Community News

Mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street was at Great Barr Academy in Birmingham to launch the commissioned report into looking at ways to improve opportunities for people from under-represented parts of society.

The Commission, chaired by Anita Bhalla, has over the last 9 months been in contact with insitutions and communities to really get the real-life experiences and ideas from people in the region.

'Leaders Like You' focused on the experiences of BAME and LGBT communities, women, disabled people and lower socio-economic groups like white working-class boys.

Andy said, "The leadership of private and public sector organisations needed to better reflect the diverse nature of the West Midlands so that talent and important perspectives were not sidelined or ignored."

Diversity was key in the recommendations, calling for leaders to ensure diversity in their workplaces, and mentor identified talent to produce future leaders.

The Mayor said: “It’s not acceptable that certain parts of society are largely invisible when you look at the leadership of our major institutions and companies.

“The diversity of our region is one of our greatest assets but this lack of representation at leadership level can lead to a sense of alienation amongst certain groups and a feeling that it is not possible to get to the top.

“Yet greater diversity in leadership can bring fresh talent and alternative ways of looking at an increasingly globalised world and that can generate greater prosperity and less marginalisation and disaffection amongst excluded groups.

“So I echo the Commission’s call for existing leaders to take on board the findings and recommendations of this report, think about what difference their actions can make and help the West Midlands become a place where everyone can fulfil their potential.”

There was also a video message from Prime Minister Theresa May giving her backing to the findings of the study, which 'may not be easy reading'.

Anita, who is also chair of PBL Town Hall and Symphony Hall, said: “It’s not good enough to say that HR policies are in place if those policies are not rooted in an organisation’s culture.

“There needs to be ownership of this issue at the very highest level. Leaders need to build diversity into their workforce so they are able to produce future leaders through mentoring and coaching.

“We found that consciously, or sub-consciously, there is a tendency for people to recruit and promote in their own image and at worst there can be nepotism and a ‘mates club’ mentality.

“To break this cycle we need those attitudes to change and we believe this is the start of a long overdue journey.”

According to a recent report by Age UK, there are 11.8 million people aged 65 or over in the UK, and two million of those over 75, live alone.

If you’re one of the UK’s 6.5 million carers looking after a parent or elderly relative who lives on their own, it’s important to make sure they are as safe and secure as possible in their home.

Carers Week 11-17 June 2018 is an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, the challenges carers face and the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK, and the leading trade association for the locksmithing profession – the Master Locksmiths Association (MLA) - is offering advice to carers on how to keep their loved ones safe in the home.

Dr Steffan George, Managing Director of the MLA, says, “If you are caring for a vulnerable person in their own home, there are steps you can take to make sure that their home is secure.  Getting the right advice is important, so take the time to research the best options. There’s lots to think about – for example, getting the balance between making sure the person living in the home is not trapped in case of an emergency, whilst also ensuring burglars are not easily able to break in.”

Steffan recommends the following tips, to give you peace of mind:

1. Think about access  - Make sure you can gain access to the home in a way that doesn’t jeopardise security. You could use a key safe and coded key safes can also help provide easy access to carers as well. Be sure to check that the key safe is tested and independently approved by an organisation such as Sold Secure, as there are cheap versions on the market that can be compromised very quickly. Key safes should always be located in a discreet place and not be obvious from the road or path outside.

2. Be Smart Security aware - Smart security is growing in popularity and can be a useful aid to provide access to carers who may be coming and going through the day. But be careful to make sure that it is supported by tested and independently approved mechanical security measures. The UK has for a long time had excellent security standards for mechanical security. However the first safety standards for smart locks have only just been published and as a result, none of the currently available smart locks have yet been tested against the new safety standards and therefore shouldn’t be used alone.

3. User-friendly security - If the person you are caring for is suffering from reduced visibility or loss of strength in their hands, then they may struggle with locking up or manoeuvring handles. Invest in key turners – plastic handles designed to attach to a key at one end, and rubber handle covers which provide better grip. You could even invest in a remote locking system.

