Community News

This year, Save the Children’s annual Christmas Jumper Day is taking place on Friday 14^th December.

Flashing, festive knits will be sweeping the nation once again as schools, homes and offices across the country will be ditching their day-to-day dress and donning their daftest, most wonderful woollies for the annual fundraiser.

From knits festooned in jingling bells to jumpers covered in lights, shiny neon tinsel and technicoloured baubles, Save the Children is expecting over 5 million people across the UK to take part in the biggest, silliest Christmas Jumper Day ever. Whether it’s with Christmassy colleagues, sparkly school friends or just you and your merry mates, by sticking on a fabulously festive knit, signing up and donating £2 to Save the Children (£1 if you’re at school) at christmasjumperday.org, you will be helping give children hope for a better future.

This year, a range of celebrities have co-knitted to Christmas Jumper Day, including Katie Piper, Kimberley Wyatt, Gary Kemp, Aston Merrygold, Binky Felstead, Georgia Toffolo, Joel Dommett and Love Island’s Eyal Booker, Chris Hughes and Kem Cetinay, who have all popped on a festive pullover to mark their support for the campaign.

To help ready shoppers for the big day, some of the UK’s leading retailers will also be selling exclusive products for women, men and children which carry a donation to Save the Children’s vital work - helping the charity build a better future for children in the UK and around the world.

The Amazon Fashion UK Christmas Jumper Store will be live from 1st November until the 31st December. For every eligible Christmas Jumper [or Christmas clothing/accessory] purchased from the Christmas Jumper Store on amazon.co.uk and smile.amazon.co.uk, Amazon will donate 20% to Save the Children.

Save the Children and Selfish Mother will join forces for a third year with a new series of slogan sweatshirts. The range of unisex, organic cotton sweatshirts come in black or red with festive gold slogans: PEACE, LOVE, HOPE AND JOY. They will be priced at £55 with a 50% donation to Save the Children and exclusively available to pre-order from Selfish Mother’s online shop, ‘The FMLY Store’ from 1st November.

WHSmith has teamed up with Tom Fletcher to launch the first ever Christmasaurus cuddly toy, based on his bestselling book The Christmasaurus and designed in partnership with the leading author. This festive friend will be sold exclusively by WHSmith for £14.99 with a £3 donation to Save the Children. A limited edition of The Christmasaurus book will also be sold for £6.99 with a 50p donation to the charity’s vital work.

Peppa Pig loves Christmas, everyone loves Christmas… This year Entertainment One’s (eOne) Peppa Pig will be teaming up with Save the Children to support the biggest Christmas Jumper Day yet! There will be a range of Peppa Pig Christmas goodies to spoil your little piggies – including a Peppa Pig Christmas Puzzle and a range of Christmas jumpers.

HeadStart Wolverhampton is joining forces with local community organisations to provide a range of family-friendly activities to help get young people in the festive spirit.

Auditions took place earlier this month, with 13 acts through to the Friday’s final including a 90-year-old singing sensation. Other acts include dance groups, gymnastics, magicians and comedy performances.

On Saturday (1 December) people can enjoy a festive pantomime at the Bob Jones Community Hub at 3pm. Chaplins Pantos will be performing the children’s classic Cinderella, but with a twist – this year, Cinderella will encourage emotional resilience and promoting positive mental health and emotional wellbeing. Tickets can be bought from the Bob Jones Community Hub for £5.

After the pantomime, families are invited to YMCA Black Country’s free festive activities at the Bob Jones Community Hub on Saturday from 5pm to 6.30pm or at the Harvest Temple Church Hall, Wolverhampton Road, on Monday 10 December from 3.30pm to 6.30pm.

Express your creativity with relaxing arts and crafts, enjoy puzzle-solving team games or take a break with mindfulness sessions. There’s also a chance to win a family festive hamper in the raffle, with other prizes including high street gift vouchers, and free mince pies for everyone on arrival.

For more information, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 01902 371562.

Also starting on Saturday is Gazebo Theatre’s Winter Wonderland at Bilston Town Hall. Parents, families and children of all ages can enjoy this magical interactive experience which will see people work together to solve puzzles and find clues to discover the true meaning of Christmas – with a little help from the Cheeky Elves and your favourite pantomime characters.

