Community News

Pupils from across the City of Wolverhampton have produced some outstanding art as part of a schools’ competition run to celebrate Armed Forces Day.

Students were asked to submit a piece of art based around the theme of the Armed Forces – and entries, including poems, paintings, drawings and flag designs, came in from nine schools.

Sergeant Scott Brooks, Major Sylvia Parkin and Squadron Leader Charlotte Morrison carefully selected the winners in the three categories of best poem, best art and best flag.

All the entries received are being showcased in Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Lichfield Street, this week as part of the armed forces exhibition.

The week started with the Mayor of Wolverhampton, Councillor Elias Mattu, raising the Armed Forces flag.

On the same day, he presented poetry winner, Mya Perry, aged 11, of Bilston Church of England Primary School, with her prize of a £25 Love2shop voucher, in the Mayor’s Parlour, at the Civic Centre.

The judges were impressed by the emotional language used in her poem entitled ‘Daddy Please Don’t Go’, and agreed it was a mature piece of writing for a young lady.

Mayor Mattu said: “It was a real pleasure to present Mya with her award and it is great to see the children in the city honouring our Armed Forces through this art work.

"We owe the men and women of the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force a debt of gratitude. “These Armed Forces Day events are a fantastic way for us all to do that, while at the same time finding out a little bit more about our Armed Forces and recognise the crucial role they continue to play today."

Sami Al Abadie, ten, of The Royal School was the winner in the best flag category and Olivia Greybanks, 11, of Stow Heath Primary School was the winner in the best art category.

Both will receive their prizes as part of Saturday’s Armed Forces Day celebration event at the Mander Centre from 11am to 4pm.

It will feature drumming, rigging, semaphore and drill displays by Army, Air and Sea Cadets and physical training demonstrations by the Military Preparation College, and offer people the chance to meet members of the Armed Forces past and present.

There will also be musical performances by the RAF Cosford Voluntary Band, the City of Wolverhampton Council Choir and vintage vocal harmony trio The Bluebird Belles. Plus, a range of military vehicles on display in Queen Square and Dudley Street, along with a flight simulator.

The renowned Elysium Hotel, located on the Greek island of Mykonos, which predominantly caters to an exclusive LGBT clientele, has recently undergone an extensive programme of refurbishment designed to consolidate its position as one of the premier boutique hotels focussing on the luxury LGBT market.

In addition to this refurbishment, the hotel has also made service-level enhancements to double its staff-to-guest ratio, thereby providing a level of excellence and attentiveness that exceeds its customers' needs.

This philosophy accompanies the guest experience from the moment of booking, and throughout the stay. The hotel offers a unique 'straight-friendly' experience. It presents one of the most extensive entertainment programmes on the island, with daily evening cabaret shows featuring international acts that welcome straight as well as LGBT guests.

The cabaret is now also supported by the Daily Sunset 'Live' programme, where guests can sip cocktails by the pool and on the refurbished terrace lounge, accompanied by live piano performances. Just 300 metres from the UNESCO-listed Mykonos town, the Elysium offers a beautiful panoramic view over the Aegean Sea.

The property features a large swimming pool, fully-equipped Kinesis gymnasium and a pool-side Jacuzzi, hot tub, massage programme and Yoga lessons. There is an on-site restaurant, and the lively Sunset Bar, where the main entertainment is held.

The hotel offers 44 luxurious en-suite guestrooms with free internet access and modern amenities. This refurbishment represents a move to position the hotel as one of the more exclusive and unique accommodation experiences that Mykonos has to offer.

Amazon, in partnership with the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), has announced the regional results of the ‘Design a Drone’ competition in West Midlands. Over 1,700 students participated in the competition from across the UK.

Sutherland Primary Academy in Stoke-on-Trent topped the leader-board, taking first, second and third places.

Harley T was awarded the top spot for designing the Angel drone which would deliver food, medicine and plasters to people in need. Second place went to Sapphire G for her Mrs Smile drone, which would safely deliver parcels to children, and third place was awarded to Ellie-Mae L for her Automatic 101 drone.

The successful young engineers were awarded their prizes in a special ceremony during a school assembly. Winning students took home gift baskets of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) prizes. The first place regional winner also earned a cash donation of £1,000 for her school, to be spent on in-school STEM resources.

