Community News

An exhibition of artwork inspired by images of female criminals is all set to go on display at the University of Wolverhampton.

Criminal Quilts is an art and archives project crafted and researched by textile artist, Ruth Singer, in partnership with the Staffordshire Record Office and the University of Wolverhampton.

During 2017 and 2018 Ruth was Artist in Residence at the Record Office, researching and creating artworks inspired by images of female criminals who were photographed in Stafford Prison from 1877 to 1915.

The pictures provide a compelling glimpse into the lives of around 500 women imprisoned for crimes such as drunkenness and theft, in the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries.

Criminal Quilts came into being in 2012 when Ruth was commissioned by Shire Hall Gallery, Stafford, to make new textile work inspired by details of these women’s clothing. A series of miniature quilt pieces were created with a colour palette influenced by the sepia toned photographs as well as the historic Staffordshire court buildings, which were built in 1789. These pieces were later purchased by the Staffordshire Museum Service

Laura Onions, Lecturer in Fine Art at the University, said: “Ruth worked in partnership with the Wolverhampton School of Art to create new work using our facilities, staff support and research knowledge.

“She collaborated with students who were studying Fashion and Textiles and Fine Art, along with support from staff members to produce collaborative quilts inspired by research, combining digital and screen-printing methods to develop her own new work on a scale that she has not been able to previously.”

The free exhibition is taking place from Friday 2^nd November until Friday 18^th January 2019 at the Made in Wolves Gallery, Millennium City Building, City Campus, WV1 1LY and will be open from 8.30 am until 5.00 pm.

Ruth will be doing an artist talk and tour on Wednesday 21^st November between 5.00 pm and 6.30 pm.

Sandwell Council is one of the top performing local authorities in the country in dealing with 'bed-blocking' problems at local hospitals.

The council’s work on dealing with delayed transfers of care, which occurs when a patient is ready to leave hospital but is still occupying a bed, makes it one of the best achievers in the country.

Latest national figures on dealing with these 'bed-blocking' problems show Sandwell has the best record in the West Midlands – and is rated fourth in the country out of 174 local authorities.

Targets are set by NHS England, and Sandwell was the only region in the West Midlands to better the targets set, and reduce the amount of delays facing patients.

Figures have been improving over the past 12 months, and Sandwell has had strong and very positive figures during this time.

Sandwell Council works with NHS partners, including Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Hospitals Trust and Sandwell and West Birmingham Clinical Commissioning Group, and community partners to reduce delayed transfers of care.

Councillor Ann Shackleton, cabinet member for social care and chair of the Sandwell Health and Wellbeing Board, said: ”We are delighted to be so highly rated for this service but we are still ambitious to reduce these figures to ensure patients can be discharged as soon as they are medically fit to do so.

“We are working on several schemes, including the launch of an integrated social care and health hub in November at Lyng in West Bromwich, in a bid to continue to bridge the gap between health and social care.

“We are also starting a red bag scheme which will support care home residents with hospital admittance.

“It is important to realise that behind every delayed transfer of care figure, there is a Sandwell resident ready to be discharged.

"Keeping older people in hospital longer than they need be is detrimental to their health and may limit their mobility and their opportunities to live independently.

“We have been working collectively in Sandwell to continue to improve our services and support we offer to some of our most vulnerable residents."

A fun run at the University of Birmingham raised over £7,000 bringing the annual event’s overall fundraising total to £87,000. This was the fifth year that Bud’s Run has taken place and it supports charity Parkinson’s UK’s pioneering research to find a cure for the condition.

More than 400 runners took part in the 5km race on the day which also included a 2km run for under 11s. Bud’s Run is the brainchild of former UK Athletics Marathon Coach Bud Baldaro, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2009, and has been based at the University for over a decade.

Speaking after the event, Bud said: “I have been overwhelmed by all the hard work from so many people to make this event a success. There was fantastic support from the Birmingham University runners and from all the families involved, from tiny tots to grannies and grandpas! It was a truly joyful occasion with so many coming together to increase awareness of Parkinson’s and raise money for Parkinson’s UK. It was a telling indictment that although I have Parkinson’s, it hasn’t got me! Thank you to everyone.”

