“The Ashmore Park Choir had a concert booked for next Sat.19th June but unfortunately the venue we were to appear at has cancelled. We have managed to rearrange and it will now take place at St Alban’s Church, Griffiths Drive beginning at 7:30pm – entrance is free.”

“Donations in lieu will be collected for Compton Hospice. Do try to come, you will not only be supporting your local choir but Compton Hospice too.”

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.

“Every May we open our beautiful bluebell woods in aid of our Charity of the Year, which this year is “Air Ambulance”. Usually this takes place on the May Day weekend but, like everything else this year, the bluebells are a little bit late so we look forward to welcoming you this weekend:

Saturday 8th & Sunday 9th May, 10.30am – 4.00pm

You can stroll at your leisure through a typically old English bluebell wood. The walk is approximately a half an hour stroll, and a suggested donation to the charity is £2 per person. Please wear suitable footwear.”

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.”

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!

After a successful Christmas season singing for various charities (we raised over £1100 for Christian Aid at a concert at St Thomas’ and by carol singing in Sainsbury’s) the members of the choir are rehearsing so that they are ready for another round of concerts.

The dates for your diaries are:-

Sat.27th Feb. St.Giles Church, Willenhall.
Fri.19th Mar. The Lindens, (W’ton M.S. Society)
Fri.21st May Sherrifhales Church
Sat.19th June Amblecote Church
Sat. 25th Sep. St.Alban’s Church, Ashmore Park
Fri. 15th. Oct. St Paul’s Church Coven
Fri. 26th Nov. Methodist Church, Portobello
Tue. 14th Dec. St. Thomas’ Church, Wednesfield

We do hope some of you will be able to join us at one, or more, of them.

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.