First of all may I apologise for the time elapsed since my last blog. I’ve had a very busy time of late which has delayed this blog.

I had intended to follow up the last blog about PACT with an item about theon line live PACT, however I’ve had the good fortune to be involved in a couple community based events recently which highlighted the huge amount of community spirit in the Wednesfield area.

Firstly there was the Help For Heroes fun day on Moathouse Lane East, organised by Simon Hamilton, a local man, who also happens to work for the Local Neighbourhood Partnerships Office.

Secondly there was the Remembrance Day Parade in Wednesfield organised by the local Royal British Legion.

Thirdly there was the Christmas Light switch on in Wednesfield High Street and the service at Saint Thomas’ Church organised by the Church, Local Schools and Wednesfield Traders amongst others.

Without the dedication and determination of a lot of people, willing to put in a lot of  time and effort none of these events would have happened. All the events were well attended by local residents and by visitors to the area. The Help For Heroes event raised over £1200. The Church at St Thomas’ was packed out for both the Remembrance Service and the Christmas service. Kids and teachers from local Primary Schools sang their hearts out with songs learned especially for the Christmas Service. (To say they put us adults to shame with their talent and enthusiasm is an understatement!).

So why do they do it?

In simple terms it’s because they want to and because they care!

My Gran used to tell me that there’s no Community Spirit any more! It’s not like it was in the 40’s and 50’s! Times were hard! There was rampant unemployment! But people looked after each other!

Well the events I’ve described show that Community Spirit does still exist and is thriving in Wednesfield.

This spirit made me think if I do enough. Like others I attend charity events, I attend my local PACT, the one where I live not just where I work. I give to charity. My personal donations go to the NSPCC, probably because I’m a Dad. But do I do enough?

The answer sadly is probably not! So what can I do? What else can we all do?

It’s not all about organising events to raise money or about giving donations to charities. It’s also about taking care of your neighbours, particularly the elderly.Brighten their day with a simple hello or helping them with carrying their shopping up the footpath to their front door. Simple things that make a difference. Has your neighbour left the sat nav on display in the windscreen of their car? Have they gone to bed and left a downstairs window open? Is it late and your music a bit loud? Simple things like letting your neighbour know about the sat nav, the open window or turning the music down all make a difference.

So what am I doing?

Well along with a number of others (currently about 200!) I’m taking part in the Aberdovey Charity Bike Ride. It’s in June 2012 and starts in Wolverhampton and ends in Aberdovey. Approximately 100 miles.

This will be my first attempt, however the event has been running since 1993. That first year there were 30 riders. In 2011 there were over 300! All riders raise sponsor money all of which goes to local charities. This year the nominated charities are:-

•  Ben Gannon Appeal
•  Castle Wheelers (Russells Hall Hospital)
•  Whizz Kidz (Special Wheelchairs)
•  Diabetes UK (Walsall Branch)
•  Black Country Food Bank
•  Newport Cottage Care Home

So why am I doing it? Simple. To try and give something back to the Community. To prove to my Gran that Community Spirit is alive and well and thriving.

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A note from WV11

We at WV11 have had the pleasure of meeting with Sgt Causer at several PACT meetings and other community events and he really is a great man as well as a dedicated police officer with community at the heart of most things he does. So while he hasn’t asked, we would like to urge anyone who can to show their support for him and the rest of the participants in this Charity Ride by donating via the PayPal link on the Aberdovey Bike Ride Website.

Good Luck Simon!

For the last 10 years The Rotary Club of Wednesfield has operated a Christmas Sleigh which has toured various routes in Wednesfield bringing Father Christmas to a street near you and this year is no different. See below for all the times and dates of this annual festive

Thursday 15 December 2011 – from 6.00pm

Commence Wimbourne Road and then visiting, Newbolds Road, Kingsway Road, Newbolds Road, D’Eyncourt Road , Carlton Avenue, Mullett Road, Mill Lane, Poplar Avenue, Willow Avenue, Beechwood Avenue, Poplar Avenue, Mill Lane, Long Mill Avenue, Long Mill North, Long Mill South.

Friday 16 December 2011- from 6.00pm

Commence Yale Drive, Calvert Crescent, Teasel Road, Silverton Drive, Eastern Gardens, Waddens Brook Lane, Ellards Drive, Seaton Close, Smallshire Close. Longmoor Close, Brackenwood Drive, Ferndown Gardens, Broad Lane South, Southfield Road, Orwell Close, Hawthorne Road, Firsdale Road, Rosalind Grove, Silverton Way, Redstone Drive, Egmont Gardens, Holberg Grove, Silverton Way, Lyndale Drive, Hopton Crescent, Raymond Gardens, Westport Crescent.

