SHOPPERS in Tamworth will have a very special opportunity to pose for a selfie with ‘Her Majesty’ on Thursday 2 June.
From 11am until 4pm on Thursday 2 June, Ankerside Shopping Centre will be hosting a Royal Tea Party to celebrate the longest reigning monarch in British history’s 90th birthday.
There will be a whole host of activity taking place, including a cut-out of Queen Elizabeth II set on a 10ft Union Jack backdrop where visitors to the centre will be able to get those all important selfies.
Located within Clock Square, the Royal Tea Party will also have free activity for children of all ages. Youngsters will be able to decorate their own birthday cupcakes in the interactive craft area along with a drinks fountain where people can sit and enjoy the day.
Ankerside Centre Manager, Jeff Wigley, said he couldn’t wait to continue the royal tradition at the centre. “We’ve got a real connection with the Royal family here at Ankerside,” said Jeff. “The centre was opened by the Queen 36 years ago this June and since she cut the ribbon in 1980, we’ve welcomed both Prince Charles and Princess Anne.
“Thursday 2 June is set to be a great day for everyone here at the centre. The decorations will be out and the whole centre will be feeling very patriotic. I’m sure Her Majesty would approve.”
WITH Her Majesty’s 90th Birthday celebrations just around the corner, Tamworth is going to celebrate in style with a Royal Proms style concert.
Think, ‘Last Night of the Proms’ crossed with ‘Party in the Park’ and you will be pretty close to what this orchestral and light show spectacular will be!
The event, named ‘Unfinished Symphony’ will take place inside Tamworth’s St Editha’s Church on Saturday 2 July. Money raised will go towards two local charities, St Giles Hospice and the St Edith’s Church restoration fund.
‘Pomp and Ceremony’ will be a big part of this event and so you are more than welcome to bring your own Union flags… and of course alcohol to aid in the party atmosphere!
The ‘Unfinished Symphony’ is being organised by Tamworth-based event organiser, Brina, and though it will feature a traditional-looking orchestra, the concert and music will be anything but.
Audiences will be treated to songs from each of the nine decades since the Queen’s birth, as well as classic prom-style favourites, all accompanied by cutting edge projection screens and lighting displays.
This amazing event is the first of its kind to take place in Tamworth and here at Tamworth Informed, we are proud to sponsor the event and to be a part of it. We urge you all to buy a ticket and support the event.
You will have an amazing night, and support local charities at the same time.
Tickets are priced at £10 each and are now on sale. They can be purchased from St Edith’s Church, Tamworth Information Centre on Corporation Street and The Tudor House on Lichfield St.
You can also book tickets online here. Booking fee applies to online bookings.
Keep an eye out on the event’s Facebook page for more details. https://www.facebook.com/UnfinishedSymphonyMusic/?fref=ts. If you want further info, call the event hotline on 0777 33 77793.
If you would like to sponsor this event, please Email us for more information on: [email protected]
LICHFIELD based digital marketing agency Cocoonfxmedia have announced that one of their Managing Partners, James Blackman as been selected as President for Lichfield and Tamworth Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Lichfield and Tamworth Chamber of Commerce and Industry, part of the Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce is a crucial service for the local business community in providing a clear voice of needs to government agencies as well as ensuring strong links between organisations to help boost the local economy.
In his role as President, James Blackman will be seeking to empower Tamworth and Lichfield businesses by ensuring regular, meaningful communication over issues impacting on local businesses, such as new commercial developments, national government policies and up-to-date information on the HS2 disruption.
Within the Skills and Education arena, James aims to assist the Board in working closely with the education sector to support school leavers in becoming employment ready, helping to boost youth employment and bridge the gap between education and business.
Included within the new President’s strategy is also an initiative to support all local businesses through a ‘Pay in 30 Days’ campaign.
Commenting on the campaign, James explains: “The impact that late payments have on Lichfield and Tamworth businesses is detrimental to the growth of our local economy and subsequently our wider economy.