4. Invest in deterrents, like timed lighting - Do your best to make the home look as busy as possible, particularly if the person is living on their own. Timer lighting helps make a house look occupied and can give the impression there is more than one person within the property. A fake TV, which works on a timer to emit multi-coloured LED lights, works in the same way and uses less power than a standard lamp. Outdoor lights with motion sensors are an excellent way to deter thieves.

5. Keep valuables out of sight - If the person you are caring for owns expensive items that they do not wear or use frequently, such as jewellery and ornaments, keep them out of sight. Better still, invest in a professionally-installed safe.

6. Use a professional - It can be tempting to try and improve or install security measures yourself. But mistakes are easy to make and can cost more to fix in the long run, or even invalidate your insurance. The MLA is recognised as the authoritative body for locksmithing by the Police and our members undergo strict vetting, including criminal record checks, so you can be confident they have the knowledge, experience and integrity to keep you and your family safe and secure.

To find a local MLA accredited locksmith to review your loved-one’s home security as well as further top tips ad security advice, visit the MLA’s website www.locksmiths.co.uk.

Under bright blue skies and scorching sunshine, people flocked in their tens of thousands to RAF Cosford on Sunday for the only official RAF Airshow this year, celebrating 100 years of the Royal Airforce.

Having sold out of its 55,000 online tickets, RAF Cosford, near Wolverhampton, was a sea of noise and colour as people marvelled at not only the amazing feats of technical expertise and skill on show, but at the only surviving complete examples of a number of aircraft taking to the skies as well as rolled out of the museums.

THe home to the Defense College of Aeronautical Engineering, RAF Cosford had a hanger dedicated to showing the skills of their apprentices of STEM.

As always at the Air Show, there were stunning displays from all manner of aircraft, not least the Red Arrows, world-famous for their phenomenal skill and precision.

Opening the show were the RAF Falcons Parachute Display Team, colouring the skies as they descended in a perfect stack, showing the poise and dedication that thousands of hours of practice provides.

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One display that had the majority of those in attendance in awe was a stunt show on a helicopter, including loop-the-loops, corkscrews and other death-defying stunts, really pushing the boundaries of what you believe a helicopter should be capable of doing!

There were a few very special displays from the Battle of Britain, including a formation display with a Lancaster, Dakota, Spitfire and Hurricane flying in the Trenchard formation, which really got the crowd going.

There was so much to see and do at RAF Cosford on the day, from experiencing simulated rides, getting hands on with aircraft, vehicles and artillery, and of course the usual variety of fun 'sideshow' type games to test the aim of the unsuspecting public.

If you have never been to an airshow before, make sure that you're ahead of the game for next year at RAF Cosford.

Check out the July edition of The Phoenix Newspaper for more!

The Fire Brigade Union (FBU) is donating all money raised from the Firefighters 100 Lottery throughout June to charities and projects working in support of Grenfell survivors and the firefighters who responded to the disaster. The plans come in a bid to mark the first anniversary of the Grenfell disaster, which happened on 14 June 2017.

Seventy two people lost their lives when flames engulfed the 24-storey building in the worst fire in the UK since the Second World War. Fire engines from across London attended the scene, which many described as a ‘war zone’.

Since then, the Firefighters 100 Lottery has donated £40,000 to causes including Kids on the Green, Solidarity Sports and the Dale Youth Boxing Club. They are also campaigning to break the silence surrounding the mental health of firefighters following their involvement with horrific incidents, like Grenfell.

Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary, said “The FBU is campaigning on a wide variety of fronts to keep Grenfell at the forefront of politicians’ minds and are committed to getting justice for all those affected. We are working with and helping local campaigns in support of Grenfell and want all proceeds from the Firefighters 100 Lottery throughout June to contribute.”

“This isn’t just in support of the survivors and the community but the brave men and women who attended the fire, many of whom are still dealing with the traumatic aftermath of the event. We’re hoping the public will get behind us with the campaign so we can continue supporting those who need us”.

You can get involved by joining the Firefighters 100 Lottery at www.firefighters100lottery.co.uk . At least 50p from every £1 ticket you buy will be spent on supporting the causes of the lottery. There are also three guaranteed cash winners each week, up to a maximum of £25,000.

