Stone & Eccleshall Life June/July 2019

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Stone

& Eccleshall JUNE/JULY 2019

Life

SUMMER SEASON OF COMMUNITY EVENTS See our features and What’s On Guide inside

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EDITOR’S LETTER

All the fun of summer community events

Belinda Hargreaves Contents Editor life@timesandecho.co.uk Holly Keates & Tracey Redfern Design & Production Jane Walters Advertising Manager Tel: 07817 128582 jane@timesandecho.co.uk Tom Brian General Manager Tel: 07855 242693 tom@timesandecho.co.uk Times, Echo & Life Publications 18 Tape Street, Cheadle, Stoke-on-Trent ST10 1BD Tel: 01538 752214 www.timesechoandlife.co.uk life@timesandecho.co.uk Facebook - Search for Stone and Eccleshall Life

ummer's here and so too is a full programme of events for all the family to enjoy in and around Stone and Eccleshall.

Stone Festival and Carnival kicked off on May 27 and is running through until June 9, and there are also two more events well after the main summer festivities in December to enhance the community extravaganza's 50th year celebrations.

As Stone celebrates half a century of one of it's annual events, the village of Fulford will be celebrating an inaugural community event with their first ever village fun day.

Read all about what's happening at both of these fantastic events in this edition of the Stone & Eccleshall Life Magazine, and also check out our What's On guide for other events and activities taking place in our lovely area over the next two months.

We also have some inspiration stories within this edition from a skydiving fund-raiser to a family business which is now in it's fourth generation.

We also take a look at the achievements of a young canoeist, volunteers within a life-saving service, an award winning community show, as well as activities which have recently been carried out by members of both the Girlguiding and Scouting movements in the area.

I hope you enjoy reading this edition of the Stone & Eccleshall Life Magazine.

Please do get in touch by email at life@timesandecho.co.uk, if you have a story about life in this beautiful area of middle England.

Until next time – take care!

Belinda

Cover photo courtesy of Noel Bennett noelbennettphotography.co.uk, 01785 813888

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June/ July 2019

Editor’s Letter .............................................5

Eccleshall Community First Responders ...8

Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service ...........9 Dougie Mac ...............................................10

Eccleshall Show .........................................11

AED Donate ..............................................14

Great Manchester Run ..............................15

Lymestone Brewery...................................16 Art Exhibition............................................17

Stone Scottish Dancing Group..................18

Fulford Village...........................................19

Stone & District Scouts.............................20

Canoeing....................................................21

Charity Fundraising..................................22

CONTENTS

Skydiving for Charity ................................23 Stage Directions........................................24

What’s On .................................................26

Wedgwood ................................................29

Stone Festival and Carnival......................30

Gardening .................................................32

Staffordshire Magician .............................35

Worm Charming .......................................36 Central England Co-op .............................37

Cat Protection ...........................................38

Ironman 70.3 Staffordshire......................39

Eccleshall Parish Council .........................40

Canal Cruising ...........................................41

The Women’s Institute .............................42

Quiz Corner...............................................46 Investment Matters ..................................47

Motoring ...................................................48

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EcclEshall community First rEspondErs

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“Excellent night of music and entertainment”

life-saving charity has raised more than £1,000 by hosting an evening of music.

On Friday, May 10, Eccleshall Community First Responders hosted their first “Musical Extravaganza.”

The concert took place at Holy Trinity Church in Eccleshall and was attended by more than 300 people, and all of the artistes who contributed were local to Eccleshall area.

The measure of the success of the evening was such that, at the end of the concert, the first responders were being asked if they could run

them on a weekly basis.

Martin Watson, Group Co-ordinator said: “We had a fantastic turnout and raised the amazing amount of £1,200 which will help Eccleshall CFR’s maintain its lifesaving service to the community.

“It was an excellent night of music and entertainment.

“Thank you to everyone who contributed or came along.

“Your support is very much appreciated.

“A special thank you goes to all the businesses which supported us with raffle prizes, the Eccleshall WI who provided refreshments and to the Rev Jules Walker for allowing us to use the church.

“As for weekly concerts I doubt there is much chance of that, however an annual concert may well be on the calendar. Watch this space!.”

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STAFFORDSHIRE FIRE & RESCUE SERVICE

Special thank you event for volunteers

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taffordshire Fire and Rescue Service held its annual celebration for volunteers at its Stone headquarters recently.

The evening was attended by around 50 volunteers who had been invited by the service in recognition of the valuable work they have done to help keep Staffordshire’s communities safe in 2018.

Partnership and Intervention Manager Carmel Warren said: “Our volunteers play a vital role in the work of the service and we value their contribution highly.

“The annual Volunteers Celebration Evening is a small gesture of our appreciation for the support they provide.

“Our volunteers come from all walks of life and span a wide age range.

“One thing they all have in common though is a desire to be of service to their community and to make a contribution in some way.

“By inviting them to HQ for this event we hope it shows them how important they are to the service.”

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service

volunteers get involved in lots of different activities including Safe and Well visits, acting as casualties on exercises, helping with cadets and fire and road safety education.

Carmel added: “By giving us their time, they help us to reach a greater number of people and get involved in more things than we would without them.

“Volunteers wear the same uniform as permanent staff which is an indicator of how integral they are to the service.

“By wearing the same uniform it underlines the fact that they are representatives of the service in just the same way as our paid employees.

“They are an important part of the team and we want everyone to know that.

“I hope everyone who came along to our Volunteers Celebration Evening enjoyed themselves and appreciated how valued they are.”

Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer with Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service can find out more at www.staffordshirefire.gov.uk/careers/volunte ering-programme.

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dougie mac

Business recognised for charity donations Stone-based business has been recognised for it's charity donations.

Businesses which have gone the extra mile to support Dougie Mac have been recognised at the hospice’s annual Business Partnership Lunch recently at the bet365 Stadium.

This year’s Dougie Mac Business Awards included awards for Supplier Excellence, Supporter Excellence and Charity Champion which recognises commitment and dedication to fundraising for the hospice. The lunch also included the presentations of the Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum Business Partnership awards.

Donna Adams, Head of Fundraising and Lottery said: “We are truly grateful to the support of our business community for their continued fundraising endeavours.

“The support of local businesses is vital in helping the hospice to continue providing care and support to local people.

“The awards are just a small way for the hospice to show how much we appreciate their support, to showcase their fundraising and to platform the many ways in which businesses can support the hospice in future.”

Among the award winners were Cable Services Ltd in Stone which was presented with a Platinum Partner award for raising more than £20,000 for the charity.

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The employees at the Stone branch selected the Dougie Mac as their chosen charity as much of the team has been touched in some way by the services offered by the hospice and the support given to its patients and families.

Cable Services Ltd Charity Representative Jack Astbury, said: “We are delighted to be associated with Dougie Mac and the great work they do within our local community.

“Everybody at the group has been involved in this fundraising and we all see the importance of ‘Making a Difference’ within our local communities.

“We are proud to be a Platinum Partner of Dougie Mac and hope to continue the relationship with further fundraising initiatives led by our elected Charity Committee Representatives.”

Suzi Smith, Head of Fundraising said: “£20,064 is a huge amount of money and will make an enormous contribution to the care we are able to provide at the Dougie Mac Hospice.

“We are incredibly grateful to everyone who helped to raise such a wonderful amount and we look forward to another amazing year of fundraising.”

To find out more about how your company could support the hospice, visit www.dmhospice.org.uk or call the Corporate Fundraising team on 01782 344304.

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ECCLESHALL SHOW

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Show volunteers presented with prestigious award n audience of more than 200 gathered at Stafford’s County Showground recently to see the organisers of the annual Eccleshall Show receive the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

The prestigious award was presented by HM Lord-Lieutenant of Staffordshire, Ian Dudson CBE KStJ. The guests included civic dignitaries, sponsors, judges and the volunteers who have helped to stage the show over the years and representatives of the local organisations who have a presence at the show.

After welcoming everyone to the event, Show Chairman Edward Lambert introduced past Chairman and Vice President of the Show Society Peter Titley, who managed in less than half an hour to give the guests a potted history of the show since its inception in 1947.

He interviewed farmer Brian Cartmail from Knightley who remembers competing on his pony at the very first show, and also the all-important heads of various sections – Horticulture and Craft, Classic Cars, Equestrian and the Dog Show, who all gave an insight into their involvement and how the show entries have increased over the years.

The Lord Lieutenant presented the awards, firstly the certificate to Chairman Edward Lambert, then the crystal trophy to President Robert Cartmail and his daughter, Secretary Mary Cartmail.

Following a speech by the Lord Lieutanant, a vote of thanks was proposed by Robert Cartmail.

Emphasising the need to keep encouraging the younger generation to become involved with the show, Mr Cartmail invited his granddaughter Elodie Wilkinson to present a bouquet to Mrs Dudson, and the Chairman’s children, Vinnie and Edith Lambert to present crystal glasses to Mr Dudson.

The guests then enjoyed a delicious afternoon tea whilst reminiscing about shows past and doubtless planning those to come.

Eccleshall Show Society was founded in 1947 with the aim of providing a social event for the local community. The show has expanded significantly in recent years but it remains a very traditional rural event run by volunteers.

