tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52020336374689879312024-03-05T13:12:30.455+00:00OYEZ from the TOWN CRIERPenkridge Town Crier ringing his BELL and bringing you LOCAL NEWS, Information and comment about our community and the people who make it what it is.Penkridge Town Crierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01572054860867643458noreply@blogger.comBlogger108125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202033637468987931.post-27395340296015437362017-10-30T22:33:00.002+00:002017-10-30T22:33:43.981+00:00Funeral of Val Bower (nee Sneyd) of Wolgarston Farm<br />
I am posting this on Tuesday evening, 30 October. <b>Next Tuesday, 7 November 2017, at 1pm, there will be a Funeral Service at St. Michaels and All Angels Church, Penkridge, for Mrs. Val Bower (nee Sneyd).</b> Her husband, Peter, has asked if I can let all her friends in Penkridge know of this as she had many friends in this parish of Penkridge.<br />
<br />
On that same day, there is also a Local History Meeting in the morning at Haling Dene but it will not clash with Val's funeral. The meeting starts at 10.30am and will finish at approx. 12 noon so there will be time to get to the Church for her funeral. After the service she will be buried in the Parish Burial Ground. Peter Bower has asked that there is NO FLOWERS please - donations will be shared between Compton Hospice and Penkridge Church.<br />
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<br />Penkridge Town Crierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01572054860867643458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202033637468987931.post-70434353513128357962017-10-30T22:12:00.001+00:002017-10-30T22:19:21.929+00:00Are we going to allow outsiders to make Penkridge a "Commuter Town"?<b>2017 is already becoming a year which will not be one we must remember, but its looking like one that we hope we can forget!!!</b><br />
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Just to list a few things - not in any order or grouping but as they come into my mind.<br />
<br />
There is something very important happening all over our Parish of Penkridge, which also covers of course, Pillaton, Congreve, Preston Vale, Longridge, Lower Drayton, Lyne Hill, Otherton, Rodbaston, Gailey, Water Eaton, Bickford, etc. etc.<br />
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What is happening you may ask? Well, if I just mention words like "Strategic Rail Freight Hub" or "Lyne Hill "Affordable?" housing development" or "Riverside (Riverview!) "Hotel and Helicopter landing pads" or "Rodbaston Wind Turbines" or "Cannock Road Industrial Chicken Factory" or "proposed Church development in graveyard" or proposals for large housing development northwest of the village or Persimmon wanting to building their HQ on our floodplain or ......... I could name more but you readers may be able to tell me of others.<br />
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It would appear to me that our community "village" or "town" has been listed by all Councils and Planning Authorities, Developers and Strategic Planners, national and local, as THE place to turn into a ?????? Commuter town, sandwiched between our VERY NOISY, WIDENED, AND POLLUTING MOTORWAY - THE M6 and the RAILWAY LINE that Lord Hatherton allowed to be built over his land many years ago.<br />
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Isn't it about time that the people of Penkridge came up with some plans of their own to develop our community as WE WANT?Penkridge Town Crierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01572054860867643458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202033637468987931.post-69841406589569716842017-01-09T12:26:00.002+00:002017-01-09T12:26:21.531+00:00SPOON-BILLED SANDPIPERTwo friends of mine are in Thailand watching and studying birds. Today they found the very, very rare species - Spoon-billed Sandpiper - which winters there. There are less than 200 pairs in the world and a big study is being conducted by a co-operative world team of Ornithologists and Ecologists to try and discover where they breed, feed and winter so they can conserve the habitat where they are found. I saw my first at Mai Po marshes in Hong Kong many years ago when I was birdwatching there. They breed in North Eastern Russia and winter in South East Asia. This year three birds have been caught, ringed and satellite tracking devices attached to them and it is already telling us a lot about there habits and the places where they prefer to feed and rest outside the breeding season. Peter Scott's Wildlife Trust at Slimbridge are involved and have set up a small breeding programme to try and breed these Sandpipers in captivity with a view to increasing the population in NE Russia. <a href="http://www.saving-spoon-billed-sandpiper.com/" target="_blank">For more information about this project</a> click on this link. Penkridge Town Crierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01572054860867643458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202033637468987931.post-33512935669667717392017-01-05T23:45:00.002+00:002017-01-05T23:45:42.328+00:00Gailey HUB - proposed NEW and ENLARGED plansNew and enlarged plans for the Gailey New Strategic Rail Hub have been released and can be viewed by <a href="http://www.penkridge.org.uk/folders/gaileyhub/West%20Mids%20Interchange%20Illustrative%20Masterplan%20Dec%202016.pdf" target="_blank">CLICKING HERE</a>Penkridge Town Crierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01572054860867643458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202033637468987931.post-48602240408085275442016-09-30T20:16:00.001+01:002016-09-30T20:18:50.517+01:00NEVER MINDNever mind, it doesn't matter - words we hate to hear.<br />
They're said to us so often, every day of every year.<br />
Maybe from our loved ones, neighbours or a friend, the<br />
butcher, baker, milkman, the names don't ever end.<br />
<br />
Sometimes they ask a question, or maybe tell a joke,<br />
Or start to tell a story about some other folk.<br />
And, "oh, the topic of the day" are often things they start to<br />
