that day, and even luckier that I can remember the best days of Wellington.

Give me another twenty years and I’ll talk you through my teenage years!

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www.wrekinnews.co.uk · 23

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21/12/2016 14:17

Coronation Tea

Youngsters from Hadley gathered in the chapel schoolroom in 1953 for a celebratory Coronation tea

Pamela spots family members Wrekin News reader Miss Pamela Davis of Hadley visited the office last month after seeing the picture of the Coronation tea in our October issue.

Pamela remembers attending the celebratory Coronation tea party with members of her family.

Held in the chapel classroom at Hadley Methodist Church in 1953, Pamela spotted her mother Marjory and father Harold Davis who was a coal merchant in Hadley at the time and also on the Parish Council on the picture.

Also present that afternoon were Pamela’s two aunties, Mazie Jennings and Freda Jennings and cousin Catherine Davis (now Pugh).

Unfortunately we didn’t print all of the faces on the right-hand-side of the picture which is where Pamela thinks she was sitting with her friends.

Are you on the picture? We’d love to hear your memories of the chapel schoolroom and the Coronation Tea... You can contact the Editor via post - Wrekin News, Bridge Road, Wellington, Telford TF1 1RY or email your stories to: james@plus2media.co.uk - we look forward to hearing from you.

Wellington Remembers 1914 - 1918 Project

Wrekin News reader helps bring biographies to life with picture and stories of ‘Uncle Charlie’

W

HAT an end to 2016 we had in the Wellington Remembers 1914-1918 team. After the December issue of Wrekin News was published we had a call from a relative of one of the men named on the Lych Gate Memorial. She’d seen our article, and made contact because she had a picture of her relative, and was happy for us to take a copy to use in his biography.

We made arrangement for a visit, and a couple of days later, one of the team called to take a picture of the photograph. It’s a super portrait picture, showing a young man in his service uniform, and looking very handsome. The afternoon was made more special because the lady was able to tell the story behind the picture, and how it came into the family’s possession. Not only that, but also we were able to get some family stories about ‘Uncle Charlie’; that he was an accomplished swimmer, who won many trophies that had been proudly displayed on the mantel piece, that he loved ice skating, would volunteer for anything and kept a hawk!

This is the sort of thing that will really bring our biographies to life. We can get lots of factual information from census returns, army records and War Diaries, but these little touches are all individual, and help turn the list of names into a group of real human beings. This young man would have developed strength and stamina from his swimming, and it sounds like he kept his ‘volunteer for anything’ attitude throughout his short life. If you think you may have any sort of a link with any of the names on the Lych Gate, do please give us a call, or email, we’ll be delighted to hear from you!

December also marked the 100th anniversary of the deaths of John Henry Fleming (16th) aged 22 and William Wallace Robertson (19th) aged 40.

As we look forward to what the year might have to offer us, the Wellington Remembers 1914-1918 team wish you a healthy and peaceful 2017, and we look forward to hearing from more of you with family stories or pictures.

January Detective Corner

This month we’re looking for two men who apparently fought in the South Wales Borderers: J Cartwright and W Davies. J Cartwright of the South Wales Borderers doesn’t appear on the Commonwealth War Graves list of men killed in action or died of wounds.

Unfortunately there are 84 J Cartwrights from other regiments who do show on the list! With Davies being a common name in Wales, it will come as no surprise that there are several of them serving in the South Wales Borderers who died in the First World War. If you are a Cartwright or a Davies, or if your parents or grandparents were, do you have any family information about an uncle, great uncle, grandfather who could be one of these men? There’ll be another mystery next month – and updates when any of these posers are solved!

24 · www.wrekinnews.co.uk 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 Letters.indd 5

21/12/2016 14:17

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21/12/2016 15:15

My Story

by Rona Harris

H

ERE we are at the start of a brand new year which will, I have no doubt hold lots and lots of happenings etc.,and sitting here I was thinking of all the ‘New Years’ that have gone before in my life, and these thoughts took me right back and over the years of my childhood.

Of course the time was in the 1930’s to 1940’s, which was for me a time of parental strictness in every possible way, anything that my two sisters or I said that did not meet with our parents approval actually brought a ‘very good heavy ‘smack’ from Mum, it was a case of smack first and ask question afterwards.

Having reached five years of age and commenced school, together with other kids Christmas was a magic time for me once we reached Christmas Eve. Although so far as presents were concerned compared (or not) to today it was all very frugal, and yes! Sheila and I had to share a dolls pram which had also been a Christmas present a couple of years previously for a much wealthier child in another part of the family. During WWII things were not too marvellous in every way, times were very stark in most ways.

At our local schoool we had what were called “School Govenors”, they were always of course wealthy local farmers living in the area, and I recall every Christmas that each girl and boy was given an apple and an orange, and yes, we had to stand to attention, smile sweetly but through gritted teeth say “Thankyou Mr Broadhurst” Getting back to presents from the start of 1939/1940 practically everything was either rationed or just not available, but we had an Aunt who lived in Stockport and worked at the Bon Bon factory there so she would send (at that time) a very small tin of toffees, which were really horrible.

I think one of my first presents was a teddy bear I named him ‘Bobby’, he was bright orange in colour, otherwise until I outgrew it there was always a ‘doll’ for Christmas but mine always came to grief at some stage Everything is so different today, dolls and the like seem to be almost a thing of the past all this technology seems to have taken over now, and the cost to buy is to me totally rediculous.

Despite the black out, rationing and shortages in most things, Dad away in the army, and Irene our older sister in the Navy, I would be around nine years of age life was so very very different in every way.