Show Chairman Edward Lambert said of the group being presented with the Queens Award for Voluntary Service: “This recognition reflects the efforts of hundreds of volunteers who have worked tirelessly over the past 71 years to ensure the success of our local show.

“I want to thank everyone who plays a part in this show. We really capture the sense of working together towards a common goal and that makes the role of chairman an honour and a pleasure.”

The generosity of local sponsors helps to defray the considerable costs of staging such a show, and any profits are donated to local charities.

The show committee recently presented a total of £2,500 to charities following last year's show.

Charities which benefited are the First Responders, Midlands Air Ambulance, MacMillan Nurses and the Gentleshaw Wildlife Centre.

The 2019 Eccleshall Show will take place on August 31. To find out more go online to www.eccleshallshow.co.uk.

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AED DONATE

Campaign to increase defibs in county

campaign has been launched with the aim of increasing the number of defibrillators which are installed across the county.

AEDdonate Charity, which is based in Stone, launched the ambitious campaign on May 1 to install 1,000 Community Access Defibrillators across Staffordshire.

AEDdonate works closely with communities, residents’ associations, businesses and councils to fundraise, purchase, install and register defibrillators which are public access.

The charity works across the country to raise awareness, knowledge and confidence in the safe use of defibrillators and CPR. A spokesman for the charity said: “In Staffordshire, the average time for emergency services to arrive following a 999 call is eight to 12 minutes.

“In the case of sudden cardiac arrest, every minute counts, the person’s survival rate drops by

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seven to 10 per cent for every minute defibrillation and CPR is delayed.

“During this time, the person’s survival depends on bystanders who initiate CPR and defibrillation from an Automated External Defibrillator.

“Defibrillation within three to five minutes of collapse can produce survival rates as high as 50 to 70 per cent.

“This means that, with more public access defibrillators, we could significantly improve survival rates.

“Join us at AEDdonate, to install an additional 1,000 Public Access Defibrillators across the county to make sure we are all better protected from the UK's biggest killer.”

To kick start the campaign, defibrillators have been installed at Whitebridge Residential Estate in Stone, as well as at The House of Bread in Stafford.

To find out more call 01785 472 224 or visit www.aeddonate.org.uk.

Get snapping for village competition FULFORD VILLAGE GROUP

illagers are being invited to help create a calendar for their community. The Fulford Village Group has launched it's Photographic Competition for 2019.

The topic for this year's creative competition is 'Fulford Through The Seasons'.

Closing date for entries is Monday, June 24.

Submissions (preferably landscape and a maximum of four per person) can be emailed to rich@rwapservices.co.uk.

Entries will be printed and put on display for a public vote. There will be prizes for two categories – adult and children under 14 years.

The Fulford 2020 calendar and Christmas cards will be compiled from all the competition entries and will be on sale from the autumn.

To find out more go online to www.fulfordvillage.com.

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GREAT MANCHESTER RUN

Best feet forward for charity TRIO of runners have raised cash for a Stone-based charity by taking part in a regional race.

AEDdonate, which is based in Stone, is working with local Community Champions to boost 24/7 Public Accessible Defibrillators (PADs) in rural villages Great Haywood and Yarnfield, respectively.

As part of this fundraising James Russell, raising funds for two further PADs in Great Haywood, and Aidan Oates and Tanisha Jones, raising funds for an additional PAD in Yarnfield, joined 30,000 other runners in the 2019 Simplyhealth Great Manchester Run on May 19.

Both James and Aidan work for AEDdonate and wanted to show their commitment to improving defibrillator provision in their home villages, 'practising what they preach' and working with neighbours and residents to make sure they are better protected from Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA), which is the UK’s biggest killer.

AEDdonate Chief Executive Jamie

Richards said: “It is fantastic that James and Aidan have taken on the challenge for their respective villages, and for Tanisha, Aidan’s girlfriend, to get involved.

“We know that emergency response times to the more rural villages and hamlets can be eight to 12 minutes and with the chances of SCA survival dropping by 10-14 per cent every minute that CPR and defibrillation is not provided, additional coverage in Yarnfield and Great Haywood will be fantastic for local residents.”

People can donate to the Great Haywood campaign by visiting: www.aeddonate.org.uk/projects/greathaywood-s1k Meanwhile, to donate to the Yarnfield campaign, visit: www.aeddonate.org.uk/projects/aed-forashdale-park-yarnfield For more information on how you can become a Community Champion for AEDdonate, and get support to improve defibrillator provision in your local area call 01785 472224.

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LYMESTONE BREWERY

Awards and charity fundraising for brewery

tone's Lymestone Brewery is celebrating a clutch of awards. Two of the Stone brewery's keg beers won regional gold medals at the recent 2019 SIBA Independent Beer Awards, plus their brewery tap in Stone, The Borehole, has recently been named Pub of the Year by the Heart of Staffordshire Camra group.

Judged by brewers and industry experts and organised by the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) at their flagship BeerX UK event in Liverpool, the Independent Beer Awards cover a huge range of beer styles.

Dad-and-daughter brewing duo Ian and Sarah Bradford from Lymestone were at the event, where they won a Midlands region gold medal for their Waterstone Wheat ale in the keg speciality light beers category. And there was a gold medal for Stray Cat Milk in the keg British dark beers (up to 4.4 per cent) category. The milk stout is produced

by Sarah at the brewery, but under the Stray Cat brand.

Head brewer Ian said: “We have been brewing Lymestone beers for over 10 years and the industry is almost unrecognisable from when we started.

“The demand for new beers and new flavours is stronger than ever, so I am delighted that two of our newest keg beers have been awarded regional gold medals.”

Daughter Sarah, who started brewing with her dad in 2017, added: “The Stray Cat range is deliberately different from the Lymestone beers, and it's been fantastic to experiment with different beer styles.

“It's really important to develop new beers and to push what we are doing.”

Brewery director Vivienne Bradford said of The Borehole being named as the Heart of

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Staffordshire Camra's pub of the year: “We opened The Borehole, our second pub, in March 2015 and it's gone from strength to strength.

“It's a real community pub, with lots of events and support for local groups and charities, and we continue to develop it.”

Meanwhile, Lymestone has been helping to raise funds for an amputee to be able to regain her independence.

Josephine Ashton, who lives in Cheadle, is currently fund-raising in a bid to raise £5,000 to be able to adapt her home and car to help her regain her independence after having one of her legs amputated in 2017.

Due to Diabetic Charcot in the ankle, Josephine had to have her left leg amputated and is now wheelchair bound while she gets used to using a prosthetic leg.

The 36-year-old recently received a cash boost of £200 from a fund-raising tour which took place at Stone's Lymestone Brewery.

Josephine herself attended the tour, along with her husband Elliot and their four-year-old daughter Eliza.

Josephine said: “The tour was a great night and we held a raffle and a “Guess How Many Balloons in the Mini” game.

“I would like to say a huge thank you to Viv and Brad at Lymestone Brewery, as this opportunity would not have been possible without their thoughtfulness.

“I would also like to thank everyone who attended and supported me.”

Anyone wishing to donate to Josephine's cause can do so by going online to www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/josephineashton.

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ART EXHIBITION

50th anniversary exhibition for society he Oulton Watercolour Society are celebrating their 50th anniversary this year.

They will be hosting a special anniversary exhibition in November which will see lots of creations by members on display.

Society member Clive Mayer said: “First of all we wish to thank all the visitors who attended our last exhibition at Oulton Village Hall last June, without your help and support it wouldn’t have been the success that is was.”

Entrance will be free to the exhibition which will take place on Saturday, November 1 with doors opening at 9.30am and closing at 4.30pm.

Refreshments and a raffle for a hamper will be on offer and the exhibition will be displaying and selling framed pieces along with hand painted cards Clive said: “The hand painted cards are very popular with our visitors, and we will also be offering loose paintings displayed in browsers.

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“This year Oulton Watercolour Society is celebrating it’s 50th anniversary. It is the oldest painting group in Stone and is still flourishing to this day.

“The longevity of the group is due to our president Doris Brown SWA who still attends the weekly sessions.”

Club members will also be on hand at the exhibition to answer any questions relating to the paintings and to promote the club to encourage new members.

Clive added: “Ability is of no consequence, help will always be on hand from members, in support of this the club has an extensive book and DVD library to help in your development.

“So, if you are looking for a new interest then give us try, or if you can’t make up your mind just pop in any Thursday evening after 7pm and have a chat and cuppa with the members.”

To find out more about the group, find 'Oulton Watercolour Society near Stone' on Facebook.

GIRLGUIDING

Elderly are entertained by Rainbows rom Easter bonnets, rabbit ears, Easter cards, lots of wonderful singing and even a spot of dancing and gymnastics thrown in for good measure, the members of 1st Walton Rainbows recently entertained the residents of Autumn House Nursing Home in Stone.

Rainbow leader Jane West said: “I was so proud of the girls, some of whom are only just five years old and they sang their hearts out.

“The evening ended with a rousing Hokey Cokey with even the residents joining in.”

Cath Beckett, a resident and life long member of Girlguiding, said: “We all enjoyed the girls singing and their Easter cards have pride of place on our window sills.”