say. But somehow, in between the chatter,<br />
Say "never mind, it doesn't matter."<br />
<br />
They realise we haven't heard, cause we look blank and<br />
quite disturbed. Perhaps they think they're being kind, when<br />
they just tell us ~"never mind".<br />
<br />
But mind we do, we want to hear,<br />
Conversation is very dear, to people whose hearing is<br />
impaired, we're grateful for the time you've spared.<br />
To try to make us understand, we do think you are very<br />
kind.<br />
<b>BUT PLEASE DON'T SAY "OH NEVER MIND!"</b><br />
<br />
Penkridge Town Crierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01572054860867643458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202033637468987931.post-712752471857911112016-06-15T00:21:00.000+01:002016-06-15T00:26:43.503+01:00Our Queen's Official 90th BirthdayIn Penkridge on Sunday 12 June, we celebrated our Queen's Official 90th Birthday at two Street Parties - one at the Haling Dene Centre with the Tutbury Band entertaining and other events and attractions.- organised by the Parish Council. And at the Cross Keys Pub adjacent to the Canal, they organised a very successful Party under a marquee with all the trimmings, flags, bunting, food and drink. Plus a Fancy Dress competition for the children. The Town Crier gave the Royal Proclamation and opened both events. A very good time was had by all, despite the torrential downpour in the middle of both events.Penkridge Town Crierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01572054860867643458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202033637468987931.post-91377571697365487822016-04-23T13:28:00.001+01:002016-04-27T22:43:07.223+01:00Penkridge Town Crier gives 90th Birthday Proclamation for QUEEN ELIZABETH II at Historic Penkridge Market<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbnj626B-ATTrxmU1w1CPjk_vhYYJrOeuZPMfKC3MZzz6QRJC58VyF5BNhKiobAf_zU9Ppo7R08ZUx1eQzl-0EpDArF4n7dVQqmIkIspWShPpxiZxNb-Lnv2MIgqrJzJGn2mPLgknwyJyT/s1600/90th+birthday+proclamation+at+Penkridge+MARKET+%255B800x600%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbnj626B-ATTrxmU1w1CPjk_vhYYJrOeuZPMfKC3MZzz6QRJC58VyF5BNhKiobAf_zU9Ppo7R08ZUx1eQzl-0EpDArF4n7dVQqmIkIspWShPpxiZxNb-Lnv2MIgqrJzJGn2mPLgknwyJyT/s320/90th+birthday+proclamation+at+Penkridge+MARKET+%255B800x600%255D.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "lucida calligraphy" , "bradley hand itc" , cursive;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u><b>NINETIETH
BIRTHDAY PROCLAMATION</b></u></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "lucida calligraphy" , "bradley hand itc" , cursive;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>OYEZ!
OYEZ! OYEZ!</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "lucida calligraphy" , "bradley hand itc" , cursive;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>May
it please your most Gracious Majesty,</b></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "lucida calligraphy" , "bradley hand itc" , cursive;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>That
we, the members of the Loyal Company of Town Criers, as your most
humble and obedient servants, do hereby make the following
proclamation:</b></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "lucida calligraphy" , "bradley hand itc" , cursive;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>At
2-40am on Wednesday the 21st day of April 1926, at 17 Bruton street
Mayfair, unbeknownst to the nations of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern Ireland, the member countries of the
Commonwealth, and all colonies affiliated to the throne, there took
place the birth of our future sovereign,</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "lucida calligraphy" , "bradley hand itc" , cursive;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>QUEEN
ELIZABETH THE SECOND</b></u></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "lucida calligraphy" , "bradley hand itc" , cursive;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>.</b></span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "lucida calligraphy" , "bradley hand itc" , cursive;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>As
you celebrate your life of ninety full years, let every loyal subject
be reminded of your influence, your graciousness, and your impact
upon our lives. May the congratulations from each and every loyal
personage demonstrate the affection in which you are held, as we wish
you, our most regal and sovereign Queen, a joyous and happy ninetieth
birthday.</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "lucida calligraphy" , "bradley hand itc" , cursive;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Let
us all, united loudly and proudly, proclaim together:</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "lucida calligraphy" , "bradley hand itc" , cursive;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>GOD
SAVE THE QUEEN!</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>©
JOHN ROBINSON BIDDULPH (ENGLAND) AND FUSIGNANO (ITALY) TOWN CRIER</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>LOYAL
COMPANY OF TOWN CRIERS 90th BIRTHDAY CRY.</b></span></span></span></div>
Penkridge Town Crierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01572054860867643458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202033637468987931.post-76964213840326413242016-04-17T23:21:00.002+01:002016-04-17T23:21:23.476+01:00Staffordshire Heritage Group Design for New Staffordshire Flag has been APPROVED<b>Good News - the new design below has been approved as the Staffordshire County FLAG. Staffordshire people overwhelmingly voted for it and this is now our Flag for the Historic County of Staffordshire covering all the areas listed below. </b>Penkridge Town Crierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01572054860867643458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202033637468987931.post-66659247342811536392016-03-05T22:27:00.002+00:002016-03-05T22:40:59.089+00:00Staffordshire County Flag - proposed<b>Can I urge you to vote below.</b> <b>And can I recommend that you vote for the first design, proposed by the Staffordshire Heritage Group and NOT for the second one, proposed by Staffordshire County Council. </b><br />