Born out of plans to mark the centenary of the FBU, the lottery was launched in November 2016 and has raised over £180,000 to support firefighters, their bereaved families and to honour the bravery and sacrifice of firefighters killed in the line of duty.

The RSPCA is investigating after a pair of young goslings were taken from a vehicle, dumped in a canal in Walsall and left to fend for themselves.

The RSPCA was contacted on Monday night by a passerby who had spotted the birds being abandoned in the canal off Goscote Lane at around 9pm.

RSPCA animal collection officer (ACO) Cara Gibbon said: “The caller told us that they’d seen the white, bald man in his mid 40s and wearing a red shirt get out of a vehicle and chuck the goslings into the canal before leaving.

“The caller watched the birds for a little while and could see they had no parents with them and seemed to be struggling to swim and sinking beneath the surface so took it upon himself to rescue the birds.

“He found a container and took them home before calling us.”

ACO Gibbon went to collect the birds - two young goslings, still with their fluffy down feathers - and took them to the RSPCA’s Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre in Cheshire.

“He told us the birds had been lethargic and the bird’s wing feathers appear to have been clipped in a bid to prevent the birds from flying away*,” ACO Gibbon said.

“It seems as though these were geese that were intended to be kept domestically, as part of a backyard flock.

“It’s extremely unusual for us to be called to help domestic geese that have been abandoned but perhaps someone took this pair on without properly researching what it takes to care for geese and provide for their needs.

“That’s why we’d always urge people to do lots of research before taking on an animal as, unfortunately, charities are all too often left to pick up the pieces when people get a pet on a whim without properly considering the commitment and responsibility involved in caring for them.”

The birds - nicknamed Ryan and Eva Gosling by ACO Gibbon - will be looked after by staff at the RSPCA wildlife centre before they’re old enough to be rehomed to a suitable home.

Ducks and geese can be kept as pets or in domestic settings but do require suitable environments. They need a large outdoor area that allows them to graze with access to open water, along with warm and dry indoor accommodation for them to escape adverse weather, as well as rest and be secure from predators.

The RSPCA recommends keeping more than one goose as they need company of their own kind.

For more information about keeping geese as pets, please see the RSPCA website.

Pupils showed off their creative flair after visiting local places of worship as part of a competition run by the City of Wolverhampton Council's Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education (SACRE).

Launched last September, pupils were invited to submit pieces of art inspired by visits to places of worship, including churches, temples, gurdwaras and mosques.

The winners were Bilston Primary School, who won a trip to Conkers Adventure Park; St Michael's C of E Primary School, who scooped a trip to the Harry Potter studios in London; Khalsa Academy, who will be going to the Tate Modern in London; and Green Park Special School, who won trips to Dudley Zoological Gardens and to go bowling.

Representatives from each school were presented with their prizes at a special ceremony at Wolverhampton Art Gallery by Chair of SACRE Martin Gomberg, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Director of Education Meredith Teasdale and former Cabinet Member for Education, and now Deputy Mayor of Wolverhampton, Councillor Claire Darke.

Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, Councillor Lynne Moran, said: "Wolverhampton is a multi-cultural, multi-faith City, and it is very important that religious education continues to be taught in our schools.

"This was a great chance for pupils to get creative and show off their skills while also learning more about religion and places of worship. They produced some really inspired pieces of work, and the standard of art was extremely high, making it a tough task for the judging committee."

Religious education must be taught in all schools by law, but it is not part of the national curriculum and it is therefore the responsibility of local councils to ensure there is a Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education in place.

The SACRE represents a balance of all interests in the local community, gives them the opportunity to influence what pupils learn in religious education, and advises the council on how to improve teaching and collective worship for schools in Wolverhampton.