Saturday 17 December 2011 – from 6.00pm

Commence Coleman Avenue, Perry Hall Road, Lawrence Avenue, Haden Crescent, Perry Hall Road, Stubby Lane, Ratcliffe Road, Carrick Road, Castlebridge Road, Merrick Road, Pool Road, Wyrley Road, Castlebridge Road

Sunday 18 December 2011 – from 2.00pm

Commence Olinthus Avenue, Lichwood Road, Lich Avenue, Olinthus Avenue, Moathouse Lane East, Wright Avenue, Day Avenue, Pritchard Avenue, Davenport Road, Wright Avenue, Hyde Road, Hylstone Crescent, Moat House Lane East finish at junction with Wright Avenue.

Sunday 18 December 2011 – from 4.30pm

Commence Clanfield Avenue, Fitzmaurice Road, Gadsby Avenue, Peacock Avenue, Whiston Avenue, Ecclestone Road, Griffiths Drive, Ashmore Avenue.

 Monday 19 December 2011 – from 6.00pm

Commence Victoria Road, Graisley Lane, Frederick Road, Nordley Road, Woden Avenue, Woden Crescent, School Road, Vicarage Road, Nordley Road, West Avenue, North Avenue, East Avenue, South Avenue, Graisley Lane, Victoria Road, Parkhouse Avenue, Highfield Crescent, The Grove.

 Tuesday 20 December 2011 – from 6.00pm

Commence Fairview Road, Fairview Crescent, Fairview Road, D’Eyncourt Road Sambrook Road, Kingsway Road, Wimbourne Road, Cadman Crescent, Hatton Crescent.

Wednesday 21 December – from 6.00pm

Essington in Buttermere Drive and then visit:- Thirlmere Drive, High Hill, Wolverhampton Road, Hill Street, Hawthorn Road, Brownshore Road, Bognop Road, Swynnerton Drive – including all roads off, return to Bognop Road/Brownshore Road and finish at Larchmere Drive – again including all roads off.

 Thursday 22 December 2011 – from 6.00pm

Commence Whitehouse Avenue, Shardlow Road, Rocester Avenue, Overseal Road, Shardlow Road, Spondon Road, Measham Way, Springhill Road, Wootton Avenue, Duckhouse Road, Wootton Avenue, Ridge Lane,

For more information please contact David Johns, Hon Secretary, Rotary Club of Wednesfield on 01746 763710 or Djohnswheat@aol.com

A note from David

Over the years many local causes have benifitted from these collections, in particular this year we have given Edward the Elder School £2500 to purchase new books to enhance their reading programme.   In the last 8 years 12 young men and women from Coppice Performing Arts College and Heath Park Business & Enterprise College have been sponsored onto Leadership Courses.   Various Departments at New Cross Hospital  have also benefitted.   This year our collection, together with other fund raising efforts during the year, will support a “Rotary Suite” at Compton Hospice, New Cross Hospital and another youngster from Heath Park will go on a Leadership Course.

Remembrance

At this time of year many may wish to make a dedication to a relative who has passed on and the club is delighted that the Wednesfield and Fallings Park LNP have allowed us again this year to use the Xmas Tree outside the Library in Well Lane as a “Tree of Remembrance”.   Dedications may be recorded in books available in the Library and Sainsburys where boxes are also available for charitable donations.   The dedications will be recorded on the club’s website www.wednesfieldrotary.org for the next 12 months

Our recently launched WV11 Events page is quickly filling up with events as the festive season approaches.

As well as the numerous Church services that are taking place, Wednesfield & Fallings Park LNP holds it’s AGM on 8th December at the Jennie Lee Centre.

There will also be a weeks worth of events taking place around the Christmas Tree by the Library – we’ll have more details on these shortly, but the first event is a performance by the Grey Coll Pipe Band on 12th December.

Santa will be visiting the shops at Moat House Lane East on the 15th and 16th of December and members of Churches across Ashmore Park will be singing carols at the bottom shops on 17th December.

And finally, Essington Fruit Farm is now selling Christmas Trees and encouraging people to dig/saw their own.

For full details of  what’s on, visit our events page and if you know about something we’ve missed, let us know.

For the eleventh year and since Christmas, members of Wednesfield’s Rotary Club have been busily selling raffle tickets for the single prize of a Trolley Dash around Sainsbury’s Wednesfield store.

This culminated with a whole week selling the tickets in Store and the club is pleased to announce that the winner, a local Wednesfield resident who purchased her ticket in store, Mrs Jennifer Scordis will be claiming her prize on Sunday 27 June. She will do the run just before the store opens to the public. For the record last year’s winner stashed goods to the value of £383.00 into his trolley.

Overall, tickets to the value of £1750.00 were sold and after minimal expenses a variety of local good causes will benefit not the least of which will be the Neo Natal Unit at New Cross Hospital.

Source: Rotary Club of Wednesfield

Wednesfield & Fallings Park neighbourhood partnership officer will hike up the highest mountain in Britain to raise money for Cancer Research UK after his own father was diagnosed with the illness.

Simon Hamilton, who works for Wednesfield and Fallings Park Local Neighbourhood Partnership, will be attempting the arduous task along with his friend Diane Crutchley, a rehabilitation assistant at Warstone’s Resource Centre, in July.