One national winner will be selected from the 12 regional finalists and have the opportunity to travel to the Amazon Prime Air Lab in Cambridge, UK, where their design will be exhibited for a year.

The competition helped raise awareness of the CAA’s Drone Code, a simple set of rules and guidelines which outline how to fly drones safely and within the law in the UK.

All primary school students in Years Two to Five in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland were eligible to enter the competition. Students were asked to design their interpretation of a delivery drone to serve a humanitarian purpose or improve society, such as first-response medical aid, sending flowers to a loved one who is unwell or delivering toys to children in need.

Jonathan Nicholson, Assistant Director of Communications at the CAA, said: “All the entries were absolutely amazing and it was great to see so many students showing an interest in drones. By the time they are adults, drones could well be playing key roles in everyday life. But for that to happen we need everyone who flies a drone now to do so safely.”

Lauren Kisser, Operations Director at Amazon Prime Air, commented: “I’m delighted that the Design a Drone competition encouraged these students to unleash their creative thinking on how drones can be used to improve society. The entries we received were full of innovative and thoughtful ideas that could very well change the world one day.”

Almost 10,000 free tickets have been snapped up for City of Wolverhampton’s inaugural Festival of Food and Drink.

The weekend festival on Saturday, July 8 (1pm-8pm) and Sunday 9 (12pm-7pm) is the flagship event of this year’s packed ‘Visit the City of Wolverhampton’ programme.

It will take place on Wulfruna Street, the Civic Centre Ceremonial car park, St Peter’s car park and the pedestrian area outside the University of Wolverhampton’s Ambika Paul building.

City partners have also come together to entice residents and visitors with a host of other free or purse-friendly activities and offers between Friday, June 30 and Sunday, July 16.

William Power of Street Banquet and Director of E11EVEN GROUP has staged events across the country, and will deliver the Festival of Food and Drink.

He said: “As a local businessman born in the city, I am delighted to be involved in an event that will bring visitors to Wolverhampton.

“The Festival of Food and Drink, as part of Visit the City of Wolverhampton programme, is a brand new entertainment offer for the city and I am looking forward to my family and friends being part of it.”

Other highlights in the Visit the City of Wolverhampton programme include a free afternoon of horse racing at Wolverhampton Racecourse; free entry to the Wolves Football Club Museum; free Super Saturday fitness activities at WV Active leisure centres; and a free tour of Banks’s Brewery.

Plus, there are discounted offers for an evening at Wolves Speedway, Grand Theatre productions, and eating and drinking offers.

Enjoy the ‘Wolves in Wolves’ sculpture trail - a guided fun walk around the city centre showcasing wolves decorated by different artists and placed around the city to create the largest public art event in the City of Wolverhampton.

Browse the shops and indulge yourself in the restaurants, cafes and bars.

Councillor John Reynolds, City of Wolverhampton Cabinet Member for City Economy, said: “Wolverhampton is a vibrant, thriving city with plenty to offer every day of the year.

“The summer Visit the City of Wolverhampton programme has even more on offer and it is a great way to sample places you might not normally think of visiting.

“We are really excited about this year’s programme. It is a great initiative showcasing our great city.”

The most inspiring young surveyors – who make the West Midlands a better place to live, work and visit – are currently being given the opportunity to have their talent recognised nationally and be rewarded with a car to help them in their career.

Surveyors are essential in key areas such as housing, commercial property and our road and rail systems. The national Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Matrics Young Surveyor of the Year Awards launched three years ago, to raise awareness of the diverse range of young talented surveyors, trainees and apprentices working in such areas – aged 35 and under – and helping to shape and improve the communities we live in.

This year, surveyors who enter the 2017 RICS Matrics Young Surveyor of the Year Awards by the deadline of 21 July, are also in with a chance of winning a Volvo V40 D2 on a 23-month lease to further aid their career, courtesy of principal sponsors of the awards, Santander Consumer Finance.

The nine categories to enter are: Apprentice of the Year, Asset and Facilities Management, Building Surveying, Land (Rural and Urban), Mentor of the Year, Property (Residential & Commercial), Project Management, Quantity Surveying and Valuation.

