Community News

Pregnant women and new mums are being invited to share their views on local maternity services.

The NHS in the Black Country is asking people to get involved in shaping local maternity services by attending a ‘Whose Shoes?’ listening workshop in Wolverhampton on Tuesday 17 July.

It aims to understand what women and their families want and need at every stage of their maternity journey.

The workshop, taking place at Grand Station, Sun Street, Wolverhampton, from 10am-2pm, is the latest in a series of events across the region.

Sally Roberts, Chief Nurse for the Black Country Local Maternity System, said: “These workshops give us a fantastic opportunity to hear the views of women and their families using maternity services.

“It also allows us to work with women and families to ensure the services we offer women during and after their pregnancy are safer and more personalised.

“Working together across the Black Country we want women and families to feel supported and listened to, ensuring the care they need before, during and after pregnancy is tailored to their needs, and is safe and delivered in line with their individual birth plan.”

Councillor Hazel Malcolm, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: “I would urge anyone who has experiences of maternity services in Wolverhampton to share their views by taking part in this workshop, and help ensure that families get the very best experience on their maternity journey.”

Besotted pet owners admit their dog is ‘part of the family’ – with almost 50 per cent of the pooches in West Midlands even having their own spot on the sofa, a study has found.

A poll of 2,000 dog owners nationwide revealed just how much love there is for the family pet with six in 10 admitting they often see them as being like one of the children.

Over 60 per cent of dog owners in West Midlands allow their pooch to sleep on their bed while over 20 per cent in this region have turned down nights with friends because they can’t bear to leave their dog at home alone.

It also emerged having pictures of your pet on display in your home is the biggest sign they are part of the family, along with giving them a nickname, and celebrating their birthday.

Other indicators include having their image as the screen saver on your phone, including them in family Christmas photos and only going to dog-friendly pubs and restaurants so they can go with you.

Incredibly, in the event of a breakup, over 40 per cent of people in the West Midlands would be more devastated by losing custody of their dog than the house they live in.

Over half of doggy-devotees in West Midlands say hello to their dog first after getting home at the end of the day, before their partner.

Gemma Cunningham, Brand Manager at Lintbells, manufacturers of premium natural supplements for dogs cats and horses, which commissioned the research, said: “It doesn’t take long for a furry companion to really feel like one of the family.

“In fact, our research found it takes most owners in the West Midlands just around two weeks of dog ownership before their four-legged friend feels like part of the family.

“And once a pet feels like part of the family, there’s a huge temptation to treat it as often as you can, as a way of showing your love.

“We all want what’s best for our loved ones and the same goes for our pet.”

The study found 40 per cent of those in the West Midlands have planned a holiday specifically with their canine’s enjoyment in mind, while almost 30 per cent have bought their dog a personalised present after returning from a holiday or trip away.

And almost 40 per cent of owners in the West Midlands have even avoided going on holiday entirely because it would have meant them being away from their beloved pet.

Nearly half of all pooches in the country even have their own spot on the sofa, forcing humans to get up and move if they dare settle down on it.

And almost 30 per cent of respondents in West Midlands have had to tell guests not to sit on a particular spot on the sofa – in case the dog fancies a sit down.

Almost 12 per cent of pet owners in the West Midlands even admit to taking their dog to the groomers more often than they go to the hairdressers themselves, while almost 45 per cent of them deem their pet has a healthier diet than them.

Over 50 per cent of owners in the West Midlands even let their dog sit at or beside the dinner table at mealtimes.

Over one in four have even marked their pet’s birthday with a doggie cake or presents. And 14 per cent admit to often spending more of their spare cash on their dog than they do on themselves.

Gemma added: “Dog’s health and wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do and this research truly cements this. With so many pet owners treating their furry friends as a member of the family it is important to us to offer the highest level of care we can to ensure they live a happy and healthy life whatever their age, with our wide range of health supplements.”

Alzheimer’s Society staff, supporters, volunteers and people affected by dementia have united and taken action at Birmingham and Solihull train stations as part of Dementia Action Week.

Staff from the dementia charity were raising awareness about dementia at the stations across the week, 21 May – 27 May. They were challenging members of the public to take action to support people affected by dementia in the West Midlands. The charity held a presence at the stations for the second year running.

Janice Le Tellier, Operations Manager at Alzheimer’s Society in Birmingham and Solihull said: “It’s been a busy week and a fresh opportunity to raise awareness about dementia for the services we provide.”