The Winter Wonderland is open every Thursday and Friday from noon to 3pm and Saturdays from 11am to 4pm until Christmas. For more information, please visit www.7905d1c4e12c54933a44d19fcd5f9356-gdprlock/GazeboTheatre.

HeadStart Wolverhampton, part of a £56m National Lottery funded programme set-up by Big Lottery Fund, is designed to improve the emotional mental health and wellbeing of children and young people aged 10 to 16 by giving them the skills they need to cope with the challenges of modern life.

Councillor Paul Sweet, the City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said “We are pleased to be working with local organisations to provide a wonderful programme of Christmas events.

“There’s plenty to get you in the festive mood, as well as supporting the emotional wellbeing of our young people.”

As well as running a series of specific programmes in its four key target areas, HeadStart Wolverhampton offers city-wide help through a Support and Guidance Directory at http://support.headstartonline.co.uk which provides emotional mental health and wellbeing resources from different organisations, including information targeted at young people, parents and carers, and professionals.

Projects to keep young people safe were at the top of the list as Sandwell’s Safer 6 campaign swung into action in Oldbury.

Clean-ups also saw rubbish cleared by offenders as well as volunteer litter picks.

Each of Sandwell’s six towns has a focus week during the six-week Safer 6 campaign, which promotes safety, crime prevention and healthy living to all ages.

Oldbury Local office held an information roadshow in Oldbury Civic Square, which saw a wide range of Safer Sandwell partner organisations promoting the services and support they offer.

More than 70 pupils from Christ Church C of E Primary School came along, learning about safety. They even got the chance to sit in a police car and fire engine and climb aboard the Youth Bus and Eco Bus.

Among the Oldbury week’s many highlights:

• Nearly 70 young people attended Staying Safe workshops run by the council’s young people’s services team – on the Burnt Tree estate, Brook Road, by Rounds Green Library and at Langley Youth Club – which covered anything from personal safety to the dangers of drugs.
• Police – supported by the fire service, schools and Deputy Mayor of Sandwell Councillor Carol Goult – launched the ‘Bin the Knife: Save a Life’ wristbands project. Wristbands are being distributed to thousands of students in local schools to encourage solidarity against carrying knives. Police also encouraged people to dispose of knives in the weapons surrender bin at Sainsbury’s Oldbury.
• Nearly 40 children enjoyed Go Play Sandwell’s Let’s Play sessions at Bleakhouse Library, Rounds Green Library and Brades Green play area.
• Offenders doing unpaid Community Payback put in 110 hours, clearing nearly 1.7 tonnes of rubbish and overgrown trees and bushes at the old Beeches Road allotment site and in Groveland Road.
• Sandwell Crime Prevention Panel volunteers and police gave advice to shoppers visiting Sainsbury’s Oldbury, Oldbury Civic Square and ASDA Oldbury. They talked to more than 300 people, handing out 266 property marking packs, 240 purse bells, 151 card protector sleeves, 122 Faraday pouches for car key fobs and 86 personal attack alarms. Sandwell Police also signed up people to their WMNow email messages.
• Oldbury Local, police and councillors held community speedwatch operations on roads in Langley, Oldbury, Bristnall and Old Warley wards, checking the speeds of hundreds of vehicles and issuing warnings to more than 20 found to be speeding.
• Police held a road safety operation at Birchley Island, stopping more than 20 vehicles. Two vehicles were seized for insurance and licence issues, one was issued with prohibition notice for bald tyres.
• Oldbury Local and council anti-social behaviour officers chatted to residents and raised awareness of community safety on the Lion Farm estate and at Lancaster House. Anti-social behaviour officers also joined environmental protection officers dealing with complaints about parking in New Henry Street. Police issued anti-social behaviour warning letters to 19 people in the Brandhall area.
• Council trading standards and neighbourhoods officers, the fire service and police held white goods safety roadshows and delivered advice letters to residents at Lancaster House, Heronville House, Paget House and Wryley House. The fire service also carried out 29 ‘Safe and Well’ checks at these flats to advise on smoke alarms, fire safety and general wellbeing.
• Litter Watch volunteers carried out litter picks in Pinfold Street and Lion Farm estate, collecting 23 bags of litter.
• Council domestic abuse officers and Black Country Women’s Aid provided advice at the Oldbury Civic Square roadshow and visited local hairdressers to raise awareness of support available.
• Road safety officers gave safety tips to pupils at Rounds Green Primary School.
• A surgery for residents with police and council neighbourhoods officers was held at Rounds Green Library.
• The anti-slavery van was in Oldbury Civic Square to encourage people to spot the signs of slavery and human trafficking and know how to report these issues.
• A walkabout was held in the Broadwell Road/Flash Road area raising awareness to residents about potential rogue traders.
• The council’s private sector housing team promoted advice for tenants and landlords about empty homes at an information stand in the main foyer of Sandwell Council House, Oldbury.