Bud’s Run is a popular event, with previous runs attracting athletics stars such as world marathon record holder Paula Radcliffe, middle distance legend Steve Cram, and Olympian Sara Treacy. The event was supported once again by 1500m World Championship Silver Medallist Hannah England.

Parkinson’s UK is the leading charity driving better care, treatments and quality of life for those with the condition. Its mission is to find a cure and improve life for everyone affected by Parkinson's through cutting edge research, information, support and campaigning.

Gayle Kelly, Regional Fundraiser for Parkinson’s UK in the West Midlands, said: “We’d like to thank everyone who took part and volunteered to make it such a fantastic day. A special thanks to our event sponsors University of Birmingham Sport, Go Faster Food, Up and Running, Running Imp, and Waitrose for their support.”

Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological condition for which there is currently no cure and it affects 145,000 people in the UK including 121,927 in England.

Parkinson’s UK estimate that there are more than 40 symptoms of the condition.  As well as the most widely known symptom - tremor - these range from physical symptoms like muscle stiffness to depression, anxiety, hallucinations, memory problems and dementia, but Parkinson’s affects everyone differently.

Sandwell Council and West Midlands Police have met with local head teachers to launch a new police and schools panel to help promote safety.

The new panel will identify opportunities for improved working relationships with partner organisations and agencies as well as tackling difficult social issues.

Chief Superintendent Richard Baker, Sandwell Police commander and chair of the Safer Sandwell Partnership, said: “Engaging with young people and doing all we can to make sure they are safe is so important.

“By using our strong partnership links in Sandwell and working closely with head teachers and schools, we can really make a difference.”

Councillor Simon Hackett, cabinet member for children's services, said: "It's really important we work together with schools, with parents and carers and with children and young people to promote safety. I am really pleased to hear this panel has been set up."

Councillor Elaine Costigan, cabinet member for public health and protection, said: “We believe a strong, well-planned senior partnership between the police, schools and other agencies will provide a safer and more prosperous future for young people in Sandwell."

Sandwell’s Vision for 2030 sets out 10 ambitions to be delivered by the council and its partners over the next 12 years – feeling safe is a top priority. As part of this Vision, the council and partners will continue to talk with young people about how they see themselves and the borough in the future.

The aims of the police and schools panel are to:

•           Increase trust in policing and wider authorities and services

•           Reduce crime and anti-social behaviour in local areas

•           Increase young people’s sense of safety

•           Reduce levels of offending and re-offending

•           Improve attendance and attainment in school

The Safer Sandwell Partnership’s autumn Safer 6 campaign, which runs for six weeks, is currently in full swing across Sandwell’s six towns.

Supporting young people, tackling crime and anti-social behaviour and working with partner organisations and local people are all a key focus in the campaign.

With fireworks filling our skies for Bonfire Night, Diwali and New Year’s Eve soon after, it can be a stressful time for dogs that don’t like loud noises.

How can you help keep them calm and safe? David Grice, Head of Canine Training and Behaviour at national charity Guide Dogs, shares his tips how to help dogs before, during and after Fireworks night.

Step One – Know if your dog is stressed

David says: “There are a number of warning signs to indicate that your dog fears fireworks, but every dog is different, and they show anxiety in their own way. Key to look out for is whether a dog is trembling, shaking or hiding which you might expect, but behaviours such as restlessness, destructiveness or attention-seeking can also signify anxiety. “

Step Two – Help to reduce the shock of Fireworks

“On the days leading up to firework-filled parties taking place nearby, you can make sure you are as prepared as possible to reduce the impact on your pup.

“Buy plug in adaptors that release pheromones that can help relax your dog. Plug the adaptor about a week before the start of firework season to allow the pheromones to spread around the house. Also try getting your dog used to the TV or radio being louder than usual by gradually increasing the sounds levels in the lead up to the night.

“Check with neighbours if they are planning a fireworks party and you can find information about displays near you online or on social media. If lots of fireworks are expected nearby you may want to see if a friend or relative would like you and a four-legged visitor for the night.”

Step Three – Help your dog to feel safe on the day

“On the day you are expecting fireworks to take place, make sure your dog has a good walk before dark, so they are tired and relaxed for the evening. You should also feed your pup earlier than normal, so they can relieve themselves before the fireworks start.