Staff spoke with passengers and discussed the plight of people living with dementia. They also spoke about the support available for those living with the condition in the UK. The team distributed Dementia Awareness Stickers to those wishing to show support. These stickers proceeded to travel across the country via Britain’s rail network. The staff received a positive reception and around 200 stickers were distributed to passengers.

Liam Cortintias from Worcester stated that his mum had dementia and was cared for in a home. He said: “Keep up the good work”.

The NHS estimates that there are 12,595 people over-65 living with dementia in Birmingham and Solihull. There are 850,000 people living with dementia in the UK and one person develops dementia every three minutes

This year the dementia charity asked people to come together to unite against dementia by taking actions, big or small, to improve the everyday lives of people affected by dementia.

voestalpine Metsec plc has appointed a new apprentice, Abbiegail Hill, as part of its commitment to bridging the skills gap and encouraging females to consider engineering and manufacturing roles.

Stephen Giles, environmental, safety and training manager at Metsec, said: “We recognise the importance of diversity in the construction industry and therefore it is important that UK engineering, construction and manufacturing companies seek female talent going forward and ensure the next generation is fully aware of the exciting opportunities available.

“Metsec is taking proactive steps to bring more women into the industry and we regularly attend local schools to initiate interest and discuss the options surrounding our work experience placements.”

Employed within the structural design department, Hill is the second female in recent months to be taken on at an advanced level. The scheme offers a fast-track approach and requires the apprentice to attend college four days a week with the remaining day spent on the job for the first six months of the course.

The student then spends the rest of the course in full-time employment as an apprentice. This approach provides students with the relevant technical knowledge to excel when working on site and to achieve the NVQ Level 3 qualification more quickly in comparison to other schemes.

At the end of an apprentice’s first six months, Metsec then recruits another student while allowing the current apprentice to move into a full-time position and gain hands-on experience.

Metsec’s award-winning training scheme has seen more than 100 engineering apprentices join the company over the last two decades and provides the next generation with a proven route to development.

Metsec apprentices have the opportunity to experience every aspect of the business and have access to the latest technology in the company’s state-of-the-art facility.

Giles continued: “Apprenticeships are a key part of Metsec’s culture as they bring fresh ideas and ensure we’re a strong competitive force in the market, and we welcome Abbiegail to the team. She is now one of three apprentices working towards a career in our structural design department, with each student having their own specialism at the end of their course.

“The advanced apprenticeship scheme that we offer is a great way for students to get hands-on experience and make a direct impact on the company at a rate that suits each learner.

“Looking ahead, we aim to take on at least one apprentice every six months to ensure there is a continual flow of young engineers entering the industry. This will not only futureproof our business but will help bridge the ongoing skills gap.”

Hundreds of pupils from across Wolverhampton are tuning up for a spectacular musical performance in Queen Square next month.

Around 300 children from 12 primary and special schools will be taking part in the annual concert – now in its third year – and performing songs in a wide range of styles and traditions.

The performance marks the culmination of a six-month project organised and delivered by Wolverhampton Music Service and Wolverhampton Music Education Hub. It saw teachers from schools around Wolverhampton take part in regular workshops at the Music Service where they learned songs which they could subsequently teach in their own schools.

The concert takes place on Tuesday 12 June, 2018, from 11.30am-12.30pm. Pupils will be joined by a band from the Music Service and led by Paul Wilcox from the Music Education Hub.

Councillor Lynne Moran, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, said: “Music is an important part of a young person's education, and our Music Service provides quality teaching for children and young people across Wolverhampton.

“This is an excellent opportunity for the pupils to show off their talents, and I am sure they will put on a fantastic show which will make their parents and teachers incredibly proud. I’d encourage as many people as possible to come along and cheer them on.”

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. To find out more, please visit www.wmsonline.org.uk.

The Alzheimer's Society roadshow is coming to Wolverhampton this week – giving people the chance to find out more about living with dementia.

The roadshow will be at Sainsbury’s Wednesfield, Rookery Street, tomorrow (Wednesday 30 May) from 10am-4pm, Bilston Market on Thursday (31 May) from 9.30am-3pm, and Queen Square, Wolverhampton, on Friday (1 June) from 10am-4pm. For more information, please visit www.alzheimers.org.uk/roadshow.

