OYEZ from the TOWN CRIER

John Westwood

2012-01-16T21:39:00.000Z

Many Penkridge people were saddened to learn that John Westwood had passed away recently after a long illness. His funeral will be held at St. Michael's Church on Wednesday 18 January at 2pm.

Lyne Hill Planning Application REFUSED by Councillors

2012-01-16T21:32:00.002Z

"South Staffs DISTRICT COUNCIL RECOMMENDED APPROVAL OF LYNE HILL DEVELOPMENT"
in their Report

Thank you South Staffs DISTRICT COUNCIL REGULATORY COMMITTEE for REFUSING the Lyne Hill Outline Planning Application. Thank you also to the many residents of Penkridge who attended the meeting and heard the 5 minute plea by resident Calvert Stonehouse who put the case for Penkridge most succinctly. Thank you also to District Cllr. Len Bates for proposing the motion to refuse the application. This was seconded by Cllr. John Raven and their motion to REFUSE was carried by 22 votes for and 3 against. The applicant can, of course, appeal against the decision and if they do, then the community will have to continue to argue against their current proposals.
Common sense and the views of the community have prevailed so far

Green Thought of the Week

2011-08-14T23:03:00.000+01:00

The UK's first fatal car accident was in 1896, 115 years ago on Monday 17^th August. A woman was killed by a vehicle travelling at 4mph.

The coroner told her inquest that he hoped hers would be the last death in this sort of accident.

Since then more than 550,000 people have been killed on Britain's roads and almost 4,000 people are killed on the world's roads every day.

A BUSY, MIXED AND EXTRAORDINARY DAY!

2011-06-17T20:10:00.004+01:00

Friday - end of the week, a relaxing day before the weekend.   What's in the diary?    Blimey - got to pick up Mrs. ........ for the Vol. Car Scheme and take her to the hospital for a small operation.   What time?   pick up at 7am to be there for 7.30am - AM????    Swallow rice crispies, no time for a pikelet!    quick slug of tea and off to pick up our client.   Arrived at her house at bang on 7am and she was ready and waiting.   Into the car and off we went.   Traffic starting to build up but no serious problems and we arrived on time. Arranged that client would get hospital to phone me when ready to come home. I then drove back to Penkridge and was home before 8am to sit down to pikelets and coffee.   Checked greenhouse and watered a few plants. Phone call at just gone 11am to say Mrs. ..... ready for collection.   Off again and collected and returned her home.

Back just before 1pm to hear from my wife that PENKRIDGE HAD HAD A BANK ROBBERY.   Well organised by the sound of it - obviously a team had been watching and waiting for the Security Van to arrive at Crown Bridge and then hey presto, the car nipped into a parking space (conveniently made available), one of the occupants jumped out with knife and within a very short time left an empty container in the middle of the pavement as they drove off south with ..........    Getaway car discovered on a local estate. Police are asking for any witnesses to come forward from the incident in the village centre or or any other suspicious vehicles or people seen around.   Lets hope the Street Cameras we have around the village can help identify and catch the robbers.   Anyone take any photos with their Phone cameras?

Then a visit by Bob Maddocks with proof copies of a new book that Great Marsh Publications will be selling shortly (still secret but an important historical publication that all those elderly people who went to Penkridge schools will want to acquire).   Then my plan was to take a trip round Penkridge to deliver a few items to people.   But first another check in the greenhouse but it was interrupted by my wife who said there was a man at the door asking to see me.

It was a salesman, who insisted to my wife that he speak to the head of the household otherwise he might be breaking the Data Protection Act (that’s a new selling point!).   It turned out that he was selling for Scottish and Southern Electric whereupon I said that they were not exactly my most favourite Energy Company in the country.   He didn’t ask me why but immediately said I was confusing his firm with Scottish Electricity – which I hadn’t of course.   I then got the usual speel that all my neighbours had signed up to his firm and then began actually showing me the copies of their Agreements and giving me their names. So much for confidentiality and the Data Protection Act! I must make a point of telling all my neighbours that this man is going round breaking their confidential agreements and they can take the necessary action.