I loved my Dad dearly and was always pleased when he came home on leave, but then a couple of Christmases was spent without him also my sister. So we always finished up at Grandma’s, very dull and boring, and we had to leave our presents at home to go there, walking a few miles each way with only the searchlights in the sky for company.

This is all for now, and may I wish everyone a wonderful and peaceful 2017.

TELFORD THE GIANT Mrs Jennifer Everton from Ketley brought in this poem to the Wrekin News office.

Titled, Telford The Giant the poem was given her Jennifer’s father Mr John (Jack) Greaves then of Dawley who used to be a bus inspector and worked locally for Midland. Jennifer believes that the poem was given to her father by the author a Mr D. Hoof who was a bus driver for Midlands in the 1970s.

Telford the giant stepped into our shire ‘ I only eat pitmounds’ said the untruthful sire For having devoured the mounds and waste ground He started on farmland which once did abound Poor little Stirchley, as leep in the sun He opened his jaws and lo It was gone Dark Lane got buried beneath his great weight Old Park still lies in a desolate state He nibbled round Dawley, but left the main street Madeley lay trampled beneath his great feet.

Hadley and Trench disappeared in one swallow Leegomery, naturally, was next to follow The Oakengates road was merely a bite For nothing could satisfy his appetite.

Consuming the land he developed a thirst Now, which of the many pools should he quaff first?

The valley and middle at Wombridge soon went The canal and Trench Lock proved of little event.

He fancied the Ercall and took out a slice But laid down some concrete in yards by the score And numbered his new road-M54 Now all of a sudden his passion was roads, Where they all lead to, God only knows But traffic pours down them in unceasing streams As people escape town in search of their dreams Of mind healing quiet, if such should remain, It was once on the doorstep, before Telford came.

He dispensed with the buses of Ashley and Brown Elcock’s and Smith’s, all of local renown.

Then amidst great confusion that made people cuss He introduced Leyland’s red masterpiece-Tell us.

Island appeared like mushrooms galore, Traffic signs stand where trees stood before.

Of footpaths the giant cannot eat his fill, Wild life and plants are just grist to the mill.

Gardens, cottages, lanes and green fields Towns and villages. Everything yields.

To the jaws of the giant that daily demands The unquestioning forfeit of houses and lands.

The people grew angry and tired to resist But he crushed small communities in his great first ‘Ive made a town park with a giant sundial, A lookout, a lake, now why can’t you smile?

The silkin way gives you a long easy walk, Thousands of newcomers to whom you can talk.

And down Irionbridge, I’ve dug up the ground And put on display, the relics I’ve found.

‘But we liked it before’ the local folk said.

Telford the giant shook his huge head.

‘Once before in this area progress brought change, Perhaps when I’ve gone time will arrange For nature to cover up, with her green dress Errors I’ve made which have caused such distress Then peace and contentment will once again flower, Just like the pit mounds I came to devour.

D. Hoof

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26 · www.wrekinnews.co.uk 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 Letters.indd 6

21/12/2016 14:18

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19/12/2016 23:07

The

Stage

this months picks

JACK FROST SATURDAY 25 FEBRUARY 2017

BOX OFFICE: 01952 382382

WIN THEATRE TICKETS! HOW TO ENTER Wrekin News has teamed up with The Place, Oakengates and Theatre Severn in Shrewsbury to offer two lucky reader’s a pair of tickets to see the productions listed opposite. All you have to do to enter is send your name, address and daytime telephone number to: Tania Baylis, (INSERT NAME OF THE SHOW THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE), Wrekin News, Bridge Road, Wellington, Telford TF1 1RY or email your entry with all of the above details to: tania@plus2media. co.uk - You are welcome to enter to win tickets for both Shows, but please remember to send separate entries for each one.

GOOD LUCK!

A magical, wintery production brings Jack Frost to life through puppetry, live music and enchanting storytelling.

Jack has no idea that his ability to freeze everything he touches is spreading havoc wherever he goes and causing all sorts of problems in the village. One day a small girl spots him out the corner of her eye and Jack is no longer alone. She reaches out to him despite his icy hands and realises what it must be like for him to never have felt the warmth of another’s touch. A story of friendship and bravery to warm our hearts this winter.

Meet our mischievous sprite as he takes us on a snowy adventure but wrap up warm or you’ll catch him nipping at your fingers and toes!

Moon On A Stick transform the stage once more to re-imagine this well-known Nordic legend. A playful production perfect for children 3+.

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Hosted by MC DAN NIGHTINGALE JASPER CROMWELL JONES Hapless explorer Jasper regales us with tales of his adventures, and will leave you wondering how on earth such a doofus is allowed to do such dangerous things.

FAMILY TICKET FOR 4 TO BE WON!

JAY FOREMAN The title of Jay’s Radio 4 show was “Disgusting Songs For Revolting Children” so if that, and lots of laugh out loud jokes are your idea of a good time, we’ll see you there!

28 · www.wrekinnews.co.uk 26, 27 Entertainment.indd 1

23/12/2016 08:46

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Officially, Callum no longer exists. He’s been “executed”, and now, kept in a secret facility, he has the chance to experience his assassin ancestor’s memories and learn the ‘Assassin’s Creed’.

A revolutionary technology called the Animus allows him to relive the life of Aguilar, an elite member of the Assassins during the Spanish Inquisition. Gaining knowledge and skills from the past, he’ll use them to fight against the oppressive Templars, the ancient enemies of the Assassins.

From the team behind 2015’s acclaimed ‘Macbeth’, ‘Assassin’s Creed’ lets us travel back in time to 15th Century Spain and brings the hugely popular game to life.

Big adventures. Far-far-away lands. Unforgettable characters. The enchantment of cinema starts from your very first visit.