Lee Allen, Service Manager for the Alzheimer's Society in the West Midlands, said: "We'll be here to talk to anyone who has questions about dementia, and whatever your relationship to dementia, there are lots of ways the roadshow can help.

“For example, if you are worried about your memory or that of a loved one and want expert advice, if you or a loved one have been newly diagnosed and you’re looking for more information and support, or if you have a general interest in dementia and want to learn more about how you can help or how to reduce your risk.

“We can also put you in contact with service providers and give you information booklets to take away.”

Councillor Sandra Samuels OBE, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Adult Services, said: "Wolverhampton is a Dementia Friendly Community and so we are very pleased to be hosting this roadshow.

“This is an important opportunity for people living with dementia, and their families and carers, to speak to experts from the Alzheimer's Society about this debilitating condition, and to find out more about the help and support available to them here in Wolverhampton."

For more information about dementia services in Wolverhampton, please visit www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/dementia; for help and advice, please call the Alzheimer's Society's National Dementia Helpline on 0300 222 1122.

Next month, popular poet Mandy Ross will lead a morning of poetry and song, entertaining people living with dementia with gentle humour and activities.

The event, at East Park Library on Monday 11 June from 10am-noon, is organised by Poetry on Loan, Wolverhampton's library service and the Carer Support Team, and people will also be able to find out more about the Memory Matters service. For more details and to book a place, please contact Melinder Kaur at the Carer Support Team on 01902 553429 or via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Trading Standards officers in Wolverhampton will be advising parents and carers on how to protect children from potential dangers around the home.

Child Safety Week, managed by Child Accident Prevention Trust, runs from Monday 4 June until Sunday 10 June to raise awareness of the risks of child accidents and how they can be prevented.

The City of Wolverhampton Council’s Trading Standards team will be visiting various locations throughout the city during the week, sharing information and top tips on all aspects of child safety and handing out action packs to parents and carers.

Children will be able to get their hands on their own activity packs, as well as meeting ‘Trading Standards Ted’ and taking away a sticker and a fridge magnet to remember him by.

The team will be highlighting the risks posed by looped blind and window cords, which can lead to strangulation and the danger presented by button cell batteries found in toys, musical books, key fobs and other small electronic devices which can cause serious injuries and put lives at risk.

Trading Standards officers will be visiting WV Active Central on Monday 4 June, The Toddle Waddle Walk at West Park on Tuesday 5 June, McDonalds at Dudley Street on Wednesday 6^th June, Bentley Bridge Swimming & Fitness on Thursday the 7^th June, Asda on Jack Hayward Way on Friday 8th June and Teddy Edwards Toddler Group in Wednesfield on Tuesday 12^th June.

Brits are becoming ever more adventurous when it comes to barbecues - rustling up ostrich steak, a full English and even chicken curry over the coals.

A roast dinner, spag bol and rabbit stew are all dishes Brits say they have made in the open.

We even love to fire up the barbie in winter, in a downpour, by the side of the road or even in a car park.

Thirty-four per cent of barbecue lovers in the West Midlands say they carry on cooking through the rain.

Forty-one per cent of those in the West Midlands have already hosted or attended a BBQ in 2018 and 33% would rather buy a new barbie than have to clean one.

More than one in five (21%) of Brits surveyed attended our first barbie of 2018 in January, 35% of us are happy to carry on cooking in the rain while 12% of us have chowed down in a car park.

On average Brits spend £10.64 per person while hosting a BBQ and reckon they cater for around six more guests than actually attend.

The survey for Stokes Sauces by Atomik Research showed 48% of Brits say sausages are their favourite BBQ food, followed by beef burgers (45%), and chicken kebabs (29%).

Tomato sauce is the nation’s favourite, with 39% favouring ketchup followed by BBQ sauce (33%), mayonnaise (32%) and burger relish (27%).

Nearly half (48%) of Brits have hosted or attended a barbecue this year, with a massive 85% of Millennials aged 25-34 having been to one.

Thirty-nine per cent of Millennials went to a barbie in January in the depths of winter – and nearly half (45%) of Millennials have had a BBQ for breakfast.

Forty-one per cent of Brits surveyed said their top side dish is a mixed salad, followed by coleslaw (38%) and potato salad (37%).

But barbecue-going Brits turn up their noses at couscous, with just 14% preferring it as a side dish and only 16% going for grilled halloumi.