I have actually just signed up to Co-operative Energy and have been checking my meter readings and working out whether I am in fact making the savings I was hoping I would. Still not done all the comparisons with other suppliers yet though, but it looks like I can beat SSE, especially if one takes into account the dividend/points that one gets as well. (I am a part owner of the Co-op movement and all their profits are shared with their members). Check them out if you are considering changing your energy suppliers. Incidentally, I am also considering Solar Panels for my south facing roof. More of that in the future but if anyone in Penkridge has already got them I would be pleased to hear of their experience.

Well, the weather today hasn't been all that I had hoped but there have been some surprises. I wonder what tomorrow will bring! Or even later today - the day is not over yet!

Newsman

SUPERFAST BROADBAND COMING TO PENKRIDGE

2011-04-14T10:33:00.001+01:00

BT have announced that homes and businesses in two more Staffordshire communities will have access to super-fast fibre broadband by the end of next year at the latest.

More than 13,000 homes and businesses in Cannock and more than 4,000 in PENKRIDGE are the latest to benefit from BT’s £2.5 billion roll-out plans for super-fast broadband. They are among 13 communities in the West Midlands and 156 across the UK included in the announcement.

GYPSY SITE GIVEN TEMPORARY PERMISSION FOR 7 PITCHES, 19 CARAVANS, TWO AMENITY BLOCKS, LAYING OF HARDSTANDING AND IMPROVEMENT OF ACCESS ON LAND BETWEEN RAILWAY AND A449

2011-03-01T16:41:00.002Z

A LARGE BROWN ENVELOPE ARRIVED TODAY (1 MARCH 2011) - ON OPENING, IT REVEALED THE DECISION BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO THE APPEAL - EXTRACT FROM THE NOTICE APPEARS BELOW. The full letter and Report to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government can be viewed at South Staffordshire Council and at the offices of Penkridge Parish Council and on the Penkridge website.

FORMAL DECISION (Extract from an 11 page decision letter from Secretary of State dated 28 February 2011, sent to Mr Philip Brown, Philip Brown Associates, 74 Park Road, Rugby, Warwickshire CV21 2QX)

33. Accordingly, for the reasons given above, the Secretary of State hereby partially allows your clients' appeal and grants temporary planning permission for 7 pitches, subject to conditions. The permission is granted for a period up to 31 December 2014, and is given on a personal basis to the appellants named at condition 11 of Annex B to this letter and their resident dependants, for a change of use of land to use as a residential caravan site, including the stationing of 19 caravans, erection of two amenity blocks, laying of hardstanding and improvement of access at New Acre Stables, Wolverhampton Road, Penkridge, Staffordshire in accordance with application number 09/00809/FUL, dated 29 October 2009, subject to the conditions set out in the schedule at Annex B to this letter.

SEAN FLYNN LEAVES PENKRIDGE - BIRDS ARRIVE!

2011-02-28T22:40:00.001Z

Two emails tonight, one from Sean Flynn saying he is leaving us for a few days and the other from Richard telling us of some Bird Visitors to Penkridge.
Sean is off on one of his fun and fund raising ventures in the 4x4 - read all about it by clicking on the link at the top of the Penkridge Website.

And Richard tells me that the new Bird visitors to Penkridge are:

Waxwings at Pillaton, South of the hall.

A pair of Goosanders and probably 4 in total at the confluence of the Penk and Whiston Brook over the weekend.

The Little Egret was seen on the Penk on Friday last.
A Pair of Bewicks Swans in flight over Micklewood Cottages recently.

And Tree Sparrows are coming and going from three of his seven bird boxes.

To add to the above - Redpolls are turning up in my garden quite regularly at the moment in small numbers. Song Thrush was singing recently as are several other garden species. A brief view of a Blackcap (overwintering bird) in the garden recently too.

And finally, the Hazel Catkins are fully out, lots of other buds appearing and today I noticed that the Snakeshead Fritillaries have sent their leaves into the air on my front lawn. A sad event to mark this last day of February is that the Monkey Puzzle Tree in Haling Road (The Marsh) has been felled as it had died gradually over the last twelve months. Can anyone tell me whether we have any others in Penkridge and if so, where they are?

OIL POLLUTION STARTING TO KILL WILDLIFE

2010-12-28T12:48:00.000Z

Today I have learned that the pollution incident was caused by thousand of litres of Heavy Heating Oil leaking from a large tank on the Lyne Hill Industrial Estate behind the fire station on the southern boundary of Penkridge. Eventually, the new owners of the Industrial Estate were located and the Environment Agency and the owners are beginning to deal with the mess it has left behind in the Otherton Brook. This brook flows northwards right through the middle of the large Vale Gardens Housing Estate, through the village centre and into the River Penk near Bull Bridge and the Riverside Old Folks Home.

