theVINE June Issue by Frankie

This issue is supported by:

Why not write in with your comments and questions? The VINE, ʻLETTERSʼ PO Box 4320, Walsall WS1 9AF or email us at info@thevinepublication.com

dear editor...

AWARDS

DIVERSITY

Has the Vine won any awards for its excellence? As a Brummie I have to say The Vine can now say that that I’m so proud of this magazine. I love to read about the different people it’s the Number 1 Ethnic publication North of London. I look forward with such out there doing their thing. There is just so much reading and something for everyone. I was touched by the Yusef article, fascinated by the anticipation to getting my copy of The Vine Trevor piece; Your BBC was a good read. Had mixed feelings on and this last issue was absolutely brilliant. It had Undercover Brother but I will leave that alone. Sarah such a varied selection of people Black, Asian, White, and Chinese and was such an enjoyable read. Please keep up the excellent work, its really appreciated. Lyn

Sarah, we must let you know that our award for any excellence truly comes from you the community. Getting your letters, emails and support is worth more than a trophy to put away Lyn, The Vine is striving to represent all aspects in a cabinet. The Vine seeks to show our community in a true light, as there are a lot of positive things going on, and if I might of the community as the Midlands can boast add because of men like Kirk Dawes (Undercover Brother)! of having an amazing mix of diversity. We at The Vine are fortunate enough to meet lots BBC of people from different backgrounds I found the article on David Holdsworth with a story or achievement worthy and the BBC riveting and so interesting. Funny, of printing for the beneﬁt of I’m always complaining about a lack of Black people in senior all. Thanks for your management positions and I think Lenny Henry was right. I do however support. think the article came across as very genuine and informative giving me the feeling that Mr Holdsworth really had his ﬁnger on the pulse. Can I say Mr Holdsworth, good move to put an article in The Vine because to a lot of us this is the BLUE NOSE! people’s magazine and if you want to get a message to this community you just found Vine you did a feature on the right avenue to reach us? Janet Reo Coker the Villa player. I’m a big Blues and Vine After meeting David Holdsworth The Vine can categorically inform the Fan and I have paid for my community that this man and his team are well informed on the issue subscription. My point being I of diversity and certainly are not afraid to address the areas now expect to see a Birmingham that need improving. Birmingham BBC is leading the City Footballer on your front cover way on a national scale, so lets support and maybe Cameron Jerome, Mehdi encourage them. Nafti, Fabrice Muamba there are loads more to choose from in the REFUGEES Blues team. “Come on you Blues” It’s such a shame that your ‘asylum seeker to barrister’ article was so Robin short. I’m sure the story behind Maleeka Bokhari would have been a fantastic read. Could The Vine please do a feature on the plights of Fair is fair Robin so we will refugees and how they cope with starting a new life in another country? see what we can do. All other Abass vine subscribers that support other football teams within the Thanks Abass for your suggestion. Excellent idea! This is the Midlands pleased don’t get any reason why we encourage all the community to write in with their ideas! ideas. Please watch this space!

REFLECTION This issue of The Vine I feel has truly reﬂected the diversity of the community. When I saw Trevor McDonald in The Vine I really didn’t expect it to be so personal and felt that we were getting some insight into the man himself. I think you guys are setting a very high standard. Well done and keep up the good standards. Amy What can we say but Thank you! 02

theVINE June 2008

HERO Is it me or is The Vine magazine becoming middle class and forgetting the little man in the community? Trevor Mac, Lenny Henry I never see those guys walking around my community. Come on don’t forget your roots. Rose Trevor McDonald & Lenny Henry have made a signiﬁcant contribution on a national and international level that is well worth reading about. As for forgetting the little man, everyone featured in The Vine, whether they read the news or work in the local corner shop is a hero to us.