When asked what unusual dishes they had cooked on the BBQ, Brits said they had made fish and chips, ostrich, chicken curry, roast dinner, a full English, mashed potato, rabbit stew, spaghetti Bolognese, pizza, baked bananas, stir fry, a cake and porridge.

Fourteen per cent say they have attended a barbecue outside their office, 14% have cooked up at the roadside and 12% in a car park.

Ms. Lauryn Hill has announced the addition of 10 European dates to her newly announced World Tour, celebrating twenty years of her anthemic debut solo album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. The GRAMMY® Award-winning artist will kick off the European leg of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill 20th Anniversary Tour this winter in Brussels, before the tour continues through, France, UK, Ireland, Holland, Denmark before culminating in Sweden on 10^th December.

More details will be announced soon with the full line up with Special Guest performers at each show on the tour.

Ms. Hill uses her platform to raise money and awareness for frontline charity initiatives through touring.  A portion of the ticket sales go towards the MLH Fund, which directly contributes support for education, health, agriculture, technology, and community based businesses and development initiatives throughout the Diaspora. Your contribution will be put to use through donations made from ticket sales to support community building worldwide. See the full list of charities below.

Of the tour Ms. Hill notes, “This album chronicled an intimate piece of my young existence. It was the summation of most, if not all, of my most hopeful and positive emotions experienced to that date. I loved and believed deeply in my community's ability to both love and heal itself provided it received the right amount of support and encouragement. Our world today, both complex and changing, is in need of the balance between moral fortitude and cathartic expression. I hope the love and energy that permeated this work can continue to inspire change with Love and optimism at the helm.”

Multi-platinum artist Ms. Lauryn Hill rose to prominence with The Fugees and took the world by storm two decades ago as a solo artist with The Miseducation of Ms. Lauryn Hill. Singles including “Doo Wop (That Thing)” and “Everything Is Everything” catapulted her to superstardom, ultimately lauding her with ten GRAMMY® nominations and five GRAMMY® Award wins.

Fascinating finds are lined up at the next antiques fair being held at City of Wolverhampton's historic Bantock House Museum and Park.

The beautiful house and gardens, off Finchfield Road, is hosting the latest monthly antiques and collectors fair on Sunday, June 3.

Bargain hunters will find a variety of traders offering both affordable and quality items including furniture, silver, jewellery, militaria, and high-quality ceramics, at the antiques fair.

It runs from 9am to 3.30pm and the entrance fee is £1.50, under 16s go free.

There is free parking available, refreshments at the Courtyard Café, and the chance to look around Bantock House and its gardens.

Councillor John Reynolds, City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for City Economy, said: “The antiques fair has proved very popular at the site and seen hundreds of visitors in attendance each month.

“It is held in a wonderful location and people travel from far and wide to visit the fairs, the museum and the beautiful gardens, where lunch can also be enjoyed in the Courtyard Café. It is a very pleasant way to spend a little time on a Sunday and well worth a visit.

“I encourage everyone who has an interest in antiques to come along and see what gems they can find.”

The Antiques Fairs take place on the first Sunday of every month.

Hundreds of people have become Dementia Friends and are attending special events to mark Dementia Action Week in Wolverhampton.

They included a very well attended information and advice event at the Bob Jones Community Hub yesterday morning (Tuesday), where more than 20 local service providers showcased the support on offer to people living with dementia and their carers.

Following that, Wolverhampton’s Grand Theatre hosted a workshop where more than 120 people including healthcare professionals and members of the public learned more about what it is like to live with dementia and then turned that understanding into action by becoming a Dementia Friend.

Michelle Monnes Thomas, from FBC Manby Bowdler, who led the workshop with Lee Allen from the Alzheimer’s Society, said: "It was so inspiring to see so many members of the public from all different backgrounds and walks of life come together to learn more about dementia and interact with each other and share their experiences.

“It was a pleasure to deliver the session and to share my passion for dementia and to create 120 Dementia Friends who I hope will wear their badges with pride."

BBC WM's Sunny and Shay broadcast their afternoon show live from the session, interviewing representatives from a number of local organisations including the City of Wolverhampton Council.

BBC WM also appealed for people affected by dementia in any way – whether they are living with dementia, offer care and support for someone with the condition, or know someone who is – to join its new Dementia Choir. After six, weekly rehearsals, the choir will perform at Birmingham Symphony Hall on Monday 9 July; to get involved, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Tuesday's events were two of more than a dozen taking place throughout the week.