Over Xmas weekend the smell and fumes has been reported from large areas of Penkridge as the very cold weather has caused the fumes and smell to hang over the lower ground. It was particularly bad in the village centre where the brook flows under the road past the bakery and village toilets and then into the River Penk near Riverside. Anyone walking up the footpath from New Road to Wolgarston Way and to Somerfields have also reported it as being very smelly over the weekend. Not very pleasant and dogs and children must not be allowed to paddle in the stream until all traces of the oil have disappeared.

Wildlife damage is already being reported with the RSPC collecting an injured Heron and other dead birds being found.

This incident does not bode well for the owners of this Industrial Estate who, it is understood, intend to submit a planning application for change of use in the New Year.

OTHERTON BROOK AND RIVER PENK POLLUTED ON XMAS EVE

2010-12-24T23:39:00.000Z

Diesel oil would appear to have somehow got into the Otherton Brook near the Fire Station - possibly from an Industrial Unit in the area. The Environment Agency fixed up a Boom to try and stop it getting into the River Penk but so far this appears not to have stopped it from travelling downstream. Late this afternoon the smell and fumes was pretty bad in the centre of Penkridge where the brook flows past the Bakery and the Public Toilets and flowed into the Penk by Bull Bridge between the Bridge House and Riverside Old Folks Home.

The EA are investigating for the source of the pollution as well as trying to prevent it from getting into the Penk. Their staff will be working on Xmas Day because of this and we must thank them for that. We must find out who has been responsible for this incident which as well as creating an awful smell in the community at Xmas, could also do damage to life in the brook and the River downstream. Many farm animals drink from these water courses and farmers must be made aware of pollution incidents like this.

SEVEN ARCHES AND SEVEN TREES

2010-12-19T18:05:00.000Z

Built over 180 years ago, these Arches must have been seen by many thousands of visitors to our Ancient Penkridge Market. Many thousands must also have crossed over the River Penk by them on a Train. However, I wonder how many knew who built them. It was Thomas Brassey of Chester, who in 1836/7 built this viaduct and 10 miles of track as his first Engineering project. He went on to become perhaps the most famous Railway Engineer in the world, building railway projects in many countries around the world. Read all about him at http://www.penkridge.org.uk/folders/brassey.htm

But Thomas Brassey didn't plant these trees close to the viaduct in 1837 - who did I wonder! And have you counted them? There are 7 (seven) - the same number as the Arches! Is that a coincidence or can anyone enlighten us further.

SHOCK HORROR for PENKRIDGE

2010-12-11T16:52:00.001Z

RODBASTON WINDFARM GETS GO AHEAD – BAD NEWS FOR PENKRIDGE PEOPLE

An application for Two very large 126 metre (415 feet) high Wind Turbines have been given the go ahead by a Planning Inspector after an appeal was made after South Staffs. Council turned down the application.

This now means that these two Wind Turbines will be built on the Rodbaston Estate very close to the M6 Motorway, the Canal, and within 1 Km of the ancient heronry at Gailey (putting the herons at high risk of collision and death), within 1 Km of the local Microlight airstrip at Pillaton (again meaning a risk to pilots), and within 1Km of the housing estates to the south end of the town of Penkridge, housing between 8 and 9,000 people, with all the problems that turbines bring to an area, particularly the de-valuing of local property, possible health risks and no benefits.
This is a big precedent and it is fully expected there will now be more applications in this area of urban South Staffordshire from industrial sites, large industrial farm units, etc.

And I haven’t mentioned the bats – several species (all protected by law) which will be affected and be at risk. Oh!, and a public right of way goes between the two turbines. A new road has also to be built on agricultural land to access the site and one of the turbines is to be sited on ancient peat bog. How green is all this? And all in the Green Belt too.

Although the Officers of the Council recommended approval, the Councillors of the Planning Authority listened to local people and turned the application down even though a couple of local councillors were prevented from voting because of a non-pecuniary interest . They therefore could not properly represent the views of their constituents.