Share this experience with the whole family at our ODEON Kids screenings. Magical worlds come to life before your eyes every Saturday, every Sunday and every day when school’s out for summer.

And tickets cost just £1.00* (Telford cinema only) each. For little people and grown-ups alike.

From fairytale fantasies to animated favourites, we pick the most spellbinding screen stories for children. This is a place to let your imaginations run wild. And since our films change every six to eight weeks, there’s no end to the worlds you and your family can escape to.

Unwind and let us lead you into the magical world of film

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WIN CINEMA TICKETS The magic of cinema is timeless. It never ends. This is an imaginative experience that goes on for as long as you’re willing to give yourself over to the world before your eyes.

ODEON Silver Cinema is our series of film screenings for our guests who are over-55. Tickets are from £3* each and include tea, coffee and biscuits before your film.

Unwind and catch up with friends over aromatic tea and coffee and buttery biscuits as you get ready to be transported to another reality.

Whether you’re watching a critically acclaimed classic or talk-of-the-town new release, we’ll lead you to another time, another place. Relax as we dim the lights, raise the curtain and bring the screen leaping to life. Inspiring biopics. Laugh-out-loud comedies. Ageless romances. Let us take you there.

26, 27 Entertainment.indd 2

the s teamed up with Wrekin News ha one er off to rd lfo Te Odeon Cinema, ema ir of standard cin lucky reader a pa choice. ur yo of lm fi a tickets to ne me and telepho Just send your na kin re W s, Bayli contact to: Tania , kets, Bridge Road News, Odeon Tic ail: em or Y 1R 1 TF rd Wellington, Telfo ia.co.uk tania@plus2med

WIN CINEMA TICKETS

Wrekin News ha s teamed up with the Odeon Cinema, Telford to offer on e lucky reader a pa ir of Odeon Silve r Screen Cinema tickets (Over 55 ’s only please) to a film of your choice. Ju st send your name and telephone co ntact to: Tania Baylis, Wrekin News, Od eon Silver Screen Tic kets, Bridge Road , Wellington, Telfo rd TF1 1RY or em ail: tania@plus2med ia.co.uk

19/12/2016 18:52

Diary January 2017

10 January CAT PROTECTION Meeting at Elephant and castle 7:30 pm ALL WELCOME 14 January WHALEBONE CONCERT Birchmeadow Centre BROSLEY £10 - 07890057832 17 January MODERN LINE DANCE CLASS Shifnal War Memorial Hall 7:30 till 9:30 £4.50 01939 236773 17 January A COALBROOKDALE WALK Severn Gorge Countryside Trust 17 January

FILM SHOW Broseley Film Club Birchmeadow Centre, Broseley 21, 22, 28 January CINDERLLA Little Theatre Donnington 22 January SLOW FOOD FESTIVAL Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre £8.99 - 01588 676060 26 January OPEN MIC The Crown Inn Oakengates 31 January SNOWDROP WALK Oswestry Visitor Centre 01743 255068

Ironbridge Gorge Museums 2017 event listings: Tuesday 7, 14 and 28 February Jackfield Tile Museum, Jackfield, near Ironbridge TF8 7LJ Tile Decorating Workshops Museum opens 10am - 4pm daily Join a drop-in tile decorating workshop between 10am and 2.30pm and try the tube lining technique to produce your own ceramic masterpiece. Museum entrance fee including a voluntary Gift Aid donation £9.75 adults; £8.75 for 60 plus and £6.25 for children (up to 18 years and in full time education), under 5s free For details call 01952 433 424 or visit www.ironbridge.org.uk Friday 24 March Blists Hill Victorian Town, Madeley, near Ironbridge TF7 5DU Victorian Music Hall Evening 6.30pm – 10pm Step back in time and enjoy the first in a series of nostalgic themed music evenings. In March you can join in a Victorian Music Hall night at the Forest Glen Pavilion at Blists Hill. Tickets at £25 per adult must be pre-booked by calling Nikki Birch on 01785 252247 or nikkib@jenkinsonscaterers.co.uk. Annual Passport Tickets are not valid for this evening.

For details call 01952 433 424 or visit www.ironbridge.org.uk

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Please call Irene on 01952 522562 or email

irene@plus2media.co.uk

A safe environment to try out winter sports Telford Snowboard and Ski Centre offers visitors a unique opportunity to try winter sports in a safe and engaging environment. The centre is set in a woodland environment, enclosed by a perimeter fence and has its own free car park for visitors to access with ease. There are two Alpine lodges for hire of equipment and a café area.

Telford Snowboard and Ski Centre offers lessons from qualified instructors in skiing and snowboarding as well as Family Adrenaline Tubing.

Telford Snowboard and Ski Centre has an outdoor all weather 85 metre ski slope and a nursery ski slope for the little ones.

Telford Snowboard and Ski Centre, Court Street, Madeley, Telford, TF7 5DZ. Wrekin News has teamed up with Telford Snowboard and Ski Centre to offer one lucky reader the chance to win a FAMILY TICKET to Adrenaline Tubing. To enter send your name, address and daytime telephone number to: Tania Baylis, Adrenaline Tubing, Wrekin News, Bridge Road, Wellington, Telford TF1 1RY or email your entry to: tania@ plus2media.co.uk - closing date for entries is Thursday 26 Janaury 2017, GOOD LUCK!

WIN A FAMILY PASS!

Stamp, card and coin fair

To include your event in our Diary for February please contact Tania - tania@plus2media.co.uk or call 01952 522562

WISH A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL CUSTOMERS OLD AND NEW!

To advertise in

JUST THE TICKET

WIN A FAMILY PASS!