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PROMOTING DIVERSITY IN THE ROYAL NAVY

ieutenant Commander Neville Bryce heads up the Royal Navy’s Diversity Awareness Team (DAT). The DAT are part of the Directorate of Royal Naval Recruiting and has personnel from all backgrounds carrying out this work all over the country. The teams, which visits colleges, community and multifaith centres organise events and presentations and highlight the variety of careers opportunities available within the Royal Navy, showing how accessible the organisation is to people from different backgrounds. I am proud to have been chosen as one of the many role models, to show what can be achieved by hard work, determination and discipline in the work place. The Royal Navy is making great steps to inform young people from culturally diverse backgrounds of the many benefits of a career in the Navy by visiting schools, colleges, universities, youth clubs and faith centres. Life in the Royal Navy offers more than just a job. You could be part of the team and have ‘a life without limits’. Work with us, and you will have all the professional opportunities of your civilian friends. However, you will also go places and do things that most people only dream about. From a council house to Buckingham Palace I joined the RN as a Marine Engineering Artificer Apprentice in 1977 and served on Intrepid during the Falklands War obtaining my submarine qualification in 1986. After two years as the ‘Chief of the Boat’ on HMS Opportune, I was selected for promotion to the commissioned ranks in 1991. I was awarded the MBE by Her Majesty the Queen at Buckingham Palace in 1999 for managing the repair of the nuclear

A football enthusiast is waving goodbye to the world’s oceans after being appointed in a key role as the Diversity Recruiting Ofﬁcer, to promote recruitment of Ethnic Minorities into the Royal Navy.

submarine HMS Tireless in Gibraltar. Since returning from Gibraltar, I have completed appointments to HMS Victorious, as the Deputy Marine Engineering Ofﬁcer and HM Naval Base Portsmouth, as the Project Manager, responsible to the Naval Base Commander for providing advice on all nuclear matters. After 32 years service, I will leave the Royal Navy in September 2009 with many memories of all the countries visited and post graduate diplomas in emergency planning and nuclear engineering technology and more recently a masters degree in Engineering and Technology. What other job could an ordinary boy from a working class background, living on a council estate and educated in a local school achieve 7 promotions whilst working for the same company? I am not going to pretend that life has

been plane sailing during the 32 years to date, but the Royal Navy has provided me with a good life, security and good academic education in preparation for leaving the Royal Navy. “THE ROYAL NAVY WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD, WITH PROPER RULES IRRESPECTIVE OF YOUR CULTURAL BACKGROUND” Schools and Colleges interested in visits from the Royal Navy’s Diversity Awareness Team please call 0207 305 3320. Anyone interested in joining the Royal Navy can pop into any Armed Forces Careers Ofﬁce. Appointments are not necessary as Naval Careers Advisors are always available to talk to during normal working hours. Alternatively, you can phone 08456 07 55 55, or visit the Royal Navy website on royalnavy.mod.uk/careers.

front room a chat in the

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After seeing the advert for Oakland Windows in The Vine magazine we decided to give them a call. They came at the requested time, but I donʼt know what impressed me more, the smart suits or their friendly attitude. Whilst looking at my old conservatory, they talked me through all the options that were open to me. I knew straight away that I could trust Oakland Windows, because they suggested that I kept my current tiled ﬂoor in order to keep my costs down. On the day of installation they arrived at 9am and started work immediately and as promised they were completed within 2 days and even washed and cleaned the whole conservatory before they left! Oakland Windows are the company to choose for your home improvement needs and if you call now you can qualify for the special offer discounts that are available through The Vine. – Robert, a satisﬁed customer.

Theatrical

“Don”

of Birmingham

The playwright Don Kinch tells us about ﬁnding “his story” through writing and the changes in Birmingham’s culture scene since 1989.

“

seem to have a gift for starting things,” Don Kinch explains. The nationally respected playwright is not exaggerating. Don Kinch is a fairly perfect interview for this month’s issue of The Vine. His laid back attitude conceals a real power engine for the progression of black arts in the UK in the last thirty years. It all started when Don, who was originally born in Barbados, studied at the University of London, Goldsmith’s College. His initial degree was in drama and sociology, which he followed by a postgraduate course in anthropology. During his anthropology course, he had to do a project and decided to write a play. This process impressed him so much that he continued, and now sits with a heady 14 plays to his name. Don’s plays try to address social issues and the psychology of African people in Britain. His first play Coming Up For Air, which he wrote in 1983, tackled the theme of mental illness within the African community. It proved a success and Don will be revisiting it this year, with a stage reading of the play on the 21st May at the Drum, followed by a full production in autumn. He is currently adapting his play “Not Quite Gospel” 0riginally written for Radio 4 which he hopes will be performed in churches across the country, starting in spring next year. The play is about the pull between the secular and sacred world; a young girl wants to sing but is unsure where she should sing and what type of music. Don, a church-goer, reflects that the idea has been influenced by meeting young people, who tell him they used to go to church but stopped for various reasons. Writing initially seems to have been motivated not just by exploring