Stone Girlguiding welcomes new members including adult volunteers.

If you are interested in volunteering to help out at a local, vibrant and friendly guide group that is presently looking for new adult volunteers, message the group on their Facebook page at 'Girlguiding Stone District.'

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STONE SCOTTISH DANCING GROUP

Summer classes for dance group

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tone Scottish Dance Group, founded in 1954, holds weekly classes from September until May, where instruction is given on dancing techniques and new dances – however they are also hosting beginners classes this Summer The group will be holding the evening lessons during the months of June and July at Tittensor Village Hall.

To launch the sessions there will be a Ceilidh at the same venue at 7.30pm on Friday, June 7.

Group member David Lovatt said: “We will have live music with a professional caller and refreshments will be served during the evening.

“There is a nominal charge of £3 per person and will be by numbered tickets so please book early to avoid disappointment.”

Tickets can be booked by emailing ssdgtickets@hotmail.com.

The dancing lessons will start on Wednesday, June 12 and continue every Wednesday until July 31. David said: “These lessons will be totally informal and are open

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to both ladies and gentlemen.

“Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

“For the ensuing lessons there will be a charge of £2 per session and we will concentrate on all the various movements involved with Scottish Country Dancing.”

The classes will start at 7.30pm and conclude at 9.30pm with the dress code being casual and soft flat shoes recommended.

The Stone Scottish Dancing Group holds an anniversary dance in early October, which celebrates the founding of the club, and an invitation evening in March.

Towards the end of November they have a dinner and dance (with haggis, of course) to celebrate St Andrew's Day. Club members also enjoy a walk and lunch around Christmas or early in the New Year. During the Summer, lawn evenings are held in members' gardens for informal dancing and socialising.

For further details about the Stone Scottish Dancing Group, go online to: www.stonescottishdancing.co.uk.

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FULFORD VILLAGE

Inaugural fun day for village ILLAGERS are being invited to make the most of a community-spirited day this summer.

The first ever Fulford Community Fun Day is set to take place on Saturday, July 13 between 2pm and 5pm, and will be followed with a barbecue and live music at the Shoulder of Mutton.

A spokesman for the fun day organisers said: “This promises to be a fantastic afternoon of family fun and entertainment, with attractions that will include children’s fancy dress, a dog show, stalls, games, tea and cakes, a bar, live music, a children’s funfair ride and much, much more.

“Bring the family, bring a picnic and enjoy the afternoon; and then to round off a fun community day and following straight on from

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the activities in the village hall, the Shoulder of Mutton will be having a barbecue and live music.

“This is the first of what we hope to be an annual event bringing all parts of the village together – the school, Little Learners, the church, the village group, the village hall and pub will all be doing their bit to make this a really special day for the village.

“We will need lots of help so if you would like to volunteer in any way by helping to set up the gazebos, by manning a game or judging one of the events on the day please contact Fulford Village Group.

“This is an afternoon by the community for the community and we would welcome any extra help to make it a really fun day for everyone.”

To find out more and to contact the group, go online to www.fulfordvillage.com.

STAFFORD BOROUGH COUNCIL NEWS

New leisure centre for Stone

he new multi-million pound leisure centre in Stone has now opened. The centre on Westbridge Park has a six lane, 25 metre swimming pool, top of the range gym, and fitness studios, under one roof and is part of an around £10 million investment in leisure for the town.

The new £7.5 million Stafford Borough Council facility replaces the outdated sports centre currently on Westbridge Park.

A spokesman for Stafford Borough Council said: “It is the biggest leisure investment in the borough that the council has made from its own resources.

“The centre is being run by Freedom Leisure on behalf of the council.

“As part of the investment a new Guides HQ was built and a multi-use games area will also be sited at Westbridge.

“More than 90 per cent of those who gave feedback during a previous consultation said they would use the new leisure centre; and nearly 80 per cent said it was important, or very important, to have the facilities under one roof.

“The new centre means that the public have

greater access to swimming.”

Meanwhile, work has begun to demolish the old Westbridge Park Fitness Centre in Stone.

A spokesman for Stafford Borough Council said: “The outdated facility is adjacent to the new multi-million pound Stone Leisure Centre, and it's demolition will make way for the building of a 75 space car park to serve the new leisure centre.

“The demolition work is expected to take around six weeks to complete with a date for the new car park to be opened earmarked for late June.”

For more information on timetables and classes at Stone Leisure Centre go to www.freedom-leisure.co.uk/centres/stonelc.

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STONE & DISTRICT SCOUTS

Audiences wowed by 26th show he Stone and District Scouts have recently presented their 26th gang show at the Mitchell Arts Centre in Hanley.

A total of 168 people from cast, crew, dressers, sound and lighting wowed the audiences with a show full of music,

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laughter,song and dance.

Presented by a cast ranging from six year old beavers to the not so young 72 year old, the show was greeted by enthusiastic audiences all week.

A spokesman for the group said: “We give thanks to all these people who supported us.�

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Alfie beats the odds to take part in competition

CANOEING

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teenager from Stone is set to compete in this year's Junior Slalom White Water Paddling World Championships – despite having suffered from a number of medical conditions.

The prestigious event will be held in Krakow this summer and sees athletes travel from all over the world to compete in the fast-paced and demanding sport.

17-year-old Alfie Boote's incredible achievement in qualifying for this year's competition, has seen him beat the odds to take part, having suffered severe respiratory complications from birth, including numerous bouts of pneumonia, a collapsed lung and severe asthma.

Alfie, who lives in Stone, said: “I love Slalom because I can learn new things and it's different every day, which means every time I get into the seat I face a new challenge.

“I was very young when I first went into hospital and have basically grown up with the paediatric team at Royal Stoke University Hospital.

“It's been a real challenge living with my condition, but the team have helped me a lot and have played a vital role in my life. Really, they are the biggest reason my health is good today and why I'm able to take part in a sport I love."

Alfie's mum Suzie spends hours travelling to Nottingham several times a week to take him to his training.

Suzie said: “From pretty

much as soon as Alfie was born we noticed he was wheezing a lot.

“He was first admitted to hospital at just two weeks' old and since then has suffered multiple bouts of pneumonia and a collapsed lung.

“Up until the age of five there wasn't a month that went by when we weren't in hospital at some point.

“Fortunately for Alfie, he has had the same team at Royal Stoke look after him all the way through his treatment.

“They have done more than just care for him clinically, they have supported him at school and helped us emotionally and mentally too.

“Getting into Slalom has really helped Alfie to expand his lungs and he's had no admissions now for the last two years.

“He did try other sports, but because of his health complications they just didn't suit him.

“Slalom is perfect because it involves using short, sharp bursts of energy, rather than sustained cardiovascular effort.

“Alfie just lives for the sport. If he's not training he's watching videos of other people and picking up tips on how he can improve his performance.”

Canoe Slalom has been an Olympic event since 1972, debuting at the Munich games.

Alfie has been training at Stafford and Stone Canoe Club from the age of 12 and is in good company, as the club has helped to produce recent Olympic champion Joe Clarke winner of the K1M in Rio 2016.

Sadie Clayton is a consultant nurse in the children's respiratory department at UHNM and is part of the multidisciplinary team that have helped to look after Alfie from the beginning.

Sadie said: “When you care for someone for so long, you get to know them really well, and Alfie is absolutely one of the most determined young men I have ever met.

“Alfie has never really indulged in self-pity, he's always just got on with it.”

Alfie is also looking forward to competing in the ICF Junior and U23 Canoe Slalom race in Slovakia this summer.

June/July 2019 21

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S

CHARITY FUNDRAISING

Grand Union walking challenge for Sylvia

ylvia Keris, a member of the Rotary Club of Eccleshall Mercia, will be undertaking a long distance walking challenge this Summer to raise funds for two very worthy charities.

Two years ago Sylvia walked along the canal towpaths of the Four Counties Ring to raise funds for charity - a distance of around 120 miles.

But this summer, despite some aches and pains, Sylvia is planning to keep positive and undertake a longer challenge: walking the length of the Grand Union Canal from Gas Street Basin in Birmingham to Little Venice near Paddington in London - a distance of just over 145 miles.

Sylvia will be raising funds through her walk for two rotary supported registered charities: 'End Polio Now', the Rotary Foundation's vaccination programme worldwide, and for the Children's charity 'Buddy Bag Foundation', which provides essential clothing, toiletry items, and a comfort teddy bear in a backpack, for children in the UK taken away to safety from violent situations, often at a moments notice, with just the clothes they are wearing. Around 48,000 children require emergency accommodation from all areas of the UK each year.

Sylvia will be walking an average of 11-12 miles a day, walking continuously day after day, no matter what the weather.

On her previous canal walk two years ago, there were a few mishaps, falling over twice with cuts and bruises, and enduring some days of torrential rain and very muddy towpaths, and other days of baking hot sun.

However, Sylvia said: “I would rather be wet and warm, rather than wet and cold, hence why I

22 June/July 2019

have planned this walk for during the school summer holiday.

“Also at this time of year there are plenty of barges and boats along the canal waterways, and other walkers around for company, as I am doing the walk on my own, although I am hoping some friends or Rotary colleagues may like to join me on some sections of the walking route down to London.”