“Not only is it ethically wrong to refuse to pay for completed work in the agreed timeframe, but it can seriously damage cashflow and the survival of smaller businesses. I will be encouraging all members and all Lichfield and Tamworth businesses to thoroughly get behind this campaign which will benefit everyone involved.”
All businesses can support the campaign by ensuring prompt payment of supplier invoices within 30 days and proudly showcasing their commitment to corporate social responsibility using #PayIn30Days ‘hashtag’ online.
Cocoonfxmedia will also be assisting local businesses by using their experience and skills in digital marketing to promote the #PayIn30Days campaign on social media, which can be followed and shared here: @cocoonfxmedia. Lesley Walker of Wrekin Products in Lichfield will take over from James as Vice President.
For further details on the role of James Blackman at Lichfield and Tamworth Chamber of Commerce and Industry visit www.greaterbirminghamchambers.com/lichfieldtamworth.
NOW there’s a new way for Tamworth people to stay up to date with news and information from Tamworth Borough Council, with the launch of a new email alert service.
As part of the ongoing commitment to improving customer services, the authority has launched a new Click & Connect service on its website which allows users to sign up to regular email and newsletters about a range of council services.
Customers can sign up to a range of subjects including council news, what’s on, local bin arrangements and Castle events.
Signing up is easy – just go to the Tamworth Borough Council website at www.tamworth.gov.uk where a pop-up will appear, asking for an email address.
Once signed up, users will receive regular updates on the areas in which they are interested.
Cllr Rob Pritchard, Tamworth Borough Council’s Deputy Leader, said: “The new Click & Connect email alert service allows our customers to choose the information they want to receive. They will also have the choice of receiving information from other Government agencies.
“We have recently launched a number of new ways in which our customers can interact with the Council, including our mobile MyStaffs app and the webchat service. The way that our customers want to communicate with us and access our services is changing, and this is another way that we are able to meet those changing needs.”
Jackie Burley (Tamworth Library), Tina Williams (Tamworth LitFest) and author Christina Smee with her novel The Rose of Middleham.
BOOK lovers from Tamworth and beyond are descending on the town on Saturday 11th June to celebrate romantic fiction.
The event, ‘Romancing The Word’, has been organised by the Tamworth Literary Festival, funded by Tamworth Borough Council’s Arts Grant and supported by Tamworth Library.
Between 10.30 am and 5.00 pm St Editha’s Church will host a series of author talks and readings, plus a workshop on the writing of romance novels. Tickets are available from the Tourist Information Centre or direct from the Tamworth LitFest at [email protected] and cost £3 per session.
Alternatively an all-day ticket, for entrance to all four sessions in St Editha’s costs £8. Tamworth Library will play host to a free Meet the Authors event between 11.00am and 3.00pm.
A wide range of romance genres will be represented at the event from Contemporary through to Historical Romance, plus Romantic Suspense and Romcom.
Fazeley’s Christina Smee, author of The Rose of Middleton, set in the Fifteenth Century and featuring Richard, Duke of Gloucester, later to become King Richard III, will be joined in the library by over a dozen other authors.
Jackie Burley (Tamworth Library), Tina Williams (Tamworth LitFest) and author Christina Smee with her novel The Rose of Middleham.
Fellow authors include bestselling author Carol E Wyer, winner of the People’s Book Award for Non-Fiction in 2015 and AA Abbott, whose most recent Romantic Thriller, The Bride’s Trail, is based in Birmingham.
Each author will be showcasing their work and a limited amount of books will be available for purchase and for authors to sign. Tamworth Writers Group will also be represented.
The sessions in St Editha’s will include the bestselling Nuneaton author Rosie Goodwin and Helena Fairfax, author and member of the Romance Writers’ Association, a former pupil of the Abbot Beyne School in Burton-on-Trent, who will be leading the workshop on writing romance.
Anthony Poulton-Smith, chairman of the Tamworth Literary Festival says: “This is a fabulous opportunity for readers and writers of all romantic fiction to come and meet a superb line -up of authors from around the Midlands who can boast well over a hundred publications between them. I can see many Tamworthians being inspired to pen their own stories.”