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Why?, I hear you ask. Well, the answer is simple - Staffordshire Heritage Group has checked with many of the cultural groups in Staffordshire, some of them still covering the original Historical County, which includes Wolverhampton, Bilston, Walsall, West Bromwich, Smethwick, Stoke on Trent, and many other towns and communities now in the administrative West Midlands area. (See below) <b>So they are representing the people's views tbhroughout the whole of the County of Staffordshire. </b> Staffordshire County Council, however, now only represent about 40% of the people and their design below has a lion on which is part of their logo and does not represent the whole of Staffordshire. <b>Staffordshire Heritage Group's design is simple and the Knot is given much more prominence. Please vote for the SHG design before 27 March 2016.</b><br />
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<b> </b><br />
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<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxnC1ds6pFQ4w0AtEBvIp-JUG5NWUbpuI1_mEUn0zgMseV1J0t2mhZzw5dOVGyaIOznMMu5AbVg-XzoX9kNsEFz6tDqrg2_0s8_N5BaYfbLuAxc50QdXSNRmKuJcVWlRIpA_FSLwNIQYfv/s1600/Staffordshire+FLAG.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxnC1ds6pFQ4w0AtEBvIp-JUG5NWUbpuI1_mEUn0zgMseV1J0t2mhZzw5dOVGyaIOznMMu5AbVg-XzoX9kNsEFz6tDqrg2_0s8_N5BaYfbLuAxc50QdXSNRmKuJcVWlRIpA_FSLwNIQYfv/s320/Staffordshire+FLAG.jpeg" width="320" /></a></b></div>
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<b><br /></b><b>Definition:</b> <span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 10.0pt;">The Historic County of Staffordshire consists of:</span><br />
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<div>
The areas covered by Staffordshire County Council</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Plus</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The City of Stoke-on-Trent, including Hanley;</div>
<div>
The Borough of Walsall;</div>
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The Borough of West Bromwich;</div>
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The City of Wolverhampton;</div>
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The Parish of Harborne, including Smethwick;</div>
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The Parish of Handsworth, including Kingstanding and Perry Barr;</div>
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The Parish of Rowley Regis, including Cradley;</div>
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The Parish of Kingswinford, including Brierley Hill;</div>
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The Parish of Aldridge, including Great Barr;</div>
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The Parish of Tipton;</div>
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The Parish of Sedgley, including Coseley, Lower Gornal and Upper Goral;</div>
<div>
The Parish of Darlaston;</div>
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The Parish of Wednesbury;</div>
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The Township of Amblecote;</div>
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The Parish of Upper Arley;</div>
<div>
Part of ancient parish of Sheriff Hales, including Heath Hill and Weston Heath;</div>
<div>
The detached Parishes of Broom and Clent;</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Minus</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The Parish of Croxall;</div>
<div>
The area of Tamworth east of the Trent, including Glascote, Amington, Wilnecote, Abington, Dosthill and Two Gates;</div>
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The area of Burton-on-Trent east of the Trent, including Stapenhill.</div>
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<h1 class="title" style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.1em; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: 21px;">Staffordshire County Flag Vote</span></h1>
<div style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 1.2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0);">County
Flags have become an important part of our regional and national
identity. Most English counties now have a recognised County Flag, but
Staffordshire is yet to obtain one. The Flag Institute maintains the <a href="http://www.flaginstitute.org/wp/flag-registry/?flagtype=County+Flag" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Register of County Flags</a> and
works with county organisations to come up with suitable designs. The
County Flags are based on the historic counties of the UK, rather than
the modern administrative areas, so Staffordshire includes
Stoke-on-Trent, Wolverhampton, and several other parishes that fall
outside Staffordshire County Council’s area.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 1.2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0);">The
Flag Institute has received two applications for a County Flag for
Staffordshire, one from Staffordshire County Council (SCC) and the other
from the Staffordshire Heritage Group (SHG), an umbrella organisation
for many cultural groups in Staffordshire. Both applications meet the
Flag Institute’s published criteria for applying, and both designs meet
the Institute’s design guidelines, so the Flag Institute has decided
that the only fair way to choose between them is to give the people of
Staffordshire an opportunity to vote for the design they like best.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 1.2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0);">The two designs are shown below:</span></div>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_4084" style="-webkit-box-shadow: #ffffff 0px 0px 1px 1px inset; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid #e6e6e6; box-shadow: #ffffff 0px 0px 1px 1px inset; margin: 0px auto 15px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 1px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 310px;">