important social issues, but also by wanting to discover more about his own cultural identity. Initially, when studying drama at university, the focus on European theatre and literary conventions made him feel “a degree of alienation”. But looking back, while appreciating some excellent literature and theatre, this prompted him to look within and ask:“Is there a theatre which belongs to me? Is there a literature which belongs to me?” He spoke to his Professor Mike Baldwin about his struggle, and the professor pointed him to a sea of black writers, leading Don on a voyage of self discovery. Through this Don started to reconcile the two divergent paths of his life: his childhood in Barbados and his Barbadian inﬂuences when growing up in London, which contrasted with the mainstream culture of England and his time at university. This led Don to a new mission statement: “I set out to ﬁnd, locate and build a literature that is about me really, my story, as opposed to someone else’s story.” Throughout his career he has combined writing with teaching, and been involved in a list of key black arts organisations. In London he set up Staunch Poets and Players and edited Staunch magazine. Moving to Birmingham in 1989, he then founded theThird Dimension andAfrican Peoples Theatre companies. He produced in 1989 the International Black Arts Festival “Kajoyo” in Birmingham, which had a range of artists coming from the US, Africa and the Caribbean over a period of three months and performing across the country. Now Don is working as Executive director of Nu Century Arts, which is a company he created seven years ago with his son, the prestigious Jazz

musician, Soweto Kinch. The company’s remit is on both music and theatre and covers a range of activities, Professional: a young people’s theatre company and theatre workshops and The Livebox, a live music session held weekly at The Drum. In addition he is editor of Wired Up, a magazine which aims to be a positive voice for African-Caribbean arts and theatre. Don explains to me the transition of Birmingham culturally and artistically since he moved here in 1989.”At one point I began to miss London for activity, for things happening, but today it’s a very different place and people come to Livebox and say: ‘I wish we had this in London.’”

Working together for the good of all communities

he National Blood Service (NBS) needs to collect 7,000 donations every single day to help treat patients in hospitals across England and North Wales. The NBS welcome all new donors however certain blood groups are more common in particular ethnic groups. At present only three per cent of regular blood donors are from Asian, African or African Caribbean descent meaning there is a real need for more members of these communities to come forward and donate. Blood transfusions are used in a variety of situations from emergency surgery to helping patients through cancer treatment but they are also used to control ongoing conditions.Thalassaemia major is an inherited blood disorder where sufferers cannot produce enough red cells and require lifelong monthly blood transfusions to survive. It is important to note that you can donate blood if you have sickle cell or thalassaemia trait! There is also a lack of bone marrow donors from the BME community.You have to be a blood donor in order to join the British Bone Marrow Registry. If you would like to join the Registry, mention it to a member of staff prior to donation. Start making a difference today by donating blood because you never know when someone you know might need a blood transfusion. Anyone aged between 17 and 59, weighing more than 50 kg (7 stone 12 lbs) and in general good health could potentially start saving lives by becoming a blood donor. For details of sessions in your area or to book an appointment call 0845 7 711 711 or visit www.blood.co.uk. Alternatively, ﬁll in and return the enrolment form opposite.

theVine shows you everything great that’s happening in your community! Now, do you feel like giving something Currently less than 0.5% of the donor base come from the black community. Not enough is it. GIVE BLOOD = SAVE LIVES! It’s that simple. FILL OUT THE FORM BELOW AND SEND IT TO US—FREEPOST—AND IN RETURN WE WILL GIVE YOU ALL THE INFORMATION YOU NEED TO SAVE THREE LIVES. (Because donations get split into three vital parts, to help three different people each time!) If you think you have a reason (medical or otherwise) which prevents you from giving blood, ring 0845 7 711 711 and a trained operator will be able to answer your questions.