There is also an overall ‘Young Surveyor of the Year’ accolade which is awarded to the professional who has not only achieved great success in their respective role and sector, but also demonstrates an unwavering commitment to improving the industry and the wider profession.

Last year the ‘UK Young Surveyor of the Year’ title went to Matthew Fedigan, 30, Director at Domec Facilities Management in Liverpool. Matthew co-founded the business over five years ago – which delivers technical facilities solutions relating to the management and upkeep of buildings – and it has since grown rapidly with turnover now approaching £3 million. He is an RICS ‘APC doctor’ too, responsible for advising and supporting Building Surveying candidates through their Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) - professional examinations to become a fully qualified chartered surveyor.

Lynn Robinson, RICS Regional Director said: “The West Midlands has some of the very best properties, from our airports, sports stadiums, schools, industrial assets and eco homes, which our talented young professionals in the built environment sectors either help to deliver and, or, maintain.

“To put it simply, surveyors measure, value and protect all our physical assets across the region, which ultimately keeps our towns and cities vibrant and attractive to locals and visitors. These awards celebrate such inspirational talent, which I know the West Midlands has in abundance, so we’re looking forward to recognising and rewarding these role models.”

David Keddie MRICS, Chair of the RICS UK Matrics Board – a networking and support group for young surveyors -  is heading up this year’s judging panel. He commented: “These awards celebrate the very best young role models in our industry who are enjoying hugely successful careers, working on some of the most exciting built projects and initiatives in their respective communities. So they provide an ideal opportunity for companies – however large or small - to showcase the achievements of their young talent and help inspire future talent into the industry. Potentially winning a car too is certainly a bonus for any young professional.”

The waterfront city of Portsmouth is the perfect destination for a family-friendly short summer break, offering a variety of activities from the stunning coastline to the fun filled history, heritage and learning experiences. The wide range of safe yet enjoyable physical activities available include cycle hire, swimming and tennis courts. Good quality family accommodation and family friendly restaurants make the historic city an all-round summer destination.

Emirates Spinnaker Tower

Visitors can start their visit on a high with unrestricted views of The Solent, The Isle of Wight and the rolling hills of Hampshire's South Downs, plus a unique perspective on Portsmouth from 100m above the city harbour at Gunwharf Quays. Experience the thrill of crossing the amazing glass Sky Walk.

Blue Reef Aquarium

Overlooking the busy but beautiful Solent, Portsmouth's Blue Reef Aquarium takes visitors on the ultimate undersea safari,  from the rich variety of British waters to the beauty of a tropical coral reef. Over 40 displays include an otter holt and a giant tropical reef tank that is home to a variety of tropical sharks and stingray, black tip reef sharks, crested horn sharks, terrapins, frilled dragons and much more.

The Pyramids Centre swimming pool

The Pyramids Centre is one of Portsmouth's largest entertainment, leisure and event complexes, located just off Southsea Beach. The venue boasts a variety of activities for all ages with fun leisure pools, funky flumes, wacky waves, pool inflatables and a three-level soft play adventure world filled with mazes, climbing nets and ball pits, as well as a multipurpose gym, fitness classes including Zumba, Yoga and Health Circuits and an in-house spa

His Royal Highness The Earl of Wessex  was given a royal welcome as he paid a visit to Birmingham Conservatoire in his role as the institution’s Royal Patron.

The Earl  was the guest of honour at the historic music school and was treated to a special musical performance before being taken on a guided tour of the state-of-the-art new facilities currently under construction at the institution’s £57 million new home.

His Royal Highness was welcomed by Birmingham City University Vice-Chancellor Professor Graham Upton Conservatoire Principal, Professor David Roberts, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Dean for the Faculty of Arts, Design and Media and Conservatoire Principal Professor Julian Lloyd Webber.

On his arrival HRH was led into the Recital Hall where he enjoyed a performance from the Conservatoire’s brass band, before talking with students about their studies and future careers.

The Earl was formally named as the institution’s first Royal Patron last year, reflecting his strong interest in the arts in both his public and personal life.

Birmingham Conservatoire Principal Professor Julian Lloyd Webber said: “It was fantastic to welcome The Earl of Wessex through our doors again and to give him the chance to see our students perform.