Eight local children from Birmingham  have been celebrated for their writing success after being named centre winners in the National Young Writers’ Awards. The following children have all been named winning entries by local Explore Learning centres in Oldbury, Handsworth, Kings Heath, Harborne, Shirley, Yardley, Longbridge and Wylde Green: Elijah-David Buttery, 10, St Mary Magdalene CofE, Naina Sidhu, 11, Grestone Academy, Miller Brennan, 8, Wheelers Lane Primary, Sienna Kaur Sian, 9, World's End Junior School, Libby Taylor, 13, Langley Secondary School, Aaliah Ali, 9, Greet Primary School, Ceri Lowe, 11, Queensbridge Secondary and J'yon Brown, 10, Yenton Primary School.

The competition, now in its tenth year,  has been running for the past three months and invited children from across the UK to write a 500-word story about ‘heroes’ – whether that’s their parents, a policeman or their idol!  Organised by tuition provider, Explore LearningK which has centres across Birmingham, with the aim of inspiring children to get creative and give writing a try was this year judged by world renowned best-selling children’s author David Walliams! A record breaking 38,500 children from all over the UK entered in an effort to win a trip to Disneyland Paris and £500 worth of books for their school!

And there could be more good news to come for the centre winners as judges are still shortlisting the entries! The top ten national runners up will be announced on Monday 11th June while the national winner will be crowned on the Monday 18th June with a surprise visit from David Walliams to their school!

Every child that enters will receive a certificate to celebrate their story, along with personalised feedback from one of Explore Learning’s inspirational tutors.

David Walliams says: “I was overwhelmed by the quality and creativity of the stories I was reading and was so impressed that this broad range of exciting ideas have come from such young writers. Each piece of writing drew me in and kept me captivated by clever and observant story lines and engaging characters. We definitely have some future star authors here.”

Explore Learning provides English and maths tuition to children aged four to 14, with 139 centres located across the country.  Throughout the competition Explore Learning provided top writing tips from their creative writing team, previous winners, judges and best-selling authors via their website, social media and face to face.  They also hosted a collection of free downloadable information on the website that can be used at home or in the classroom as well as running free workshops with local libraries, schools and community groups to inspire children’s love of writing and support them with their entries.

Charlotte Gater, Head of Curriculum at Explore Learning says: “This year’s National Young Writers’ Awards attracted a record number of entries so the children should be very proud of their success.  We were blown away by the number of children who were inspired to write heroic tales. It is amazing to have David pick our winning entry this year and clearly inspire so many children to put pen to paper. Well done to everyone who entered who has set the bar so high for next year!”

TUI (formerly Thomson) the UK’s largest holiday brand, has celebrated its first flights to Podgorica, Montenegro for summer 2018 operating out of Birmingham Airport.

Tom Screen, Acting Aviation Director at Birmingham Airport was on hand to welcome customers onboard alongside the TUI cabin crew flying the customers to Montenegro.

Flights will operate once a week every Wednesday until the middle of October.

For customers who have already booked their summer holidays they can look ahead to next year as flights and holidays to Montenegro are already on sale for summer 2019.

Tom Screen, Acting Aviation Director at Birmingham Airport, said: “Montenegro is a great destination for TUI to add to its summer 2018 flying schedule. It will be popular with holiday makers as it has stunning mountains, breathtaking beaches and an interesting local culture. We are delighted TUI has chosen to expand its choice of destinations from Birmingham Airport.”

The decision to add Montenegro to the network is part of the holiday company’s plans to offer as much choice as possible to customers flying from their local airport and staying at the best hotels TUI and First Choice have to offer including the brand new 4Sun Holiday Village Montenegro.

Karen Switzer, Director of Aviation Planning for TUI UK & Ireland, said: “It is great to see the first customers heading off on their holidays to one of our newest destinations. We have expanded our programme from Birmingham Airport for summer 2018 and now customers from the Midlands have over 60 destinations to choose from when deciding where to book their holidays.”

TV personality and Michelin starred chef, Glynn Purnell has teamed up with Calvet, the number one French wine brand in the UK, to launch an exclusive activation at the Blenheim Palace Flower Show.   On the 22nd June, Purnell will be cooking a variety of dishes which bring to life the inimitable French experience, pairing them with wines from the award-winning Calvet range, brought from vineyards located throughout France's wine-growing regions from Bordeaux to Alsace.