The route takes in both urban and some very rural scenery: including areas near Solihull, Hampton on the Hill, Southam near Leamington Spa, Braunston, Northampton, Yardley Gobion, Milton Keynes, Tring, Kings Langley, Harefield Marina, Yeading and Little Venice in London.

There are also a few canal tunnels which have no towpath running through, so there will be some walking diversions en route.

Sylvia is planning to stay overnight with the kind hospitality of different Rotary clubs, and hopefully some Buddy Bag supporters, along the way, and will on some occasions have to 'sing for her supper' with giving talks at club meetings at the end of her day's walk.

Sylvia added: “By organising my route stages and overnight stays this way, it means that 100 per cent of all sponsorship and donations raised will be going directly to the two charities.”

If you would like to offer support for Sylvia's walking challenge, go online to www.uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SylviaKeriswalk Sylvia can be contacted by email at: sylviakeris@yahoo.co.uk.

Sylvia added: “I would like to thank everyone for their kind support of my Grand Union walking challenge.”

Stone Life June July 19.qxp_Stone Life 24/05/2019 12:22 Page 23

SKYDIVING FOR CHARITY

The sky's the limit for 60th birthday challenge

A

Stone man is set to jump out of a plane – all in aid of charity. Peter Marenghi will be facing a lifelong fear of heights for a 60th Birthday challenge this Summer by taking on a terrifying 10,000 feet skydive.

The member of the Training Team at the Wincanton for Screwfix in Stafford Distribution Centre will be reaching speeds of 120mph on his way back down to solid ground all to raise money for the site’s nominated charities.

Peter said: “I have never been comfortable

with heights but have always harboured a bizarre ambition to experience the adrenalin rush of a parachute jump.

“It's a bit of a 'bucket list' challenge, and to do it to raise money for two great causes will be a big achievement for me.”

The Wincanton team at the Stafford Distribution Centre has raised thousands of pounds over the years for local charities through the various activities of its colleagues.

This year they are supporting the Childhood Cancer Parent’s Alliance and Gentleshaw Wildlife Centre.

The wildlife centre, in Eccleshall, is a small sanctuary for exotic animals and birds of prey.

As well as being a hospital unit for the treatment of wild raptors, the centre is home to more than 30 different species of birds of prey, primates, reptiles, invertebrates, raccoons, cats and many more.

A recent fire at the centre led to the deaths of some of their animals and several enclosures.

The Childhood Cancer Parents Alliance supports Staffordshire based families whose children, teenagers and young adults have been diagnosed with cancer and are either undergoing or have received treatment at Royal Stoke Hospital. It is also a national representative voice, working with local, regional, national and international agencies.

To support Peter’s, skydive, donations can be made via his sponsorship site at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/petermarenghi.

June/July 2019 23

Stage Directions

Stone Life June July 19.qxp_Stone Life 24/05/2019 12:22 Page 24

by Richard Lane

The Merchant of Venice at Stafford Castle

S

tafford Gatehouse Theatre announce a new look Shakespeare Festival as tickets go on sale for The Merchant of Venice.

Following last year’s critically-acclaimed five-star production of Macbeth, Stafford Festival Shakespeare will return to Stafford Castle this year with something very special.

Stafford Gatehouse Theatre together with Freedom Leisure have announced that the production for Stafford Festival Shakespeare 2019 will be The Merchant of Venice.

This year will be a first as the play has never been performed before at Stafford in the 29 years of the festival.

THE MERCHANT OF VENICE

By William Shakespeare 'All that glisters is not gold' The privileged heiress Portia is seeking a husband by unconventional means: a suitor merely has to solve a little puzzle to win her hand in marriage. Spendthrift Bassanio longs to be considered by Portia, but how

24 June/July 2019

can he impress her, when he is so reckless with the money he borrows? If his close friend Antonio can lend him no more money, who else might be willing to lend a sum on his behalf? And at what cost...?

In this thrilling new production, Shakespeare's controversial masterpiece is transported to 1950s New York, a city where communities are divided by wealth and religion. Featuring the iconic figure of Shylock, one of Shakespeare's most complex characters, The Merchant of Venice is a compelling story of money, love, and prejudice.

Speaking at the launch recently, Production Manager Richard Goodman said “This production is going to be enticing. We have such a treat in store for our audience this year! It’s a play which has everything, and it looks at issues that are just as relevant now as they were when the play was first performed. On

top of that it has one of Shakespeare’s most iconic characters in Shylock.”

“It is going to be a great opportunity to see this play performed for the first time at Stafford Castle and in a vibrant and unique telling of the story.”

The Merchant of Venice will open on June 27th and run until July 13th at Stafford Castle. www.staffordgatehousethe atre.co.uk / Box office 01785 619080

Stone Life June July 19.qxp_Stone Life 24/05/2019 12:23 Page 25

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Stone Life June July 19.qxp_Stone Life 24/05/2019 12:23 Page 26

What’s on in

JU N E/ JU LY JUNE

Friday June 7 up Ceilidh Stone Scottish Dance Gro l. The group Hal age Vill or ens Titt at 7.30pm during the ons less g nin eve will also be holding the same venue. at July and e Jun of ths mon Tickets and details: .co.uk. www.stonescottishdancing Saturday June 15 also on Ecclian Open Gardens 10am-4pm, go to eeds proc t Even . shall Sunday, in Eccle Eccleshall in Bloom. Details: rdens.php www.opengardens.co.uk/open_ga

Thursday June 20 Fulford Primary Summer Fair 3.30pm-5pm with a variety of games and stalls including tombola, cake sales and refreshments.

Thursday June 27 Open Air Shakespeare Festival Running at Stafford Castle until July 13.

The Merchant of Venice.

Details and tickets: 01785 619080, or visit www.staffordgatehousetheatre.co.uk

26 June/July 2019

Do you have an event coming up which you would like to see featured in our What's On pages? Email details to life@timesandecho.co.uk

Please note that these events are subject to change.

Please check with the venue for up-to-date information.

Stone Festival and Carnival Started on May 27 and is running through until June 9. Lots of events for all the family including Carnival Day on Saturday, June 8.

Details: www.stonefestival.co.uk.

Sunday June 9 Plant Fair At Sandon Hall.

Details: www.sandonhall.co.uk/events.

Sunday, June 16 from St Charity Road Race 10am start , Stone.

Lane ver's Wea ol, Scho First Michael's Guiding Girl ard Outw e proceeds towards Ston ol PTA Scho First C) CE(V ael's Mich St and Details: incorporating the Summer Fayre. www.stone10k.co.uk.

Saturday June 22 Stafford Cheese and Ale Festival 9am, als o on Sunday in Stafford's Market Square. Maker s and suppliers of cheese , bread, oils, chutneys, as well as beer, cider and wine filled the Market with a fine array of foo d and drink. Details: www.staffordbc.gov.uk /event/stafford-cheese and-ale-festival-22-23 -june-2019.

Sunday June 30 Open Day at Ch ampion Hot Tu bs, Old Farmyard, Amert on Farm. With liv e bands, gin bar, demonstratio ns and barbecue . Many special offers on hot tubs will be available.

Details: www.championh ottubs.co.uk

Stone Life June July 19.qxp_Stone Life 24/05/2019 12:24 Page 27

JULY Friday July 5 Fashion Show and Sale Doors open at 7pm at Barlaston Village Hall. Tickets £5 including a glass of wine. Details and tickcts: Janet on 01782 372639.

Saturday July 6 Croxton Community Well Dressing Festival Blessing of the Well at 11.45am followed by the official opening of the wells trail with six beautiful displays for the public to enjoy. Plus stalls and displays under marquees in the Millennium Wood opposite Boughey’s Well in the centre of Croxton Village. The event will be rounded-off at 2pm with a poetry and music concert in St Paul’s Church Croxton. Details: www.croxtonwelldressing.weebly.com Sunday July 7 Plant Hunters ’ Fair 10am-4pm at Sugnall Walled Garden. Featurin g specialist nurse ries with a great mix of plants and specialities to de light plant lovers of every level of ex perience. Plant fai r entry is £1.

Full details at ww w.planthuntersfa irs.co.uk

Saturday July 13 Fulford Community Fun Day 2pm and 5pm in the village followed with a barbecue and live music at the Shoulder of Mutton. To include: children’s fancy dress, a dog show, stalls, games, tea and cakes, a bar, live music, a children’s funfair ride and much, much more.

Details: www.fulfordvillage.com.

REGULAR EVENTS Artisan Workshops Various dates at The Artisan Boutique, 4 Radford Street, Stone. Workshops include needlecraft, design-a-mug, and wind-chime making. Details: www.theartisanboutique.co.uk or 'Artisan Boutique' on Facebook.

Aston Marina, Stone Lots of different events take place at this Stone venue including live music slots at No. 26. Details: www.astonmarina.co.uk/events/ or 01785 819702.