Join in the excitement at the Telford Ice Rink Located in the £250m Southwater Complex, Telford Ice Rink invites you to join the excitement. The recently refurbished Telford Ice Rink is open all year round for all ages and abilities.

This icy destination promises entertainment for all ages and offers a fun way to keep in shape. Telford Ice Rink offers a wide range of courses, lessons and private tuition for both children and adults, including Ice Hockey coaching. Get your skates on and get into the spirit at the coolest place in town. Saint Quentin Gate, Telford, TF3 4JQ Telephone: 0845 1559966 Wrekin News has teamed up with Telford Ice Rink to offer one lucky reader the chance to win a FAMILY TICKET for the Ice Rink.

To enter send your name, address and daytime telephone number to: Tania Baylis, Telford Ice Rink, Wrekin News, Bridge Road, Wellington, Telford TF1 1RY or email your entry to: tania@ plus2media.co.uk - closing date for entries is Thursday 26 Janaury.

Telford Stamp, Card and Coin Fair is on Saturday 14th January 2017 at Belmont Hall, Wellington centre, Telford, TF1 1LU from 10am to 3pm, free entry with a good range of stalls, free valuations, buy and sell, home made refreshments.

Free adjacent car park, train station close by, bus via Telford Centre to nearby local bus station. Further details from Bob Pilkington, Tel: 01299 211737 or email: sbpilkington02@outlook. com. (Tables may be available)

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30 · www.wrekinnews.co.uk 30 Just The Ticket.indd 1

21/12/2016 17:16

BUCKATREE HALL HOTEL

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JANUARY

FEBRUARY

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19/12/2016 23:03

Love Food

Brexit means interesting times for our food The European Union referendum of 2016 has been and gone. Now, based on a margin of only 4% between Remain and Leave, Britain’s prime minister, Theresa May, has committed to extract our country from the EU in accordance with ‘the will of the people’. But what is it exactly that the people have willed? The UK’s departure from the EU, termed Brexit, surely holds many significant and unpredictable consequences. Whatever they may be, some will be menacing for particular social groups, especially the poorest, and increased prices and economic hardships are certain to be the price we all have to pay for “taking our country back”, a phrase endlessly regurgitated by Nigel Farage during the referendum campaign.

by

Professor Ralph Early

Buckatree Hall Hotel

Tel: 01952 641 821

Sunday Lunch Fantastic Value

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HATEVER Brexit ultimately means in broad, socioeconomic terms, we should all surely be concerned about how leaving the EU might influence our grocery bills and the food we like to eat. So, by appeal to reason, what might our Brexit future hold for food?

The UK currently has a strong and robust agri-food industry. This could now change.

In so many ways we have led the world in agricultural innovation, productivity, animal welfare, food product development and food processing, etc. Much of our success has come through interaction with EU members states and UK agri-food research has been able to punch well above its weight through access to generous EU funding. This has improved directly the quality, safety and variety of the food products we take for granted, as well as reducing the cost of our weekly food bills. A hard-Brexit, as UKIP and some Conservatives demand, will bring to an end EU research funding. This means that UK agri-food research risks decline, with our country falling well behind the world. Our brightest researchers will then move abroad for better funded opportunities if they have any sense.

The UK’s food industry has a turnover of

some £82 billion a year and exports £13 billion’s worth, with most ending up in EU countries. Currently the UK’s free trade agreement with the EU means that our food industry can export easily to European countries. An example of how EU regulations have eased the process of European trade is seen in the letter ‘e’ next to weight or volume markings on food packages. This is the Metrological Passport. It allows products to be exported throughout Europe without being re-checked on receipt. If this ceases with Brexit then UK food exporters will be burdened by additional bureaucracy and paperwork in order to sell to European countries. These extra difficulties will also be encountered by European businesses exporting to Britain, so we can be sure that any additional costs incurred either way will be passed on to consumers through higher food prices. We have already seen this with the devaluation of the pound. Moreover, if the UK is forced to increase trade internationally following loss of access to the EU’s 500 million consumers, which is probable, World Trade Organisation tariffs on imports could make our weekly shopping bills very uncomfortable indeed. Given the added problems that UK food exporters will face with Brexit, it is worth

32 · www.wrekinnews.co.uk 32, 33 Wine and Dine.indd 1

20/12/2016 10:29

The Tipple!

Professor Ralph Early is head of the Department of Food Science and Agri-Food Supply Chain Management in Harper Adams University, Food Sector Champion for the Telford Business Board, a Council Member of the Food Ethics Council, and a member of the Guild of Food Writers. @ProfRalphEarly

by

Sue Ladds

Views from Church House; Post Nativity

A reflecting that a justification for joining the EU in 1973 was the reduction of trade bureaucracy. Now Brexiters have voted to increase it again.

The EU referendum has shocked the UK’s political class just as the election of Mr Trump has been unsettling to politics in the USA. Analysts hypothesise that we have entered a ‘post-truth’ age when ignorance is valued more highly than knowledge.

Experts, it seems, no longer cut it with many voters and certainly UKIP and the Leave campaigners understood this. Even so they used highly paid consultants with expert knowledge of marketing and consumer behaviour to create myths that appealed to and manipulated voters’ emotions. As consumers we are already familiar with the idea that our emotions can be swayed by inventive messages, such as advertisements for chocolate and alcohol.

A key feature of the Leave campaign’s appeal to emotion concerned immigration and the myth that foreigners are taking over our country. It worked. However, the

need to avoid truth in order to win the referendum meant that the British public was never made fully aware of the extent to which migrant workers feed British people every day. The operation of Britain’s food system relies very heavily on EU workers: from fresh produce growers to meat processors and many others. If these workers are expelled, as UKIP demands they must be, many UK food businesses will have difficulty operating and some could face closure. Who then will keep us fed? British workers?