“Hold back a portion of their evening meal and put this into a kong for your dog to have just before fireworks are likely to start, you can also give your dog a chew to keep them busy and distracted during fireworks.

“Remember it’s not just the sound that can upset our dogs, the flashing lights and smell of burning can also cause problems. Try closing all the curtains and playing an action film to cover up the flashing lights. Popping a lavender plant outside your back door can help mask the smell which can last for days!

“Make sure you have everything you need for the evening, so you can stay at home with your dog, and prepare an area for your dog to go if it becomes scared. If they already have a puppy crate, cover it with a blanket to make a quiet, dark den. You could also use a table or a cupboard under the stairs with an open door and place a TV or radio to help hide the noise of fireworks. Try to leave the TV or radio on all night, you never know when fireworks will go off.”

Step Four – Make sure your dog is happy after fireworks have finished

“There’s often so much attention on how to help dogs during Fireworks, but how we support them afterwards is just as important. It’s a good idea to allow your pup to leave its hiding place as soon it feels safe and ready and be prepared that your dog may have an accident overnight as it may have been too scared to relieve itself.

“It helps to act as if nothing has happened - don’t make a big fuss of the fireworks ending and if your pup is worried about going out into the garden or for a walk the next day, use treats to reward it for going out to rebuild a positive association.

“You may need to keep your dog on a lead when walking for a few days after a firework night and remember that fireworks can last for more than just one night, so be prepared for the unexpected!

“Consider preparations for next year. You can find sound tracks and playlists on line to get your dog used to them in plenty of time for next year. Even if your dog appeared fine over the season, play some firework sounds quietly in the background while you play with a toy or give them a chew, this will help prevent them developing issues in the future.”

Eight time sell-out veterans of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and one of the country's most sought after comedy club headliners, The Noise Next Door leave audiences everywhere in awe of their lightning-quick wit and totally original comedic talents. They have been performing their own distinctive brand of off-the-cuff comedy together since they met at university. Taking audience suggestions, the cheeky and charming quartet, transform them into fantastically funny scenes and songs in the blink of an eye with a perfect blend of ludicrous characters, witty one-liners, epic stories, and explosive physicality.

The Noise Next Door have appeared on BBC One, BBC Three, ITV1, BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 4, they were nominated for a Chortle Award in 2014, and have performed alongside the likes of Michael McIntyre, Al Murray, and Harry Hill. Having received standing ovations in front of corporate dinners, the British forces, secondary school students and even fans at 'Download' Heavy Metal music festival, they are also one of the most versatile acts in the business. Unstoppably funny and uniquely talented, The Noise Next Door are the next big thing in British comedy.

The Noise Next Door – Remix: The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton - Thursday 14 February 2019

A play, writing workshop and exhibition are being held at Lightwoods House on Wednesday 7 November as part of Sandwell’s 100th anniversary commemorations of the end of the First World War.

Worrapalava Arts will present Two Mothers of Distant Sons: Words from the Great War, a radio-style play written by Wednesbury poet laureate Brendan Hawthorne and performed by The Belmont Rep.

The play starts at 7pm (doors open at 6.30pm) at Lightwoods House, Adkins Lane, Bearwood, Smethwick, B67 5DP.

Tickets are free but limited so booking is essential.

Earlier in the day, there will be a free writing workshop, War in Words, on a drop-in basis from 10.30am to 3.30pm (lunch break 12noon-1pm). If you wish, you can register your interest when you book for the play.

Completed work will be displayed during the evening event as well as First World War artefacts.

The play is a semi-biographical radio-style play based on the life of Corporal Billy Bolt, Brendan’s great uncle. The play is written in poetic form and contains original songs throughout the performance.

The cast gives voice to Billy and Tommy, two young signalmen from the South Staffs Regiment, setting off for Ypres, leaving their mothers, fathers and loved ones behind to air their feelings and tell the stories of their boys through letters and telegrams.

A question and answer session follows the performance where the actors and their characters can be interviewed by members of the audience relating to the play content, its concept and realisation.

Sandwell Council is supporting the project through a £850 town grant.