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0);"><img alt="The Staffordshire Heritage Group's Design" class="size-medium wp-image-4084" src="http://i0.wp.com/www.flaginstitute.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Staffordshire-SHG-Design-No-Padding-300x180.png?zoom=2&resize=300%2C180" height="180" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: 0px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 4px 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="300" /></span></div>
<div class="wp-caption-text" style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0);">Staffordshire Heritage Group’s Design</span></div>
</div>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_4083" style="-webkit-box-shadow: #ffffff 0px 0px 1px 1px inset; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid #e6e6e6; box-shadow: #ffffff 0px 0px 1px 1px inset; margin: 0px auto 15px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 1px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 310px;">
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0);"><img alt="Staffordshire County Council'S Design" class="size-medium wp-image-4083" src="http://i2.wp.com/www.flaginstitute.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Staffordshire-SCC-Design-No-Padding-300x180.png?zoom=2&resize=300%2C180" height="180" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: 0px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 4px 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="300" /></span></div>
<div class="wp-caption-text" style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0);">Staffordshire County Council’s Design</span></div>
</div>
<div style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 1.2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0);">The
gold background and red chevron, common to both designs, comes from the
coat-of-arms of the de Stafford family and has been used in connection
with the county since at least the 17th century.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 1.2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0);">The
vote will take place from 9am on Monday 29th February and closes at 9am
on Sunday 27th March 2016. The result will be announced the next day.
To vote, just go to the Flag Institute’s website and follow the link
from the front page. Voters are asked to confirm that they live or work
in the historic county of Staffordshire.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 1.2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0);">Graham
Bartram, Chief Vexillologist of the Flag Institute said, “This is the
first time that the Flag Institute has had two applications for the same
county and I think it is a reflection of how important County Flags are
becoming to people, so we feel it is only fair to let the people of
Staffordshire have their say on which flag will represent them. I hope
as many people as possible will vote for their preferred design.”</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 1.2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0);">The
vote is only open to people who live in the historic county of
Staffordshire, so if you do live or work in Staffordshire click the
“Vote” button below to go to the live vote.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 1.2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<a href="http://www.flaginstitute.org/wp/flag-registry/staffordshire/" style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black;"><img alt="VOTE" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-4098 aligncenter" src="http://i2.wp.com/www.flaginstitute.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/vote_button.png?zoom=2&resize=230%2C88" height="88" style="border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: 0px; display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px auto 15px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;" width="230" /></span></a>Penkridge Town Crierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01572054860867643458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202033637468987931.post-87603700971578355332016-02-18T21:48:00.001+00:002016-02-18T21:53:47.150+00:00Rare Bird sited in PenkridgeOn Wednesday 10 February 2016, a rare bird was seen in Penkridge. A <b>Black Redstart</b> was seen on a housing estate in the village, both on the ground in a front garden and on the roof of the house. I understand a bird has since been trapped and ringed elsewhere in the parish since this siting. <br />
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With the recent cold weather and frosts, lots of birds have been attracted to our bird feeders in our gardens. Birds recorded include <b>Blue, Great, Coal and Long-tailed Tits, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch and the odd Brambling, Linnet, Redpoll, Siskin, Song Thrush, Robin, Dunnock, and Blackbird</b> (I had 8 at once in my garden feeding on apples). <b>Starlings, House Sparrow, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, and Black-headed Gulls</b> are common, with the occasional <b>Lesser Black-backed Gull and Herring Gull. </b><br />
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I have had <b>Sparrowhawk and Buzzard </b>regularly, the sparrowhawk taking one of the blackbirds. Birds flying overhead have included <b>Heron, Canada Goose, Mallard, Mute Swan,</b> and late this afternoon, over 500 mixed gulls were heading SE towards their roost at Belvide Reservoir, a local nature reserve. A <b>Great Spotted Woodpecker</b> made a brief visit recently, as did <b>Jay,</b> looking for acorns. If you live near woodland, as well as Woodpecker, you will probably have visits from <b>Nuthatch</b> too. Friends of mine get <b>Bullfinch, Woodpecker and Nuthatch </b>and all the Tits regularly - but they do have fields all around them and plenty of trees close by.<br />
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The winter is not over yet, even though the crocus, snowdrop and daffodil are out. Hazel catkins are opening, and several garden plants are in flower. On a sunny day, my bees are very active and bringing lots of pollen of many colours back to the hive. Spring is not far away but I fear we have not yet seen the last of the rains, frost and maybe snow. <br />