Activities at Stone Library Baby Bounce and Rhyme on Mondays during term time from 10.30am-11am; Reading Cafe every third Tuesday at 10.30am-midday; Creative Writing Group every 2nd and 4th Tuesday at 10.30am-midday; Knit and Natter or Crochet and Chatter every Wednesday from 10.30am-midday; Lego Cub Stay and Play every Saturday at 10am-11am; as well as bookable IT Buddy Sessions.

June/July 2019 27

Stone Life June July 19.qxp_Stone Life 24/05/2019 12:24 Page 28

Acoustic Night In the upstairs ro om at the Royal Oak in Eccleshall. Ev ery first Thursday of the month starting at 8pm. Details: 01630 620220.

Eccleshall Hand Bellringers Every Monday (during term time) at 7.30pm at Holy Trinity Church Rooms in Eccleshall. Details: www.ehbr.co.uk or 01785 859950.

Granvilles Brasserie & Music Bar, Stone Check out www.granvilles.st for details of forthcoming gigs.

Stafford Gatehouse ils: Check website for latest listings. Deta k. www.staffordgatehousetheatre.co.u

Stone Farmers Markets month in Stone town Every first Saturday of the mersmarket.co.uk efar ton centre. Details: www.s

Stone & District Stroke Club Every Wednesday from 10.30am-2.30pm at the Little Stoke Cricket Club in Uttoxeter Road, Stone. Cost is £7 and includes: games, quizzes, gentle exercises, coffee and biscuits, two-course hot meal, transport (in the Stone area), a raffle ticket and subs. Details: 01785 603707.

World of Wedgwood, Barlaston Lots of different events and activities at this Barlaston tourist spot including markets and workshops. Details: 01782 282986 or www.worldofwedgwood.com

28 June/July 2019

Carers Cafe On the last Thursday of each month the Carers’ Café operates in the Eccleshall Community Centre between 10.30am and 12.30pm. Carers and their loved ones are welcome to socialise and gain information about health and social care.

Refreshments available.

Eccleshall Singers 7.30pm-9.30pm at the Methodist Church, Stone Road, Eccleshall. Every Tuesday. New members welcome. Details: www.eccleshallsingers.org.

Stone Chrys anthemum and Dahlia Garden Clu Society b Club Meetings every second Thursday of month at 7.45 the pm at Christ Church Cent Church Way re, Christ in Stone. June 13 with Razva and 'Plant H n Chisu unting in Mad eria and the Az July 11 with N ores'. eil Timm and 'World of Fern Details: www s' .stonecanddg ardenclub.or 812097. g or 01785 Tiny Toes Ballet At the Walton Community Hall in Stone on Friday mornings plus at the Baswich Community Hall in Stafford on Saturday mornings. Details: www.tinytoesballet.co.uk

Stone Life June July 19.qxp_Stone Life 24/05/2019 12:24 Page 29

WEDGWOOD

Glittering award for Wedgwood

T

he Wedgwood Garaden, which recently appeared at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show has scooped a Silver Gilt medal.

This second Chelsea show garden presented by Wedgwood marks the brand’s 260th anniversary and reflects the entrepreneurial and creative spirit of Josiah Wedgwood (1730–1795).

Christian Bachler, Wedgwood Senior Vice President, said: “We are delighted that the Wedgwood Garden has been recognised with this accolade.

“It is a wonderful project to mark our 260th anniversary and a pleasure to work in partnership with Jo Thompson once again.

“Jo and her team, together with Wedgwood, have worked tirelessly to bring this magnificent garden to life.

“I applaud the innovation and skill that has made the 2019 Wedgwood Garden such a great success.”

The Wedgwood Garden is the 10th garden by renowned garden designer Jo Thompson, whose previous accolades include a quartet of RHS gold medals amongst others.

Speaking of the garden’s medal award, Jo said: “I’m so pleased with this year’s results.

“It has been an absolute pleasure working on this garden as it was such a great story to tell.

“I have really enjoyed developing such a calm and contemplative space surrounded by planting that is so evocative of the art of Etruria, which was the inspiration for the village that Josiah Wedgwood created for his workforce.

“This is my tenth year at Chelsea and each year is so very different depending on the story I am telling.

“What delights me most is the response from visitors to the gardens and this year I have been thrilled with the comments and reactions I have received.

“It has been wonderful to collaborate with Wedgwood once again, particularly on such a

momentous garden, marking anniversaries for both myself and Wedgwood. 2019 is a very significant year for us both and winning a Silver Gilt medal at Chelsea makes it even more special.”

Framed with spectacular soaring pavilions, the garden brought to life Wedgwood’s rich heritage, spanning more than two and a half centuries, by setting its foundations in Etruria, the 18th century Staffordshire village created by Josiah for his workers.

A stream connected key elements and echoed the canals and watercourses of Staffordshire that were so fundamental to Wedgwood’s production and transformation to an international industry.

Standing proudly above the garden and beautifully framing the space, were interlinked arched pavilions which echoed the foundations of the past whilst combining a fresh new approach.

The pavilions created ever-changing framed views which provided different perspectives of the creative landscape.

The variety of angles were brought together by repeated use of materials in the garden, with subtly contrasting surfaces and textures. They were used alongside delicate decorative metalwork and artfully placed sculptures to highlight key junctions and motifs.

Meanwhile, Wedgwood is exhibiting at the RHS Chatsworth Flower Show in June.

The show garden’s designer is RHS ambassador and avid plantsman, Jamie Butterworth; and it is a celebration of how horticulture and plants connect people and unite communities, inspired by John Wedgwood’s original vision to bring gardening to everyone by involving and improving people’s lives.

The World of Wedgwood tent is set to give the visitor a flavour of the award-winning attraction, which is in Barlaston, featuring demonstrations by an expert thrower at the potter’s wheel and a choice of Chatsworth-exclusive offers.

For further information and tickets go online to www.rhschatsworth.seetickets.com.

June/July 2019 29

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STONE FESTIVAL AND CARNIVAL

Milestone year for town A

town's major annual event has reached it's 50th anniversary year. The 2019 Stone Festival and Carnival has begun and there's so much to see and do for all the family.

Stone Festival and Carnival Committee chairman Grahame Neagus said: “50 years is a long time in anyone's book and 2019 sees the Stone Festival reach such a wonderful milestone in our history of bringing fun and enjoyment to the people of Stone as well as raising money for local causes which rely on such kind donations in order to survive.

“2018 saw us raise - through your kind participation and donations - in excess of £6,000 which has been donated back to over 20 of the good causes groups around Stone, so it really is a mix of fun and fund raising for the people of Stone and surrounding areas.”

Stone Festival has a number of events taking place from May 27 through to June 9 in and

30 June/July 2019

around the town and this year's extravaganza sees a growing list of events for people to enjoy covering all of the usual pastimes ranging from the serene and peacefulness of events like Treasure Hunt walks, Bowls and the melodic charms of Fret & Fiddle to family events like the Dog Show, Steeplechase, Two Wheel Tuesday through to the thrill seeking excitement of events like Raft Race along the Trent and the Soapbox Derby race down the High Street let alone the grandeur of the Carnival procession and Westbridge Park climax.

Celebrations started off on Bank Holiday Monday, May 27 with the Annual Soapbox Race down the High Street which is such a spectacle for all concerned and well worth a visit to watch the thrill of men, women and children pitch their skills against the course with a huge dose of fun.

Festival week then starts on Saturday, June 1 with the art exhibition in Oulton and, for the first time and in celebration of having performed

Stone Life June July 19.qxp_Stone Life 24/05/2019 12:24 Page 31

STONE FESTIVAL AND CARNIVAL

n's annual extravaganza at the first ever festival, a Puppet workshop and series of shows performed by David Leech will take place up at Oulton Abbey playgroup.

Then there is something every day right up to Sunday, June 9 but with the climax of events being the Carnival day on Saturday, June 8 which starts at 1.30pm up at ABB in the north of the town and proceeds down Christchurch Way before finishing in Westbridge Park at 2.15pm for a fun filled afternoon on the park and loads of family entertainment and music.

Grahame said: “This year we are stretching the events out beyond the festival week to include two events in December in an effort to finish this 50th year of celebration in grand style with both our traditional Fret & Fiddle Christmas concert at Christ Church plus our inaugural fancy dress Festival Santa Bed Race in the High Street on Sunday, December 8 – not as competitive as Soapbox but it will be a family fun event and something to take your minds off

Christmas Shopping so why not come and join us all at one or several of the events and enjoy the Stone Festival experience – it really does embrace everything great about Stone and its people.

He added: “It goes without saying that none of the festival events would ever get from an idea to a reality without both our sponsors who kindly support us and of course all of the committee and other local groups who kindly give up their time free to help and make things happen so to all these people with whom none of this would be possible, a huge thank you for your continued support. “Finally an equally huge thank you to everyone who comes along in ever increasing numbers to the events.

“We hope you enjoy it all and here's to another 50 years of Stone Festival and Carnival fun and fundraising.”

To find out more about this year's events, go online to www.stonefestival.co.uk.

June/July 2019 31

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M

gardening

Hardy sages for the flower garden

ost people’s introductions to the wonderful world of salvias is either courtesy of sage, the well-loved herb grown from time immemorial for its culinary and medicinal value or perhaps the bright red bedding plant salvia splendens traditionally planed with blue lobelia and white alyssum for a truly patriotic display. However, hardy, perennial salvias are becoming increasingly popular as great garden plants for people and bees. These are not edible but make a wonderful, long-lasting display in the garden.

