Community News

RSPCA officers were really concerned after receiving reports of a swan which had been beheaded in Warrington. But, they had a pleasant surprise when they arrived to find a plastic model which was broken at the neck!

An upset woman contact the animal welfare charity on February 22 after spotting the swan laid out on the gravel at Europa Boulevard in Westbrook.

RSPCA inspector Claire Fisher visited the scene and quickly realised all wasn’t as it first seemed…

“When the woman called us she said the bird was collapsed with the neck stretched out and that it couldn’t move,” Inspector Fisher said.

“She thought the swan had been hit by a car before collapsing on some gravel beside a pond.

“I met the site manager on Gemini Business Park and we soon realised no veterinary treatment would be necessary - as the bird was a plastic model!

“We can only guess that a driver had seen the swan from the road - which was some distance - where it could have easily been mistaken for a real bird!

“He arranged some emergency treatment for the beheaded statue - some silicone and a screw or two - before returning her to her mate!”

The RSPCA takes all complaints of animal cruelty seriously and looks into all reports. However, sometimes the charity does discover reports aren’t always quite what they may seem.

Inspector Fisher added: “We all had a laugh about this one and, to be honest, were just relieved there wasn’t a swan that had suffered an awful death.”

To report animal cruelty or a welfare concern to the RSPCA, call the charity’s 24-hour hotline on 0300 1234 999.

Commonwealth Day Message by Her Majesty The Queen, Head of the Commonwealth We all have reason to give thanks for the numerous ways in which our lives are enriched when we learn from others. Through exchanging ideas, and seeing life from other perspectives, we grow in understanding and work more collaboratively towards a common future. There is a very special value in the insights we gain through the Commonwealth connection; shared inheritances help us overcome difference so that diversity is a cause for celebration rather than division.

We shall see this in action at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting which takes place in the United Kingdom next month, bringing together young people, business and civil society from across the Commonwealth.

These gatherings are themselves fine examples of how consensus and commitment can help to create a future that is fairer, more secure, more prosperous and sustainable. Having enjoyed the warm hospitality of so many Commonwealth countries over the years, I look forward to the pleasure of welcoming the leaders of our family of 53 nations to my homes in London and Windsor.

Sport also contributes to building peace and development. The excitement and positive potential of friendly rivalry will be on display next month as we enjoy the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, Australia. Contributing to the success of the Games, alongside athletes and officials, will be thousands of volunteers.

Voluntary effort, by people working as individuals, in groups or through larger associations, is so often what shapes the Commonwealth and all our communities. By pledging to serve the common good in new ways, we can ensure that the Commonwealth continues to grow in scope and stature, to have an even greater impact on people’s lives, today, and for future generations.

Commonwealth Day Message by The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland QC, Commonwealth Secretary-General Never before in the history of our family of nations has there been such a remarkable season of gatherings as that heralded by Commonwealth Day 2018.

Over coming weeks at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting and associated forums, leaders and representatives of the people in all 53 of our member countries will assemble to work and plan together. We will share and learn from one another, and be motivated to ever greater heights of endeavour and achievement.

There will also be the Commonwealth Games, with compelling scenes of athletic prowess, tenacity and triumph. Huge new audiences worldwide will deepen in understanding of what the Commonwealth is, what it does, and how it brings positive change for the good of all.

An example of this is the Commonwealth Blue Charter currently being developed. By agreeing to protect the health of oceans and marine life, and to use the precious resources they yield in responsible and sustainable ways, we will be sharing more fairly the benefits they bestow, and preserving these for future generations.

Wherever we live – on island or coast, or inland where streams and rivers flow to the sea – our actions and the way we live affects life in the ocean. In turn, the health of the ocean affects our own wellbeing, our weather, our food, our trade and our prosperity. Industrial and domestic waste pollutes great rivers and their tributaries, or flows directly into the sea. Plastic and other toxic waste materials poison the ocean, which belongs to us all and is vital to our common future.

Just as we work together in the Commonwealth to preserve the health of the ocean, we cooperate in many other ways for the common good. Our member countries have committed to nurture and protect democracy, development and respect for diversity so that people of all communities can live safer and healthier lives, and share in the fruits of prosperity. This includes preventing greed and corruption, unfairness, or partisan discord from poisoning politics and public life.