..............................................................  To do something amazing simply fill out this form and send it FREEPOST in an envelope to: Donor Marketing Dept, (ref. VINE), FREEPOST, National Blood Service, Vincent Drive, Birmingham, B15 2SG. (Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms)

FIRSTNAME:...................................................................................... SURNAME:......................................................................................... ADDRESS: ………..……….....………....………………....................... …………………………….……………................................................. …………………………........................................................................ ............................................................................................................ POST CODE:….……………............................................................... D.O.B:................................................................................................. EMAIL:............................................................................................... HOME TEL: ...................................MOBILE:..................................... SIGNATURE:..................................................................................... DATE:................................................................................................

I’d also like to learn more about bone marrow donation For Office Use Only: Recruitment Code ...................

I w ould like to j oin the NHS Blood Donor Register as someone w ho may be contacted and w ould be prepared to dona te blood. I understa nd that the National Blood Serv ice (NBS) or its par tners may contact me by letter, phone, SMS (text message) or e -mail w ith details of local donor session. I agree to the NBS hol ding m y personal details on their donor data base and processing this

National Media Museum/SSPL

Waiting to disembark from â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Empire Windrushâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, 21st June 1948

Windrush

Sam King

When Sam King, then aged 22, stepped off HMS Windrush on June 22nd 1948, it was the second time he had set foot in England.

To celebrate the 60th an we have interviewed two o to talk about that fateful and what Windrus Both stories are very dif and tell of the struggles a wave of Caribb

nniversary of Windrush, of the original passengers journey, their lives since sh means to them. fferent but equally valid, and sacriďŹ ces of the ďŹ rst bean migrants.

George McPherson

The second youngest Windrush passenger, who now lives in Handsworth, spoke to us of his struggle in England and his love for the wife that kept him here.

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Michelle Grindley, Women’s Business Development Agency (WBDA), Broad Street Enterprise Centre, Coventry

The Beauty of Art

Art is a language that anybody can speak, it is the one true Universal language, which does not have to adhere to any border, bow down to any Government or belong to any race, creed or class of people. Any Individual – man, woman or child, able-bodied or not, sighted or blind, afﬂicted mentally, imprisoned or free has the ability to express that which is within them, and to convey the message to another via the work that is produced. It is a medium that is ageless, with pictures thousands of years old still standing testament to their makers and still conveying a message to us over the span of time. We have the cups and whorls chipped into the large stones by earlier man, and the heavily debated works of art cut into the hillside of England, all of which allows us to feel the wonder, awe and inspiration of the creators. Art has the ability to speak direct to the soul within, to bring tears to the eyes; at its most powerful it is the unwritten, unspoken expression of ones soul, able to convey a beauty beyond the limitations of speech, and at its most horriﬁc, the

conveyor of pain, devastation and death. The artwork produced by death camp inmates carries the sorrows of the soul that has seen humanity defaced and deﬁled. Who can fail to be moved, even more so as we know how the story ends. Likewise who can fail to see the godly in the works of Pugin, Michaelangelo, Picasso or in the devastating female beauty as portrayed by Rosetti. We all have this ability to paint, or draw or to depict something from within ourselves. We may not have the technical ability to produce something along the lines of the Old Masters, but why would we want to? Art is an expression of us as individuals, yes it can be tempered by the times that we live in, our life experience is in every bush stroke and line, but, it remains us. Forever a part of us, which will exist after we have gone. Art allows us to live forever. Rosa Montrose

Introducing Dwele…

Grammy-nominated Dwele, played at the The Drum in April, and The Vine had an exclusive post- gig interview.

f you think you have yet to hear Dwele’s ﬁne vocals, then you’re probably wrong. He is featured on Kanye West’s new single “Flashing Lights” but has also featured on other hits, including: Common’s “The People” and Slum Villages “Tainted”. A solo artist with two albums already under his belt: “Subject” (2003) and “Some Kinda…” (2005), his new album is set to be released in June. The Detroit born artist is now set to make his mark on the UK. Dwele describes his music as: “A mixture of hip-hop, soul, R’n’B, a little bit of jazz- depending on where I am when I am creating.” As a child, he grew up listening to jazz. His early idols were Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway, John Coltrane and Roy Ayers. At High School he became immersed in R’n’B, which created his style today. But his biggest inspiration of all was his father. “My pops [sic] was the big inspiration