There is a vast array of perennial salvias to choose from including many tender types, but this month I’m focusing on the hardy, perennial European types that are great for most gardens.

Of the European species, the best for general garden use are the wood sages and these are varieties of salvia nemorosa, sylvestris and superba. They grow in dry or moist soils and can be grown in light shade or a sunny spot. They grow well in alkaline (chalky), neutral or mildly acid soils. Add lime annually if planting in extremely acid soils.

They have rough leaves and short spikes of flowers from June through July. If you cut them back hard after flowering, they will normally oblige with more flowers in late August into September. The planting distance for these is about 12-18in apart.

They come in many shades of blue, pink, violet and white and vary in height from one foot through to three feet six inches.

Snow Hill and Blue Hill (properly called by their German names Schneehügel and

32 June/July 2019

Blauhügel) are the shortest ones I grow and are snow-white and sky-blue respectively. Among my favourites are the slightly taller May Night (indigo blue) and East Friesland (blue) and the lovely Rose Queen (pink).

The newer variety Caradonna grows to about two feet tall and has lovely blue flowers and black stems in summer adding to their drama.

One of the tallest is the aptly named Amethyst which grows to three feet or slightly more. This one has a very long flowering period from June to September or even October without the need to be cut back at all.

Of course, there are also many ornamental varieties of the herb sage for growing in a freedraining, sunny spot and you can find types with purple, golden and variegated leaves.

Martin Blow

Janet and I run Special Perennials, website www.specialperennials.com and we will be at the Plant Hunters’ Fair at Hodnet Hall Gardens on Saturday, Juune 1 and Sunday, June 2; at Henbury Hall Garden, Macclesfield on Friday, June 28 and Saturday, June 29; Cholmondeley Castle, Malpas on Sunday, June 30; Sugnall Walled Garden, Eccleshall on Sunday, July 7; Middleton Hall, Tamworth on Sunday, July 21 and: the National Memorial Arboretum on Saturday, July 27.

For full details of these and other Plant Hunters’ Fairs visit www.planthuntersfairs.co.uk We are happy to bring orders to plant fairs for you to collect.

Stone Life June July 19.qxp_Stone Life 24/05/2019 12:24 Page 33

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Stone Life June July 19.qxp_Stone Life 24/05/2019 12:25 Page 34

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Stone Life June July 19.qxp_Stone Life 24/05/2019 12:25 Page 35

A

StaffordShire magiciani

International award for magician Paul STAFFORDSHIRE magician has come out tops in an international magic award.

Paul Pickford, who lives in Stafford, has recently jointly won the The Magic Circle Closeup Magician of the Year 2019.

Paul has been a professional magician for 27 years. He said: “It started out as a hobby when I was ten years old, when my parents bought me a Paul Daniels Magic Set as I used to watch him a lot on television.

“Paul Daniels was my inspiration back then and I was lucky enough to be on stage with him later on in my life which was great as he had been my childhood hero.”

Paul's tricks are mainly close-up ones such as with cards and coins, as well as using mind reading.

A self-taught magician, Paul has won other awards before including several regional accolades.

He has produced a DVD which is sold to the magic community, which includes his technique for a magic maneuver known as Versatility Switch.

Paul explained: “It's a move in magic that no one else has done before in the world.

“I have sold thousands of copies of the DVD all over the world.

“It is aimed at professional magicians rather than beginners.

“I also do lectures to other magicians all over

the country where I teach some techniques and also talk about my approach to magic.”

As for his thoughts on winning the Magic Circle Award, Paul said: “I was quite surprised as this was my first attempt at the competition.

“And I have only been a member of the Magic Circle for seven months.

“I had a good reputation in the magic community already but now this has elevated me to the top.”

Paul practices his new tricks on his partner Mandy. The couple have two children between them.

Paul, aged 48, said: “My 11-year-old son is starting to show an interest in magic but is more of a keen piano player at the moment.”

For any budding young magicians out there, Paul offered this advice: “Keep practising. Don't try and do really difficult tricks at the beginning.

“Just find your performance style and select a few tricks to try and be good at.

“It's better to be really good at a few tricks rather than just average doing many.”

As for which magicians inspires him now, Paul said: “There are so many – mainly ones who are not known in the public eye.”

As for aspirations for the future, Paul said: “I would like to become a consultant for television magic shows which is a distinct possibility now that I have won this award.

“I have been asked to go over to America to do some lectures over there.”

June/July 2019 35

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Y

worm charming

Worm charming event at village school OUNGSTERS have been taking part in an unusual activity at their village

school.

Fulford Primary School played host to a Worm Charming Event on Thursday, May 16, where residents were invited to join them in the method of attracting earthworms from the ground.

The next event for the primary school will be a Summer Fair on Thursday, June 20.

Running from 3.30pm until 5pm, there is set to be a variety of games and stalls including tombola, cake sales and refreshments.

36 June/July 2019

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CENTRAL ENGLAND CO-OP

Active equipment for school children

C

hildren at a Stafford school are enjoying more active and exciting break times after the ribbon was cut on a new £10,000 trim trail.

The project at Silkmore Primary Academy was opened after 18 months of fundraising and was boosted by a grant of £2,000 from Central England Co-operative’s Community Dividend Fund which was used to buy exciting pieces of equipment for the trim trail.

It is hoped the scheme will boost physical activity, mental, emotional and social skills, as well as providing somewhere fun for the pupils to spend their break times, lunch times and in after school clubs.

Victoria Mills, Community Links Leader at Silkmore Primary Academy, said: “It is wonderful to see the trim trail open after 18 months of fundraising, which saw us hold a

wide array of events and seek support from local companies and organisations to help raise the money we needed.

“The idea came from our pupil governors and the children are already really loving using the trim trail, getting more active and being out in the fresh air which is really positive to see.

“I would like to thank Central England Coop for their grant, as well as all the other groups and companies who contributed such as the Rotary Club and Staffordshire County Council.”

The opening ceremony formed part of what has become a period of celebration for Silkmore Academy as it both celebrates its 70th birthday and its latest Ofsted inspection which saw it handed an outstanding rating.

James Knight, Member and Community Relations Officer at Central England Co-op, works closely with Silkmore Primary Academy delivering a range of educational workshops to pupils and was delighted to have been invited to the opening of the trim trail.

He said: “It was fantastic to see first-hand how our Community Dividend Fund helps such worthwhile projects within communities where we trade.

“We have a great relationship with Silkmore Primary Academy which is a matter of yards from our Silkmore Lane Supermarket.

“Community Dividend Fund grants like this showcase how being a member and continuing to support Central England Co-op helps us as a Society to continue to invest and fund vital projects in the local area.”

Grants of between £100 and £5,000 are handed out every three months to a wide range of applicants.

The fund guarantees that at least one per cent of the Society’s trading profit is reinvested in local communities in a bid to help projects to thrive across its trading area of 16 counties from the Midlands to the east coast.

People can apply for funding by visiting https://communities.centralengland.coop.

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Cats ProteCtion stafford and distriCt BranCh

F

Fund-raiser for feline friends amilies are being invited to attend a fun day out and help raise cash for a cat charity.

The Pawsome Afternoon Fete and Craft Fair will take place on Saturday, June 22, in support of Stafford and District Cats Protection.

The event will take place at Brocton Football Club in Silkmore Lane, Stafford from 1pm until 4pm.

A spokesman for the charity said: “Brocton FC have kindly allowed Cats Protection use of their fields and facilities for the afternoon, and we hope the sun will be shining.”

Admission will be 50p or people can donate a tin of cat food instead.

There will be a tombola, raffle, face-painting, craft stalls and Cats Protection goodies to buy.

38 June/July 2019

Tea, coffee and refreshments will be available plus a cake sale.

The spokesman added: “Also, in return for a donation, our volunteer June will be giving Tarot readings to understand your life, influence your own future and open up to creativity.

“All money raised goes to helping cats and kittens in our area - whether re-homing, caring for orphaned kittens, or our vital neutering programme.

“So please come along and have a lovely day out.”

The Cats Protection Charity Shop in Stone is situated in the High Street, and the charity also hosts a market stall in Stafford.

For further information go online to www.cats.org.uk/stafford.

Stone Life June July 19.qxp_Stone Life 24/05/2019 12:25 Page 39

C

IRONMAN 70.3 StAffORdShIRe

Fifth annual event at historic castle ompetitors are gearing up for an annual energetic event in Staffordshire.

The fifth Ironman 70.3 Staffordshire, will take place on June 9 and more than 2,400 competitors, all hoping to complete a 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike ride and 13.1 mile half marathon, will be taking part in this year's event.

The energetic challenge will start at Chasewater, and for the first time ever, will take in the historic Stafford Castle before finishing in Stafford town centre.

Mark Winnington, Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Growth, said: “Ironman, the county council and Stafford Borough Council are working hard behind the scenes to help ensure everything goes smoothly over the weekend.