Glynn Purnell says: “I am looking forward to the Blenheim Palace Flower Show and to showcasing the beautiful Calvet wines alongside dishes that are born out of my memories of France.”   Matthew Upson, Flower Show Director says: “I am thrilled to welcome Glynn Purnell and the Calvet wine activation to the show. Purnell is a fantastic chef and I know that visitors will enjoy watching him at work in the specially created 'French street kitchen' at the show.”

This year is set to offer visitors the biggest Flower Show in event's history. Opened by horticultural expert and BBC Plantswoman Carol Klein, the event will also feature a unique first for the show: a walk-through Orchid Tunnel. Showcasing exotic orchids from all over the world and a collection of tropical plants the new stunning display is being created by Show Manager and Designer Mig Kimpton.

The Flower Festival itself is set within the Oxfordshire UNESCO World Heritage Site 'Capability' Brown landscaped Parkland, and boasts Formal Gardens created over the centuries by esteemed garden designers such as Henry Wise and Achille Duchêne.   The Grand Floral Pavilion forms the centrepiece of the Show and features the UK's finest nurseries and growers giving expert advice and gardening ideas.

It is guaranteed to be a riot of colour, fragrance and weird and wonderful plants.   With workshops, talks and demonstrations taking place throughout the event, you'll be guaranteed to learn something new and take inspiration for your own gardening project.

Visitors to Birmingham City University’s Inspired Family Day will be given the chance to star in their own play, design their own railway or take part in a range of sporting activities this weekend.

Elsewhere, there will be jewellery making, science experiments and craft workshops on offer as the University throws open the doors to the public once again for a unique, hands-on experience.

The University’s second Inspired Family Day will welcome families for an action-packed day of free and fun-filled events and activities for all ages between 11am and 4pm on Saturday 9 June.

Taking place at Birmingham City University’s City Centre Campus, situated in the heart of Birmingham’s Eastside, the family festival will introduce hundreds of youngsters to the range of subjects on offer at the institution and showcase potential career options.

Highlights of Inspired Family Day include drop in, make-and-take sessions for the under 10s, while young adults can have a go at making their own television programme in one of the University’s state-of-the-art broadcasting studios.

Elsewhere, as construction for High Speed 2 (HS2) gets underway in Birmingham, youngsters will be able to enter the Magical Academy of Invention to design the trains, stations and platforms of the future, and budding fashionistas can to try their hand at one of the festival’s jewellery and textiles workshops.

Plus, Birmingham Hippodrome will be taking part and offering groups of youngsters the opportunity to write, direct and star in their own play which will be performed at the end of Inspired Family Day. Ahead of ‘Matilda The Musical’ coming to the city over the summer, the theatre will also be inviting youngsters to learn how to draw one of Roald Dahl’s most iconic characters – with the best ones winning tickets to the play itself at Birmingham Hippodrome.

Coupled with this, there will be the opportunity to meet with world-class academics, who are training the next generation of creative professionals.

Inspired Family Day will officially open Birmingham City University’s Inspired Festival, now in its fifth year. It showcases the talent of the institution’s final year students in disciplines such as film, art, architecture, fashion and photography.

Visitors to Inspired Family Day will get the opportunity to see many of the student’s exhibitions in the University’s £62 million Parkside Building, which boasts cutting edge facilities – including Europe's largest static green screen.

Sara Middleton, Associate Dean at Birmingham City University, said:

“Half term may be over now, but we have got so much fun to come at our Inspired Family Festival, which is bigger and better than before.

“Inspired Festival celebrates the wealth of creative talent being nurtured and developed in the region – but we also want to introduce the next generation to all the amazing subjects they can study here and go on to forge a successful career in.

“Our institution is defined by the city it is rooted in and events like these also allow us to showcase the positive cultural and economic impact we are making locally, regionally and internationally.”

During Inspired Festival the public will be given the opportunity to take part in a series of workshops focussed on enhancing creativity, and all events and activities will be showcased using the hashtag #BCUinspired.

Further Inspired Festival events will be held at the University’s City Centre Campus in Birmingham’s Eastside as well as Birmingham School of Jewellery and Birmingham School of Art, ranging from music and literature performances to fashion shows and innovative technology demonstrations.

