Newbridge House is purpose built with dementia clients at the heart of the design. With large
Long and short respite care or emergency placements available.
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Advertising enquiries
Lisa Cuthbert - Sales Manager
Tel: 01785 318619
Email: hello@shoutlocalmedia.co.uk
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Editorial enquiries
Jennifer Dellicompagni - Editor
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The June 2025 edition of The Codsall Directory will be distributed during June 2025 to 5,000 homes and businesses in selected areas of Codsall, Bilbrook and Coven. If you wish to place an advert or editorial feature, please ensure copy is submitted to us no later than 05/05/2025.
Please note: All information was correct at time of printing but may be subject to changes.
Pokémon folder & cards sell for £1,000 at Staffordshire auction Sudoku puzzle
Codsall & Bilbrook History Society
Designer, writer and television presenter, Kevin McCloud leapt into our consciousness with his vastly successful Grand Designs show on Channel 4. This month, the affable architectural business owner talks about colour and texture in the home, and which give him the greatest satisfaction.
Children’s Charity Seeking Volunteer Mentors
Stage set for stunning Stafford Shakespeare Show
Recipe of the month
Midlands Air Ambulance Charity
Newbridge House Residential Care
A Design for Life... The Kevin McCloud Column
Mavellous May Reads
Colour and texture – two of the most fundamental tools in the designer’s arsenal. Used well, they shape the atmosphere of a space, influencing not just how a room looks, but crucially, how it feels.
Property of the month with Dourish and Day
Crossword puzzle
What’s On at Your Local Library in May Children’s Puzzle Page Wordsearch puzzle
For me, there is a deeply personal resonance to colour. Some shades instinctively soothe, while others excite the senses to add drama and affinity for deep, rich hues, with the forest stately exude At spectrum, to be palette. and of enveloping These paired like bring particularly snug, one a
8
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We gratefully acknowledge the support of businesses whose adverts appear in The Codsall Directory magazine, and whilst every care is taken to ensure accuracy, the publishers cannot accept responsibilty for loss, damage or omission caused by error in the printing of an advert. All artwork is accepted on strict condition that permission has been given for use in this publication. Adverts are accepted on the understanding that descriptions of goods and services are fair and accurate. Any reproduction of any material is forbidden without the written consent of the publishers. The publishers cannot accept responsibilty for views expressed by contributors, or the accuracy of claims made by advertisers.
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The Codsall Directory is part of Shout Local Media Ltd.
Pokémon folder & cards sell for £1,000 at Staffordshire auction
Cuttlestones Auctioneers & Valuers
At Staffordshire auction house Cuttlestones’ recent Spring Antiques Sale an original Pokémon hardback folder containing approx. 150 Pokémon cards, including a complete base set, got nostalgic bidders hot under the collar, with the hammer falling at an impressive £1,000 against an estimate of £50-100.
This was just one lot in a strong toy section, which also saw rather more ‘traditional’ collectable toys sell particularly well. Model gauge railway items proved as popular as ever, with highlights including a 0 gauge NER steam locomotive and piece of rolling stock mounted on a track in a display case fetching £290 and a number of 0 gauge carriages achieving £210.
The transport theme continued with a tray of mixed boxed Dinky & Corgi vehicles – including Dinky Missile servicing platform vehicle 667 and a Dinky VE KDF 617 among others, selling for £600.
Other traditional toys that performed well were figures – a box of mainly Britains and Timpo figures including American Civil War, Cowboys
& Indians sold for £190 while a tray of similar figures including horses went for £210. A similar collection featuring Second World War, Knights, horses & more sold for £280.
If your old toys and collectables are languishing in the loft, why not dust them off and arrange a free, no obligation valuation through Cuttlestones – either remotely or at their Penkridge saleroom, just off J13 of the M6 between Stafford & Wolverhampton?
Email: valuations@cuttlestones.co.uk, WhatsApp to 07949 603872, or call 01785 714905.
Fill in the grid so that every row, every column, and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through to 9, with no repetition. That’s all there is to it! You solve the puzzle with reasoning logic– there’s no maths involved and no adding up.
Codsall & Bilbrook History Society
Members of Codsall & Bilbrook History Society come from all walks of life but have one thing in common - a passion for local history and a desire to ensure that the past is not forgotten. Each year from September through to May, we run a programme of talks in Codsall Village Hall on the third Tuesday evening of each month.
We invite guest speakers to discuss a wide range of topics - some but not all, with a local theme. Past subjects include the history of pub signs; RAF Cosford; how Almshouses helped the poor, and an appraisal of Admiral Lord Nelson. The talks are free to members and £4 on the night for non-members.
