To all our readers from Wednesfield and beyond may we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

A Christmas hamper appeal has been launched to benefit the family of Sarah Smith who died after being hit by a van whilst cycling in Essington on 7th December.

Organised by Essington Councillor David Clifft, the appeal is in response to residents who have asked how they can help the family following the recent tragedy  (it’s believed that Mrs Smith leaves two young sons).

If you would like donate presents or food these can be dropped off at Cllr Clifft’s office at Essington Community Centre on Hobnock Road between 8:30am and 4:30pm, Monday – Thursday and from 8:30am – 1:00pm on Friday at Cllr Clifft’s home, 14 Long Lane, Essington.

If necessary collection can also be organised, please contact Cllr Clifft on 01922 40110 / 07930 394399 or email d.clifft@sstaffs.gov.uk.

Police Appeal

South Staffs Police are appealing for witnesses to the collision involving 45-year-old cyclist Sarah Smith of Church Crescent, Essington and a white Mercedes Sprinter van which happened at approximately 7:15am on Wednesday 7th December.

Witnesses are asked to contact the investigating officer Sgt Chris Rodger on telephone number 101 quoting incident 113 of 7 December.

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.

Newhampton Arts Centre in Wolverhampton are hosting two handmade Christmas gift markets this festive season and they are inviting Wednesfield residents along.

What’s On?

There will be a variety of stalls selling Christmas wares, handmade jewellery, knitwear, cards, home baking and a variety of other handmade gifts.

Stallholders have also donated a variety of prizes for a Tombola with all proceeds going to Compton Hospice.

Visit Santa

On both dates Santa will be popping along free of charge for you to say hello, take you photo with him and maybe even receive a treat!

The events have been organised in order to give local designers/artists an opportunity to showcase and sell their work and are running from 11am to 4pm on Sunday 4th and Sunday 11th December at Newhampton Arts Centre, Dunkley Street, Wolverhampton, WV1 4An

They promise to be a lovely Christmassy afternoon out.

The annual turning on of Wednesfield’s Christmas lights takes place this Thursday, November 24th.

The event which takes place a week earlier than normal this year will see the lights switched on around 5pm and will include entertainment along the high street.

We recently received the following message from Wednesfield Rotary Club president Shankar Verma…

On behalf of Wednesfield Rotary Club I would just like to thank the people of Wednesfield for their wonderful support recently when we made our Christmas Appeal at Sainsbury’s, in the High Street and with our Sleigh.

From all sources this year we raised a total of £3455.81. Bearing in mind the difficult weather conditions experienced by us all this is a magnificent result. Unfortunately we did have to cancel some routes due to the weather and we apologise to anyone who was disappointed by our being unable to visit all the routes planned. However we were pleased to be able to add a route through Essington which realised a further £256.24.

The principal cause we are supporting this year is “Promise Dreams” but a significant proportion of the funds we have just raised will go to local causes such as Girl Guides, Scouts and Air Cadets.

Once again people of Wednesfield, many thanks for your continued support and generosity.

Source: Rotary Club of Wednesfield

WRAP your rubbish! – that’s the plea from police to householders in Wolverhampton who are throwing out cardboard boxes before and after Christmas.

Many households across the region may be getting high value electrical goods like DVD players, games machines, mp3 players and widescreen TV sets.

Over Christmas many people will be throwing the packaging from these items out with their rubbish.

West Midlands Police are appealing to householders to break down and wrap up or recycle their cardboard boxes rather than leave them in plain view outside their houses where potential burglars can see what goods they have bought.

Other advice from police is to:

- Mark all new property with a UV marker making it easier for lost and stolen property to be returned should the worst happen. It is also a good idea to keep a record of where you marked the property and note down the serial number.

- Record all your new property on the national database, www.immobilise.com

Chief Inspector Jo Chilton said: “After Christmas you can often tell what your neighbours have received by looking at their rubbish, which means it is easy for a potential burglar to do the same.

“We are looking out for people acting suspiciously around homes but the public can help themselves by breaking down their boxes and wrapping them up in plastic bags or by taking them direct to a recycling centre.

“A burglar can take all of your enjoyment of Christmas away if you let them. Please don’t make it easy for them.”

We’d like to wish all of our visitors a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Thank you so much for all of your support and feedback over the last twelve months – WV11.co.uk couldn’t have been a success it weren’t for our visitors who contribute towards the site in numerous ways – so thank you very much!

We’ll see you in 2011!

Like many of the local Churches, St. Chad’s Church in Stubby Lane, Wednesfield has a number of festive events taking place over the coming weeks.

Sunday 19th Dec – Candlelit Carol Service at 4pm

Friday 24th Dec (Christmas Eve) – Children’s Crib Service at 4pm

Saturday 25th Dec (Christmas Day) – Holy Communion Service 9:30am

Photo by *Seraphina* used under Creative Commons license.

Ashmore Park Choir  will be giving a Christmas Concert at St. Thomas’ Church, Wednesfield on Tuesday 14th Dec at 7:30pm.

The choir will also be singing carols on the following dates:

Friday 17th Dec – Wednesfield Library at 5pm

Sunday 19th Dec - Essington Fruit Farm at 12:30pm

Wednesday 22nd Dec – Sainsbury’s, Wednesfield at 6pm.

Photo by Horia Varlan used under Creative Commons license.