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<br />Penkridge Town Crierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01572054860867643458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202033637468987931.post-15127104764774545722015-11-08T19:44:00.000+00:002015-11-08T20:03:02.294+00:00Remembering in Penkridge today<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Penkridge Town Crierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01572054860867643458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202033637468987931.post-13776045493572600722015-11-06T15:39:00.001+00:002015-11-06T15:39:30.811+00:00PLEASE LOOK AT PEOPLE WHEN YOU SPEAK TO THEMI am probably breaking copyright law by reproducing this but I am sure the author would approve of me putting it here on my Blog. This poem must have been written either by a deaf or hearing impaired person or by someone who worked with them and knew exactly what a hearing impaired person feels. And yes, I am a hearing impaired person too (one of 10 million in this country) and I attend a Hearing Impaired class where we learn lip reading. It really helps us so please, please, do read this and look at people when you speak to them.<b> Drop me a line if you are hearing impaired.</b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Numbers Lament</b></span><br />
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If the person you're serving seems very slow,<br />
It could be they're deaf, it's quite common you know.<br />
Though we try very hard we often get muddled,<br />
Don't think that we're daft or our brains are befuddled.<br />
Out shopping, the phone or in everyday life,<br />
Deaf people and numbers – the problem is rife!<br />
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One is OK it is easy to see<br />
Two can be hard, it can sound like it's three,<br />
Four and seven, well they are quite game,<br />
but five and nine can sound quite the same.<br />
Watching lips with six, then eight, nine and ten,<br />
We ask “Did you say...'....? Or, please write down with a pen.<br />
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The teens and ten can lead to disaster,<br />
Especially when it is money you're after.<br />
Is it thirteen or thirty?, that's asking a lot,<br />
One/three and three/zero are better to spot.<br />
With hundreds and thousands and even for years,<br />
Just break into numbers – much kinder for ears.<br />
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Please spare a thought for those who can't hear,<br />
They'll be watching your lips and standing quite near.<br />
Do get our attention before you start speaking,<br />
Don't shout, hide your mouth or speak when you're eating.<br />
We do want to hear you, we are trying so hard,<br />
So don't leave us out 'cos our hearing is marred.<br />
Penkridge Town Crierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01572054860867643458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202033637468987931.post-39233326994075324792015-08-04T16:51:00.001+01:002015-08-04T16:51:55.049+01:00Consultation Day at our Penkridge Library again BUT WILL THEY LISTEN?Staffordshire County Council are again consulting with Penkridge residents about our Library. This time its the Opening Hours. Not "when do you want it open?" But, "You can only have 28 hours (less than Eccleshall), and we give you four options (none of which suit me)". <br />
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The Friends of Penkridge Library fought very hard last year to represent the views of Penkridge Community. The largest petition in Staffordshire, we addressed the County Councillors, we were mentioned in the House of Commons - and we won. They agreed we would remain a County Council managed and delivered Library, keeping our Librarians. NOW they are still going on about if you want anything different from what we are proposing, then you must provide Volunteers. We have already said loud and clear that OUR LIBRARY IS A STATUTORY SERVICE (and Volunteers demonstrated many years ago that we needed qualified librarians to run a permanent service). <br />
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So, once again, the Friends are out in force in the community asking our residents to complete the "extremely difficult to obtain" Consultation Forms, and tell our County Council what hours they wish our library to be operating in the future. <b>AND DON'T FORGET, </b>WE ARE TO HAVE<b> 335 NEW HOUSES BUILT AT LYNE HILL SO OUR POPULATION IS GOING TO INCREASE BY AT LEAST 700 PEOPLE - AND IF ONLY HALF CAN READ AND WISH TO BORROW BOOKS FROM OUR LIBRARY, THEN THEY ARE GOING TO GET A LOT MORE BORROWERS COMING THROUGH THE LIBRARY DOOR. </b><br />
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Finally, here are a few photos I took today when the Friends were setting up their stall outside the Library. <b>YOU HAVE UNTIL 2 SEPTEMBER</b> TO SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS, EITHER ON THE <b>CONSULTATION FORM OBTAINABLE FROM BELBROOK LIBRARY, PENKRIDGE</b>, OR <b>ONLINE </b>BY CLICKING ON THE LINK BELOW <a href="http://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/openinghours" target="_blank">http://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/openinghours </a><br />
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<br />Penkridge Town Crierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01572054860867643458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202033637468987931.post-73523592393427781832014-12-08T20:55:00.004+00:002014-12-08T23:56:37.871+00:00Friends of Penkridge Library sends its petition to The House of Commons via our MP<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As I type this Blog I am listening live to the broadcast from the House of Commons where very shortly our MP, Jeremy Lefroy, will speak about Penkridge's serious concerns at the proposed changes that Staffs. County Council is considering for our local Library. Claire Geoghegan and her volunteers have lead the battle to prevent the downgrading of our very well-used Library and have demonstrated that magnificently, handing over the facts and figures as well as a 3,500 petition from the residents of our community. </div>