Join us for our next event: Andrew Lound: Birmingham and Black Country skies Tuesday 20th May 2025
Historian and broadcaster Andrew Lound returns to take a look at how Birmingham and the Black Country have had a long association with aviation from hot air and hydrogen balloons to the jet age of today.
• E.P.D.M Rubber Flat Roofs
• U.P.V.C Fascia, Soffits & Guttering
• Re-Felt & Battening
• New Re-Roof Replacement
He takes a detailed look at the history of aviation in the Midlands, featuring the early days in Wolverhampton, Birmingham and Walsall and the creation of the firm Boulton and Paul - and offers some surprising facts, as well as some amazing characters.
Join us at Codsall Village Hall at 7:45pm - 9:15pm. Visitors are very welcome, £4.
Codsall & Bilbrook History Society is a registered charity with a current membership of over 140. We hold regular meetings and events and sell numerous publications chronicling the history of the area, written by our own members. To find out more about the society, visit www.codsallhistory.org
Photo: Tiger Moth G-ANCX at Pendeford Airfield, which closed in 1970. The proximity of the airfield, with a workforce skilled in engineering, helped attract Boulton and Paul aircraft manufacturers, originally of Norwich, to open a new factory in neighbouring Bilbrook in the 1930s. Photo courtesy of ATC History.
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Children’s Charity Seeking Volunteer Mentors
Children’s charity Mentor Link is recruiting Volunteer Mentors from the Codsall and surrounding area to support vulnerable children and young people in schools in Wolverhampton who are facing social and emotional difficulties impacting on their motivation to learn and themselves.
Mentor Link would like to hear from people in business and community with an interest in supporting a young person to achieve their full potential. The mentors are fully trained to listen to and support children and young people and aim to improve their self- esteem, confidence and engagement in learning. The charity has an excellent track record of success in achieving positive outcomes with children and young people as one young person writes, “I like going to see my mentor. When I see her it makes me feel happy and more calm and more able to get
on better in class.”
Mentor Link is a safer recruiter and requires two 2-character references, and Enhanced DBS.
Full training and ongoing training and support, and a dedicated team of staff to support you in your role.
If you can spare 1– 2 hours a week, and can commit to a minimum of 6 months volunteering please contact enquiries@mentorlink.org.uk
Stage is set for stunning stafford shakespeare show
‘Dark, visually stunning and played at pace, HAMLET is going to be something special.’
So says award-winning Director Richard Cheshire, who is heading up a Stafford Shakespeare production for the first time this summer (June 24 to July 5). ‘I can’t give too much away, but HAMLET is such a strong visual play with ghosts, battlements, murder and madness galore that it offers an incredible scope to produce something that makes audiences go ‘Wow!’.
‘And I think that’s what will happen with Stafford Shakespeare this summer.’
Set designer Patrick Connellan has previously worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company and Richard added: ‘it’s a real coup to have someone of his standing on board. It reiterates how Stafford Shakespeare is so highly thought of in the industry. it’s one of THE most prestigious productions in provincial theatre and people are very keen to be involved.’
More than 2,000 tickets have already been sold and Marketing Manager Keith Harrison said: ‘We’re thrilled with the response to HAMLET. tickets are selling really well and we’ve got lots of community groups and schools coming along too. For some, it will be the first time they’ve seen Shakespeare on stage –and it is by far the best way to enjoy his work. Having seen some design concepts everyone here is very excited and it’s going to be an incredible production.’
In the story, young prince Hamlet returns home to find his father the King dead and his mother about to marry his villainous uncle. The King’s ghost visits and tells him to avenge his killing – but how should he go about it? Will he put his own life at risk? his sanity? Or both?
Set in contemporary (but not quite modern-day) times, the dramatic set is under construction at the Gatehouse Theatre workshop in Beaconside, Stafford. Tickets from the Gatehouse Box Office 01785 619080 or www.gatehousetheatre.co.uk
Please note: Opening night performance SOLD OUT
Romy Gill’s Coconut Chicken Curry
Introduction
British Indian chef, writer and TV star Romy Gill knows that every household needs a reliable and simple curry recipe in their back pocket.
Method
1. Put the quartered chicken thighs into a bowl with the spices, lime or lemon juice and salt. Toss together well.
2. Heat the oil in a medium non-stick frying pan and fry the chicken pieces for 4-5 minutes, or until lightly browned and cooked through, stirring regularly. Set aside.