The £5.2million project is courtesy of a Heritage Lottery Fund grant as part of its nationwide ‘Parks for People’ initiative.

Thanks to National Lottery players, the focal point of the project will include a new two storey pavilion located in the centre of the park to replace the original refreshment rooms lost in the 1980’s. This will bring the community activity back into the centre of the park with the facility due to open to the public in January 2021.

This much anticipated restoration and revitalisation of West Smethwick Park will also include a comprehensive programme of targeted community and fitness activities ranging from dance, exercise, & martial arts classes, to environmental training exhibitions and community art projects with strong references to the history of the Chance Family Glass works. A contemporary new café will offer a good quality and value catering service on site, which reflects cultural and dietary needs.

Additionally, the new facility will be a welcoming environment for local schools and groups, as well as the local arts and heritage scene, plus there are plans to host mini sports festivals.

Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for leisure Councillor Bill Gavan said: “The new pavilion at West Smethwick Park is going to be a fantastic asset for the local community. The project as a whole is going to transform the park and a big part of that will be the new pavilion and the superb leisure, community and heritage opportunities it’s going to bring.

“It will also be a stone’s throw from the new aquatics centre and another great thing for Smethwick to look forward to. I look forward to seeing the new pavilion open to the public and being enjoyed as a place for fun, fitness and families.”

 Lynda Bateman, Chair of the SLT Board, says: “We are delighted to be awarded this exciting contract to manage what will be a fantastic new £5m+ leisure and community facility and legacy, located in the heart of West Smethwick Park from 2021. We continue to work hard in partnership with Sandwell Council to deliver the shared objectives of providing quality sport, leisure and community facilities and activity space for the whole neighbourhood to enjoy.

“One of the Council’s main aims is to make Sandwell’s green spaces highly valued, well used and a focus for community pride and this timely investment will breathe new life and potential into West Smethwick Park, strengthen our local communities and provide a great outdoor place for people to get together, relax and exercise.”

Thank you to everyone who attended on Friday evening at the ICC, from our sponsors, to our readers and everyone inbetween, and a massive congratulations to all of the award winners, we hope you had an amazing night.

Look out for photos coming soon!

Liz Topliss, 75, from Sutton Coldfield in the West Midlands, has won a national award for volunteering after leading a stroke group and supporting the stroke community in various roles for almost 40 years.

The Stroke Association’s ‘Life After Stroke Award for Volunteering’ was presented to Liz by Actress Elizabeth McGovern, at a ceremony at the Landmark hotel in London on 21 November 2018.

On hearing that she had won a Life After Stroke Award, Liz said: “I wasn’t expecting it and I feel very humbled and surprised. Stroke survivors are very inspiring people, so to be part of that community is an honour. It’s so encouraging to see such courage every day. Stroke has become a passion and it did take over my life – wherever I go I have my ‘stroke’ hat on.”

Liz decided to join the Sutton Coldfield stroke club after a close friend had a stroke. Unfortunately Liz had lost three of her grandparents to the condition and later on, in addition to running the club, she cared for her mother for nine years following a stroke.

Originally applying to volunteer as a driver for the club, Liz soon found herself on the committee before being made secretary of the club and eventually club organiser.

Liz said: “I ended up becoming a member of the committee almost by accident. I was there a couple of months before I was made secretary of the club. When the organiser resigned, I stepped up as I felt as Secretary, it was my role to keep things going for a few months.”