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And wonders will never cease, at just gone 10pm several of the names of the petitioners were mentioned in the House of Commons (and presumably will go down in Hansard), including Claire's and mine. "The whole world could have heard us if they had been tuned in to the LIVE broadcast." You can go into the Parliament Archives and hear it if you like. It might take a couple of days before it is online. </div>
Penkridge Town Crierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01572054860867643458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202033637468987931.post-14893022522390192932014-11-29T19:33:00.000+00:002014-11-29T21:25:33.313+00:00Record Attendance at Victoria Xmas Market<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Once again it was a great success with the car park full shortly after opening at 5pm although many people were coming in at 4pm. The fairground attracted all the village youngsters and their parents. Dozens of stalls were really stocked with some wonderful goods and I believe many people bought their Xmas presents there at very reasonable prices. I wandered all round the stalls and thought the quality was excellent. AND how well dressed the stallholders were in their variety of dress, hats and the colours were magnificent. Penkridge Voices (our village choir) entertained hundreds with Xmas carols as you will see from the photos. And wandering around the market was the tallest man I have ever seen!, even taller than my 6ft 7" friend, the Shrewsbury Town Crier. Penkridge Town Crier was also there but you perhaps didn't hear him very often as I am afraid he couldn't compete with the music from the fairground. But he did chat to and meet many people during the evening, and bought from some of the stalls and had a drink at the cafe.<br />
Finally, the Fire-Eater was indeed outstanding and I particularly liked his final exhibition of the "Fire Whip". BUT please, do not let your children play with fire. Fireworks and Fire-Eating is only for experienced adults. A great evening AND it didn't rain! <br />
Thank you to the Police Officers for mixing with the crowd and keeping an eye on things. Thank you to all the stallholders for dressing up and producing some wonderful stalls and products. Thank you to Santa Claus for dropping in on our market and putting a smile on many youngsters faces. Last but not least, a big thank you to Penkridge Business Association for organising the event once again and to our Market owners and friends, the Williams family, for hosting our Victorian Xmas Market 2014. Oh!, and of course, a big <b>THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO ATTENDED THIS YEAR. HAVE A HAPPY CHRISTMAS.</b><br />
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<br />Penkridge Town Crierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01572054860867643458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202033637468987931.post-83870833928780162842014-11-26T22:06:00.002+00:002014-11-29T13:33:25.755+00:00Penkridge Local History Group (Great Marsh Publications), underlines the importance of our Library and the Building to the community.Another very successful and interesting meeting was held yesterday at the Haling Dene Centre, our last this year. Claire Geoghegan (leader of Friends of Penkridge Library) started us off with a very interesting presentation on the history of our Library Building. It has served the community in many ways over the years - the land in 1827 is shown on the map as a garden/allotment, let from the Littleton Estate. - Lord Hatherton gave the site to the Penkridge Savings Bank which had become a great success and in 1857 he got the permission of the National Debt Office in London to spend money on building the bank upon it. In 1879 the Savings Bank was closed and funds transferred to the Post Office. The building was then sold to the County Council and in 1881 they converted and enlarged the old bank building into a Police Station with quarters for a sergeant, a constable and two cells. The Magistrates' Court, which used to be held in the Littleton Arms, was also switched to the building and in 1903 hearings of the case against George Edalji for the Great Wyrley horse maimings were held at the court. Later Hollis Morgan was tried for the same offence there. This all became national headline news and we now hear that Martin Clunes is appearing in a film being made about the incident. (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle played an important part which uncovered a major miscarriage of justice.)<br />
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It was still a Magistrates Court until the mid 1960s when a public meeting voted in favour of it becoming a permanent library and which took over from the Mobile one. So it has been an Allotment, our Savings Bank, our Police Station, our Magistrates' Court and our Library. Now there is a big consultation taking place over changing the status of our Library which is being fought vigorously by the Friends of the Library. The County has been petitioned by over 3,000 Penkridge residents. <b>A Listed Building with major historical interest cannot and must not disappear - a public library run by professionals for the community is the best use of the building and by all accounts, that is what the vast majority of Penkridge people want.