God has brought me

for me to get into music. He taught me my ﬁrst few things on the keyboard, before he passed. That kind of urged me to get into music: to keep a part of him with me.” We asked him for tips for any other aspiring artists. “You have to take advantage of the free promotion of the internet: MySpace…make your music stand out and get your music out there.” As a role model for our youth, we asked him if rappers have a social responsibility, to their often young audience, not just to produce negative lyrics. Dwele agrees: “Most deﬁnitely… to a youth that’s growing up and doesn’t know any better, they’re getting taught this and there needs to be more of a balance.” Dwele means “God has brought me” in Swahili: we asked him if God is still

leading him? “Most deﬁnitely, I always give honour to Him.” He has big plans for the next year- he is branching out into acting and wants to do more music production. With a strong faith and strong talent driving him, Dwele shines with ambition: “I haven’t arrived yet. I never want to arrive. I always want to be striving- it’s all about the journey, so I just want to keep on journeying.”

We can provide you with free impartial information and advice about:

• Holiday activities

• Childcare options including:-

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Childminders • Day Nurseries • Pre-School/playgroups Creches • Parent and Toddler groups Before and After School clubs • Children’s Centres Extended School Services • Free Nursery Education Grant Paying for childcare • Working Tax Credit Maternity and Paternity Rights • Flexible working

Walsall Children’s Information Service Challenge Building, 1 Hatherton Street, Walsall WS1 1YB Telephone: 01922 653383 Email: Childcare@walsall.gov.uk

Bringing out the best in everyone.

We need foster carers and adopters who have the time and energy to provide black and dual heritage children with a safe and caring home. Bringing out the best in a child could bring out the best in you.

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www.children.sandwell.gov.uk

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First Class Youth Direct is the new service that helps you stay connected to young people.

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USING INNOVATION- CREATIVITY- PASSION - TIME Our vision is simple “we aim to create a new brand and generation of young people, to change the perceptions of how mainstream services are traditionally delivered by providing a powerful 1st class service, built on using innovative young leaders at the core of the service delivery that will set the standard for following generations to come, helping them to release their potential in record time”. Our Mission is a lifestyle “to become the UK’s leading Outreach and Engagement Agency that engages and brings light to young people who ordinarily wouldn’t access mainstream services. We will help organisations who have a need and requirement to engage and access young people, through using POWERFUL, relevant & customised packages involving young people directly and seeking to provide a service that exceeds our client’s expectations”.

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Network for Black

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Booksby Brummies

NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH OF GOD

THE VILLA CROSS PROJECT CHASE NORTON CONSTRUCTION Ltd have tendered for and subsequently been awarded the contract to demolish the old church and construct a new Community Church Complex for the New Testament Church of God on the Lozells Road site in Lozells, Birmingham. This is an exciting project for the community, demolition has commenced and completion of the Church Complex is expected in the spring of 2009.

Sub Contractors or suppliers from the local area are required for the following trades: • Plastering •Security • Bricklaying • Painting and Decorating • Carpentry • Floor Finishing • Rooﬁng • Wall Tiling For further information please contact: Steve Record, Senior Quantity Surveyor Chase Norton Construction Ltd. Diddington Hall, Kenilworth Road Meriden, Warwickshire. CV7 7HQ Tel: 01675 444 222 – Fax: 01675 250 Email: admin@chasenorton.com – Web: www.chasenorton.com Whilst our new church complex is under construction we are worshipping at: King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School, Rose Hill Road, Handsworth, B21 9AR If you would like to make a donation to our building fund please contact our ofﬁce at: Tel: 0121 554 1358 Web: www.ntcg-handsworth.org.uk Email: info@ntcg-handsworth.org.uk

Wings of Steel

f someone had told me when I was at school that one day I would run my own business, I would have laughed at them. My only ambition at that time was to earn my living with a cricket bat playing at Sabina Park or The Oval. However, I set up a business with a friend and some money from my Dad.We sold steel beams to the construction industry. In 1998, I went solo as G & D Steels Ltd in Hockley. I have been fortunate in that my brother Larry has been at my side. Recently, we put up a 4500 square ft warehouse and ofﬁce for the business. It has been an extremely stressful time but again I have been supported by the prayers of my family and a loyal workforce.The builder, Elson Newton has been a God send and has become a valued friend. It is always nice to receive positive comments but the nicest comment we’ve had came from a customer who said “You’ve always run a professional business but now you really look the part”.