Simon walked up Snowdon Mountain last year, but this time around the trek will have added significance as he hiking with his dad.

“I walked up Snowdon last year for my 40th birthday with my brothers – this year we decided to do it again but for charity,” said Simon.

“My dad had cancer of the bowel but is in remission now and is back at work and enjoying himself.

Those of you who would like to donate to Simon and Diane’s cause can visit their just giving site by clicking here: http://www.justgiving.com/Simon-Hamilton69. Alternatively, you can get in touch with Simon by calling 07814549416.

WV11.co.uk will be donating a month’s worth of our advertising revenues to Simon’s cause – we hope you join us.

“I’m really excited because last year it was the first time all my brothers came together  as a family for years but this time we will be walking with our dad too, who although is 61 is very fit for his age and celebrating that he is in remission.”

Simon already donates to the charity every month but felt he wanted to do all he could to help others who found themselves in his dad’s position.

“With my dad’s treatment, we thought it would be a good idea to support the huge amount of research that is already being carried out, which helps to save so many lives,” added Simon.

Diane is best friends with Simon’s wife and asked if she could be a part of the slog too.

“I like walking and completed a half marathon – it’s good to stay fit but I’ve never done it for charity,” she said.

“I’m not really getting worried as it’s something I love to do. I’ve started to go out rambling on the weekends in preparation and am really looking forward to it.”

As well as raising cash for Cancer Research UK, some of Simon’s brothers will also donate money to Compton Hospice after it helped the family during an illness that was suffered by a relative.

Simon’s dad Ken added: “I’m really looking forward to the hike with my sons and am proud that we are raising as much as we can for two such good causes.”

Pupils from Wednesfield High were quoted in a Birmingham Mail article after taking part in a Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile fun run in Birmingham’s Cannon Hill Park this weekend.

Wednesfield High School pupil Danesh Nigah, aged 16, completed the six-mile race with friend Jaspal Singh, aged 15.

“We think it’s a really good cause, when you see the money going to people who are struggling in other countries,” said Danesh. “I’ve raised over £180 so far.

You can read the full article here – if you took part in Sport Relief let us know!

A review of last night’s concert at St Thomas’s Church in Wednesfield starring the Ashmore Park Choir, another full house with just under £1000 pounds raised for the Christian Aid charity.

Once more Terry Green as the Musical Director has put together another wonderful Christmas show, along with Ros Green as the accompanist and John Billau as assistant conductor. Some traditional and not so traditional carols and the now legendary extra acts to accompany these, The Cornopean Brass Ensemble with Gillian Edwards had its now traditional part to play with six great pieces played in the two halves, the witty readings by Geraldine Blanchette were funny, Denis Billau’s rendition of “Fields of Athenry” was excellent, Lizzie Watson our own Nick the Vic’s daughter was wonderful in her flute solo of  ”The Dance Of The Snowmen” and Clive Williams’s Dylan Thomas reading was lovely.

As always, Irene Dodd who Terry calls “The Bard of Wednesfield” gave a wonderful monologue this time on how the Angel got on top of the Tree in her usual Yorkshire style and received a very mighty round of applause. I must say that the soloist singers, Rita Williams, Sue Ridgeway and Steve Robtham were a credit to the choir and made the entire evening a joy, with the congregation all being able to take part in some of the carols made it a wonderful evening and one many people look forward to every Christmas.

And finally, the choir sang a lovely new Christmas Carol which was written by Terry Green himself, hopefully we will hear more of his own carols next year.

Thanks to Viv for this great article! If you’d like to write for WV11, please get in touch.

We were recently sent a Tweet on Twitter (or perhaps it was a Chirp!?) by the West Midlands Bird Club asking us if any of our readers had spotted any interesting birds.

The club, who’s Twitter profile says they have been “Serving birdwatchers & ornithologists in the four English counties of Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and the Metropolitan West Midlands since 1929″ are asking people to report details of birds they have seen in the region.

To find out how to report your findings, visit the Club’s website.

]]> http://www.wv11.co.uk/2009/10/28/calling-all-bird-spotters-in-wv11/feed/ 0 http://www.wv11.co.uk/2009/10/21/musical-events-this-week-in-wv11/ http://www.wv11.co.uk/2009/10/21/musical-events-this-week-in-wv11/#comments Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:36:48 +0000 James http://www.wv11.co.uk/?p=753 Thursday 22nd October

The Royal British Legion Club on Vicarage Road, Wednesfield hosts an evening of music to raise cash for local charities. The event starts at 7:45pm and includes duo ‘Gareth & Hayley’ as well as a disco – there will also be a raffle with a top prize of a weekend break.

Tickets cost £3 on the door, call Bill Speirs on 07932 664 751 for more information.

Friday 23rd October

Ashmore Park Choir (who are looking for new members) will be performing at Corpus Christi Church on Griffiths Drive, Ashmore Park at 7:30pm. Email Irene Dodd for more information.