Council leader Councillor Steve Eling said: “This is one of the many ways Sandwell is commemorating the centenary of the end of the war and remembering the sacrifices made by people from the Sandwell area and all over the world.”

Councillor Ann Jaron, Smethwick town chair, said: “This play promises to be of real local interest in the lead up to our Remembrance weekend events, and the writing workshop and question and answer session will give people the chance to get really involved.”

The play is primarily aimed at adults though younger audiences over 14 years of age would be welcome if accompanied by parents or guardians.

Lightwoods House is fully accessible by wheelchair and interval refreshments will be available to buy.

Birmingham City University’s Royal Birmingham Conservatoire will be presenting a star-studded double bass benefit concert next month, as the institution hopes to raise funds for its growing distance learning programme with a township in South Africa.

Bass Extravaganza takes place on Tuesday 6 November and is being headlined by New York Philharmonic Principal Double Bassist, Timothy Cobb.

A native of Albany, New York, Cobb graduated from The Curtis Institute of Music, where he studied with Roger Scott. Cobb has been designated a UNESCO Artist for Peace from his affiliation with the World Orchestra.

Timothy Cobb can be heard on all Metropolitan Opera recordings released after 1986, as well as on a recording on the Naxos label of Giovanni Bottesini’s duo bass music with International Chair in Double Bass at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Thomas Martin. Cobb and fellow American bassist Martin will be performing together once again as part of Bass Extravaganza.

Founded in 1842 and one of the ‘Big Five’ leading American orchestras, the New York Philharmonic is based in David Geffen Hall, located in New York’s Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. Timothy Cobb joined the New York Philharmonic as Principal Bass in May 2014, after serving as Principal Bass of The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, and Principal Bass of the Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra since 1989.

Ahead of his appearance at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Timothy Cobb, said:

“There are few greater pleasures for a musician than to visit other countries and regions of the world and share in the delight of performing and studying great music. And, when the experience includes spending time with a long-time friend and top artist like Thomas Martin, as well as performing in a wonderful benefit for South African bassists, it becomes what I know will be a fantastic event and a treasured memory!

“Helping to bring music, and the unique joy of the double bass to other parts of the world is a gift and huge honour, and I am delighted to be part of this wonderful evening!

“Tom and I spent some arduous hours recording the Bottesini Double Concerto, and I am very excited to play together again!”

One of the world's best-known bassists, Thomas Martin studied in his native America with Roger Scott.

He has held front desk positions with the Buffalo Philharmonic and Israel Philharmonic Orchestras and Principal positions with l’Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal, The Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields, the English Chamber Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) and latterly, the London Symphony Orchestra.

Thomas Martin, International Chair in Double Bass, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, said:

“Music truly is the international language and I have had the pleasure of performing with people from all around the globe, many of whom I could not have conversed with otherwise. Therefore, it seems rather fitting that our event will help us support friends on the other side of the world through our joint love of music and desire to nurture the next generation of double bass talent.

“Happily, my double bass career has taken me all over the world and enabled me to meet one of my best friends and a musician I greatly admire, Timothy Cobb. I have a feeling that we made the first recording of the Bottesini work we are playing back in 2006! I am thrilled to play with him once again and delighted that this event has not only brought us together once more, but will help future strings colleagues.”

The duo will also be joined by Tony Alcock and Damian Rubido Gonzalez – respective Double Bass Section Leader and Sub-Principal Double Bass at CBSO – alongside students from Royal Birmingham Conservatoire’s Strings Department.

The concert will include works by Niccolò Paganini and Sergei Rachmaninoff, and proceeds raised will be donated to the South African Youth Orchestra Foundation so that it can host its first ever course exclusively for the double bass in Cape Town in December this year. There are relatively few opportunities for young bassists in South Africa, so the Foundation is hoping this will help to develop a strong bass community within the country.

One such student hoping to benefit from this course is 17-year-old Njabulo Nxumalo from Soweto in Johannesburg. He is the first double bass student to be enrolled on the collaborative UK-South African project, Cape Gate MIAGI Centre for Music & Birmingham Conservatoire – or ARCO, which is also the name for the technique of playing a stringed instrument with a bow.