G & D Steels Limited Tel: 0121 523 9929

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Lisa Hill (spa

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“when you grow up in India films are just part of life”

PENALTIES – coming soon

EMPLOYERS ACT NOW OR PAY THE PRICE!

This year a special enforcement team will be in Birmingham to assess legal compliance in the hospitality sector. This will affect YOU. They will look at minimum wage, working time, contracts, terms and conditions, health & safety and legal compliance in the area of employment law. Acas advisers are here to help. We are nothing to do with any aspect of enforcement. Our involvement is entirely conﬁdential and discreet. Anything said to us or observed by us stays with us. We are part of a project being run by Marketing Birmingham and funded by BERR. Our role is to offer: • A free diagnostic visit to ﬁnd out what you need • Advice on how to improve your practices and procedures, if you need it • Free use of a designated business advisor to help you with any employment related concerns you may have • Vouchers to attend two training sessions of your choice, training designed to address employment issues that cause problems for the smaller employer The purpose is to establish a reputation for professionalism in the hospitality sector in Birmingham which is second to none. There will be visitors to the 2012 games who will spend a lot of time away from the Olympics and London and Birmingham needs to position itself to take advantage of this. There will be no cost to you other than your time and willingness. In return you will have a more successful business and the comfort of knowing you need not fear a visit from any of the enforcement teams.

The project has limited resources so call us now Telephone Mobile Jayne Willats 01922 415032 07796 401598 Joanne Bickley 01922 693913 07796 940188

Photo by Jillian Edelstein after Henry Fuseli

SEASON OPENS

3 APRIL 2008 THE MERCHANT STRATFORD-UPON-AVON OF VENICE THE TAMING OF THE SHREW A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM HAMLET LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

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(NO BOOKING FEE, CALLS FROM BT LANDLINE COST 5P PER MINUTE)

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MYJO + Andy Prior

Saturday 31 May, 7.30pm in Theatre Award-winning Youth Jazz Orchestra with bandleader & vocalist Andy Prior. Tickets: £13 (£12)

FUN SHOWS IN PARKS outdoor music & drama The Cavern Beatles - in Knowle Park Saturday 12th July, 7.30pm

Tickets: £7 (£3 child) in advance £8 (£4 child) on gate.

Charley’s Aunt

- in Brueton Park

Wednesday 9th July, 7.30pm

Tickets: £8 (£7, £3 child) in advance £10 (£9, £4 child) on gate. Age: 8+

Midsummer Nights Dream - in Brueton Park Wednesday 16th July, 7.30pm

Tickets: £8 (£7, £3 child) in advance £10 (£9, £4 child) on gate. Age: 6+

Peter Pan - in Brueton Park Wednesday 23rd July, 7pm

Tickets: £6 in advance £7 on gate. Age: 5+

Chris Packham - The Really Wild Life! Thursday 24 July, 2.30pm in Theatre Find out 50 things you didn’t know about wildlife in this lively, entertaining and illustrated talk. Tickets: £10 (£9)

DISCOVER GREAT BOX OFFICE MUSIC AT THE HEART OF

BIRMINGHAM

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SOWETO KINCH A Day in the life of B19 Part 2: Basement Fables

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SAX IN THE CITY

�� Andy Hamilton and the Blue Notes ��

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OLETA ADAMS ��

SUPPORTED BY: TOWN HALL RENOVATION FUNDED BY:

TOWN HALL MONTHLY FAMILY ACTIVITIES First Saturday of every month ��

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 

Drayton Manor Theme Park has plenty on offer to entertain families this summer. For the young and young at heart there is Thomas Land, Drayton Manorʼs brand new attraction. It boasts 12 wonderful themed rides, including Crankyʼs Drop Tower, Haroldʼs Heli-tours, Terenceʼs Driving School and the Troublesome Trucks Runaway Coaster. Thereʼs also indoor and outdoor play areas.