We work together to achieve this by creating channels through which good ideas and clever ways of doing things flow from the governments and people of all our countries into a continually renewed and refreshed Commonwealth ocean of knowledge. It is an ecosystem of experience and expertise in which all give and all gain.

Through our ‘Faith in the Commonwealth’ project, we draw wisdom and insights from secular streams of thought, and from the many communities and traditions that are the sea of faith. Such resources and riches add to all that we celebrate on Commonwealth Day, and they are indeed treasures to be cherished and shared.

There are opportunities for each and every one of us as members of the worldwide Commonwealth family to become involved. With our fellow citizens, we live, learn, work and play in countries set in every continent and ocean – all 2.4 billion of us, representing a glorious spectrum of diversity and talent. It is by living and working for the good of one another, towards a common future, that we build our Commonwealth.

Veteran Army Lance Corporal and Invictus Games athlete, Clive Smith, is this week taking on a new sporting challenge.

The 38 year old has been selected for one of two Help for Heroes teams who will be taking part in an exhibition match at the first ever Wheelchair Rugby Quad Nations tournament.

Clive, from Wolverhampton, lost both of his legs above the knee in a blast in Afghanistan in 2010. Four years on he was part of the inaugural Invictus Games in London and also brought home a silver medal in wheelchair rugby from last year’s Games in Toronto.

“Since the Invictus Games I have been building on my upper body strength with resistance weight training at my local gym 3 times a week. I also attend training days with a local wheelchair rugby team. I embrace any opportunity to play wheelchair rugby. I love the sport. I love the team atmosphere. And I must admit I love the ruthlessness of the sport! It’s hard core; just what I like”.

Taking place from 9^th – 11^th March 2018 the Wheelchair Rugby Quad Nations is an international tournament that will feature four wheelchair rugby teams; all ranked within the top 5 in the World. For three days the Leicester Arena will play host to World Champions and Paralympic Gold, Silver and Bronze medallist teams from around the globe. Help for Heroes is proud to have put together two teams who will play an exhibition match before the Great Britain versus Japan match on the first night of the tournament.

Steve Schollar, Head of Recovery for the East and Midlands, said: “Sport plays a big part in the recovery journey for our Veterans and Service Personnel who have been wounded, injured or sick as a result of their service. It gives them a second chance at life; enabling them to regain their purpose and sense of confidence. We encourage anyone that might want to try sport for the first time post injury to be inspired by these athletes and they too could experience the power of sport in their day to day lives.”

Tickets start at just £5 with special offers available for groups and families. Tickets are available from http://www.wrquadnations.com along with a full match schedule.

Severn Trent will be paying compensation to any customers who were without water for more than 12 continuous hours, or for more than 15 hours of intermittent supply, after the freezing temperatures and sudden thaw caused supply issues across the Midlands over recent days.

A payment of £30, which is roughly the same as having a month free on the average combined water and waste bill, will be offered to all homes affected so customers don’t need to do anything.

Sarah Bentley, Chief Customer Officer at Severn Trent, said: “We’re incredibly sorry for the disruption which was caused by a huge number of bursts that put intense pressure on our water network.

“Our teams have faced an unprecedented number of leaks since the cold weather began. While we had extra teams in place working round the clock, and have hundreds of people out and about fixing bursts, we know that some customers were without water, and I really can’t apologise enough for that.

“While some customers are seeing water coming and going, the situation is much improved so we wanted to let people know about compensation.

“So, we’ll be compensating the people and families who were without water for 12 continuous hours or for more than 15 hours of intermittent supply with a deduction from their bill, and, once again, we’re just so sorry for the inconvenience this week.”

Customers across the Midlands were affected by the huge increase in bursts caused by the sudden thaw after the Beast from the East. We’ve been working round the clock, and have brought in additional teams from outside the organisation to help fix leaks, ramped up production at our treatment works, and used our tanker fleet to keep on vital services such as hospitals. In addition, a number of bottle drops were organised in key locations and the company hand-delivered water to vulnerable customers.

Domestic customers who will be receiving compensation do not need to do anything and will be contacted in the coming weeks. We’re always happy to discuss compensation claims from anyone who’s been affected on a case by case basis.

We’ll also be working with business customers and their retailers who were also affected.

Community housing projects and charities are being urged to put their case forward as Nationwide - the UK’s biggest building society - makes £250,000 available to help make a difference across communities in the West Midlands.