ARCO has seen 24 strings students aged between eight and 17 in South Africa selected to participate in weekly instrumental Skype lessons, given by academics, current students and alumni of Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.

ARCO aims to provide the benefits and life changing inspiration of music to children in the most deprived of circumstances. As well as providing transformative music education activities, Conservatoire staff and students have been acting as role models for vulnerable youngsters living in Soweto, a township deeply affected by poverty and crime.

ity of Wolverhampton Council has been using a Velocity Patcher to repair roads across the city which have been damaged by potholes.

The City Council has been trialling the approach which provides a quick and effective way to protect road surfaces to benefit drivers.

Known as velocity patching, the modern technique has been deployed across the city and involves patching roads by forcing material into the pothole under high pressure.

The hose is initially used to blast the pothole with air, to clear out dirt, debris and water.

Using a blend of bitumen and chippings that are passed through a hose at high speed, each repair can be completed in a matter of minutes.

This modern technique costs less than half of a traditional patch method, but with the same repair guarantee period.

Councillor Steve Evans, Cabinet Member for City Environment at City of Wolverhampton Council said: “The Velocity Patcher is a fantastic approach to tackling potholes across our city.

“Repairing potholes can be time consuming and costly. With this technique, what would normally take a couple of hours and cause traffic disruption will take a matter of minutes with vehicles ready to drive over it immediately.

“I’m really impressed with the Velocity Patcher and hope the taxpayers of Wolverhampton can see the value for money we are trying to provide to repair the roads as fast as we can with the resources we have to keep the city moving.”

View the Velocity Patcher in action: https://www.14dd5266c70789bdc806364df4586335-gdprlock/watch?v=A1yESmBjm38&feature=youtu.be

Wolverhampton Art Gallery is hosting large-scale video installation Undead Sun by Jane and Louise Wilson.

The free exhibition looks at the impact of the First World War and can be seen during gallery opening hours Monday to Saturday (10.30am to 4.30pm) and Sunday (11am to 4pm).

Jane and Louise have been working as an artist duo in collaboration for over two decades. They graduated in 1989 with a joint degree show in Dundee and Newcastle, then continued in a working collaboration through their postgraduate at Goldsmiths College, graduating 1992.

Since 1990, they have gained a national and international reputation as artists working with photography and the moving image, installation in an expanded form of cinema and lens-based media.

The duo have brought to Wolverhampton a film that considers how so many of the products of the First World War conflict continue to shape our contemporary experience. At its heart is a now familiar pattern of military action in which control of the airspace assumes as much strategic importance as the campaign on the ground.

Inspired by archive photographs and artefacts, and by diary entries and personal testimonies, the piece reflects on the visceral, elemental forces that the war unleashed. Not only effecting a change of view from the air, it provoked a change in view of the air – instilled by the terror of gas attacks, the thunder of heavy artillery or the disorientating turbulence and violence of speed.

Councillor John Reynolds, City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for City Economy said: “Throughout 2018, Wolverhampton has been marking the centenary of the end of the First World War with commemorations across the city and this exhibition is a tribute.

“Visitors to the gallery are able to delve into the film and see how the past has structured our present day.”

Jane and Louise Wilson said: “We wanted to underscore the paradoxical relationship between warfare and technological progress, emphasizing the evolving surveillance programme of World War I, as a precursor to current day drone technology.”

Undead Sun was premiered at the Imperial War Museum and commissioned by Film and Video Umbrella in partnership with Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art and Wolverhampton Art Gallery.

Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street has met with volunteers, young people and charities to celebrate the milestone of more than 1,000 young people benefiting from the Mayor’s Mentors initiative.

In an event at St Edmund Campion School, Erdington, the Mayor announced that the initiative has surpassed it first-year target of matching more than 1,000 young people from across the West Midlands with an inspirational mentor.

The Mayor met with mentors and mentees to hear about the difference mentoring can make to the lives of young people in the region. Launched in June 2017, Mayor’s Mentors helps to give young people the life skills and advice they need to flourish.

The Mentors help young people understand how to succeed in life and be better prepared for their future careers. Mentors typically meet with a young person – either one to one or in small groups - once or twice a month to discuss the young person’s studies and career opportunities.