“All of us at the Conservatoire are extremely grateful to His Royal Highness for being such a caring and active Royal Patron.

“As our wonderful new building is nearly completed this was the perfect opportunity for us to show him  around the new facility in Eastside and showcase the state-of-the-art facilities that will make our new home a Conservatoire fit for the digital age.”

Part of Birmingham City University and with a history dating back to 1859, the Conservatoire is one of the leading music academies in the country.

Internationally renowned cellist Professor Julian Lloyd Webber took up the role of its Principal in 2015.

The new Conservatoire, which is being built by Galliford Try, will be equipped with more than 70 music practice rooms for musicians and will also be home to Birmingham’s only dedicated jazz venue.

The new £57 million home for Birmingham Conservatoire is being built alongside Millennium Point, adjacent to Jennens Road in Eastside. The development is being taken forward in partnership with Millennium Point and Birmingham City Council.

British painter William Turner is regarded as one of the fathers of Rhine romanticism. Today, his paintings are still ambassadors for the Middle Rhine Valley, which, with its high density of castles, sloped vineyards and the various localities on the narrow banks, has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Yet, Rhineland-Palatinate has so much more to offer: Moselle romanticism certainly has as many benefits as 'Father Rhine' – one more reason to introduce the popular Moselle-Saar holiday region.

The Moselle – home to one of the most photographed castles in Germany Nostalgics from the Moselle region look at the DM500 note they may still possess melancholically. However, this is not only due to its former nominal value. Rather, they miss the vignette of the impressive Eltz Castle, which they were so proud of. Located in a side valley of the Moselle, Eltz Castle is reminiscent of Sleeping Beauty's castle to many a visitor in the area. The stone and timber-frame structure, still in perfect condition, is a source of fascination, especially since it has never been destroyed. The castle has been the family estate of the Counts of Eltz for centuries. Many visitors consider it the Neuschwanstein Castle of Rhineland-Palatinate.

In a bid to help those who have been affected by the Manchester bombings, TOA taxis have raised just over £2000. Half the amount was raised by collecting donations from every black cab driver on the ranks in Birmingham City Centre and Birmingham International Airport. The other half of the money has been kindly donated directly by TOA Taxis, matching the total amount collected by all of the black cabs in Birmingham.

On May 22^nd 2017, a suicide bomber detonated an explosive device at Manchester Arena following a concert by American singer Ariana Grande. The blast killed 22 victims and left 116 individuals injured. The deceased include 10 people under the age of 20, the youngest an eight-year-old girl.

The whole nation has been shocked by the attack and communities are coming together to support those affected by the dreadful event. Birmingham based taxi firm, TOA Taxis, have been doing their best to collect as much money as they can for the victims and families of those who were killed or were injured. Ram Singh, TOA taxi driver and member of the TOA board of management, has been leading the collection and has been taking time out of his day to walk down the ranks throughout the City and Birmingham International Airport, gathering funds with TOA staff from all black cab drivers to raise as much money as possible in support of the devastating aftermath of the attack.

TOA first formed in 1961, starting initially with circa 25 cabs. The company now boast an impressive 380 cabs, covering the whole of Birmingham.

Imran Akram, Secretary at TOA Taxis, comments: “The Manchester cabbies did a valiant job in taking people from the stadium home for free. This is the least we could do to support the victims of the tragedy.”

To celebrate the 5th anniversary of Pop In The City, Geneva will be hosting the first unisex edition of the urban adventure race on 7th October 2017. Traditionally, this race has been exclusively for women, but with popularity growing at an exponential rate, event organisers couldn't resist inviting men to join in the fun as well!

Having been voted against Lisbon and Toulouse in by previous 'Pop In' participants, Europe's leading city break destination is set to offer a fantastic location for this special edition of the urban adventure race. Participants will have to complete a range of Genevan inspired challenges dotted around the city which guarantees to push people to their limits, whilst creating an exciting and rewarding experience. Challenges will include mastering the workings of a clock, rafting along the Rhone and negotiating peace at the UN.

Staff and volunteers at Galton Valley Pumping station in Smethwick will celebrate the building's 125^th anniversary with a free family and community fun day next month.