3. To make the sauce, heat the oil in a medium non-stick frying pan. Add the cumin seeds and cook for 10-15 seconds, then stir in the onion. Reduce the heat to low and cook for 5-6 minutes, or until softened, stirring regularly. Add the ginger and garlic and cook for 2-3 minutes more, stirring constantly.
-MattInwood
4. Pour the coconut water and coconut cream into the pan and bring to a simmer. Add the chicken to the pan and simmer for 3-4 minutes, or until cooked through. Stir in the chilli and spinach (or pak choi) and allow to wilt for 1-2 minutes.
5. Divide the curry between two plates and serve with
Ingredients
Serves 2
• 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into quarters
• 1 tsp ground turmeric
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tbsp fresh lime or lemon juice
• 1½ tbsp sunflower oil
• ½ tsp fine sea salt
For the sauce
• 1 tbsp sunflower oil
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
• 15g fresh root ginger, peeled and finely grated
• 2 garlic cloves, finely grated
• 400g tin coconut milk, watery liquid (around 250ml) and 2 tbsp of the coconut cream from the top
• ½ red chilli, finely chopped
• 50g baby spinach or pak choi, thickly shredded
Credit
Midlands Air Ambulance Charity’s Patient Liaison Service Reaches Record Milestone
Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, the lifesaving emergency service has achieved a new milestone.
The charity’s patient liaison and aftercare service has now received more than 100 responses to its patient and relative feedback surveys which were introduced in April 2024. The surveys enable people to leave their feedback which is used to further improve the patient care that Midlands Air Ambulance Charity provides.
Through these surveys, patients and their families can also be put in direct contact with the clinicians who treated them or their loved one, with many wishing to say thanks for the lifesaving care they received. The patient liaison and after care service provides invaluable emotional and practical support to those who have been involved in life-changing incidents and their families.
Kerry Hemus, patient liaison lead and critical care paramedic for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity said: “We are dedicated to provided outstanding care to our patients and their loved ones, this is why we offer a dedicated patient liaison and aftercare service that supports our past and present patients through their recovery as well as provide help for bereaved families through their grief.”
Together, Kerry and her colleague Rob Davies are available to offer support, information about patients’ incidents and signpost to additional support services. They can be
contacted via email: patient.liaison midlandsairambulance . com or by calling the charity’s headquarters on 0800 8 40 20 40.
Midlands Air Ambulance Charity serves the largest air ambulance region in the UK. This includes the communities of Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, West Midlands, and Worcestershire, representing a population in excess of six million. The charity responds to an average of 4,300 missions each year.
Each year it costs £16million just to keep the three charity helicopters and fleet of critical care cars operational. Each air ambulance mission costs £2,950 on average and each critical care car mission costs £288, which is entirely funded by the generosity of the public and local businesses.
To find out more about Midlands Air Ambulance Charity’s patient liaison and aftercare service, please visit: midlandsairambulance.com/ missions/patient-liaison-service.
For more information on the vital work of Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, visit midlandsairambulance.com.
NEWBRIDGE HOUSE RESIDENTIAL CARE
For individuals with Dementia, Alzheimers or Mental Health Issues
Welcome to Newbridge House, a specialised dementia residential facility set back from Tettenhall Road in Wolverhampton. We offer respite, emergency, and step-down care. Our environment promotes independence and involvement, enhancing life experiences for all residents. With large bright corridors, bespoke signage and handrails across the home.
Our Facilities:
31 Luxury Single Bedrooms
Designed for dementia and mental health. Every bedroom has an en-suite, some boasting wet room en-suite. We also have a number of assisted bathrooms and shower rooms along with disabled friendly WC’s, all conveinently placed near communal areas. Room option prices vary based on location, facilities, and size.
Engaging Weekly Activities for Residents
Fall prevention, chair-based exercise, singing sessions, and special seasonal events such as pantomime performances. We have a jam packed activities schedule throughout the week and additional activities at weekend’s for special events. Its fair to say always something in the diary!
Sensory Courtyard Garden
We have a sensory garden complete with pond and outside gazebo seating area. Suitable for all mobility levels, with focal points for those who wander. Our large mature gardens and garden room were designed especially to facilitate meaningful visits.
Health Services
Our residents have weekly GP visits and have access to a hairdresser, chiropodist, dentistry, optician, and hearing services.
Inside the Home
We have a beach style diner, a small 1960’s themed kitchen/seating area, a quiet lounge, conservatory, and a large lounge. Corridors are themed with focal points of interests for the residents that may wander.
All signage across the suite has been designed with supporting individuals with dementia in mind - assisting a greater understanding of the environment.
We are taking enquires for both long and short term stays, we are also able to take placements in an emergency if we have vacancies. We have a long established relationship with local social services and CCG. Our CQC rating is Good.