The Society is inviting applications for grants of up to £50,000 that have the potential to strengthen communities and help make a difference in local areas. Projects could range from innovative new housing, improving rented accommodation conditions, to supporting the most vulnerable.

Applications will be accepted from across west and central areas of the UK, including the following areas: Shropshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Gloucestershire and West Midlands areas of Birmingham.

John Worthy, Nationwide’s Area Director for the West Midlands, said: “As a building society, ensuring that everyone has a place fit to call home is at the heart of what we do. Nationwide was founded to help people save and borrow money for land and materials to build their own homes. One hundred and thirty years on, we still have the same core purpose - helping people into homes of their own.

“We recognise there is a housing crisis, resulting in many people living in unsuitable, insecure or unaffordable accommodation. So, we are delighted to award £250,000 to communities within the West Midlands to support housing projects and make a real difference.”

Nationwide members will get a final say on which projects are supported in their local communities and a Community Board, which is comprised of members, employees, housing charities and experts, has been appointed.  The Board will review all grant applications and put forward a number of local projects to a member vote. Nationwide members will then be able to vote, in branch or online, for a shortlist of charities to be awarded up to a maximum of £50,000. The Board and Nationwide branches within the region will also be providing time, contacts and expertise to these charities.

As part of the Society’s new social investment strategy programme, to provide everyone a place fit to call home, Nationwide plans to roll this initiative out across the UK during 2018, providing a £4million annual fund for community housing initiatives and charities – helping make a difference to communities up and down the country.  There has been £270,000 already awarded to nine different housing charities and organisations in the north of England this year.

Nationwide is now inviting applications for housing community projects in the West Midlands.

Edgbaston Stadium has made another industry awards shortlist with the Stadium Business Awards naming NatWest T20 Blast Finals Day 2017 - hosted there - as one of six candidates for Event of the Year.

To be held at Emirates Old Trafford in June, it recognises the best sports or non-sports event, guest event, concert or one-off spectacle held at a major sports venue in the last 12 months.

Finals Day at Edgbaston is named on the shortlist alongside WWE Wrestlemania at the Camping World Stadium in Orlando, World Boxing Organisation’s Battle of Brisbane, #Game4Grenfell at Loftus Road in London, the first Day/Night Ashes Test at the Adelaide Oval and the Arsenal FC in Sydney Tour.

Gareth Roberts, Commercial Director at Warwickshire County Cricket Club, said: “NatWest T20 Blast Finals Day at Edgbaston has already been shortlisted for the BT Sport Industry’s Entertainment Experience of the Year, arguably the biggest industry awards event in the UK. However, being shortlisted for the Stadium Business Awards puts us onto the international stage against some of the most recognised sporting events in the world.

Being shortlisted shows how far Finals Day has come, whilst it also demonstrates the strength of the partnership between the England and Wales Cricket Board, Sky Sports and Warwickshire County Cricket Club in delivering such a great event for the record crowd in attendance.”

Edgbaston hosted Finals Day for the eighth time in 2017 and it was widely recognised as being the best in the 15-year history of the tournament by breaking records on and off the field.

Finals Day returns to Edgbaston on September 15 this year, with ticket sales currently 170 per cent up compared to the same period in 2017.

In response the venue announced that it is boosting capacity by 850 seats as part of a commercial partnership with Arena Seating, which will see a temporary stand erected above the Stanley Barnes Stand at the Birmingham End of the ground.

A £9.6 million supported housing scheme in West Bromwich is helping local young people to kick-start their careers in construction.

The opportunities including  work placements, apprenticeships and traineeships have been created at the site in Oxford Road, where Sandwell Council is working in partnership with ENGIE’s regeneration division to build 93 much-needed affordable homes.

So far around a dozen students have taken up work placements with another ten in the pipeline during the coming months with the site offering valuable work experience and industry recognised qualifications in a variety of construction trades, from bricklaying and carpentry to plastering and quantity surveying.

Apprentice quantity surveyor Govind Mann (18) and apprentice ground worker Ryan Taylor (24) are learning their trades on the new supported-housing scheme. And Ryan Lawrence  (20) is working on the site as a trainee quantity surveyor.

Govind said: “After completing a week of work experience which was mandatory at my sixth form, I returned to ENGIE during the summer holidays to complete another two weeks. I was then offered an apprenticeship and haven’t looked back since. I am constantly learning new skills and meeting new people every day.”