</b>Penkridge Town Crierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01572054860867643458noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202033637468987931.post-26504236026829252072014-11-09T15:09:00.001+00:002014-11-09T15:09:21.056+00:00Penkridge Home Guard<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Penkridge Town Crierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01572054860867643458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202033637468987931.post-36660796862451196142014-11-09T12:26:00.000+00:002014-11-09T12:33:11.316+00:00BLACK SWAN seen in the ParishBlack Swans are natives of Australia but birds from collections in the UK have been escaping or being released into the wild for several years now. One has been seen very recently on the Penkridge flood meadows. Another bird which we have been seeing a lot more of in recent years in Penkridge is the Little Egret. These birds have been moving north from Southern Europe and now we have several colonies in the UK. Without doubt they will be breeding in Staffordshire soon. They have been seen on the Penk, on the Otherton Brook in the centre of the village, and other streams, ponds and wet meadows in the parish. A Little Egret is a small heron, with all white plumage, and black bill and legs.Penkridge Town Crierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01572054860867643458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202033637468987931.post-20262752165207260462014-11-08T19:48:00.000+00:002014-11-08T19:51:58.683+00:00Looking down on Penkridge<strong>The discussion that has been raised by the current consultation on the County Councils proposals to change the status of our Library, reminded me of a draft piece I wrote some time ago but never posted it on this Blog. Here it is - what do you think?</strong><br />
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<strong>Penkridge </strong>- <em>A fascinating community - a growing community - an historic community - a changing community</em>. When I last looked down on Penkridge it was less than half the size it is today and that was about 60 years ago. <br />
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This <strong>BLOG</strong> will comment on the changes that have taken place over those years, what it was like in bygone days, what it is like today, what I like about today, what I don't like about today, what is changing slowly, what is changing rapidly. <br />
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What I sincerely hope is that I will raise eyebrows and that some Penkridge people will start to realise that whilst they have been getting on with their lives, things around them have changed and that some of those changes have not necessarily been what they would have chosen. That maybe if they had said something earlier, we wouldn't have the problems we have today. Maybe life would have been better if a certain thing hadn't happened or had been done more slowly, or with a little more thought.<br />
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Let us all learn from the past. We can't stand still - we have to move on but in doing that, surely we should consider carefully every change we make to our lives and to the community we live in. <br />
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For now, just think about it and look at Penkridge a little more carefully and with your eyes wide open, and think back to what it was like a few years ago. Is it an improvement or not? Would you have changed anything if you had considered it a little more carefully? And here I am thinking about all changes, whether it be buildings, roads, watercourses, landscape, trees, houses, industry, agriculture, services, facilities, the look of Penkridge, the sound of Penkridge, even the feel of Penkridge, Are you happy with all the changes? Did you voice your views at the time - will you in the future?Penkridge Town Crierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01572054860867643458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202033637468987931.post-36062983708525538372014-11-03T10:11:00.002+00:002014-11-03T10:11:34.044+00:00Greenfinches found dead on Grange EstateA friend found 5 Greenfinches dead around his house this last week. Has anybody else on the Grange Estate or elsewhere in Penkridge found any. Diseaseed? Poisoned? We need to know. Penkridge Town Crierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01572054860867643458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202033637468987931.post-29014162419063073902014-11-02T23:44:00.001+00:002014-11-26T22:21:20.231+00:00Don't incinerate a Hedgehog on Bonfire Night! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b> <span style="font-size: x-small;">photo copyright Rose Hadley</span></b><br />
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<b>Don't Kill our Hedgehogs on Bonfire Night</b><br />
Now is the time hedgehogs are searching for safe hibernation spots for the winter. If you are having a bonfire over the next few days, please check it out first to make sure you don't have any hedgehogs that have already moved in. Unfortunately, many have been incinerated on Bonfire night. Save hedgehogs from certain death by building your fire on the day and not lighting one that has been standing for weeks. <br />
I have only seen one in my garden this year. Several people in Penkridge are regularly feeding hedgehogs in their gardens which shows they care for our wild creatures. It would be interesting to discover how common OR rare hedgehogs are in our community. I have a map of Penkridge Parish and intend to map all sightings over the next 12 months. Email me with your sightings including the date and the Road/Street/area you saw one (or more).Penkridge Town Crierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01572054860867643458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202033637468987931.post-31788369369867267622014-10-31T17:38:00.001+00:002014-10-31T17:44:59.296+00:00Friday, 31st October 2014<b>Where has he been I hear you ask? </b> A long story but I am still in the land of the living, having celebrated my 80th birthday last February. Am still Town Crying and attended Kerry and Steve's wedding celebrations at the Haling Dene Centre (where Kerry works behind the bar). I also welcomed our Friends from Ablon sur Seine when they visited us earlier in the year - and I did it in French!<br />
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<b>I will be town crying next at the annual Penkridge Victorian Xmas Fayre at Penkridge Market on Friday evening, the 28 November 2014. Please come along and introduce yourself - wear something Victorian too, like me!!!</b><br />