Remarkably, Liz was still leading the club 32 years later. With over 50 members and 25 volunteers, the club has become a life line for many people. Stroke survivors have said it’s a place they can find empathy and mutual support as well as stimulating activities including speech therapy, group outings, craft workshops and physiotherapy sessions.

Liz said: “One of the things that made the group such a success is that we didn’t look at people as stroke survivors but as people who enjoyed being together but just happened to have strokes. We would help our members have a go at things and in turn they could start living again.”

Liz retired from the organiser role in 2017 after over three decades but still maintains a close association to the club as one its Trustees.

As if managing a hugely successful stroke club wasn’t enough, in 2014 Liz also became a committee member for the UK Stroke Forum, a coalition of 30 organisations committed to improving stroke care in the UK. The annual conference attracts over 1,400 professionals from across the whole stroke pathway.

As a member of the scientific conference committee, Liz engages with stroke survivors and carers across the UK to ensure their concerns are being heard by professionals and other decision makers. She has also worked on various projects including developing a scientific session at the Forum to showcase the importance of difficult decisions at the end of life and how vital it is to engage carers.

Throughout her work, Liz has become fascinated with the brain and the priceless value of research especially in the field of vascular dementia, a condition often associated with stroke.

Liz said: “Working with professionals at the top of their game was a bit scary at first but everyone was very welcoming. Unfortunately, the resources just aren’t there to do everything we want to do. There isn’t enough provision for rehabilitation but things have changed a lot thanks to the work of the Stroke Association, they have put stroke on the map but there is still a lot of work to do.”

This year’s UKSF will be the last one for Liz who is the Lead Service User representative and the longest standing member on the committee.

Tony Banks who is head of Stroke Association conferences and events said: “This is our last year with Liz at the forefront of volunteering which will be such a huge loss to the stroke community. Everyone that has worked with Liz comments on how dedicated, knowledgeable and passionate she is – they can’t quite imagine the stroke world without her. We would like to wish her well with her retirement and hope she enjoys some well-earned downtime with her devoted husband Colin.”

Elizabeth, who presented Liz with her award said: “It is a real joy to be asked to give Liz this award. She is a remarkable volunteer who has so much drive and genuine determination to improve stroke care and the quality of life for stroke survivors. She is an inspiration after 40 years of loyal service to this amazing cause.”

Wolverhampton has marked the 100^th anniversary of then Prime Minister David Lloyd George delivering a famous speech at the city’s Grand Theatre.

The politician chose Wolverhampton to launch his general election campaign on November 23, 1918 – just days after the armistice was signed ending the First World War.

He took to the stage at a packed Grand Theatre to rapturous cheers and applause and told of his desire to “make Britain a fit country for heroes to live in”.

Lloyd George, dubbed ‘the man who won the war’, was considered a national hero at the time and huge crowds greeted him everywhere he went.

He came to Wolverhampton after being invited by the council to become an honorary freeman of the borough. As well as accepting the honour, he felt the West Midlands was the right place to launch his election campaign.

During his trip, he stayed with the Mander Family at their home – The Mount (now The Mount Hotel) - in Tettenhall Wood.

Now, exactly 100 years on, civic leaders have marked the anniversary with a special reception at the Grand Theatre.

Mayor of Wolverhampton, Cllr Phil Page, was joined by Emma Reynolds MP, fellow councillors, local historians and other invited guests to learn more about this fascinating chapter of Wolverhampton history.

Historian Jefny Ashcroft gave a talk about Lloyd George and Ottis Pickard, an actor from Wolverhampton Central Youth Theatre, re-enacted extracts of the famous speech.

Mayor, Cllr Phil Page, said: “Our city has such a rich history and we want to make more people aware of it. It is hugely significant that Lloyd George chose to come to Wolverhampton to make this famous speech and it was very important that we marked the anniversary.

“Our city has changed dramatically over the past 100 years, but our magnificent Grand Theatre, where Lloyd George took to the stage, is still thriving and I’m so pleased we were able to host the anniversary event there.”