A Chinese curse states: May you live in interesting times. By ‘interesting times’ it means dangerous, disruptive and unpleasant times. However Brexit works out in the end we can be sure that for some years to come times in Britain will be very interesting. The extent to which they are interesting for our food system and the numerous food products we take for granted is only just beginning to manifest with the first of many price rises. As for other things, given Mrs May’s absolute commitment to Brexit all we can do is wait and see.

H THE patter of tiny feet. Or possibly the rumble of distant thunder. Twenty small feet, that’s, four kittens and one Russel dog. Jake the dog is delighted as the kittens would happily play chase all day, given the chance. The dog’s not worried about catching them; chase is the game.

It all started when a work colleague said four kittens had been born to a stray mother at her son’s place of work. Could l have two? l asked. apparently no one else offered to take the others so we offered a home to all four plus their mum.

So one cold Sunday morning in the backstreets of Brum we spent an hour chasing four snarling black and white balls of fluff. Their mum had disappeared.

At about eight weeks old they could manage without Mum and had been weaned with catfood on site. However much longer putside would have resulted in difficult feral kittens or casualties on the road close by.

Roll on a few weeks, they are all thriving, eating everything put for them and then checking for more. Names have been slow to surface. First was Michael who ran full tilt into the dog before Jake was tolerated. Instead of turning tail he did a very passable Moonwalk backwards. Hence Michael (Jackson), Little Mo, Wilbur and Ruby soon followed when their personalities surfaced.

Wilst they will clean up a mountain of food in their lifetimes they’re not fussy and having four siblings means they entertain themselves well. Why bite your own tail when there’s others to choose from. And they are practising the “not me Guv” looks for when something falls to the floor.

The funniest sight so far? Michael with a sardine in his jaws growling, Jake the dog with the other end of the fish in his mouth, also growling. Michael won!

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www.wrekinnews.co.uk · 33

32, 33 Wine and Dine.indd 2

23/12/2016 08:51

Your Community

Coffee & cake afternoon Hi Tania,

Call Tania today on 01952 522562 to include your event on our Community Noticeboard

Shontal The

atre Group presents It’s only a fe w quid Drama prod uction

year for the RNLI and I am I am running the London marathon next raise some funds. This will to organising a coffee and cake afternoon draw of a raffle which the also include face painting, tombola and All proceeds from the ies. pan has some great prizes from local com afternoon will go to the RNLI. February from 1pm at It is going to happen on Saturday 4th Coalbrookdale Community Centre.

Wednesday 15 th

February 2017 2.0

0pm

"It's Only A Few Qu side down by the id" ...looks at Gill, and how he r life is turned loss of her job up. She struggles people she ow es. Then she tur with debt and the ns to a certain and that’s when ind ividual for help her real proble ms start ……..

The event will be opened by Councillor Lee be a question Carter and the and answer ses re wil sion with the En Lending Team gland Illegal Mo l and representat ney ives from local agencies following the per formance

Kind regards Emma Lyle

11624319 for more information call Emma on 078 Admission is FR EE register toda y for a ticket ntbrite.co.uk/o/c itizens-a at Eventbrite Or e mail Chris dvice-telford-amp-the-wrekin-england-illegal-money-lendin topher.Connor@ g-te Birmingham.gov am-12054276381 .uk to reserve your pl ace(s) Further details can be found at http://telfordca b.co.uk/

http://www.eve

Call Tania today on 01952 522562 to include your event on our Community Noticeboard

Win a meal for four at The Shropshire Welcome to The Shropshire, Telford’s premier golf and function venue. The golf facilities at The Shropshire are hugely enjoyed by our visitors and members, with our 27-hole course offering stunning views over the Shropshire countryside, and an 18-hole short course ideal for beginners and families. We also boast a superb driving range, golf shop, lessons and golf memberships.

You don’t have to be a golfer to enjoy a visit to The Shropshire; The charming farmhouse is a delightful setting for weddings and special events, and we also have our stunning marquee for up to

200 people. The bar and grill are also open to the public seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Wrekin News has teamed up with The Shropshire to offer one lucky reader the chance to win a carvery meal for upto four people.

To enter send your name, address and daytime telephone number to: Tania Baylis, The Shropshire, Wrekin News, Bridge Road, Wellington, Telford TF1 1RY or email your entry to: tania@ plus2media.co.uk closing date for entries is Thursday 26 January.

34 · www.wrekinnews.co.uk 34 Community Notice Board.indd 1

21/12/2016 18:05

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19/12/2016 23:12

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TIME TO MAKE PLANS

J

ANUARY is now up on us, a month of short days and long nights which give very little time to actually achieve much in the garden, even if the weather is suitable. The long evenings can, however, be used to plan for the coming spring and summer. If your garden Written by did not live up to expectations last year, then this is the time to pan any changes. Use what daylight we have, and any mild weather, to of Lilyhurst Plant Centre measure the area and think about the position of any existing plants and whether these need to be moved, if they are not too large, to improve the effect. Once this has been done settle down and consider exactly what it is with different colours, textures and you wish to achieve, do not attempt to attain too much as this tends to lead shapes, leaving space for future to disappointment. Ask your nursery for help if needed as they will be able to growth. These can, in early years, make suggestions and explain how to move existing plants and what others be filled with a few annuals, and do will grow in this area, rather than rely on descriptions given in books which not forget the possibility of under may not be suitable locally. planting the deciduous shrubs with Think about colour and shape of leaves, the size of the plants. Not when bulbs to give early spring colour. you plant them but in a few years time as they mature. Try to build a picture If you have a lovely view from your windows, for example, across open countryside, remember not to plant a fast growing hedge, or be prepared to trim it regularly. If on Tel: 07725 040408 the other hand you have an eyesore, or something you wish to obscure, The Coach House, work this into the plan. It is not Holyhead Road, always necessary, or even desirable, to fully hide an eyesore it may only Albrighton, be necessary to mask or obscure it.