Trainee quantity surveyor Ryan Lawrence, said: “When I was doing my A levels, I liked maths but wasn’t really sure what job I wanted to do. A careers rep from ENGIE gave a talk at my school and explained about the different jobs in construction. I applied for an unpaid internship with them and after that ended I got the traineeship I’m doing now.”

Councillor Ann Shackleton, Sandwell’s cabinet member for social care, who was visiting the site, said: “It was good to hear these young people speak so enthusiastically about their personal journeys into a career in the construction sector and how they are working towards achieving industry-recognised qualifications.”

Councillor Kerrie Carmichael, Sandwell’s cabinet member for housing, added: “It’s great that this new supported housing scheme provides another opportunity for Think Sandwell to work with partners such as ENGIE  to provide training and employment opportunities in Sandwell, creating better prospects for local people and  at the same time helping to plug skills shortages in the construction industry.”

Neil Baxter, new business director at ENGIE, said: “Part of building better communities is investing in the future prospects of local people. By providing apprenticeships and traineeships, we are giving them hands-on experience of what it’s like to work on a live construction site and teaching them the essential skills that they need to work in the construction industry.”

The Oxford Road development includes 93 homes for affordable rent, a mix of 58 apartments and 35 bungalows.

The scheme is expected to be completed in the summer.

One of Hawaii’s favorite food festivals is just around the corner! The annual Waikiki SPAM JAM Festival presented by Outrigger Resorts will hit the streets of Waikiki for its 16th year as visitors and locals alike gather to celebrate one of the state’s most beloved foods. The event will bring thousands of visitors and Waikiki residents to the bustling Kalakaua Ave. in the heart of Waikiki for delicious culinary creations that feature SPAM brand products, live music and entertainment.

Attendees will sample a selection of creative SPAM dishes from 20 participating local restaurants including Hula Grill, Buho Cantina and Mahaloha Burger, and see first-hand the variety of ways SPAM products can be prepared and enjoyed. From SPAM® Corn Dogs to SPAM® Brand-inspired cocktails, festival goers can expect to be well-fed and entertained as they feed their SPAM® Brand curiosity while getting serenaded by some of the island’s best musical acts from three stages. Additionally, guests can take advantage of street shopping during the festival as they peruse SPAM®-themed merchandise and a variety of unique retail products and crafts made only in Hawaii.

Admission to the family-friendly event is free. Attendees are encouraged to support the event by bringing a non-perishable food item such as a can of SPAM product for donation. Monetary donations collected will benefit the Hawaii Foodbank and other local charities, including the Waikiki Community Center and the Visitor Aloha Society.

Last night, Birmingham’s Bullring & Grand Central was taken over by World Champion dancers from the Scanlon School of Irish Dancers, as Grand Central was turned green ahead of St Patrick’s Day.

Tomorrow will see one of the city’s calendar highlights, the annual St Patrick’s Day parade, arrive in Birmingham and tens of thousands of people are expected to hit the streets to celebrate.

To kick-off the weekend of festivities, seven dancers aged 13 to 16 - including 14-year-old four-time World Champion - Alliyah O’Hare, jigged their way through the centre as the Grand Central atrium was turned green to pay homage to St Patrick. They danced their treble reel steps to ‘The Scoddy Reel’.

Bullring also marked the occasion with Birmingham’s iconic bull donning his St Patrick’s Day hat.

The Scanlon dancers will be returning to the centre next Saturday on St Patrick’s Day itself to perform for shoppers by the bull outside Bullring.

Michaela Moore, General Manager of Bullring & Grand Central, said: "It was a pleasure to have such a talented group of young dancers perform in centre to celebrate St Patrick’s Day ahead of tomorrow’s parade. It is such an important day in the calendar for Birmingham and we wanted to mark the occasion with our own celebration at Bullring & Grand Central. We are excited for the group to return next weekend to perform for our visitors.”

The Eden Project is launching a new three-week programme of activities for Easter including a giant inflatable challenge, spring maze and golden egg hunt (March 24 to April 15).

There will be a range of outdoor games for the whole family to have a crack at and lots of Easter prizes and treats to enjoy.

How Does Your Garden Grow? is a plant-themed obstacle course in the Stage area where teams have to scramble up all the elements needed to grow a plant.

Participants can slide down giant inflatable slides and rummage through a pond ball pit which sits behind oversized flowers and grass and an enormous greenhouse. They will be looking to find the vital ingredients - soil, seed, rain and sunshine.