Comprehensive information on the line-up is available in the foyer of Tamworth library and online at https://www.facebook.com/TamworthLiteraryFestival/
TAMWORTH residents are being invited to join a new panel to shape the work of local policing in their community.
The Tamworth Safer Neighbourhood Panel launched earlier this year under plans by Staffordshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Ellis, to shine the spotlight on local policing and make Staffordshire’s Police Service the most open, transparent and ethical in the UK.
Although there has been a good response to the panel, there are still several places for new volunteers who can find out more by visiting http://www.tamworth.gov.uk/safer-neighbourhood-panel
The panel will examine, challenge and shape the work of police at the most local level. It will hold the Local Policing Team Commander to account as well as looking at wider criminal justice and community safety issues in their area.
Local residents and councillors sit on the panels with magistrates bringing additional expertise. Panels influence local policing and community safety, scrutinise the work done by police in their area, give feedback to communities and examine the impact of community resolutions and restorative justice.
Mr Ellis said: “This is a real opportunity for Tamworth people to play a part in holding all responsible for policing in their area to account and I’d urge residents to get involved.
“I make no apology for believing that truly local policing, and the public playing a part in influencing that policing is vital.
“You can shape policing at the most local level in your community by joining the Safer Neighbourhood Panel.
“The new spotlight on local policing performance that these panels will bring is invaluable in adding to the rigour I have introduced to overseeing policing.”
The panels follow the success of the county-wide Ethics, Transparency and Audit Panel (ETAP) which was established by the PCC in 2013. The ETAP is made up of trained members of the public and monitors different aspects of performance and standards in policing across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.
ETAP has received national recognition for its work on the police use of Taser, stop and search and crime recording in Staffordshire.
Councillor Stephen Doyle, Tamworth Borough Council Cabinet member for Communities and Wellbeing, said: “The new Safer Neighbourhood Panel gives Tamworth residents a perfect opportunity to get involved and have their say on how their neighbourhoods are policed, as well as raising issues of concern.
“It will help to make Tamworth an even safer place to live, work and visit – and I would encourage residents to join in and make their voices heard.”
Volunteers for Safer Neighbourhood Panel roles must be aged over 18, but otherwise the PCC is interested in attracting people from all walks of life irrespective of age, disability and ethnic background. Expenses will be paid.
For more information visit http://www.staffordshire-pcc.gov.uk/safer-neighbourhood-panels/
A NEW portfolio has been added to Tamworth Borough Council’s Cabinet, as the number of major projects to improve Tamworth and make life better for residents continues to grow.
Following the local election earlier this month, a number of changes have been made to the roles and responsibilities of the portfolios and the size of the Cabinet has been increased from five members to six.
Cllr Daniel Cook remains Leader of the Council, while Cllr Robert Pritchard retains the position of Deputy Leader.
A new portfolio for Environment & Culture has been created, which will be filled by Cllr Joy Goodall. The new portfolio includes responsibility for environmental management, waste & recycling, Tamworth in Bloom, leisure & tourism, arts & events and sports development.
Announcing the new cabinet, Cllr Daniel Cook said the new portfolio was being added due to the increasing workload from the growing number of major projects currently underway in Tamworth.
He said: “Tamworth Borough Council is committed to its long-term vision for the regeneration of the whole of the borough and there are a number of very big projects at various stages, all aimed at improving the quality of life for Tamworth residents. This means that all members of the Cabinet have seen their workload increase hugely, so it was time to redraw the portfolios and reassign some responsibilities.
“The creation of a sixth portfolio dedicated to environment & culture shows how committed we are to taking all of these vital projects forward, especially in term of our commitment to improving the quality of our recycling, reducing residual waste and promoting and enhancing our arts and events programme and the regeneration works currently underway as we develop the Enterprise Quarter.”
He added: “I am delighted to welcome Cllr Joy Goodall to the Cabinet, as her work as Chair of the Aspire & Prosper Scrutiny Committee has shown that she is a hugely able and dedicated councillor.”