The event this Thursday (25^th October) was co-hosted by the West Midlands Combined Authority and The Careers & Enterprise Company, a national organisation that provided funding for eight organisations to help them deliver mentoring programmes during the first year of the initiative.

Andy Street said: “In just over a year we’ve been able to help more than 1,000 young people through mentoring, a key way we can improve their career chances and accelerate their progress.

“I know through my own career that having a mentor can be a huge advantage and I feel very strongly about giving others that opportunity.

“But it’s important to remember this is a two way thing. I have my own mentee – a young lady who runs a business called Imani Clough – and I learn huge amounts from her.”

Claudia Harris, Chief Executive of The Careers & Enterprise Company, said:

“Mentoring can light a spark in a young person, helping them connect to someone who was once in their shoes and think about the opportunities ahead. And it goes both ways - mentors have so much to learn from their mentees.

“I could not be more proud that in just one year over 1000 young people have had the opportunity to connect with a mentor in the West Midlands. We have loved our collaboration with Mayors Mentors and look forward to the next stage.”

Students from St Edmund Campion school have benefited from mentorship. Sixth-former Lily-Mae Davis said: “It’s given us a new experience and built our confidence. Before, we couldn’t speak in front of a full room, but now it just seems natural. It’s benefitted us when applying for university and jobs, too. I’ve gained a lot from the experience and would recommend it to all other young people.”

Fellow sixth-former Chloe Connolly added: “We’ve gained experience about how to talk to adults and act in a work environment on a day to day basis. It has helped with interviews and I am now more confident in class, whereas before, I wouldn’t speak much at all.”

Their Envision mentor, Carol Herity, head of partnership at Birmingham and Solihull Clinical Commission Group, said she was passionate about helping young people.

She said: “Mentoring is part of the way we are able to support young people and it gives staff the opportunity to connect with the people we serve. On a personal level, my professional background is in youth and community work and I am passionate about working with young people.

“Today has been a great opportunity to re-connect with last year’s mentees and to hear what they gained from the experience.”

Bhai Sahib Bhai Mohinder Singh Ji discussed a pioneering project in the effort to create lasting peace - The Charter for Forgiveness and Reconciliation.

This speech was recorded at the opening of the 2018 Parliament of World's Religions, in Toronto, Canada.

So, whilst keeping a headquarters in London, broadcaster, Channel 4, have decided to set up a new national HQ in Leeds, as opposed to one-tie favourite, Birmingham and Manchester, in an attempt to boost the way it reflects life away from the capital. In making that choice, they will move roughly 200 of its 800 staff to Yorkshire.

The channel has also announced it will open "creative hubs" in Bristol and Glasgow, with around 50 staff in each.

West Midlands Mayor Andy Street, who led the Birmingham bid, said: “While the news that Birmingham has not been successful in the bid to house the broadcaster’s new national HQ, the work that has gone into the bid has not been wasted.

The one positive was the growing sense of collaboration and commitment across the region between local authorities, organisations and our creative industries leading to developments that are set to improve the creative landscape regardless of Channel 4’s decision, which will be announced in the coming weeks. "

Continuing, a determined and ever-forthright Street said: “Through our Local Industrial Strategy, we remain committed to ensuring we are home to a pre-eminent national creative and media cluster, and we will respond to high demand for production by investing in the TV and film production capacity of the region by establishing new studio and production facilities.

The West Midlands region came together as part of this process and now we look to the future as one, as commit to delivering initiatives and funding that will transform our creative industries."

Birmingham City Council Leader, Councillor Ian Ward, added: "With a wealth of knowledge and creativity, talent and energy combined with one of the youngest and most diverse populations in Europe, Channel 4’s decision is a massive disappointment to all of those who have worked so hard to bring the broadcaster to here.

That said, however, we will continue to be successful as city reinventing itself for the 21st century. I’m confident we will see many more successes in Birmingham in 2019.”

Channel 4 also plan to open 'creative hubs' in Bristol and Glasgow where they will focus on programme commissioning.

St Ann’s Library has celebrated its 80th anniversary, with residents attending a celebratory event with flamenco guitar playing, photography and poetry.