Tomorrow (Thursday 24 May), special Walking for Health walks and exercise classes is taking place at Wednesfield Community Hub, Well Lane, from 10am-3pm, FBC Mandy Bowdler hosts a craft morning with Fiddle Fingers to create quilts at its offices on George Street, Snow Hill, from 10am-2pm, the Black Country Partnership Foundation Trust holds an information session and activities at Brooklands Health Centre, Brooklands Parade, from 10am-3pm, while Memory Matters will meet shoppers at Sainsbury's St Marks from 10am-2pm to raise awareness of memory concerns and share tips about living better with a diagnosis of dementia.

On Friday, Wolverhampton Police and the City of Wolverhampton Council's Trading Standards team will raise awareness of scams – and how people can prevent themselves from falling victim to them – at Waitrose, Penn Road, from 10.30am-3pm, St Aiden's Church on Mount Road in Penn holds a Beetle Drive from 2pm-4pm and members of the Alzheimer’s Society are on Gulshan Radio to raise awareness of dementia from 1.30pm.

On Saturday, St Aiden's Church hosts a Posh Afternoon Tea from 2pm-5pm, and on Sunday the Church of the Epiphany in Oxley holds a dementia friendly service starting at 10.45am.

Meanwhile, Light House Cinema on Fryer Street is offering carers and the person they care for discounted tickets to see the films Edie and That Good Night between 25 May and 31 May, with tickets priced at just £2.50.

A little further ahead, popular poet Mandy Ross will lead a morning of poetry and song, entertaining people living with dementia with gentle humour and activities, at East Park Library on Monday 11 June from 10am-noon. This event is organised by Poetry on Loan, Wolverhampton's library service and the Carer Support Team, and people will also be able to find out more about the Memory Matters service.

Councillor Sandra Samuels OBE, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Adult Services, said: "Wolverhampton is a Dementia Friendly Community and naturally we are very pleased to be hosting such an extensive programme of events and activities to mark Dementia Action Week.

“I would like to thank everyone who took part in the two events yesterday, both of which were hugely successful, and encourage people to take part in some of the remaining activities which are planned over the next few days."

The wide-ranging programme was organised by Wolverhampton Dementia Action Alliance, and chair Jon Crockett said: “The City of Wolverhampton Council and Alzheimer’s Society are great supporters of Wolverhampton Dementia Action Alliance and this week of activities would not have happened without them.

“The Alliance is about individuals, organisations, businesses all doing something to support people with dementia to live full, active lives, and I would like to thank everyone for their support in making sure Wolverhampton is leading the way in being a dementia friendly community.”

Executives from Omni Hotels & Resorts along with Governor Charlie Baker, Mayor Martin J. Walsh, the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) and New Boston Hospitality, broke ground yesterday on the highly anticipated Omni Boston Seaport Hotel. The city’s fourth largest hotel will reflect the rich history of the city of Boston while providing guests with the ultimate Omni experience.

“This project’s hotel, retail, restaurant and outdoor space is a welcome addition to Boston’s Seaport District and will lead to expanded economic opportunities for many businesses within the Commonwealth,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Our administration looks forward to continuing to work together with partners at the local level and in the private sector to support economic development in communities across Massachusetts.”

National hotel leader Omni Hotels & Resorts, along with a team of highly seasoned, local real estate professionals from New Boston Hospitality, were designated by Massport in 2017 to develop the state-of-the-art hotel. The team committed from the outset to include equity participation from an unprecedented level of minority and women-owned investors and businesses.

Set to open in late 2020 on the two-acre parcel of Massport-owned land at the corner of Summer and D Streets, the Omni Boston Seaport Hotel will be a catalyst to the development in the Seaport District. The hotel will feature 1,055 finely appointed guest rooms inclusive of 52 suites that will top out at 21 floors. Select suites will feature views of the Boston Harbor.

“This is more than just a groundbreaking, it’s a celebration of the diversity and inclusion this project represents from its design, to its contracting, to its nonprofit partners,” said Mayor Walsh. “The Omni Boston Seaport Hotel is a welcome addition to our city, providing better public access to the waterfront, improving walkability to the area and investing in our workforce. I look forward to seeing the vision for this hotel come to life, for the benefit of Boston’s residents and visitors alike.”