There is a chance to explore the whole of the Eden site as the popular Golden Egg Hunt returns.

Elusive eggs will be hidden inside and outside the Biomes in different locations daily and the best egg-hunters will be rewarded with delicious chocolate prizes.

In the Arena there is a chance to get lost in a specially-built spring maze made of hundreds of hay bales.

Visitors can enjoy the first signs of spring on the discovery trail. Among the best plants to see at Eden will be colourful tulips, beautiful jade vine and gorgeous geraniums.

Younger children can enjoy an under-fives soft play area in the Stage, a hoopla game or guess-who activity with animal faces in the Orchard.

There are also board games and a bee buzz challenge where a steady hand is needed to guide the bee on its pollination journey.

In the Mediterranean Biome there will be another chance to see the fun family show Operation Earth exploring Earth's amazing science and stories in partnership with the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC).

During the interactive performance the audience will be invited to become trainee environmental scientists when 'Earthy' – a mini version of the planet earth – takes a trip to the doctors.

Shannon Wilby, programme lead for Easter at Eden, said: “We're really excited to be running a three week-long Easter programme for the first time at Eden with loads of new activities which will be cracking fun for all the family.”

All Easter activities are suitable for all ages and included with admission to Eden. Booking is not required.

Former West Bromwich Albion player, Brendon Batson, will be cycling 75km across the West Midlands to help raise vital funds for Birmingham St Mary’s.

Brendon, who played for the Black Country club from 1978 to 1982, will be taking on the charity’s annual cycling challenge – ‘Ride the Reservoir’.

Taking place on Sunday 18 March, Ride the Reservoir is an exhilarating cycle sportive which starts at Bartley Green before extending into the scenic villages of Romsley, Belbroughton, Chaddesley Corbett, Barnt Green, and then back to the reservoir. All funds raised from the ride will go towards Birmingham St Mary’s, which provides vital care to local families living with terminal illness.

Brendon – who will be joined by hundreds of other keen cyclists – is showing his support for Birmingham St Mary’s after the Hospice cared for his wife Cecily in 2009. He said: “The care Cecily and my family received was just incredible. It was a massive comfort that she was cared for at home and I’ll never forget the kindness and dignity the nurses and doctors showed us.

“Taking on Ride the Reservoir is my way of continuing to say thank you to the Hospice for their amazing support during that time. As a keen cyclist, I’m looking forward to getting back on my bike again and kickstarting the season with this brilliant ride.”

Last year, the cycle sportive attracted more than 350 riders, raising over £16,000 for the Selly Park-based charity.

Lucy Watkins, events manager at Birmingham St Mary’s, said: “It’s fantastic to have Brendon on board for Ride the Reservoir this year. Whilst the route may look pretty, it’s actually really challenging with plenty of ups and downs along the way.

“It will cost £8 million to run our hospice this year, so funds raised from this event will be absolutely vital in ensuring that we can continue to provide our care to even more local families living with terminal illness.”

Ride the Reservoir is approved by British Cycling – the national governing body for cycling in Great Britain – and is supported by local, independent bike shop, Red Kite Cycles. Registration for the ride costs £20 and participants can book, here: https://www.birminghamhospice.org.uk/Event/rtr2018

Greene King, the country’s leading pub retailer and brewer, today celebrates National Apprenticeship Week 2018 by announcing that it has supported a record 10,000 of its team members through its award-winning Greene King Apprenticeship Programme. The 10,000 milestone accounts for team members who have graduated from the programme, as well as those currently in training, since its launch in 2011.

The Greene King Apprenticeship Programme offers roles for leadership and management, brewing, chefs, bar and front of house staff, and will help team members achieve industry-leading qualifications and build a long-term career in hospitality. Since it began, the scheme has been repeatedly recognised both by the hospitality industry and externally for its dedication to high quality training and development.

To complement the apprenticeship programme’s objective of supporting young people into work, Greene King launched the Get Into Hospitality programme, in partnership with The Prince’s Trust in 2016. The three-week intensive programme addresses the skills and experience gaps that prevent unemployed young people from getting into work through providing work experience and training. So far supporting [160] young people through its Get Into Hospitality certification, those who go on to work for the pub company are then encouraged to enter the Greene King Apprenticeship Programme to further develop their skills and qualifications.