If you log on to http://www.epaw.org/multimedia.php?article=news11 you will see a FILM of the views of people living near existing or planned wind farm developments. Their objections have been dismissed by the wind industry, government and pro-wind campaigners as selfish NIMBYism, leaving unanswered many questions about the reliability and environmental credentials of wind energy. For full information on the negative effects of windfarms go to: http://www.iberica2000.org/Es/Articulo.asp?Id=1228

PUNCH AND JUDY COMES TO PENKRIDGE

2010-08-03T19:30:00.000+01:00

A very popular PUNCH AND JUDY SHOW is coming to Penkridge this coming Saturday.

By courtesy of Penkridge Business Association and Tedstones, the Solicitors, there will be three shows on Crown Bridge right in front of TEDSTONES.

The Shows will commence at 11.15am, 12.45pm and 2.15pm

WHILST MUM IS SHOPPING, DAD CAN TAKE THE CHILDREN TO WATCH THE SHOW.
FREE TO WATCH. You can also enter the Balloon Race for which there will be a small charge.

Birds and Bats of Penkridge Parish - GAILEY IN THE NEWS

2010-08-03T00:08:00.003+01:00

When I heard that a new Bird had been sited in our Penkridge Parish it made me think "I wonder how many species of birds have been recorded over the years here".    So I approached friend Richard who quickly sent me his already prepared Excel file with all his records shown on there that he had seen within the Parish. Brilliant!   Somebody had made the first step and produced a list.
So now, I am slowly going add to Richard's list the species that will be in my notes over the years and all the others that I know other people have made. And of course, I will be looking through existing publications such as the West Midland Bird Club Annual Reports which will also have recorded some birds in our parish, particularly at Gailey Pools on the Watling Street.
Yes - Gailey is in the news BIG TIME at the moment for two wholly different reasons.
First - at Rodbaston College they have applied for a planning permission to build a Windfarm comprising two very large Wind Turbines on land close to the Staffs. and Worcs. Canal and the M6. If you are in that area, just look out for the large Anenometer Mast which is situated on the site at the moment to measure whether the wind does blow and if it does, how strong. And please note - that anenometer mast is only half the height of what the two turbines will be if they are approved and erected - they will be a massive 126 metre (415 feet) height to tip of turbine blade when it is at its highest point.
AND FROM WHAT I HAVE HEARD TODAY, very few people in the Gailey area even know about this proposed development. For instance - the first application was turned down by South Staffordshire District Council but now the developers have appealed against the decision and anyone has until the end of August to submit written comments to the Inspector who is going to decide the appeal.    (I will continue and give you links to further information shortly).

The Second item of news is that a very rare bird, a FRANKLIN'S GULL, was seen at Gailey Lower Pool on Saturday last and has been seen the last couple of days and has attracted over 100 birdwatchers with binoculars and cameras.
This bird is a rare vagrant from North America and was first seen at Chasewater on the 15 July (presumably the same individual). It is only the second record for Staffordshire and is the first record for Chasewater and Gailey - and of course CAN NOW BE ADDED TO THE BIRD LIST FOR PENKRIDGE PARISH!

Birds are one of the reasons why there are many objections to the siting of a Wind Farm at Rodbaston. Within 1 Km of the turbines is a large HERONRY (on the island at Gailey Pool) and all those birds which breed there and their young, fly to feed in the Penk Valley on the River Penk and its streams and tributaries, as well as the ponds and marshes.   Many will inevitably fly through the area where the Turbines are proposed and are at high risk of being killed.   (Wind Turbines kill hundreds of thousands of birds throughout the world, especially when sited in areas close to breeding sites of large birds and in areas where birds of prey hunt and migrate).   For every bird that is killed, 7 (yes seven) BATS are killed by Wind Turbines.   It has been now established that bats (being mammals) are susceptible to changes in barometric pressure. Pressure changes around Wind Turbines and this results in Barotrauma for the Bats who are unable to cope with the changes and their lungs explode.
WE HAVE TO STOP THESE TURBINES FROM BEING BUILT AT RODBASTON.