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Front gardens have for many years been neglected but they give any visitor their first impression. In most cases it has to accommodate a driveway so imagination is often required to overcome the problems this can create. Tarmac is a quick, hard wearing and easily maintained surface but it is always worth thinking about using gravel and perhaps incorporating a few slabs or crazy paving between which some flat growing plants such as thyme can be positioned to give a more natural look.

We hope that these few thoughts inspire you to greater gardening in 2017. Happy planting!

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36 · www.wrekinnews.co.uk 36 Gardening.indd 1

19/12/2016 20:53

Lake View Residential Care Home Residential

Dementia

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“I am happy living here. The staff are friendly and caring and the food is good.” Resident

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In our welcoming care home, residents spend their time enjoying

Did you know we host monthly Dementia Cafes? Call us to find out how we can support you.

www.sanctuary-care.co.uk Sanctuary Care Limited is a subsidiary of Sanctuary Housing Association, an exempt charity

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email buyahome@wht.org.uk or visit www.wrekinhousingtrust.org.uk www.wrekinnews.co.uk · 37

37 Adverts.indd 1

20/12/2016 13:20

Rotary’s Young Chef of the Year A student from Ercall Wood Technology College, Telford has become Rotary’s Young Chef of the Year 2016/17.

Zee Gibson (Year 9) (pictured), who lives in Lawley, was the winner of a cookery competition organised by the Rotary Club of The Wrekin. He impressed the judges with his range of cooking skills as he prepared and presented a vegan meal of healthy susi with steamed and roasted vegetables followed by matcha tea cup cakes with lychees.

Zee said ‘I entered the Rotary Young Chef Competition because I wanted to share my love of cooking. I also wanted to challenge myself by preparing an alternative menu. I chose a vegan menu as some of my family are vegan and I am a vegetarian. I felt that the type of food our family eats is not very well represented or recognised in society’.

Seven pupils took part in the competition. The

competition was judged by Mark Lewis of the Hadley Park House Hotel, Robert Bird from Hospitality Industry Training Ltd, and Schools’ Special Adviser Michelle Parker.

Certificates and prizes were presented by Robyn Davies, President, Rotary Club of The Wrekin. Zee received a Mary Berry cookbook.

Joint runners up were Curtis Thomas (Year 11) and Deja Mcgowan (Year 7). Curtis received a Great British Bake Off recipe book, and Deja, who has a visual impairment, a braille recipe book.

After enjoying entering the competition the participants have invited members of the Rotary Club to a supper they will prepare at school at the end of March 2017.

‘The Rotary Club of The Wrekin runs a number of youth competitions for its linked schools and youth organisations in Telford. Any school or youth organisation wishing to discuss the support Rotary can offer are invited to contact the Club.’

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23/12/2016 12:55

First residents move in to new home

M

ONTGOMERY House in Shrewsbury has been built by Coverage Care Services, the county’s leading not-for-profit independent care home provider, which runs 14 homes including Lightmoor View and Barclay Gardens in Telford.

Montgomery House has been built on the site of the town’s former Territorial Army Centre on Sundorne Road, one of the main arterial routes into Shrewsbury from Telford.

It offers easy access to the A5/M54 route to and from Telford by car and an hourly bus service to Telford passes the home.

The purpose built £8 million centre is the fifth that has been built for Coverage Care and provides residential and nursing care.

Designed from the ground up to be the ideal residential and caring environment, it offers all the comforts of a welcoming, friendly and supportive place to live coupled with a family atmosphere.

Montgomery House has the benefits of being able to offer additional services.

Should a resident’s needs change and nursing care becomes a requirement, it will be available on the same site, removing the need to leave familiar surroundings and friendly faces.

The location is key, with a modern GP surgery next door, communal and sporting facilities to keep active just along the road and shops nearby.

There are 90 large en-suite bedrooms set over two floors with two wings on each

Pictured above: Montgomery House and opposite: An interior room looking out onto the gardens at Montgomery House

floor, each with their own lounge and dining areas. There are also shared communal rooms, a private garden and orangery at the rear of the building.

Individual touches include a mosaic based on the River Severn that edges a path leading around the garden and outdoor balconies with seating areas leading from the communal lounges.

Coverage Care Chief Executive David Coull said: “Montgomery House is a significant project for Coverage Care Services and it has an important role to play in the care landscape of Shropshire.

“It represents the combined knowledge of everything our team has learnt in the process of building our other homes including Lightmoor View. It is a stunning home from home for residents that is designed to be focused around their needs.”

Discover near you

Making care a positive and rewarding choice Coverage Care – a not for profit, multi award winning organisation with care services throughout the region – improving the lives of those using our services by providing quality, innovative and inclusive care that respects the individual.

locations to feel at home.

Lightmoor View Telford Tel: 01952 432 412

Barclay Gardens Donnington Tel: 01952 605 321

Farcroft Wellington Tel: 01952 223 447

Cottage Christian Newport Tel: 01952 825 557 www.wrekinnews.co.uk · 39

Coverage Care page.indd 1

19/12/2016 18:43

INVESTING IN QUALITY OF CARE by

Dr Dan Nicholls BVMedSci BVM BVS MRCVS

A

T SEVERN Edge Vets Ltd we pride ourselves on continually investing into our facilities, our branches, and being up to date with the latest treatments, for instance a recent addition for female dogs is key hole neutering, a modern approach to spaying which results in less pain, lower risk & faster recovery.