“Boston is a premier destination and we are incredibly excited to be a part of the city’s continued evolution – especially in the Seaport District,” said Peter Strebel, president of Omni Hotels & Resorts. “We look forward to working together with Massport, New Boston Hospitality, Governor Baker and Mayor Walsh to establish the Omni Boston Seaport Hotel as an unforgettable destination for years to come.”

In addition, six local non-profit organizations will receive a portion of the hotel’s profits, including The Edgerley Family South Boston Clubhouse of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston, The South Boston Community Health Center, Julie’s Family Learning Center, Ladies Involved in Putting a Stop To Inner-City Killing (LIPSTICK), The Daniel Marr Boys and Girls Club of Dorchester and the Building Pathways Program, a pre-apprenticeship program that provides construction career opportunities to low-income Boston residents.

“This groundbreaking not only signifies the strong economic progress happening in the city of Boston, but also the fundamental building blocks of opportunity we are creating for our workforce,” said Massport CEO Thomas P. Glynn. “We are also excited to see that the chance we took of adding a diversity criteria has paid dividends, and the outcome so far has been outstanding. We look forward to further strengthening our partnership with Omni Hotels as we watch this project evolve into a key destination for visitors from across the state and country.”

The $550 million project is estimated to create 1,100 construction jobs and between 700 – 1,000 permanent jobs. “This is a multifaceted groundbreaking,” stated Brian Fallon, President of TDC Development Group, a division of The Davis Companies. “It’s an unprecedented project that will transform South Boston’s already thriving convention and tourism business by adding over 1,000 hotel rooms and provide a professional hospitality training institute to support industry career growth. We also hope that it will set a precedent for minority and women-owned business enterprise participation in real estate development.”

The Omni Boston Seaport Hotel will become a part of Omni’s robust, and growing, Convention Center Collection, which features signature properties in Atlanta, Louisville, Dallas, Fort Worth and Nashville. Upon opening, it will be the largest hotel in Omni’s portfolio.

It was 55 years ago on 5 July 1963 that The Beatles made their third and final appearance at the tiny and now sadly burnt down Ritz Ballroom next door to the Hare & Hounds in Kings Heath. And it was 50 years ago this year that The Beatles released the seminal double White Album containing the iconic song Revolution. In between times they had become a global phenomenon!

Now King's Heath Walk Of Fame are delighted to present a very special show to celebrate this unique double anniversary starring John Lennon's sister's favourite tribute band The Mersey Beatles at the award winning Hare & Hounds on Sunday 10 June.

Described by the British Beatles Fan Club as 'the Best Beatles tribute band', The Mersey Beatles were all born and grew up in Liverpool. They were the resident band at the legendary Cavern Club for over 10 years and now regularly tour throughout the world. They have just returned from an 11 date sold out American tour and will later this year embark on a major UK Get Back tour that will end at Newcastle's O2 Arena.

Steven Howard who plays Paul McCartney in The Mersey Beatles said "We are delighted to be returning to the Hare and Hounds on June 10^th for the double celebration marking the 55^th anniversary of The Beatles 3^rd and  final performance in Kings Heath and the 50^th anniversary of The Beatles “White album”.

It's always a great night at The Hare and Hounds purpose built music venue. It is a great chance to get up close to the band in this small but perfectly formed setting. We always sell the venue out and will be playing many lesser played songs from a seminal album so please don’t miss this rare chance to see them played live”.

Joe Flannery, Brian Epstein's assistant, said 'When I saw them in The Cavern they perfectly recreated the atmosphere that the original Beatles produced. It was like listening to The Beatles again'.

A British Beatles Fan Club review of a previous show said 'The quality of the music was superb with each song reproduced in the original key with spot-on harmonies and perfect guitar solos that had the audience marvelling at the sheer quality of the talent on view'.

Doors open at 7 pm and the band will be on stage at 7.45 pm

Bob Prew and Ken Whittaker, joint organisers of the local charity King's Heath Walk Of Fame said, "Beatlemania is set to return to King's Heath on 10 June as we are expecting hundreds of Beatles fans from all over the country to descend on King's Heath for this unique double anniversary event. We are determined to continue to celebrate the huge musical legacy of the old Ritz Ballroom despite the indifference of the current owner and the City Council who seem happy to let the site remain a derelict eyesore. We are delighted that another four lads from Liverpool The Mersey Beatles will follow in the footsteps of the original Fab Four and perform in King's Heath. it promises to be a great concert. Tickets are already selling quickly and we would advise fans to make sure they buy their tickets early to avoid disappointment".