2010 SUMMER MADNESS

2010-07-10T14:10:00.001+01:00

Summer Madness - Well! Isn't it? Coalition Government cutbacks, constant Hospital Visits taking others, Constant Watering of greenhouse plants, emergency Parish Council meetings, allotment weeding, bats and bird surveys in parish, hard drive nearly full, book Car in for MOT and service, tiny flying beetles everywhere, hot muggy nights, - and to cap it all I was booked doing 40 in a 30 area as you leave Stafford south on the A449 by a manned camera. Oh well! that's life. Just be a little more careful in the future - go by bus and leave the car at home.
With a friend, we were out doing bat and bird surveys in the local woods last night and came across this bird. It was a young Buzzard but it had a broken leg which was swollen badly and it was unable to put any weight on it. One wonders how it got broken.

Yesterday, I also saw my first Large White butterfly of the year.   But the most extraordinary bird find this year in our Parish was the bird my wife found under the Co-op shop window. It had obviously flown into the window and killed itself.   She brought it home and I identified it as a Tree Creeper, again a young bird.   Rarely does one find many of the hundreds of young birds that don't survive beyond a few weeks after trying to fend for themselves and learning how to feed and avoid predators and dangers. But if every one of the 10 Blue Tit eggs or the 14 Mallard eggs that were layed in our garden survived and bred themselves next spring, then we would soon be overrun by Tits and Ducks.

Unfortunately, I am afraid that the Buzzard with the broken leg will probably not survive to breed itself but maybe one of its siblings will.   That's life - survival of the fittest - no where more certain than with our wildlife.

A sure sign of summer - as I write this I hear greenfinches singing in the garden. But where are the Cuckoos we used to hear and see flying over when we first moved into this house?   I heard one calling on the Eastern boundary of our parish and one has been heard in the Preston Vale area.

PENKRIDGE WALKERS AND RIDERS RAISE MONEY THE HARD WAY

2010-06-07T18:07:00.002+01:00

Keith Burton and John Linney (both of Penkridge) set off on 3 June to walk 251 miles from Fort William to John O Groats by the hardest possible route - over the hills, mountains, bogs, rivers and valleys. All to raise money for the Macmillan Nurses. They are now 5 days into their effort and I have just had a text from Keith to say that poor John has developed an infected blister and is unable to continue. Keith, however, has said he will continue alone to the end.

There is yet to come some of the most difficult walking, with four nights of camping or staying at bothys as the way does not pass anywhere near communities who can provide accommodation. In fact, one of the Hostels they should have stayed in last night was closed down when they arrived.

I am not sure whether John is coming home or staying on and travelling by transport for a day or so to keep in touch and perhaps re-join Keith when his foot is better. I have text him back and said he must be very careful if he is continuing on his own - there are very few other walkers on this route so he will be very much on his own and although he has a mobile phone, coverage is not very good in mountainous areas. A twisted ankle when in he middle of no where could mean help not being launched until the evening when he doesn't arrive at his next stop. ANY VOLUNTEERS WHO CAN JOIN HIM ON THE ROUTE?

The other Macmillan Fund Raiser is Paul Greenway from Penkridge who, with a 70 year old friend, is cycling from Lands End to John O Groats (End to End). They started on the 6 June but we don't know how they are getting on. No doubt he will temporarily stop in Penkridge on his way north so we will hopefully get news then.

Keith and John can be sponsored by going to the Penkridge website and linking to his page where you will find a copy of the sponsor form. Alternatively, give Keith a phone when he gets home.

GOOD LUCK TO THEM ALL.

LOCAL SCHOOL NESTBOX WEBCAMS

2010-05-12T09:47:00.000+01:00

Princefield First School, in its development of its Wildlife Area and Studies, has two Webcams recording activity at nests of Blue and Great Tits. They can be seen by logging on to the school website.

XMAS EVE AND A LOVELY STORY ABOUT A PENKRIDGE LASS WHO IS KNOWN TO US ALL

2009-12-24T15:25:00.004Z

We all look for good stories and headlines at this time of year. And this year is no different. The Staffordshire Newsletter has published a great story about one of the long standing members of our community of Penkridge - Win Laffan. I will say no more except that you MUST CLICK ON THIS LINK AND GO AND READ THE ARTICLE YOURSELF.

A LOVELY LADY WHO HAS DONE SO MUCH FOR OUR COMMUNITY OVER THE YEARS AND WHO IS STILL DOING IT. AS SHE IS VERY MUCH NOW A SENIOR CITIZEN OF PENKRIDGE, SHE WOULD, HOWEVER, LOVE TO HEAR FROM SOME YOUNGER MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY WHO WOULD LIKE TO CARRY ON WITH THE WORK SHE STARTED MANY YEARS AGO.