The Wolverhampton Chronicle reported Lloyd George’s visit to Wolverhampton in detail, including the full text of the Prime Minister’s speech. The newspaper describes a packed Grand Theatre where the desire to see the Lloyd George was so great that some enthusiastic members of the audience obtained ‘seats’ on the rafters.

The article said: “Every available seat was rapidly occupied. As the Premier entered the theatre he was accorded a magnificent reception from the vast assembly, the people rose and cheered vociferously and the Premier stood and bowed, his face wreathed with smiles.”

Lloyd George continued as Prime Minister until 1922. He was Britain's chief delegate to the Paris Peace Conference that drafted the Versailles Treaty. In 1921 he secured the settlement that established the Irish Free State. In 1944 he was made Earl Lloyd George of Dwyfor. He died on 26 March 1945 at Ty Newydd, Llanystumdwy, Wales.

A magical evening of songs and festive readings is being held in St Martin’s Church in the Bullring to raise vital funds for Alzheimer’s Society.

Carols at Christmas takes place at St Martin’s Church by the Bullring in central Birmingham on Friday 14 December to support the charity’s work, challenging perceptions, funding research and improving and providing care and support.

Dementia is now the UK’s biggest killer, with someone developing it every three minutes.

Highlights at the event will include musical performances from Eternal Taal Bhangra Drummers, Redditch Community Gospel Choir, Magic Voices Choir and Singing for the Brain. There will also be plenty of well-known, sing-along festive favourites that everyone can join in with.

The event will be ‘dementia-friendly’ with stewards on hand who have completed Dementia Friends information sessions and there will be clear signs in the venue to help people find their way around.

Carolyn McDonald, Community Fundraiser for Alzheimer’s Society in Birmingham, Solihull, Coventry and Warwickshire said: “In 2019, Alzheimer’s Society will be 40 years old. From 1979, we have been fighting to improve the lives of everyone affected by dementia.

“We could not have come this far without the fantastic support we enjoy, but there’s still a long way to go before we win the fight against dementia.

“Too many are facing the condition alone without adequate support. We urgently need to find a cure, improve care and offer help and understanding for people affected.

“Proceeds from the event will help Alzheimer’s Society to ensure people living with dementia get the support they need now, and contribute towards vital research to help future generations.”

Carolyn added: “Coming together for a good cause will hopefully ensure that, one day, countless families across the country will be spared the emotional traumas and pressures that those living with dementia at Christmas often experience.

“We’re hoping people will bring along the whole family to unite in song against dementia.”

The University of Wolverhampton and Black Country Living Museum have launched a new education partnership to provide enhanced learning opportunities for communities across the Black Country.

The new Black Country Studies Centre will offer guest talks, taster courses, student placements and research projects, creating a unique learning proposition for the region which builds on the history of the Black Country.

The partnership will nurture enterprise and entrepreneurship with a view to developing employability skills, targeting the social needs of the local community to create opportunities, raise aspirations and encourage cohesion.

The two organisations have worked together for a number of years on joint educational programmes, offering a range of immersive learning experiences focusing on skills and resources that helped to shape the Black Country through a lifelong learning initiative called IgnitEd.

Professor Jackie Dunne, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Wolverhampton, said: “The provision of lifelong and life-wide learning opportunities is a core function of both the University and the Black Country Living Museum.

“We are committed to ensuring that the rich artistic and industrial heritage of the region is shared with our local communities and used to enrich lives, strengthen identity, raise aspirations and improve health and wellbeing.

“Both organisations have a significant presence within the Black Country, with strong links to our local communities, and the new Black Country Studies Centre will be ideally placed to offer enhanced learning opportunities for local people.”

Andrew Lovett, Director & Chief Executive at Black Country Living Museum, said: “The Black Country Studies Centre has been created to formalise our current relationship with the University. Together, through a programme of inspirational activities, we will continue to explore the history of the area and how that history informs our understanding of ourselves and our communities.”

A surprising majority of shoppers have confessed to stealing plastic carrier bags during their weekly shop, it has been revealed.

Despite the 5p plastic bag levy introduced by the Government in 2015, a survey collated by waste management agency, BusinessWaste.co.uk, shows that light-fingered shoppers are still sneaking bags past the scanners in a bid to avoid paying.