Our vet, Daniel Nicholls, talks more here about the method and the extraordinary benefits it can bring to the recovery process of your pet Key-hole (Laparoscopic) surgery is something that was barely on my radar at university. It was always something that was discussed as possible but not really normal practice. So, when I started at Severn Edge, key-hole surgery wasn’t something I had seen much of or have much experience with.

It’s only since being here I have seen an array of operations that have been done using key-hole methods. My eyes have most definitely been opened to the possibilities.

Key-hole surgery isn’t something new in human medicine but it’s only in the last decade or so that it has emerged in the veterinary world. It can be used for a variety of operations that were previously done by more invasive methods, often opening the animal up (laparotomy) in the traditional method giving you total access to the abdomen.

Why bother with this new stuff?

Well the benefits are mainly seen in the recovery of the animal post operation.

Having abdominal surgery for example is a very painful experience and although we try our best to alleviate that pain using medications, often the discomfort from the surgery is there regardless. Key-hole surgery means that instead of a large hole required to access the cavity, a couple of small holes are used instead. This means there is a lot less trauma to the skin and muscle layers so therefore much less pain and less time needing to be rested. This all means your animal gets back to normal life quicker than ever before.

There are variety of situations and surgical procedures that keyhole is suitable for. At the moment the routine surgery we are doing at Severn Edge is a keyhole ovariectomy (spay). However, we are now using the technique more and more for other things such as taking liver biopsies for patients with liver disease that needs investigating and removing retained testicles (cryptorchid) in male dogs.

In my time seeing and performing key-hole operations, I have already seen the dramatic improvement in recovery times and pain experienced post operatively. I am excited to see what we can use the technique for next, so that we can constantly progress and improve our patient’s quality of care.

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40 · www.wrekinnews.co.uk 36 Vets.indd 1

19/12/2016 18:50

What have you CLEAN UP WITH SUTHERLANDS got to lose?

Two of the questions I am asked most frequently are; 1. How far back can you go with PPI Claims?

2. How long do I have to make a claim?

There is no time limit on PPI claims, especially against the major lenders who were subject to regulation from the 1980s onwards. However the ability to claim will depend on what evidence we can find regarding the policy. If you still have the original documents great, if not then we will have to rely on their records which should be available to us under the Data Protection Act, all of which I can help you with, and which will not cost you a penny until such a time as we are able to make a successful claim.

PPI was heavily sold by all the major high street Banks on both Personal and Business Loans, Credit Cards, Mortgages and even Overdrafts from the late 1980s until around 2010. I find that these insurances were frequently added to both new and existing lending, and to date I have been able to recover compensation for the hundreds of the cases I have pursued.

If you have held a Bank loan, Mortgage or Credit Card I suggest you to contact me, remember this is your money not theirs and making a claim will not in any way affect your current Banking relationship.

You may have seen in the press at the end of last Month that the Financial Conduct Authority intend to set a deadline for such claims, and this is likely to be announced in December this year. As a consequence if you have been wondering whether or not you may be affected then I urge you to get in touch now to ensure that you do not potentially miss out.

I initially established Acorn Claim Assist back in 2012 to offer an easy, cost effective and local way to claim compensation for mis-sold PPI. Prior to early retirement I worked in senior management for a top high street bank for over 30 years. I’m familiar with how PPI’s were sold and have dealt with PPI claims for over twelve years, and now have more than 500 happy clients, many of whom either did not know they had PPI, or were not confident of getting back what was really due to them.

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www.wrekinnews.co.uk · 41

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43 Adverts.indd 1

19/12/2016 19:58

Syd

Taylor

The region’s nu mber one motoring journalist

“WHAT A SUPER LOOKING CAR SYD” I

T WAS a double treat for aunt Maud: she of venerable age and punctilious propriety.

Before you ask, what has an aged relative got to do with a road-test? I’ll tell you. She used to rally Rileys back in ‘The Fifties’ and knows the difference between a drop stitch and a dropped clutch. The sort of feisty octogenarian who would take opposite lock over the weekly shop any time.

Last week she demanded “What is a hybrid my boy? Enlighten me”.

Technically-minded tamburlaines of all-conquering knowledge need read no further. They will understand at the glissade of a slide rule (remember those?) what hybrid means. Lesser mortals prepare to be astonished, for when BMW takes the high road to the hybrid future you can guarantee the result will squeeze a whistle from a ukulele.

Just as internal combustion ironed out the need for steam power, today eco-conscious electricity shows the way ahead. And if one is allowed to mix metaphors (as Sunday motorists are allowed to mix antifreeze with 20/50) the result is plain sailing.

Indeed, when writing about hybrids, mixing metaphors is, perhaps, de

rigeur.

Aunt Mauds eyes lit up with a wicked gleam as she appraised the gleaming acme of modernity that the BMW is.

“What a super looking car” she cried.

It was easy to see what she meant.

When BMW do ‘mpv’ the world expects them to do it in style. And style here means purpose with a splash of panache: never has functionality looked so appealingly purposive. A ‘roomy people carrying post chaise of aspirational merit’ concluded my aunt.

“I brought this BMW to you to demonstrate a modern hybrid” I said.

And so we tootled off - or rather launched in the manner of a bolt of lightning desperate to catch a train.

The wonder of it was the complete absence of accompanying thunder merely instead, the air a shifting sigh of silent passage.

How was I to explain the technical stuff? I pointed out that the three cylinder 1.5 litre 134bhp petrol engine lived up front under the bonnet to drive the front wheels and operated in conjunction with an 87bhp electric motor powered by lithium batteries at the back to drive the rear wheels.