Our fees range depending upon the room choice, starting from £846.00 per week.
For more information please visit our website at www.newbridgecarehome.co.uk
ENERGY EFFICIENT
We install A Rated windows as standard with A+/A++ options. Available for maximum energy saving.
Security second to none. All our windows & doors can meet the police secured by design standard with hinge protectors and 3 star superior cylinders fitted as standard.
Fully trained installers with vast experience in the industry and long term employed by us. Quality products installed by professionals.
With our fully comprehensive 10 year insurance backed guarantee and back up service you can be confident you have spent your money wiseley. EXCELLENT SERVICE
A Design for Life… The Kevin McCloud Column
Designer, writer and television presenter, Kevin McCloud leapt into our consciousness with his vastly successful Grand Designs show on Channel 4. This month, the affable architectural business owner talks about colour and texture in the home, and which give him the greatest satisfaction.
Colour and texture – two of the most fundamental tools in the designer’s arsenal. Used well, they shape the atmosphere of a space, influencing not just how a room looks, but crucially, how it feels.
For me, there is a deeply personal resonance to colour. Some shades instinctively soothe, while others excite the senses to add drama and theatre. I’ve always had an affinity for deep, rich hues, with depth and complexity. A dark, inky blue like Farrow & Ball’s Hague Blue creates an instant sense of drama. It absorbs the light, pulling a room inwards, creating cosiness without suffocation. And then there’s
the timeless elegance of a deep forest green, reminiscent of stately libraries and spaces that exude intelligence and warmth.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, there’s something to be said for a muted, chalky palette. Soft greys, dusty pinks, and warm tones have a way of enveloping a space in calm. These shades, especially when paired with natural materials like wood, linen or stone, bring a quiet sophistication, particularly in bedrooms, a snug, or a reading nook where one can retreat with a book and a cup of tea.
Texture, too, is an unsung hero in interior design. Without it, a room can feel flat, lifeless even. Velvet has long been a favourite of mine – it has a tactility that invites touch, and when used sparingly, it can introduce a real sense of luxury. Think of a single velvet armchair in a rich ochre or aubergine, standing proudly in an otherwise understated oom. Equally, I love the rough, honest beauty of raw plaster or limewash walls. They have an authenticity about them – a story told through their imperfections.
Then there’s timber – a material that, when used well, never fails to ground a space. I’m particularly fond of oak, whether in the form of a reclaimed beam, a well-worn farmhouse table, or parquet flooring that has been walked
on for generations. It’s a material that wears its history proudly, acquiring a patina that no synthetic surface could ever hope to replicate.
At the end of the day, it’s fair to say the best spaces are those that elicit an emotional response. Whether it’s a moody dining room wrapped in dark charcoal, a sun-drenched kitchen with terracotta tiles underfoot, or a bathroom swathed in soft, cloudy whites, it all comes down to one simple question: how does the space make you feel? Get that right, and you’re already halfway there!
Marvellous May Reads
A mixed bag, from fantasy to football, the marine world to marvellous kiddy adventures – May has it all!
Big Dunc: The Upfront Autobiography by Duncan Ferguson (May 8th)
In Big Dunc Duncan Ferguson reveals the full story: the truth about his experiences in prison, partying with African princes and Liverpool gangsters, fighting with burglars, making and losing a fortune, and how he turned his life around through his beloved Everton Football Club.
Ocean: Earth’s Last Wilderness by Sir David Attenborough and Colin Butfield (May 8th)
With long-term collaborator Colin Butfield, Sir David Attenborough shares the story of our last great,
critical wilderness, the one which shapes the land we live on, regulates our climate, and creates the air we breathe.
It is a book almost a century in the making, but one that has never been so urgently needed.
The Knight and the Moth - Stonewater Kingdom by Rachel Gillig (May 20th)
Brimming with sublime romance and stunning worldbuilding, The Knight and the Moth opens a new epic romantasy saga from the TikTokconquering author of the Shepherd King sequence, Rachel Gillig.
The World’s Worst Superheroes by David Walliams (May 22nd)
And is that an especially large bird? Is it a weirdly small plane? No: it’s Thunderdog!
The World’s Worst series continues with a volume of 10 thrilling adventures, as the silliest and strongest superheroes on the planet find themselves in riotously unexpected situations.
It all adds up to fun and frolics for young readers.