The survey, which covered 1,000 shoppers from across the UK, showed that 41% admitted to the theft of plastic bags at least once in the past 12 months, blaming shops who charge more than the minimum 5p amount set by the legislation.

One unabashed shopper added: “Most places charge 10p now - that’s just too much, especially when I’ve got a grand’s worth of them under the sink already!”

This appears to be a common attitude, with social media awash with jokes about plastic bag stashes being worth a small fortune after the charge came into effect - suggesting that households are well aware that bags should, and can, be reused.

However, those who avoid paying the levy despite hoarding plenty of bags at home highlight a misunderstanding of the purpose of the charge - in that it was introduced by the Government to encourage reuse of existing carrier bags, or a switch to a reusable product such as cotton shopping bags.

The move saw a dramatic reduction on the number of carrier bags issued in the year after the charge was introduced - down to 19 per person from 140, suggesting that Brits have responded to the financial disincentive and are adopting more eco-friendly shopping habits. However, 1.04 billion plastic bags were still sold by the seven major supermarkets in 2017-18 - and single use plastic bags can take up to 1,000 years to break down, meaning there’s still an enormous risk to the environment if shoppers don’t change their ways.

Mark Hall, Communications Director of BusinessWaste.co.uk, warned:

“Shoppers may resent paying for plastic bags - but the solution is certainly not to steal them! A cotton or jute tote bag is easy to keep in the car, your handbag, or by the front door and can be used hundreds of times. Of course, it means remembering to take it with you, but with a bit of preparation you never need to buy a plastic bag again - which is great, not only for the environment, but also for your wallet.”

Shoppers may soon find themselves more inclined to switch to reusable bags, as the Government has announced a consultation on the plastic bag levy, to take place at the end of this year. The consultation could see the charge rolled out to all retailers, not just supermarkets - and crucially, could see the minimum levy double to 10p per bag.

Hall added:

“With Government plans to further increase scope and cost of the plastic bag levy following the success of the initial 5p charge, it’s the perfect time for shoppers to make the switch over to reusable bags.

“Many people will have suitable bags lying around already, but they’re readily and cheaply available and, as with many lifestyle changes, once you’re used to taking a cloth bag with you, it’ll become second nature. A tiny amount of forethought could have an enormously positive environmental impact, and that is something we should all endeavour to spend an extra second or two on before we head to the shops.”

New research reveals that a record 8.7 million visitors came to the National Forest in 2017. As the total number of trees planted in the National Forest since the early 1990s now stands at 8.7 million, that's effectively one tree per visitor.

Visitor numbers have increased by 6.4% on the previous year, exceeding the average increase nationally, while the value of tourism to the Forest has also increased to £428m, sustaining more than 5,000 jobs for the first time.

John Everitt, Chief Executive, National Forest Company, said: “This is great news for the tourism industry within the National Forest. Tourism is the fastest-growing sector for the UK, and here in the heart of the country we are demonstrating how the creation of the National Forest is growing the economy as well as improving the environment and people's wellbeing. Where better to experience all the benefits of getting outdoors and being amongst trees and woodlands, than in a Forest that is easily accessible to 10 million people in our Midlands conurbations.”

The figures reported today cover the first year of the National Forest's ten-year Tourism Growth Plan, which was launched in 2017 and builds on 27 years of successful partnership working, to strengthen and grow sustainable tourism in the National Forest. The figures demonstrate excellent progress towards the Plan's goal of increasing spend and jobs by 15%.

The first expression of this ambition was the inaugural Timber festival in the National Forest, held in July this year. Over 4,000 people attended the three day camping festival, which was held amongst woodlands just outside Ashby de la Zouch and celebrated the transformative impact of trees and forests through the story of the National Forest.

Local craft ale and street food providers added to a lively programme of music, arts, talks and woodland activities, and local accommodation providers enjoyed extra business where festival-goers chose not to camp.

Timber gained four star reviews in The Guardian and five star Facebook reviews, and is nominated for several awards in its first year. Tickets are already on sale for next year's festival at www.timberfestival.org.uk

Everitt added: “This is a great start to our ambition to grow tourism and develop investment opportunities for green growth in the Forest. Through events such as Timber festival, we're showing how businesses can benefit from being within the National Forest, one of the UK's most accessible woodland destinations.”