Greene King apprentice Rachael McAtee has done just that. She said: “The Get Into Hospitality Programme really gave me the confidence to explore a career in hospitality, and it was fantastic to be offered a front of house role with Greene King at the end of it. I settled into that role quickly and it didn’t take long before I was recommended to apply for the Greene King Apprenticeship programme. I’ve not only achieved a Level 2 F&B services, an industry recognised qualification, but I’m working my way up the ranks and exploring further development opportunities available to me. For those wondering what a career in the hospitality industry would be like, I encourage them to take the leap. It’s definitely worth it!”

Rooney Anand, chief executive at Greene King, said: “We have invested in our apprenticeship programme for seven years now and it’s great that we’ve been able to support 10,000 of our team members during that time. But it won’t stop there as we recognise it’s more important than ever that we continue to bring young people into the hospitality industry and show that it can provide a stable, exciting and rewarding career. Our apprenticeship programme and partnership with The Prince’s Trust are leading the way and we look forward to welcoming others to develop their skills and build a career with us.”

Sandwell Valley Country Park has welcomed the arrival of two calves.

The Traditional Hereford calves were born at Forge Mill Farm during the peak of Storm Emma.

Inspired by the snow storm, staff chose the names Stormzy for the male calf and Emma for the female calf.

Farm manager Melissa Underwood-Grattage said "We are delighted with our new arrivals to the farm. Despite the cold, they are both doing very well.

"Maybe we will get a visit from the rapper Stormzy to see his namesake."

The Hereford calves are among a number of new arrivals to both Sandwell Park Farm and Forge Mill Farm over the last few days. Rare breed Bagot goat twins were born on Saturday 3 March as well as a Jersey cow calf.

Visitors can come to Sandwell Park Farm or Forge Mill Farm to visit the new arrivals as well as lots of other farmyard animals. Details for visitors are on their website: www.sandwell.gov.uk/sandwellvalley.

The University of Wolverhampton has announced validation of two new Degree Apprenticeships.

The Manufacturing Engineer and Product and Development Engineer Degree Apprenticeships (Bachelor of Engineering with Honours Degrees) are available in the School of Engineering at Telford Innovation Campus with the next intake taking place in September 2018.

The new Degree Apprenticeships have been designed and developed in collaboration with employers and professional bodies.

The course is three to four years and students spend one day a week at the University with timetabled access to classrooms, lecture theatres, laboratories and workshops. There will also be occasional industrial visits and trips, practical activities, with further time committed to support Apprentices in the workplace.

Dr Syed Hassan, Head of the School of Engineering, said: “The University is a committed driving force behind economic growth in the engineering and manufacturing sector in the region.

“These new Degree Apprenticeships have the potential to help fill identified regional skills gaps in engineering companies of all sizes whilst at the same time meeting employers’ needs to improve levels of knowledge, understanding and skills within their workforce.”

Having been awarded £250,000 funding from the Higher Education Funding Council (HEFCE) in 2017 to develop its Apprenticeship offer, over 150 apprentices are already studying for Higher and Degree level qualifications at the University.

The University of Wolverhampton has also secured an additional £460k funding to deliver training for Degree Apprenticeships to non-levy paying companies.

The allocation of money was approved by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) recently and means that the University can widen its support for local businesses looking to upskill their workforce.

The University offers Higher and Degree Apprenticeships in Chartered Management (CMDA), Higher Apprenticeship in Construction Management with pathways for Civil Engineering & Built Environment, Chartered Surveying, Chartered Legal Executive, Nursing Associate and Healthcare Science Practitioner Degree Apprenticeships.

Future Higher/Degree Apprenticeships will include Digital Technologies, Civil Engineering, Architecture, Policing, Social Work, Nursing and Paramedic Degree Apprenticeships.

Dippy the Diplodocus is an awe-inspiring 292 piece skeleton cast. He has delighted visitors since he arrived in London in 1905 and Dippy on Tour: A Natural; History Adventure, which takes in eight venues across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, is the first time he has been put on public display outside of the Natural History Museum.

Dippy’s arrival in the Gas Hall at Birmingham’s Museum & Art Gallery (BMAG) will be the only chance to see the impressive 26 metres long cast in the Midlands. Tickets can be booked now at: birminghammuseums.org.uk/bmag/whats-on/dippy-on-tour-a-natural-history-adventure

The Diplodocus lived between 156 and 145 million years ago, during the late Jurassic period and would have weighed around 13 tonnes. This superstar dinosaur cast, gives us an insight into the prehistoric creatures that roamed our earth, long before we were around.