“Ironman provides a great boost for the local economy, businesses and tourism and as a county we are looking forward to giving a warm welcome to the competitors and their supporters once again in June.

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“Staffordshire has always provided a spectacular backdrop for the event and the great reception from local residents along the route will undoubtedly help spur on competitors over the finishing line once again.”

As part of the Ironman competition there will be temporary road closures in place on Sunday, June 9 to ensure the safety of the competitors and spectators.

People can find out more and plan ahead if need be by visiting www.ironman.com.

Rebecca Sutherland, Race Director said: “We are looking forward to delivering the fifth edition of Ironman 70.3 Staffordshire.

“The 2019 event has its largest ever field and that is in part due to the work undertaken by the county and borough councils to make Staffordshire a first-class venue for visiting athletes. “Improvements to the run course should improve the experience still further and I encourage everyone to come and join in the fun next month.”

For further details on the road closures email staffordshire70.3@ironmanroadaccess.com or call 03330 116600.

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June/July 2019 39

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A

EcclEshall Parish council

New chairman takes the chains new chairman has been elected for a parish council.

The annual meeting of the Eccleshall Parish Council held on Wednesday, May 15 resulted in the election of a new chairman and new deputy chairman.

Former deputy chairman Peter Jones was elected to be the new chairman of the parish council and Libby Dale was elected to be the new deputy chairman.

Bryan Delanchy was returned unopposed as the chairman of the planning committee as was Chris Marshall as deputy.

The chairman welcomed all the councillors and especially the new councillors Ros Taylor, Martin Watson and Philip Stenning.

Parish councillors were allocated to the various council committees that they had chosen to serve on and those committee will elect new chair people at their first meetings.

Councillor Peter Jones said: “The appeal for people to become co-opted councillor did not

result in a rush of candidates, indeed only one local resident applied and he is unavailable for some months. “The council continues to operate on 12 members including three new councillors.

“The planning committee includes all the members of the council.”

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A

CANAL CRUISING

New boat launch for family business narrowboat hire company has launched a new boat – which they have built themselves.

Canal Cruising, which now has it's fourth generation of family members on board in the business, makes all its own boats.

Now the oldest hire company on the canals, the Stone based company is still operated by the Wyatt family, who offer a wealth of experience and give a warm and friendly service.

The business is now run by Peter and Karen Wyatt – Peter being the grandson of founders Rendel and Jean Wyatt - along with daughter Kimberley and son Dominic.

Rendel and Jean started the company in 1948 at the same boatyard in Stone with four or five boats. The business has recently launched their latest boat called Mino –

named after Peter's mum who ran the company from 1955 until the 80s. All of the 14 boats within the fleet have been named after family members.

Karen said: “It took us around five months to build Mino.

“We only build boats for our fleet.

“It does take time and money to build our own boats but they last – our oldest boat is 46-years-old.

Karen added: “We take great pride in giving people good holidays – we do the best we can.”

Canal Cruising has customers from far and wide. The first holidaymakers to hire the new boat were returning guests from New Zealand.

To find out more about their boats go online to www.canalcruising.co.uk.

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THE WOMEN’S INSTITUTE

O

The Women's Institute (WI), which was formed in 1915 and is now the largest voluntary women's organisation in the UK, plays a unique role in providing women with educational opportunities and the chance to build new skills, to take part in a wide variety of activities and to campaign on issues that matter to them and their communities.

Here we take a look at what's been going on at local WI's and see that they are “not just jam and Jerusalem”.

Is your WI group in the Stone, Eccleshall or surrounding area?

Would you like your group to be featured in our WI pages? Email Belinda at life@timesandecho.co.uk.

Stone WI ur April meeting started with the speaker, whilst the business was conducted after her leaving and partly over a cup of tea - very civilised. The subject of our afternoon concerned the early history of Shugborough and highlighted some of the changes that have occurred since the National Trust have taken over from the county council.

The name Shugborough was derived from "Shuck", meaning to do with elves and fairies and "borough" meaning a mound. Originally, there was a village consisting of 16 dwellings and 16 more were scattered around in the vicinity. The original house was built on a mound and was surrounded by a moat. It was cold, damp and draughty.

Cannock Chase consisted of 20 square miles of stony scrubland and forest hence few dwellings were to be found.

The Exxes Bridge, wrongly referred to as the 'packhorse bridge' was built by the Earl of Essex and had 42 struts crossing the confluence of the rivers Sow and Trent. Now it only has 14 struts. The area had a great deal more water then, and the bridge served the Earl on his days out hunting wild boar, deer, etc which roamed the Chase. He lived at Chartly Castle and hurled his way through Shugborough on horseback to hunt and the peasants would have to move very quickly into the 'v'' like areas built into the bridge to escape being caught up in the hunting party. The area was and is used for weapon training.

We found this talk very interesting.

Our May meeting was celebrated on May Day, and after "Jerusalem" was sung, we followed the rendition with Happy Birthday as our Wednesday afternoon WI became 10 years old.

42 June/July 2019

It was started by Barbara Beaźley, who is still very active in the group. We also noted that it was also Staffordshire Day so we had much to celebrate.

Well, who said an AGM is boring? The business for the last year was dealt efficiently by the president, Heather Whittall, Secretary, Sheila Hawley and Pat Bollington, our treasurer. We are only a small group of about 20 so everyone is very friendly and visitors soon realise the warmth of our welcome, and it would be lovely to see a few more people in our throng. People were thanked for their hard work during the year and received a plant.

Offices for the next year were discussed but there was little change.

Tea and cake followed and soft drinks were also available. Two types of cake were available to sample:- coffee and walnut and/or scrumptious chocolate, or both. Thank you to Mary and Mouse.

Then the fun began. We had an auction. A variety of items had been donated, including wine, cosmetic sets for both male and females, framed pictures, glass chimes, gardening gloves, mirror compact, a leather purse and a lightweight cape with detachable fur.

Barbara dealt with the proceedings and was both efficient in getting members to part with their cash, and she was quite funny, making the afternoon a delight. Altogether over £75 was collected, exceeding the last auction by about £20. So well done to all.

If anyone is interested in coming to sample our afternoon delights, we normally meet at the Christ Church Centre at 2pm on the first Wednesday of each month. However a trip out has been planned for our June meeting. On July 13, our speaker is to talk about fire prevention and we have a monthly competition for a little more fun. For this meeting it is 'a safety tip or hint'. Put the date in you diary and hope to see you there. You'll be assured of a warm and friendly welcome.

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THE WOMEN’S INSTITUTE

I

Swynnerton & Yarnfield WI n January Swynnerton & Yarnfield WI held a wonderful trip down memory lane with Bill Durose “16 in the 60s”. A speaker who performed live music from the 1960s while recalling his meetings with famous stars such as The Beatles. We joined in with the familiar songs and had a great time.

Our February meeting was arranged by the committee for the members and incorporated canapés and a little bubbly (non-alcoholic too) with some fun and games.

There was an update on climate change issues which we have been campaigning about for the last 12 months. We are very aware that this important issue is sometimes lost amid

other issues, so we are raising concerns with our MPs. Our March meeting was all about patchwork and quilts, with some very beautiful examples being displayed, and our April meeting was with Miss Pitchy Patchy, Hen Johnson, who had intriguing World War II stories and memorabilia.

Swynnerton & Yarnfield WI members invite any ladies to come along for free taster sessions at our monthly meeting.

We meet every month on the third Monday of each month at 7.30pm at Swynnerton Village Hall. Initial taster meetings are free, guests can attend for £3 per session, annual membership is £36 per year and includes a national monthly glossy magazine and other special events and speakers at county level.

We also have other events throughout the year which are open to everyone. For further information contact Linda Mottram on 01782 796628 or Jean Harper on 01782 796615.

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THE WOMEN’S INSTITUTE

T

Barlaston Herons WI

he ladies of Barlaston Herons WI had a fascinating meeting in March.

The talk was all about the Fourth Duchess of Sutherland, a real local celebrity. Her life was discussed in detail and the focus was on her direct impact on the Potteries.

‘Meddlesome Millie’ as she was known to some, lived in Trentham Hall and became increasingly concerned about social issues of the time including lead poisoning and crippled children.

All her good deeds were highlighted including setting up the Duchess of Sutherland’s Cripples Guild. This Guild

44 June/July 2019

trained local people with crafting skills to then sell their wares and be self-sufficient instead of relying on charity. She also was responsible for raising awareness of the devastating consequences of lead poisoning on workers and showed that ware could be made without lead quite successfully.

The ladies were told about her family life and how she went onto help with the war by joining the Red Cross. She died in 1955 but her legacy certainly stays within the local area. A thoroughly enjoyable talk.

Home-made refreshment followed and the business of the meeting included upcoming walk, the County Show, WI resolutions and any correspondence. Local community events were also highlighted with the cinema and allotments showing availability.

New members always welcome. Find us on Facebook or email us at barlastonheronswi@gmail.com.

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A

Barlaston Afternoon WI

t one of our recent meetings, we focused on Tai Chi and we looked like the picture but as this was a tryout we were no-where near.

However, Lyn Emerton kindly guided us through Tai Chi for Health and we all joined in to the best of our ability. A thoroughly enjoyable afternoon.