Keen amateur artist Austin Clifford has won Sandwell's Hidden Treasures competition with a stunning drawing of an old chestnut tree in a local ancient woodland.

Austin, a keen sketcher, won the public vote in the competition run by Sandwell Council’s museums and arts service.

Austin, who lives in the Sandwell Valley area of West Bromwich, drew a tree he has seen daily on his walks through the woods – after increasing his walking to recover from a triple bypass heart operation in 2009.

He said: "I try to walk between four and six miles across the Valley before breakfast on five or six mornings a week."

He achieved a life-long ambition to walk the Camino Frances in North Spain, from St Jean Pied de Port, in the foothills of the French Pyrenees to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Northern Spain, in 2014 when he was 71 years of age.

“This was an opportunity to combine my love of walking and sketching," he said.

On his return, he published a book, Drawn Down the Way, of sketches and anecdotes of his experiences.

Austin knows the old chestnut tree – in the ancient woodland section of the Valley off Park Lane – very well. “I have been mentally drawing the trees for years and it took the Hidden Treasures competition to spur me into action,” he said.

His prize-winning entry was the most popular with people who voted online at the Discover Sandwell website or went to local libraries to vote for their favourite entry.

Austin, pictured with his winning entry and the award, said: “I was really delighted to have won the competition. I certainly did not expect to win it.”

Councillor Steve Trow, Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for culture and core council services, said: “This competition has helped to promote what wonderful hidden treasures we have in Sandwell as well as showcasing some very talented artists. I would like to thank everyone who entered and congratulations to Austin on his fantastic drawing.”

The competition was open to all amateur artists, schools and community groups. Entrants were asked to highlight their favourite building, open space, visitor attraction, walk and view of Sandwell.

Entries were displayed on the summer arts trail at Sandwell museums where visitors voted for their favourites. The winner from each of the four museum sites was then put to the public vote in the autumn to find the overall winner.

Next year’s arts trail theme will be All The Fun of the Fair – details will be announced in the spring.

After months of planning the very first Christmas at Beaulieu has opened to visitors with a switch-on of over a million lights in the grounds of the New Forest attraction.

Beaulieu has been transformed with over 11 individual installations on a mile-long shimmering trail. Over 437 theatrical lighting units have been put in place and 11 miles of power cable laid to create the magical Christmas at Beaulieu experience.

Lord Montagu said: “The gardens of Palace House are usually difficult to appreciate in the dark winter evenings, so this first illuminated trail is presenting the landscape in a new, magical light. The varied forms of illumination, changing scenes and music really accentuate the Christmas atmosphere in different ways throughout the grounds and gardens. I am looking forward to seeing people's faces light up as they make their way around the trail.”

Joni Marks, Chief Development Director at Raymond Gubbay Ltd which is collaborating on the light trail event with Beaulieu, said: “It has been a privilege to work closely with all the team at Beaulieu to create this wonderful new illuminated trail and we are looking forward to sharing Christmas at Beaulieu with the public now it is open.”

Visitors will marvel at the 200ft long Cathedral of Light with a tunnel of 30,000 bud lights and the Canopy of Lights with over 20,000 twinkling pea-lights. A musical installation set to the tune of The Twelve Days of Christmas will play over 2,200 times during the course of the event and Father Christmas and his elves will give 1,110 performances to greet visitors from the roof of Beaulieu's veteran bus.

Beaulieu Abbey, in the grounds of the attraction, is the perfect setting for the Fire Garden – an atmospheric installation with over 180 flickering torches which will use as many as 5,132 individually hand-made candles by Christmas.

Along the Icicle Walk, larger-than-life gleaming shards guide visitors towards the Meadow of Light where thousands of fibre optics light up the tree-lined Mill Pond Walk on the banks of the Beaulieu River. There are hidden surprises too – watch out for frosty snowflakes, shimmering stars and trees awash with seasonal colour.

A fabulous finale is waiting at the end of the trail with larger-than-life illuminated trees. Rising high into the night sky, visitors will finish the breathtaking trail with a cheerful Christmas blast of colour, sound and light.