More details have been revealed about the events taking place in Wolverhampton as the City marks Carers Week next month.

Members of the City of Wolverhampton Council's Carer Support Team will be out and about from 11-15 June, 2018, offering help and advice to people who care for a loved one.

The extensive programme of activities begins on Monday 11 June with a special poetry session for people living with dementia and their carers courtesy of Poetry on Loan.

Popular poet Mandy Ross will lead a morning of poetry and song, engaging and entertaining with gentle humour and activities at East Park Library from 10am-noon. During the session, visitors will also be able to find out about the Memory Matters service, which seeks to raise awareness about memory concerns and about how people can live better with a diagnosis of dementia.

ACCI – the African Caribbean Community Initiative – will be holding its annual Carer’s Day of Celebration at the Heritage Centre, Clifford Street, on Tuesday 12 June from 10.30am-3pm, featuring guest speaker Dr Malcolm Philips from Hestia Housing and Support.

The Carer Support Team will be hosting an information event at Sainsbury's St Marks on Wednesday 13 June from 9.30am-2pm, while an information stand will be available at Central Library throughout the week. Carers can also enjoy a range of treatments at a relaxation event at Penn Library on Thursday 14 June from 10.30am-11.45am.

The Carers Week programme concludes with a celebration event at Bantock House Museum on Friday 15 June from 10.30am-2.30pm featuring a range of guest speakers, information and advice.

Experts from FBC Manby Bowdler will be on hand to speak about the care system, power of attorney and protecting assets, while carers can become Dementia Friends by completing a taking part in a special awareness session. There will be entertainment from Maggie O’Hara, while lunch and light refreshments will also be available.

Each event is free, though places for the Poetry on Loan, relaxation and celebration events are limited and should be booked in advance by calling Melinder Kaur on 01902 553429 or by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

In addition, Light House Cinema will be offering family carers discounted cinema tickets to mark Carers Week. Carers and the person they care for can enjoy Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom for just £2.50 each between 11 to 17 June on production of a valid Carers Emergency Card. For details, call 01902 716055.

Councillor Sandra Samuels OBE, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Adult Services, said: “Carers provide unpaid care and support to a family member or friend who has a disability, illness, mental health problem or who needs extra help as they grow older.

“Caring can be a hugely rewarding experience, but at the same time carers often find it challenging to take care of their own well-being.

"We estimate there are some 28,000 people in Wolverhampton who care for a friend or relative, and these events are an excellent opportunity to find out more about the help that is available to them as they carry out their vital role, and also enjoy a bit of well-deserved ‘me time’.”

Severn Trent has released its annual results, showing the company had another good year by putting customers at the heart of its business, delivering real value for money and offering the lowest average combined bills in Britain for the ninth year running.

The water company, that serves over 8 million customers across England and Wales, has also delivered on a range of things that matter most to customers, including reducing sewer flooding and serious pollutions, as well as reducing water quality complaints.

Liv Garfield, Severn Trent Chief Executive, said: “I’m delighted that we’re getting the balance right for customers between great value for money and great service.  We have the lowest average combined bills for the ninth year running, at less than £1 a day and we’re also helping more than 50,000 customers who need it most through a variety of initiatives.

“We’ve been able to deliver some significant improvements in the things our customers care most about - sewer flooding is down again, by 34%, and serious pollutions are down by 71%.  We’ve also reduced water quality complaints by a further 12%.  This means that on the whole, less customers are experiencing issues, which is just what we want.

“We’re really proud of these results which are testament to the hard work of my colleagues over the past year.”

Severn Trent also announced that it was operating more efficiently and had generated an extra £100m of savings, which it intends to invest back into the business to generate even better performance for its customers. The money will go towards a number of initiatives such as 20,000 extra pressure monitors in their network of pipes that mean that leaks and bursts can be spotted more quickly, and creating a new technical training academy, which will help to train and create the engineers and leaders of the future.

Liv added: “We’re really pleased with our strong performance this year, but we know there’s still more to do to.  We won’t stop striving to improve things even further for our customers to make sure they have wonderful water every time they turn on their tap.”