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Those of you who have lived in Penkridge for a long time - maybe even born here - will probably have been attending our <b>Local History Meetings</b> over the year where we have been having very good attendances. But more of this in future blogs. <b>Our next meeting is at Haling Dene Centre, Cannock Road, Penkridge, on Tuesday, 25 November, 2014, from 10.30am to 12.30.</b> Free admission and coffee/tea and biscuits for a donation. Bob Maddocks will be showing us old photos we keep discovering of Penkridge people and events from the past. Please come along and join us and perhaps meet some of your old friends. We even get people who used to live in Penkridge coming back to see us, even from many miles away.<br />
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And if you have old photos of your family back in the early days, particularly 1900-1970, then please bring them along and we can scan them in order to show them to others. We have now published several books about people and Penkridge over the years with loads of illustrations. They are all on sale at Sally's hardware shop near the White Hart. And <b>Bob Maddocks has just written and published a new book he has been working on for years called "The Littletons of Teddesley Hall, 1740-1930". Every household in Penkridge should have a copy as this family was the major landowner in our parish and our Lord of the Manor, employing many local people in the past.</b> It is on sale at Sally's Hardware Shop also.<br />
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<br />Penkridge Town Crierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01572054860867643458noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202033637468987931.post-78903755666151824582013-02-05T23:08:00.001+00:002013-02-05T23:15:35.967+00:00PETROL THIEVES IN PENKRIDGE TODAY<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><em><span style="color: black;">Early this morning (Tuesday), cars on housing estates in Penkridge and Wheaton
Aston had petrol stolen which caused hundreds of pounds worth of damage. Petrol tanks
were drilled and petrol stolen. And then, unknown, drivers left a trail of
petrol, visiting petrol stations to fill up and in the process spilled gallons of fuel
on the forecourts causing danger to human life - this causing filling stations to close and having to phone for police and fire engines.</span></em></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><em><span style="color: black;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><em><span style="color: black;"><strong>KEEP ALERT - the safest place for your car overnight is in the garage or get it alarmed.</strong></span></em></span>Penkridge Town Crierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01572054860867643458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202033637468987931.post-14072863893674918972012-07-13T13:51:00.000+01:002012-07-13T14:09:43.907+01:00Jeremy Lefroy MP reaches the Top TenI happened to come across the following this morning - I wonder if Jeremy knows yet! If he's following my BLOG, he will now!<br />
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<a href="http://www.politics.co.uk/comment-analysis/2012/05/15/the-ten-worst-mps-on-twitter-7-jeremy-lefroy">Penkridge MP finds himself in "Top Ten Worst MPs on Twitter</a>"<br />
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I rarely use Twitter but I did earlier this week. I have been following the travels and problems of the last flying VULCAN BOMBER XH558, especially since it has just had the two of its jet engines burned out and two new ones (31 years old and kept mothballed) were installed over the last month. Anyway, its now back doing Air Shows and it was due to fly to Fairford and then on to Farnborough early this week to open their SHOW. I found it at Fairford just as the Pilot posted on Twitter that he was taxiing, and then taking off with the intention of "finding the Red Arrows". I twittered him asking where are you all going? His instant reply was "to meet up with the RAs and fly in formation to Farnborough to Welcome everyone to the opening of their Air Show". That would have been quite a sight! <br />
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Keep a watch out for the Vulcan here in Penkridge - it has attended Cosford recently and was seen over Penkridge twice on that day. It's home is Doncaster (Robin Hood Airport) and when it flies south to attend displays in the summer there is always a chance it will fly over our community. You can't miss it - a distinctive shape of course but also a very distinctive sound.<br />
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Whilst I was at Haling Dene the Ablon party that has been staying with hosts over the weekend in Penkridge, gathered there to board the coach to the airport to return to their homes in Ablon sur Seine, the town near Paris on the banks of the River Seine. Each year either Ablon people visit Penkridge (as this year) or we visit Ablon. Penkridge families host Ablon families and they all looked as if they had had a good time this year. Here is a quick photo I took of hosts and their Ablon families in front of Haling Dene just before they left.<br />
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Finally, my wife and I nipped up to our allotment to plant some courgettes, sow some beetroot seed and generally weed, dig and tidy up. We actually were there for over 4 hours in the end and came back "knackered". I now hope I will still be able to get around this weekend to the parties with my proclamation - I had problems simply walking in the village this morning. I must get a rest this afternoon and forget the gardening for a while (except watering the tomatoes in the greenhouse and the hanging baskets). Oh! and I have unearthed the Union Jack which is being washed as I write this. I also have some bunting so all this has to be put up before the weekend. It doesn't seem five minutes since the Golden Jubilee - or am I thinking of our Jubilee wedding anniversary we celebrated recently. <span style="background-color: yellow;">:-))</span> Penkridge Town Crierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01572054860867643458noreply@blogger.com0