Home and Gardens were the theme of our WI Federation Day at Stafford Showground.

The special speaker was Martin Roberts from Homes under the Hammer. He talked of the homes that had been brought but not ended well and those that had gone according to plan.

Lots of tips of where to buy a house and encouragement to have a go at an auction but only after looking over the house and having experts in if needed.

Also he talked of his time in “I’m a Celebrity - Get me Out of Here”. He said it was filmed as it happened and nothing was made up. He enjoyed his time there and the friends made. We were entertained all day with more speakers and lots of stalls to buy from so we all had a great day out.

Our ladies also visited the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire and had a trip around on the train. They all enjoyed their day out and the

THE WOMEN’S INSTITUTE

amazing space where all are remembered.

For our May meeting, was on history, The Duchess of Sutherland, Millie, story told by our speaker Sylvia Baddley. A very moving account of the improvements made in the pottery industry when Millie lead the campaign to reduce and eliminate lead in glazes to improve the potters’ life.

Along with starting an Orthopaedic Hospital at Hartshill and working as a nurse in World War 1 she was a very dynamic lady.

Ten of us recently attended the Barlaston Proscenium Players, Tiptoe Through the Thombstones and all had a wonderful evening.

We had a busy Craft Group making paper beads recently and previously it was banners as well as birthday cards. Every month we have a different topic. The group leader is our famous crafter of jewellery Christine Mayer, who also delivers training at the WI Denman College at Oxford.

There is a new 'Tai Chi For Health' group starting up in the village. The first meeting will be on Thursday, June 6 from 11am until midday, at Barlaston Methodist Church, Park Drive, Barlaston.

Forthcoming WI events: July 5 WI Fashion Show, TBC Day out in Bath.

Next meetings: June 19 with 'Sumina Silk Art' at 1pm until 3pm at Barlaston Village Hall, Longton Road, Barlaston. July 17 with 'My Lie as CEO for Lichfield Diocese with speaker Julie James.

For further information visit www.facebook.com/barlastonafternoonWI

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QUIZ CORNER

Let’s get quizzical COMPILED BY PAUL STEELE

1. 'Victoria' returned to screens in March but who plays the part of Prince Albert?

2. Which mountain range stretches from the northernmost part of British Columbia, Canada to the state of New Mexico in America?

3. Which Australian soap is set in Summer Bay? 4. Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito and Eva Green starred in which live action Disney movie released in cinemas in March?

5. Which team won the Football League Trophy in March beating Sunderland 5-4 on penalties?

6. What colour is the tip of the stoats tail?

7. The theme tune 'Barwick Green' is associated with which long running radio series?

8. On which river does Budapest stand?

9. In 1937 the Irish Free State changed its name to what?

10. In which city is Madison Square Garden?

A Eurovision quiz 1. Which UK winner included the following lyrics, ‘Pounding away, pounding away’?

2. Which Canadian superstar won the contest representing Switzerland in 1988?

3. Which country has won the Eurovision song contest the most times?

4. What was the English title of the Nicole song that won the competition for Germany in 1982?

5. Which group managed to get the UK’s first ‘nul points’ in 2003?

6. Which famous boxer’s father represented Ireland in 1968 with ‘Chance of a Lifetime’?

7. What was ABBA's winning song of 1974?

8. How many times did Cliff Richard win the Eurovision Song Contest?

9. Which Irish entry contains the lyrics, ‘Close your eyes, pretend it's just the two of us again, make believe this moment's here to stay’?

10. Who is representing the UK at this years competition?

General Knowledge Answers: 1. Tom Hughes; 2. Rocky Mountains; 3. Home and Away; 4. 'Dumbo'; 5.

Portsmouth; 6. Black; 7. The Archers; 8. Danube; 9. Eire; 10. New York; Eurovision Answers: 1. Boom Bang a Bang; 2. Celine Dion; 3. Ireland; 4. A Little Peace; 5. Jemini; 6. Barry McHuigan; 7. Waterloo; 8. None; 9. Hold Me Know; 10. Michael Rice

46 June/July 2019

Quizzes compiled by Paul Steele - email: pnsteele@aol.com - Paul's 'Which One?' quiz game is available on Amazon.

General knowledge quiz

Stone Life June July 19.qxp_Stone Life 24/05/2019 12:26 Page 47

INVESTMENT MATTERS

Market volatility is a fact of life

O

ne of the questions most frequently asked is whether market volatility is something that investors should worry about. The simple answer is that although we have seen great one-day market movements in recent months, there is nothing to fear from this.

Short term volatility is not something that should concern most investors for several reasons; not least of which is that losses and gains are only notional until the investment has been actually realised. For most people, having to wait a little longer than hoped for to get a better return is likely to be no more than an inconvenience. Only those with a fixed date on which money has to be accessed (such as an impending retirement date) are likely to be affected and they can manage the situation by moving money gradually into less volatile assets.

Pound-cost averaging There is even some potential benefit from fluctuating asset values, for those making regular investments. The reason for this is that more shares (or units in a collective investment) are purchased by a given regular sum of money

invested, when prices are lower, than when they are higher. So, if prices suddenly drop when money is due to be invested, the amount will purchase more units in the fund. When it comes to selling, the investor will, therefore, have more units to encash, at a hopefully higher price than had he or she invested everything on ‘day one’.

This does not mean that lump sum investments are inferior to regular ones; simply that there are potential benefits from each approach. What really matters is that there is a clear investment strategy that reflects objectives and risk tolerance and that sufficient asset class diversity is present to avoid the ‘all eggs in one basket’ syndrome.

Stuart D Bryant is a fee-based Certified Financial Planner, specialising in personal lifestyle planning and investment planning.

SDB Strategic Planners Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Tel: (01782) 712233

NOTHING CONTAINED IN THE ARTICLE SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS GIVING INDIVIDUAL FINANCIAL ADVICE. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS ARTICLE IS BASED ON OUR CURRENT UNDERSTANDING OF LEGISLATION, WHICH CAN BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. THE VALUE OF INVESTMENTS CAN GO DOWN AS WELL AS UP; YOU MAY GET BACK LESS THAN YOU INVEST.

June/July 2019 47

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MOTORING

B

CAR WE THERE

usy Brits will only take their children on seven family days out this year - with the seaside the top destination, according to new research.

Hectic lifestyles, not being able to get the same time off as the other half, and money issues are putting the brakes on the number of ‘daycations’ they are able to take.

The survey of 2,000 adults revealed that on average, parents spend around £700 and covering 300 miles on the seven big days out.

Sadly, 40 per cent are expecting to go on five or fewer outings.

When families do get the chance to go out, the beach is the favoured location - followed by the park, countryside, zoo and a trip to see a relative.

It also emerged on the journey, children will ask 'are we there yet?' once every 40 minutes and it is expected that the first call for the toilet will be 54 minutes into the trip.

The study also found two-thirds of adults "can't wait to spend some quality time with the family" - with one-in-20 admitting they don’t look forward to family trips.

The biggest frustration is getting children ready on time, followed by the moment parents realise it is going to be a nightmare trying to cram everything into the boot of the car.

However, the stresses of going away are worth it - with the prospect of a new adventure with their children topping a list of reasons parents plan outings.

48 June/July 2019

The research was commissioned by Hyundai ahead of the Easter holidays to encourage people to spend more quality time with their families and to celebrate its new seven-seat Santa Fe SUV. A Hyundai spokesperson said: "Families are short on time and they want to make every moment count. While road trips can be difficult with little ones, we know they’re worth it.

“They give children the chance to go on exciting adventures with their parents while mums and dads can get the enjoyment of watching their children experiencing different environments.

“The summer break is the perfect time to enjoy some precious family bonding – whether it’s a trip to the beach, a walk in the countryside or maybe a play in the local park.''

The survey found three-in-ten families plan to visit a museum, while ten per cent will go on a trip to a river or lake.

One-quarter of those, surveyed by OnePoll, will go sightseeing in a big city, with London topping the list as best day trips ahead of York, Edinburgh, Brighton and Liverpool.

And 30 per cent of parents have to worry about their children suffering from a bout of travel sickness.

Parents won’t purely rely on giving their children electrical devices to keep them entertained on a journey, with ‘having a singalong’, playing ‘I Spy’ and 'talking to them' among the most popular options.

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MOTORING

E YET?

The survey also revealed 46 per cent of British families plan on having a 'staycation' in the UK this year.

Cornwall and Devon are the most popular destinations, with Brits also taking their bucket and spades to traditional seaside resorts like Scarborough, Skegness and Blackpool.

The Hyundai spokesperson added: ''The Hyundai Santa Fe features some clever technology to make family trips that bit easier.

“There’s a smart electric tailgate – handy when your hands are full, head-up display so you won’t have to take your eyes off the road, remote window control for when someone’s left a window open, and a surround view monitor to help with tight parking spaces.”

Top ten day trips: Beach Park Zoo / safari park Picnic Countryside Visit relatives Theme park Shopping centre Museum Sightseeing in a city

Top ten cities for day trips:

London York Edinburgh Brighton Liverpool Bath Manchester Birmingham Bristol Newcastle

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MOTORING

50 June/July 2019

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