Major projects during the coming year include the re-tendering of the housing repairs contract, the redevelopment and regeneration of Tinkers Green and Kerria, the development of the Enterprise Quarter, Tamworth’s membership of the West Midlands Combined Authority, work to reduce waste and increase recycling and the redesign of customer services.
The full Cabinet and responsibilities are:
- Cllr Daniel Cook: Leader of Tamworth Borough Council and Chair of Cabinet. Portfolio - Performance, financial planning, strategy and reputation
- Cllr Rob Pritchard: Deputy Leader. Portfolio - Assets & Finance
- Cllr Steve Claymore: Portfolio - Regeneration
- Cllr Stephen Doyle: Portfolio - Communities & Wellbeing
- Cllr Michelle Thurgood: Portfolio - Housing Services
- Cllr Joy Goodall: Portfolio – Environment & Culture
COMMUNITY wardens from Tamworth Borough Council and staff from Flax Hill School are working together to discourage parents from driving into Wigginton Cemetery and parking on the grass when dropping off and picking up their children.
Parents and visitors to the school are allowed to use the Tamworth Borough Council-owned car park – which serves the allotments and Wigginton Cemetery – when they drop off and collect their children.
But a handful of parents have been abusing the system by driving through the gates into Wigginton Cemetery and parking on the grass.
Now, community wardens and Flax Hill School are mounting an information campaign to encourage parents to be responsible, respectful and refrain from driving into the cemetery.
This week, the wardens have been handing out information notices to parents at the school, asking them to keep access to the cemetery clear and to only use the designated parking.
Cllr Joy Goodall, Cabinet member for Environment & Culture, said: “There have been a number of occasions when some parents who are waiting for their children have driven into the cemetery and parked on the grass, which is disrespectful and can be very upsetting for bereaved relatives.
“We are working with the school to stop this happening and our wardens are playing a big part in that by talking to parents and giving out information.
“We do not want to be heavy handed, but if the abuse of the cemetery continues, we will have to review the current arrangements and may have to stop all parking in this area.”
TAMWORTH Borough Council and Lichfield District Council have engaged a professional photographer to capture the face of modern industry across the two areas.
The councils, which work together as part of a shared service to support local businesses, are now inviting companies from across their two areas to take advantage of a free photoshoot of their premises.
To qualify for a free one-hour photography session, businesses should:
- Work predominantly in the business to business sector (not retail or recruitment companies).
- Preferably be in the service, design, manufacturing or engineering sectors.
- Ideally be a unique company, doing something a bit different that does not have a lot of social media or media coverage normally.
- Pay business rates to Tamworth Borough Council or Lichfield District Council.
The resulting professional images will be used to promote Tamworth and Lichfield, including through social media and marketing materials. The pictures will also be available, free of charge, to the business involved for use in their own publicity.
Cllr Steve Claymore, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, said: “This is a great opportunity for our businesses to get a series of stylish photographs taken of their premises for free. It will also help us to build up an image library featuring a range of businesses so that we can use them for future promotions, making sure we present businesses across Tamworth and Lichfield in the best possible light.”
Businesses interested in taking part in a free photoshoot are asked to contact Matthew Fletcher on 01827 709382 or email [email protected] by 30 June 2016.
TWO teenage girls have become the youngest presenters at Tamworth community radio station 106.8 TCR FM.
15-year old Lucy Ecclestone, who attends Landau Forte QEMS, and Grace Blick, 16, who goes to The Polesworth School, underwent months of training after arriving at the station without any previous radio experience
The friends were put through their paces by TCR FM Membership Manager Hannah Smart and during their course learned the basics of how to use a mixing desk and a microphone competently through to being able to produce and present their own radio show.
You can now hear Lucy & Grace on Sunday afternoons when they chat and present unique radio features that are of interest to others their own age including where’s good to hang out in Tamworth and how to deal with exam stress.
If you would like to get involved with TCR FM’s training course, no matter what age or experience, then email [email protected].
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