The event started with a welcome speech by Madam Deputy Mayor, Councillor Shelia Peacock. Visitors also heard a reading from local poet Abe Gibson, and there was face painting for younger guests.

The era the library was opened in Tottenham was evoked with a 1930s photographic exhibition, book display and a 1938 film screened.

Cllr Zena Brabazon, Cabinet Member for Civic Services, attended the event. She said:

Libraries play a vital role in the community, and it was fantastic to see residents coming together to celebrate 80 years of St Ann’s. We can all enjoy our libraries, whether it is attending craft, singing or poetry sessions, joining free computer training classes, or picking up your favourite book. Haringey has some wonderful libraries and we had a fantastic day celebrating St Ann’s.

St Ann’s was built to a high standard of design and encouraged readers and literacy in the 1930s. All these years later in the 21st century, it is still providing a wonderful public service - and shows the value of public services more than ever.

Sandwell Council is well-prepared for winter, with more than 5,000 tonnes of salt in stock and a new fleet of gritters ready to tackle snow and ice.

The council’s fleet of gritter lorries have been replaced with new vehicles ready to treat Sandwell’s roads with more than 55 tonnes of salt every time they leave the depot.

The nine new gritting trucks will also be maintained in-house rather than by an outside company. The new arrangement is slightly cheaper than leasing the vehicles over seven years.

Among the new trucks are three 4x4 gritters, which will be more effective in hilly areas.

The investment follows a survey of residents who overwhelmingly supported the council’s winter maintenance efforts and prioritised its funding above many other council services.

The National Highways and Transport Public Satisfaction Survey also put Sandwell in the top five of all metropolitan borough councils for resident satisfaction with winter gritting.

And the council came at the very top of the list for effectively informing residents about gritting and winter road maintenance – thanks to its hugely popular Sandwell Facebook page and @sandwellcouncil and @sandwellroads Twitter accounts.

Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for highways and environment Councillor David Hosell used to drive a gritter lorry himself for West Bromwich Council in the 1970s. He said: “We know that keeping the roads moving in winter is a really high priority for our residents.

“When we talked to people about budgets a couple of years ago, our winter maintenance plan was one of people’s top priorities and something where people desperately didn’t want to see any cuts in service.

“We’ve invested in a new gritting fleet, which is slightly cheaper than hiring them out every year which is what we’ve done previously. It also means we can use our own fleet services team to maintain them, instead of contracting this work out.

“The long-range forecast is still uncertain, but we are preparing for the potential for a colder than average winter, but as with anything, it’s difficult to predict.

“The main thing is that we are well-prepared and our staff are able to do the fantastic job they always do each winter - especially in case we get another winter like the last one.”

Sandwell’s gritting crew will go on 24-hour standby from November 1 until the end of April, available to go out whenever roadside temperatures fall close to freezing.

Last winter, (2017/18) Sandwell Council’s gritting crew completed 91 gritting runs covering 23,660 miles (the distance from Sandwell to Christ Church in New Zealand and back), putting down more than 5,000 tonnes of rock salt.

Remember, remember with Treasure Trails this Bonfire night. Explore the area that famously survived Guy Fawkes' attempt at explosion with the Westminster Spy Mission Trail and discover the city that foiled an infamous plot of gunpowder and treason!

Start your mission at Westminster Underground Station and follow the clues on a circular route discovering the secrets of iconic London locations including Parliament Square, St James Park, Pall Mall and Whitehall.

Lasting around two hours the aim is to solve a set of fiendish clues on a circular route of around two miles and takes you past some of London's most memorable royal scenes including; palaces, parks and statues. It ends with a trip down Whitehall, the home of British Government and Defense, and scene of a most memorable event on 5 November, 1605.

Clues are set using historical plaques, signs, statues, monuments, images, engravings and anything else that the Trail writers can make use of.

Trail Booklets can be downloaded directly from the website and printed immediately or they can be ordered online and sent in the post. Personalised versions are also available online which can include your own photographs and text.

In London alone there are over 40 different trails to choose from with enticing titles like 'The Missing Royal Wedding Ring Trail' in St James' Park, 'The Muswell Hill Menagerie Murder' and 'Lion Hunting in Stoke Newington'.