The wildlife themed event is on Saturday 8 July between 10am and 3pm and will be at the station itself and further down the canal.

Jane Hanney, Sandwell's museum services manager, said: “Staff from Dudley Zoo will be at the event with some of their smallest animals, as well as representatives of the RSPB and Birmingham and Black Country wildlife trust with information and activities to get involved with.

“There will be a heritage boat and an arty and crafty boat with loads to have a go at. Visitors can also enjoy the live music, craft activities and trails along the canal,” she added.

"There is something for all ages and a great opportunity to take a walk along the Galton Valley canal and spot the wildlife and nature."

Councillor Richard Marshall, cabinet member for leisure, said: “The Galton Valley pumping station  is a truly historic building and was built to regulate water levels between the old and new mainline canals.

“It is wonderful that after 125 years visitors can get along and learn about life on the canals and how they were built and played such a big part in the industrial development of the area.”

The building is opened once a month staffed by our brilliant volunteers who help Sandwell Museums look after this building.

Hundreds of pupils from across Wolverhampton took part in a spectacular musical performance in Queen Square.

Around 500 children from 16 primary and special schools in the City joined the free concert, performing songs in a wide range of styles and traditions led by Paul Wilcox from Wolverhampton Music Education Hub.

The performance marked the culmination of a six-month project organised and delivered by Wolverhampton Music Service. Teachers from schools around Wolverhampton took part in regular workshops, learning songs which they could subsequently teach in their own schools in preparation for the performance.

Sarah Tulley, Wolverhampton Music Service Assistant Headteacher, said: “The concert was an enormous success. There was an amazing atmosphere as the children sang and there was even some audience participation.

“The weather was kind this year, so the children only wore waterproof ponchos for their performance of ‘Singin’ in the Rain’, unlike last year when there were downpours.

“The children really enjoyed themselves and were a huge credit to their schools. Wolverhampton is very proud of them.”

She added that Wolverhampton Music Service plans to repeat the event again next year.

Claire Darke, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, said: “This performance demonstrated once again just how talented our children and young people are, and I would like to say a huge well done to everyone involved.”

Wolverhampton Music Service provides tuition and musical opportunities for youngsters from schools across the city, including the chance to perform with its flagship groups, Wolverhampton Youth Orchestra and Wolverhampton Youth Wind Orchestra.

City of Wolverhampton Council was crowned Council of the Year at the ‘Oscars of local government’ and also scooped three other awards at a ceremony in London.

The council was the star of the show at the Municipal Journal (MJ) Awards held at London’s Hilton Park Lane Hotel and hosted by television star Joanna Lumley.

The MJ Awards are open to all councils across the country and are judged by a panel of leading experts.

This year City of Wolverhampton Council was a finalist in seven out of the 14 categories – which was more than any other council.

As well as winning the top accolade of Council of the Year, City of Wolverhampton Council also took home Most Improved Council, Senior Leadership Team of the Year and Excellence in Governance and Scrutiny.

It was also highly commended in the Impact and Learning in Children’s Services category.

Winning four awards is believed to be a record.

Heather Jameson, Editor of the MJ, said: “Judges praised City of Wolverhampton Council for delivering consistently excellent services across all key areas and the council was described as an outstanding example of modern local government where the resident is at the heart of sound commercial decision-making.

“It was a truly fabulous night and congratulations to all our winners and particularly City of Wolverhampton.”

City of Wolverhampton Council leader Cllr Roger Lawrence said that the outstanding success was independent recognition of the transformation of the authority over recent years.

He added: “Receiving these four fantastic accolades is a testament to the hard work we’ve invested into putting our residents at the heart of all we do, improving services and making our city a rising star within the local government world.

“I am delighted that we took home the top prize of the night, ‘Local Authority of the Year’ after being runner up last year.

“It shows the huge strides we have made on our transformation journey to become a confident, capable council. – and I would like to thank all those involved for helping make this possible.”

Managing director Keith Ireland said: “To be finalist in seven of the 14 categories and win four of those awards is absolutely fantastic. This is a real achievement for the city council, its residents. employees, councillors and partners.”