A University of Wolverhampton academic has been awarded an MBE in the Birthday and New Year Honours List 2018.

Dr Opinderjit Kaur Takhar, Director of the recently launched Centre for Sikh and Panjabi Studies at the University and Senior Lecturer in Religious Studies in the Faculty of Arts, will receive the Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) later this year at a ceremony being held at Buckingham Palace.

The New Year Honours list recognises the achievements of a wide range of extraordinary people across the United Kingdom. An MBE is an award given by the Queen to an individual for outstanding service to the community or local 'hands on' service.

Dr Takhar, from Derby, undertakes a variety of research, specialising in subject matter that relates to the Sikh community as well as topics including caste and gender balance. She is well-known in the region for her research work – especially in the Sikh community in and around the West Midlands.

A Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, Dr Takhar is also an Editorial Board member for The Journal of Understanding Sikhism in Canada, on the editorial board of the Journal, Sikh Formations, she sits on the Steering Committee of Special Interest Group on Teaching Religions of South Asia and is a Board Member of the Inter faith Wolverhampton Network.

Dr Takhar has presented her research in Universities across the world, she has produced textbooks and a Teacher’s guide for the OCR GCSE syllabus on Philosophy and Ethics, used in secondary schools across Britain and she has written numerous educational resources for RE Today Publications, a national resource for teaching Religious Education across schools and colleges in the UK. Her 2005 book on Sikh Identity is used as a key text in Universities across the world.

She is a regular participant on discussion programmes and panels on Sikh media channels. She has regularly contributed to the British Sikh Report, as well as the UK Sikh Survey, and is also one of the authors of the Sikh Manifesto, produced by the Sikh Network (UK) in preparation for the 2015 British Parliament elections.

Dr Takhar said:  “I am absolutely thrilled and humbled to have been nominated for such a prestigious award.  I am committed to bringing faith communities together whilst at the same time raising the profile of the Sikh community.

“Working at the University of Opportunity, it is essential that we all make a valid contribution to promoting equality and diversity and I hope that my research is enriching the lives of our students as well as our communities.”

Professor Geoff Layer, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Wolverhampton, said: “On behalf of everyone at the University of Wolverhampton, I would like to congratulate Opinderjit on this prestigious and very well deserved honour.

“Engaging tirelessly with local, regional, national and international community groups and governing bodies, Dr Takhar is consistently raising awareness of issues that affect the Sikh community in the UK and abroad.

“The West Midlands has a large and well-established Sikh community as well as people from all faiths and none.  Dr Takhar’s research, combined with her personal high-profile, is consistently having an impact on people’s lives by bringing communities together as well as helping to raise the profile of the University.”

The University of Wolverhampton launched its new Centre for Sikh and Panjabi Studies earlier this year - the first of its kind in the UK.

The Centre will offer PhDs and Master’s level courses in Sikh studies, as well as continuing professional development (CPD) courses for teachers and managers of diverse workforces such as national and local government, the NHS and the emergency services.

Kids all over the UK have just three weeks left to enter National Express’s summer art competition and be in with a chance to see their work splashed over the side of a coach.

With the Colour the Coach competition deadline fast approaching, the UK’s largest coach operator is urging youngsters to pick up their pens and design a poster promoting their home town – those selected as winners will see their entries turned into a special National Express coach liveries.

The national competition challenges youngsters aged 5-15 to design a summer-themed poster advertising the place they live to encourage people to visit some of the amazing locations on National Express’s unrivalled coach network.

The six winners - whose designs will be whittled down to a shortlist by a panel of judges - will be selected by an online vote.

And to encourage the development of their creative talent, each winner will also receive a quality art set including a range of brushes and paints.

The competition closes at midnight on the 25^th June. To enter youngsters simply need to design a poster on a sheet of A4 paper and post it or scan then email it to National Express.National Express Coach Managing Director Chris Hardy, who is on the judging panel said:

“Colour the Coach is an amazing opportunity for youngsters to show-off their artistic talents by creating a show-stopping poster to go on a moving billboard for thousands to see. With only three weeks to go until the competition closes, I’m encouraging children all over the country to grab sheet of A4 and design us a winner. With our unrivalled coach network reaching more than 900 great UK locations, the winning designs will be on display all over the country.”