The study of Brummies with beloved pets has revealed the close bond we have with the animals in our care.

When quizzed on the strength of their bond with their pet, 54 per cent said they preferred spending time with their fluffy friend more than a human companion.

And 22 per cent favoured quality time with their pet over their partner, according to new research conducted by dog-friendly Mercure Hotels.

And for good reason. Most pet owners see their animal as a positive influence on their well-being.

Fifty three per cent of pet owners in Birmingham find their pet works as a de-stressor after a tough day, and 56 per cent feel less alone when their pet is beside them.

And two thirds find their pet a calming presence in their home.

James Lys, General Manager for Mercure Stratford-upon-Avon, a very popular doggie hotel, said:  “Our pets are a huge part of our lives and can make our day to day richer than it would be without them.

“We have noticed a marked increase in guests who bring their pets, specifically their dogs, travelling with them to share in the experience.”

Seventy nine per cent of pet owners miss their pets when they travel away from home, and a quarter feel lost without their animal companion with them on the trip.

Though 38 per cent have brought their pet along for a trip at one time or another rather than leaving them at home.

And a third found the trip away from their usual surroundings made their pet more excitable than they normally would be.

Fifty one per cent think their trip could be made better with the presence of their furry friend.

If a hotel offered a service where you could keep your pet in your room during your stay, one in two pet owners would take the opportunity to bring their animals along.

When asked to consider the things they miss most about home when they go on a trip away, 17 per cent said their pet was the thing they missed most.

Though 42 per cent crave their own bed the most after a few nights away.

James Lys added: “We take time to get to know our guests and understand their needs so we can try and deliver personal and meaningful experiences.

“Being able to bring your dog when you’re away makes all the difference in the world to some of our guests, so that’s why Mercure hotels across the country now welcome dogs.

“It’s important to our guests so it’s important to us. We’ll create special menus and treats for guests’ dogs and our hotel teams have even been known to walk the dogs when their owners couldn’t.”

A Hamilton takeaway beat off competition from 30,000 restaurants and takeaways to be crowned the Just Eat Best Takeaway In Britain as the Asian Curry Awards. They have successfully defended this title for the second year running.

Mushtaq's Restaurant in Almada Street, was named the Best Takeaway in Britain.

Over 1,000 VIP guests attended a glittering gala dinner at The Great Room, Grosvenor House Hotel in London on Sunday 18th November, to honour the winners.

The awards were co-hosted by BBC TV presenter Babita Sharma and Tommy Sandhu from the BBC Radio Asian Network.

Chef Director Ajmal Mushtaq said, “It was overwhelming when it was announced that we had won the title of being the Best Takeaway in Britain.  This is great news for Hamilton and we are just honoured to have put Hamilton on the culinary map once again. We are really grateful for the love and support we have received from the people of Hamilton – they are the best!  My wonderful team deserve this great award. There is an incredible amount of hard work, skill and quality control that goes into making every meal the very best it can be and for Mushtaqs to be recognised at the highest level was a great achievement.”

Asian Curry Awards chairman Yawar Khan said, “The standard of takeaways across Britain continues to rise and it is an honour to be recognising Mushtaqs at the pinnacle of this industry. They run the most impressive takeaway service that I have ever seen.”

Graham Corfield, UK Managing Director of Just Eat said, "The curry industry is a multi-billion-pound sector thanks to the sheer hard work and dedication of every entrepreneur, restaurant owner, chef, waiter and delivery driver. I'd like to congratulate all the winners."

Yawar Khan added, “The judges were really impressed by Mushtaqs and their very high standards of hygiene, efficiency, flavour of food and their important role in the community.”

Head Chef Garry said, “I am just so delighted for the team. The competition was very tough indeed and this award is testament to the great work that goes on behind the scenes.  We are a team based here in Hamilton, and to be recognised at the highest level in the industry is a truly special feeling.”

Mushtaqs is officially the biggest takeaway operation and was featured on BBC2's Best of British Takeaways. Head Chef Ajmal was crowned Scotland's Chef of the Year at the Food Awards Scotland in August last year where he beat off competition from the best fine dining and Michelin trained chefs in the country.