84 Queens Road, Calf Heath
WV10 7DT
625,000
FREEHOLD
This impressive three-storey executive detached home, located in the sought-after area of Calf Heath, offers an exceptional blend of style and practicality. Set on a desirable corner plot, the property features a stunning open-plan kitchen/diner perfect for modern living and entertaining. The spacious master bedroom benefits from its own ensuite, while the guest bedroom also enjoys the luxury of an additional ensuite, providing comfort and privacy for all. With a detached double garage and easy access to both the M54 and M6 motorways, this home is ideally located for commuting, offering a perfect balance of luxury and convenience. A well manicured exterior with landscaped gardens with the rear being private and spacious.
Five Bedroom In Semi-Rural Location
Deceptively Spacious Detached
Three Storey Superbly Appointed
Stunning Contemporary Kitchen
Two Ensuite’s & Family Bathroom & Shower Room
Detached Double Garage & Ample Parking
CROSS WORD PUZZLE
Solve the clues to this straight crossword.
ACROSS
1. Guardians (6)
5. Proof that someone was elsewhere during a crime (5)
7. Falling off the side of a ship (9)
10. Small, decorative object with a hole (4)
11. To remain in one place (4)
12. Gradual change (9)
16. Did again, past tense of redo (5)
17. To signal (6)
DOWN
1. Short for ammunition (4)
2. Baby sheep (4)
3. Make something unclear (4)
4. Composed of two parts (6)
6. To scold (6)
8. Internal organs (5)
9. A small, specific part (6)
10. Not clear (6)
13. Having excessive pride (4)
14. Strongly encourage (4)
15. Bright, glowing gas (4)
WHAT’S ON IN MAY AT YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY
Regular Events and Activities at your local Library this month
PERTON LIBRARY ASTRONOMY CLUB
15th May, 19th June
7pm-9pm (usually every third Thursday of the Month)
Pop along to our next meeting for informal chat, presentations and observing if the skies are clear. Bring your own telescope or binoculars if you have them and get help in making the most of them. Beginners welcome!
Contact us for more information on 01902506060 or email: perton.library@staffordshire.gov.uk
SCIENCE
FAIR & SPRING FESTIVAL
Perton Library Saturday 10th April 10am - 3:00pm
Perton Library and Wild About Perton are hosting a family-friendly Science Fair & Spring Festival, as part of Green Libraries Month.
at Codsall Library
First Monday of the month 11am-12:30pm
at Perton Library
First Thursday of the month 10am-12pm
Contact Perton Library on 01902 506050 or Codsall Library on 01902 506060 for more information.
RECYCLE AT YOUR LIBRARY
Staffordshire Libraries in South Staffordshire are teaming up with Waste Savvy Staffs to expand a bra recycling scheme that also helps to support the ‘Against Breast Cancer’ Charity.
Bra recycling banks are onsite at Codsall, Perton, Wombourne Library and Kinver Community Library and we hope to roll out this offer elsewhere as well.
You can also find ink cartridge recycling points (and battery boxes soon) at Codsall, Perton and Wombourne to dispose of those unwanted ink cartridges.
To find out more contact your local library or search for Waste Savvy Staffs on Facebook.
Funded by Friends of Perton Library, Wild About Perton, and the County Council Digital Infrastructure Team, the event features STEMbotics robot and coding workshops*, Zoolab animal workshops*, a chance to meet an astronaut and hold a meteorite, Medical Mavericks, family activities with Veolia, exhibits from the Lapworth Museum of Geology, ‘Earth Stories’ pop-up cinema, forensics with Staffordshire Police, and stalls from Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, Bumblebee Conservation Trust, the County Council Climate Change Team, and more.
Bookable events: STEMbotics (ages 5+, four sessions between 10am–2:45pm) and Zoolab (three sessions between 11am–1:45pm). To book, contact Perton Library on 01902 506050 or perton.library@staffordshire.gov.uk.
IT BUDDY AVAILABLE
at Codsall Library Every Tuesday 2:00pm – 4:00pm
Free-Bookable slots. Please contact Codsall Library for more information or to book on 01902 506060.
READING GROUP
at Codsall Library
3rd Tuesday of each month 6:45pm until 7:45pm
1st Thursday of the month 10:30am until 11:30am
Please contact Codsall Library for more information on 01902 506060.
For more information and regular events, see www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Libraries
COMPTON CARE BEREAVEMENT HUB
Hobbies Wordsearch
Hobbies
We are the charity that steps forward in the moments that matter, to
First Aid:
Volunteer: Youth: Education: Join us as a Community First Aider, Emergency Responder, Ambulance Crew or HCP. Donate to our life saving work!
Our youth programs teach the next generation of life savers through our Badger & Cadet groups. We can teach your community group to save a life. Your event, we’ve got it covered. Keeping the public safe.