Now in its fourth year, the competition has seen 15 winners with their designs touring Britain’s motorways on National Express’s coaches.

In past years children have been asked to design their ideal holidays or favourite landmark. Now National Express is bringing summer back home by asking youngsters to promote the place where they live in a bid to encourage people to visit it this summer.

A winner will be chosen from each of the following UK regions: the North, South and East of England, plus the Midlands, Wales and Scotland, and each one will see their picture boldly displayed on one of the many daily coach services that drive on the roads around everyday.

Tributes have been paid to former councillor and Mayor of Sandwell Alderman Bill Archer who passed away over the weekend.

Alderman Archer was the one of the longest serving councillors for Sandwell after being an elected ward member for Wednesbury North from 1975 to 2011.

He served as mayor from 2005 to 2006 and was given the honour of becoming an Alderman of Sandwell in 2011.

Known affectionately as the ‘singing mayor’, Bill raised a record £35,500 for his chosen charities Prostate Cancer Research and Guide Dogs for the Blind - no Mayor before or since has matched this.

Bill Archer had often said how immensely proud he was of his daughter Elaine Costigan who is a councillor for Wednesbury North and cabinet member for public health and protection.

Councillor Costigan described her father as an “amazing character” and said she was overwhelmed with the response to the news from people far and wide.

“It’s absolutely amazing the amount of messages I’ve had.” she said. “They’ve come from as far as America and Australia and from many different communities. We knew he was popular and a rare breed but as a family this has really blown us away.

“He did a lot for the older generation and was inspiration to young people as well. Years ago he ran surgeries from the old swimming baths and I remember kids who were five or six years old would run past and shout ‘hello Bill’. Those same kids have grown up now and have been getting in touch over the weekend to say how much he inspired them.

“He was my inspiration too. I’ve definitely got some of his traits which has stood me in good stead and I feel responsible to carry on the good work he did for Wednesbury and Sandwell.”

Councillor Steve Eling, leader of Sandwell Council paid tribute to Bill. He said: "Bill was always a lively character who will be remembered fondly for his role as mayor as well as his long service to the people of Wednesbury. We would like to express our condolences to his family and friends."

Deputy Leader Councillor Syeda Khatun offered condolences on behalf of everyone at Sandwell Council.

She said: “Bill will be missed – not only was he a close colleague over many years but I had the pleasure of calling him my friend too.

“Bill was well known across Sandwell and had a great personality. My thoughts are with his family at this incredibly sad time."

Brighton based Meaningful Travel company, Rickshaw Travel, left the office behind today and headed to Brighton beach to carry out a huge clean-up operation, removing two bags full of litter from the shores.

Working with Brighton & Hove Cityclean, Rickshaw Travel's team of warriors took to the beach this morning to collect litter, from needles and used nappies, to discarded plastic bottles and bags.

Whilst today two full bags of waste were collected, on a sunny bank holiday, beach cleaners at Brighton Beach can expect to pick up 40 tonnes of rubbish in as little as two days, and a maximum of 400 kilos on a normal day. This beach clean takes place ahead of World Oceans Day on 8th June, a national awareness day that celebrates the world's oceans, with a particular spotlight on preventing plastic pollution and encouraging solutions for a healthy ocean.

An independent tour operator, Rickshaw Travel specialises in providing enriching experiences for travellers across the world, taking them off the beaten path and into the heart of local communities. Protecting nature and wildlife whilst encouraging travellers to do the same is at the core of Rickshaw Travel's company ethos.

Blanca Balaguer, Marketing Communications Specialist at Rickshaw Travel, said “Although it was upsetting to see the amount of rubbish on the beach, it was extremely rewarding to remove two bags' worth that ultimately would have ended up in the ocean. As a company, we pride ourselves on providing responsible travel experiences in the countries that our travellers can visit and it is right that we do our best to lead the way with similar regard to our beautiful environment here at home, in Brighton.”