Spectators will line the Canals of Birmingham this Saturday as the 18^th annual Brindleyplace Dragonboat Race sponsored by Deutsche Bank returns to the City with a record-breaking target of raising £100,000 for Birmingham based blood cancer charity, Cure Leukaemia.

Teams from across the region including Nandos, Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, GVA, West Midlands Combined Authorities, Siamais, Kind Group, Colliers International, The ICC, Jaguar Land Rover, Middleton Foods, Genting Casino, Harvey Nash and not forgetting the event sponsors Deutsche Bank, will battle it out in fancy dress to find out who will be crowned Dragonboat Champions!

The monumental target of £100,000 has been set to help fund 10% of Cure Leukaemia’s £1million Centre Appeal to fully fund the expansion of the Centre for Clinical Haematology at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham. Work started on the transformational £3.2m project last month and when complete, the capacity of the globally significant Centre will be doubled meaning double the number of patients treated and hopefully more lives saved, just like that of 28-year-old Elizabeth Dean from Birmingham.

Back in 2014, Lizzie was happily enjoying life.

She had a successful job as a mechanical engineer and had recently moved in with her boyfriend Phil. Lizzie had been suffering from tonsillitis and after a visit to her GP, was prescribed antibiotics. The antibiotics cleared the tonsillitis but Lizzie continued to feel ill, tired and was suffering from a high heart rate. After phoning the NHS helpline who were alarmed by her high heart rate, Lizzie was referred to A&E.

The next morning, as Lizzie sat in the waiting area, she found herself too ill to walk and as her name was called to go through to triage, she stood up and passed out immediately.

She was taken up to the Ward, before blood tests revealed she had Acute Myeloid Leukaemia and her course of treatment started that very day.

Lizzie said, “After being diagnosed, I lay on the bed with my partner sat next to me and it dawned on me that in the snap of my fingers, I had gone from being normal to being ill. Everything had changed.”

“When the Doctor told me I had blood cancer, my first question was – am I going to have a normal life?”

“She simply replied, I don’t know.”

“I accepted it pretty fast. I told myself, it is what it is and being sad and upset isn’t going to change it. I made that decision very early on. Not to be sad, not to cry and to be as happy as I can each day. That way it would be better for me and everyone visiting me.”

“Working as a mechanical engineer, I fix things. And I told myself if I did exactly what the Doctors told me, then they would fix me too.”

After the first four cycles of treatment, Lizzie was told she was in remission and went back to work.

Just a few months later, she then received the dreaded news that her cancer had returned and shortly after, she underwent a bone marrow transplant and once again went in to remission.

Despite being in remission, Lizzie continued to suffer from side effects and her vision became blurry due to a leukaemic mass behind her optic nerve. The leukaemia had returned for the second time and she lost the sight in her eye as a result.

She was told that there was nothing more they could do for her and she had just months to live.

Despite hearing this, Lizzie was placed on a world first clinical trial (VIOLA), run by the team of Doctors and Nurses at the Centre for Clinical Haematology, Birmingham.

She said, “I wouldn’t be alive now without the Centre for Clinical Haematology and the fact that I was referred to Birmingham for my bone marrow transplant after the first relapse.”

“The Centre is always crowded and the new expansion is so important. By doubling the capacity, they can treat more patients and hopefully keep more people alive, just like they’ve done for me. If the nurses at the Centre weren’t funded by Cure Leukaemia, they wouldn’t be able to carry out these life-saving trials and treat the patients.”

Lizzie kindly agreed to feature in Cure Leukaemia’s £1m Centre Appeal brochure to share her story.

“I feel like I’m helping a little bit” she said.

“People are doing incredible things for Cure Leukaemia - cycling, running, triathlons and all those taking part in the Dragonboat Race this Saturday. I can’t do any of that as I’m not strong enough but if I can help in this little way (by sharing my story), then it’s a fantastic way to raise funds for the Doctors and Nurses who helped me since my diagnosis three years ago.”

The first race begins at 11am with the final taking place at 16.15pm. There will be a host of family activities taking part in Brindleyplace including a children’s fancy dress competition, arts and crafts market, face painting, Punch and Judy show and so much more. Spectators are being invited to wear red to turn Birmingham a sea of red and all races will be broadcast LIVE on a giant screen in the square thanks to Elonex Outdoor Media.