For the brave, the theme park, near Tamworth, Staffordshire, has some of the biggest, scariest and wettest rides around, including G-Force, The Bounty, Shockwave and Maelstrom. To win a family ticket for four, answer the following question:

WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE NEW ATTRACTION AT DRAYTON MANOR?

closing date: 30th June 2008

 

Enter online at www.thevinepublication.com or email joanne@thevinepublication.com or on a postcard to The Vine, PO Box 4320, Walsall WS1 9AF

Supplied by Anique James

Central to Thomas Land is Knapford Station, from where a special Thomas the Tank Engine train ride takes visitors on a journey to Tidmouth Hault near Drayton Manor Zoo

Midlands Mortgage Gallery (MMG) to the RESCUE. Midlands Mortgage Gallery Ltd (MMG) formerly known as Mortgage Rescue ltd are still offering Mortgage and Insurance services in this challenging environment even for clients with adverse credit history.

• We can help in ﬁnding cheaper life cover from a range of insurers. Many of us insure allsorts of things like cars, TV’s and our pets, but do not insure our greatest commodity… our lives.

At MMG we are having ﬁrst hand experience with our clients feeling the pinch and worrying about possible redundancies alongside the rise in mortgage rates all of which presents no better time to see where every household can make savings to beat the credit crunch.

If you are in the minority of people who do not have any life cover and you would not like to leave loved ones in ﬁnancial hardship we recommend you gives us a call and we will arrange over the phone to give you peace of mind.

• Accident sickness and unemployment …can you still pay the bills out of work? What will your work place pay you if you are off sick …SSP? Will it cover your bills? Have you missed mortgage payments because of sickness? We feel it would be easier to budget for £20 p/m in work now as opposed to £400 (or whatever your mortgage payment is) if you were out of work! What do you think?

• Critical Illness…It will never happen to me? Do you know anyone who has suffered from cancer or any other critical illness? Have they suffered ﬁnancial hardship as a result? Call us for a quote for your peace of mind.

• Home contents and Building Insurance? When was the last time you searched for a quotation? Have you checked the amount of excess you have to pay in the event of a claim? Have you checked your policy to see if it has accidental cover?

With the latest petrol increases and our weekly shop shooting through the roof, our spare cash at the end of the month has started to diminish. MMG set out to rescue some of your hard earned cash by reviewing all of your mortgage and existing insurances. Here’s how we can help:Rescue some pennies with a MMG Health Review.

All queries please contact our ofﬁces on 01922 629 614

IMMIGRATION PROBLEMS?

Mortgage Specialists

Get the best possible advice & rates whatever your circumstances

We can help individuals or companies with: • Immigration appeals/representation (asylum & immigration tribunals) • Work permits • Student visas • Overstayers • Business & investor status • Marriage & ﬁancée applications • Permanent residency pr British Nationality • HSMP refusals & human rights applications • Domestic violence immigration applications As well as court representation and all other immigration matters. We are a level 3 OISC registered ﬁrm.

FREE initial consultation Immigration Assist Ltd 415 Witton Road, Birmingham B6 6SP

Tel: 0121 356 4050 / 07833 675 415 Immigration Assist Ltd 105 Prosper House, 146/154 Kilburn High Road, London NW6 4JD

Tel: 0870 811 2550 / 07833 675 415

• • • • • •

REMORTGAGES BUY TO LET BUY COUNCIL PROPERTY FIRST TIME BUYERS OVERSEAS MORTGAGES PERSONAL LOANS AVAILABLE (secured & unsecured) • COMMERCIAL LENDING

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Call now for a FREE mortgage review

0121 373 6022 or visit

www.emanuelandpartners.com Email: emanuelandptrs@aol.com

590 College Road, Erdington, Birmingham B44 0HU Emanuel & Partners is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage or other loans secured on it. A fee of between 1% - 2% of the loan amount may be payable on completion depending on your circumstances.

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