More than 12.2 million tonnes of plastic are dumped into the world's oceans each year. It is believed that only 1% of this is seen floating on ocean surfaces, while 94% of this waste ends up on the sea floor. The highest concentration of plastic waste is found on beaches, threatening 31 species of marine mammals and 100 species of birds.

Join Pete Waterman OBE for a fascinating night talking about his career from Stock Aitken Waterman to Pop Idol. Pete has experienced a lot and shares stories in a creative and appealing way - one not to be missed.

Pete Waterman’s fascinating career has given him the opportunity to talk about almost anything. Pete is the most successful British producer-songwriter in pop history, an author, DJ, Pop Idol judge and television presenter and a lifelong entrepreneur. His career began as a part of the successful Stock Aitken Waterman team and for his world-famous PWL label and production company. During his time in the music business, Pete has sold in excess of 500 million records around the world over five decades, launching artists such as Kylie Minogue, John Travolta, Rick Astley and Steps, and has been rewarded with many different awards and honours over the years.

Pete’s biggest passion is the railways and his professional knowledge in reference to railways is highly regarded. Since the 1990's he has successfully invested in railway companies and forms part of several committees and taskforces for the procurement of the railways in Great Britain.

As a keynote speaker Pete is charismatic and multi-talented. He can give speeches about how to become a successful entrepreneur, how the music business works or what it is like to be a Pop Idol judge. Furthermore, Pete is a magnificent host and is always one hundred percent attentive to the needs of his audience.

https://www.thsh.co.uk/event/an-evening-with-pete-waterman

Unsung community heroes from four organisations across the City of Wolverhampton are celebrating after learning they are to receive the highest award for volunteer groups in the country.

Compton Bereavement Centre, Beacon Centre for the Blind, Positive Participation and Wolverhampton Wheelers Cycling Club found out they had been given the royal seal of approval after being handed a Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS) on Saturday (JUNE 2).

The QAVS recognises outstanding work done in communities and is the equivalent of the MBE for volunteer groups.

With four groups receiving the QAVS, City of Wolverhampton has the second highest number of award-winners in the West Midlands.

Compton Care Bereavement Visitors:

Compton Care’s volunteers help hundreds of people every year to come to terms with their experiences of grief by providing friendship, emotional support and the opportunity to talk openly without judgement. They offer one-to-one support or group sessions to people either in the hospice or their own homes.

Beacon Centre for the Blind:

This registered charity which, with the help of 90 volunteers, supports more than 3,000 service users is the main provider for visually impaired people across the Black Country and Staffordshire. It has been doing so for more than 140 years. Volunteers help out in areas including mentoring and befriending, retail, hospitality, front of house, community-based activities and day centre provision.

Wolverhampton Wheelers Cycling Club:

This group, based at WV Active Aldersley, encourages and develops people of all ages to enjoy cycling. It is run entirely by 90 dedicated volunteers and members aged from 8 to 90. Volunteer tutors are qualified to a national standard and there is a strong emphasis on safety and healthy lifestyles. Wolverhampton Wheelers recently celebrated its 125^th anniversary.

Positive Participation:

This group aims to prevent and improve mental ill health and reduce isolation which can be caused by mental health problems primarily within the Asian community thorough the provision of culturally sensitive community support services.

Mayor of the City of Wolverhampton, Cllr Phil Page, congratulated all the city’s QAVS winners. He said: “The QAVS honours all those unsung heroes and heroines in our community who work tirelessly making a huge difference to the lives of so many. They are the MBE for the voluntary sector and to receive a QAVS is the highest honour a volunteer organisation can receive.

“Our four winners and their army of volunteers truly deserve their accolade and I congratulate each and every one of them. The theme for my year in office is ‘service over self’ and our QAVS winners really embody that spirit.”

The QAVS were created in 2002 to mark the Queen’s golden jubilee. Every year the winners are announced on June 2 which is the anniversary of the coronation.

The Lord-Lieutenant of the West Midlands presents the awards on behalf of Her Majesty The Queen.