44 · www.wrekinnews.co.uk 42, 43 Syd Taylor.indd 1

19/12/2016 18:42

THIS MONTH SYD TREATS HIS AUN T MAUD TO A SPLA SH OF PANACHE AS THEY TOOTLE OFF IN THE NEW BMW 2 SERIES ACTIVE TOURER 225XE

And a lovely six speed automatic gearbox gives imperceptible changes.

Charging the batteries is simple. At home you just plug in and in about three hours it’s fully charged. And when you’re out and about charging points are growing in number by the day.

Taking a deep breath I described how one can opt from a selection of modes - battery only for up to 25miles, petrol only whilst saving the battery for city use, or petrol and battery together for rapid acceleration. A driver selects from Sport, Comfort and Eco-pro modes and when in a hurry can do nearly 130mph.

(Readers must check with local laws regarding speed limits and in no way can this writer condone transgression - even under cover of darkness).

“Oh dear! It sounds frightfully complicated.

All those technicalities are too much for me: but it’s a lovely ride - and those rear seats fold flat for big loads at the press of a button.

There’s lots of room and it is beautifully made” said Aunty.

I pointed out that the technicalities have just one aim - and that is to deploy the best of modern technology in the service of driver, passengers and the environment. This £31,155 BMW sets everything on a silver platter.

Any driver will relish being totally in command of a modern marvel of technologically rich transportation - a vehicle in which imperceptible transitions between power sources, both conventional and innovative, occur as though determined by some god of the greater good. In my view no driving experience today equals this BMW when it comes to inducing a constantly reassuring nexus of finesse.

Did I mention economy? When I told Aunt Maud that BMW claim 141.2 mpg she reached for her smelling salts and cried “Why! I could afford to run one of those”.

I said nothing. Even so my silence failed to equal the eloquent noiselessness of the swiftly flowing Active Tourer - so to prevent her nodding off I played Haydn’s Emperors Hymn on the super sound system. www.wrekinnews.co.uk · 45

42, 43 Syd Taylor.indd 2

19/12/2016 18:42

Sport WREKIN NEWS

January fixtures Sun1

Alfreton Town

Away

3pm

Home

3pm

Home

3pm

Away

3pm

Away

3pm

Vanarama National North League

Sat 7

Gainsborough T.

Vanarama National North League

Sat 14 Curzon Ashton Vanarama National North League

Sat 21 Kidderminster H Vanarama National North League

Sat 28 Stalybridge Celtic Vanarama National North League

email your sports story to: james@plus2media.co.uk

(HOME GAMES IN BOLD)

2017 - A PIVOTAL YEAR FOR UNITED

A

S AFC Telford United head into the new year, fans of the New Bucks Head club will hope for a period of greater certainty.

The last twelve months have witnessed a dramatic relegation battle on the pitch and dire warnings about the club’s future off it, writes Lez Dean.

The drama on the pitch surrounded the Bucks’ efforts to clamber out of the drop zone. A position to which they had seemingly cemented themselves due to poor results and performances throughout the autumn and winter months. The arrival of spring however saw a seismic shift in

> Bucks manager Rob Smith will be hoping for a turnaround in fortunes for the Bucks in 2017.

Teddy toss success for Telford Tigers

The Telford Tigers ‘teddy toss’ has been declared a “massive success” after hundreds of fans launched soft toys onto the ice during Saturday’s game against Hull Pirates.

A total of 310 teddy bears were collected after supporters were invited to throw them when the first goal of the game was scored – ironically by the visiting team.

Tigers players will deliver the toys to youngsters at Hope House near Oswestry, and the children’s ward at the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford, on Monday afternoon.

Sam Middleton, Telford Tigers match night co-ordinator, said: “It was such a wonderful sight to see so many teddy bears land on the ice after the first goal of the game.

“Preparations for the event have taken

a couple of weeks, but the reaction of fans, from both Telford and Hull, has been wonderful. It was nerve-warcking, but worth it in the end!”

The game, which saw Hull Pirates take a 2-0 in the first period before Telford eventually won 7-4, was held up for ten minutes while an army of elves and santas cleared the ice.

Miss Middleton added: “The fact that everyone was willing to dig in and help made the teddy toss a massive success.

“I am just very glad that we can try to make Christmas a bit more bearable for those youngsters who can’t be at home at this time of the year.

“I can’t thank everyone who helped enough for what they have done.”

the club’s fortunes. This was in no little part due to the arrival of striker Josh Wilson whose goal scoring prowess alone practically dragged the club out of its desperate plight. The turnaround can be traced back to a February afternoon in east Manchester. They trailed Stalybridge Celtic 5-2 with ten minutes remaining and were staring at another ignominious defeat when a most unlikely turnaround was to occur. With the help of two goals from the aforementioned Wilson a 5-5 draw was salvaged launching the Bucks on a seven match unbeaten run.

This was to set the tone for the remainder of the campaign and ultimately a position above the relegation line.

The new season however, was to see something even more perilous.

October saw financial issues

come to the fore. It was revealed that there were severe cash flow issues and an urgent need for an injection of funds. This was to lead to the supporter’s trust taking the decision to change the ownership model of the club. It’s members voted to allow outside investors the option to take control. A share issue was announced and was launched in November in the hope that sufficient investment would be made, not only to secure the future of the club but in the hope that it could once again regain some of the momentum of previous years.

The year 2017 may well prove to be a pivotal year in the history of AFC Telford United. With new faces at the helm and fresh ideas to the fore, hopes will be high for a positive outcome. Here’s wishing all concerned the best of luck.

46 · www.wrekinnews.co.uk 46 Sport.indd 1

19/12/2016 19:29

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