In Birmingham, Dippy will be displayed as part of an exciting and interactive free exhibition which will show that not all dinosaurs became extinct 66 million years – one group survived and evolved into the birds we know today.

Bringing Birmingham’s bird collection back to BMAG for the first time in nearly 20 years, this exhibition will explore the progression from dinosaurs to birds. The exhibition will show the amazing diversity of modern birds and how they evolved to become one of the most successful groups of animals inhabiting almost every part of the world from the oceans of Antarctica to tropical rainforests.

As well as getting up close to Dippy, who will be taking centre stage, families will also be able to see a velociraptor cast, a cast of a dinosaur nest and a real Great auk, the famous bird which became extinct the mid-19^th century.

Gurminder Kenth, Museum Manager at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, said: “We are incredibly excited to welcome Dippy to Birmingham. The famous dinosaur has the ability to wow and inspire everyone from toddlers to grandparents, and it’s going to be an exciting time at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery.

“Anticipation is building so don’t miss out on the chance to get free tickets. Not only will you see Dippy, but also experience an eye opening exhibition which allows us to showcase Birmingham’s natural history collection and inspire scientists of the future.”

An exciting programme of events is set to accompany Dippy’s stay in Birmingham. Fun for all the family, try your hand at palaeontology with a thrilling Dino Dig, delve deeper into Dippy’s past with curator’s tours, take part in crafts and trails throughout the school holidays, or enjoy a screening of Night at the Museum in partnership with Colmore BID. There will even be a Dino Children’s Menu in the Edwardian Tearooms to fuel your fun day at the museum! Find out more details on the website.

Across the Midlands, there will be lots of dinosaur fun to get involved with during Dippy’s visit to Birmingham. Venues across the region, from Wolverhampton to Coventry and Shropshire to Warwickshire, will be hosting their very own natural history adventures, with an array of events and displays. More details will be revealed soon.

Dippy on Tour: A Natural History Adventure is brought to you by the Natural History Museum in partnership with the Garfield Weston Foundation and supported by Dell EMC and Williams & Hill, working with eight partners UK wide to tour one of its most iconic exhibits over three years, with the aim of inspiring a love of nature.

The Friends of Birmingham Museums Trust have funded vital work for the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery exhibition to ensure Dippy has a longer legacy for the collections. The funds have allowed specialist conservation training for staff and volunteers to take place to ensure Birmingham’s amazing bird collection is ready for the exhibition.

On International Women's Day, Royal bride-to-be, Meghan Markle, was the ‘toast of Birmingham as she and fiancé, Prince Harry visited the second city – bringing with them a bright ray of sunshine, where beforehand, rain was the order of the day.

A full itinerary of visits saw the couple at the city’s Millennium Point complex early on as they freely met onlookers, many of whom stood agog at the very thought that they were in the presence of a future King of England and the Commonwealth. Though, for the pair, their attentions were stoically aimed at the children and young people – which made it for them a day to remember.

Their visit was to inspiring the young to pursue subjects of science, technology, engineering and maths.

On what was ‘International Women's Day,’ former ‘Suits’ star, Meghan, who prides herself on being outspoken about female empowerment; giving advice to aspiring female doctors, engineers and scientists, embraced the energy that came from the young school girls, especially, encouraged them to 'fly in the face of stereotypes' and embrace the untapped power they have within.

“A woman in the face of society is seen as one who has to be pretty, thin and quiet” she said. “The one who dares to fly in the face of all these stereotypes is the best kind of role model a young female can have.”

As she and the third in line to the throne greeted just about everybody in the line of girls, boys, women and men, the ‘International Women's Day’ theme extended itself as Ms. Markle made her way to introduce herself to The Phoenix Newspaper’s own Founder/Editor In Chief; “You're very beautiful,” she remarked to our own Marcia McLaughlin.

“You too are beautiful,” was the humble response, before she was able to tell the future queen about The Phoenix Newspaper – and its positive, informative and objective ethos.

Having listened intensely, they both posed for pictures from the hordes of press on hand, before Megan went on to join her future husband and media queen, Ms. McLaughlin, was herself being interviewed by the television press.

As the happy couple made their way into the building and the crowd dispersed, what was left was memories, for all, that this day will go down as one of the most memorable – personally and, for the city, collectively.

And that was just the start of what was a very full day in Birmingham.