THERE MUST BE SOME MORE "GOODIES" OUT THERE SURELY!

St. John Ambulance CADETS OF THE YEAR

2009-12-09T11:29:00.001Z

At the recent County Cadet of the Year Competition two young ladies from Penkridge Quad Division, St John Ambulance, secured both the Staffordshire County Cadet and Deputy positions. Both girls have been members of the Organisation for some years.

Miss Freya Burgess was invested as the Lord Lieutenant's Cadet for 2009/10 and Miss Rebekah Manifold as her Deputy. Presentations took place at the Young Achievers Reception held at the County Buildings Stafford in the presence of the Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire - Mr James Hawley. Freya will now go on to represent Staffordshire at the National Cadet of the Year Competition in Nottingham early next year.

Andrew Hughes, Assistant Cadet Leader said "Everyone at Penkridge Division is immensely proud of the two Cadets and congratulates them both on all their hard work and effort which helped them achieve their positions. We are sure they will prove worthy ambassadors for the County and the Organisation." Freya herself commented "It is both an honor and a privilege to be given the opportunity to represent St john Youth in Staffordshire. Rebekah and I are looking forward to all that our positions entail over the coming year and will endevour to do our best at all times".

Copenhagen LIVE

2009-12-07T11:39:00.001Z

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XMAS HAS ARRIVED

2009-12-06T10:52:00.003Z

We always known when Xmas has arrived when the "Sally Army" band is heard playing. On this bright and sunny morning, after heavy rain in the night, 8 turned up with their instruments and slowly walked up the road, stopping, as they do, every hundred yards to play several xmas numbers. My wife walked out to save them coming down the drive to hand them our usual donation towards their valuable work and I followed with my camera and took the following pictures.

I must now put out my Criers Bell on the front of the house. Look out for it when you drive up Haling Road (what was once called "The Marsh" and still is!).

Penkridge Town Crier

Burial Ground News

2009-11-24T12:33:00.003Z

The Parish Council is to apply for Planning Permission to erect a fence and gates around the boundary of the Burial Ground which will be opened in a morning and locked in the evening. If parishioners have any comments they would like to put forward to the Burial Ground Committee with regard to the application which includes fence type and height, could they please forward these to Lesley at the Haling Dene Centre or via email [lesley@penkridgeparish.org.uk] no later than Friday 8th January 2010.

Other BLOGS of interest

2009-11-22T23:35:00.002Z

I was talking tonight on the phone to two friends of mine who have a very good BLOG called Jupiter Birding. (June and Peter - get it! and they are both birdwatchers, like me). The main difference between us is that they live for several months of the year out in Portugal, taking visitors birdwatching in the Algarve area, including over the border into good birding spots in Spain too.

Take a look at their Blog (http://jupiterbirding.blogspot.com) where you will read about and see marvellous illustrations of some of the birds they have seen over the autumn out there on the Algarve.

NEW BIRD FOR THE GARDEN

2009-11-10T23:20:00.004Z

My wife and I were watching Blackbirds scrapping in the garden on Saturday last, when suddenly, the above bird appeared within a couple of metres of our kitchen window. At first I thought it was a Goldcrest but then we clearly saw the white eyestripe - A FIRECREST. It just shows that you should keep looking. It is the first we have seen in the garden in the 45 years we have been living here. I have seen them elsewhere in Staffordshire but never as close to home as this one was.

Since posting the above, my wife now tells me that she saw one in our front garden on the roses many years ago (I can hardly remember when we had roses in the front garden). I always knew she had better eyesight than me - now I know she has a better memory too.

Bevan

PENKRIDGE RAILWAY VIADUCT

2009-11-09T16:06:00.005Z

Saturday, 7 November, was the 204th birthday of perhaps the one person who, more than anyone else, is responsible for the growth of Penkridge to what it is today. (Maybe Lord Hatherton also must also take some responsbility/credit for this).

For it was Thomas Brassey who, in 1837 finished building the Penkridge Railway Viaduct and 10 miles of track on the Grand Junction Railway. As a young Engineer, the viaduct was his very first contract - he went on to become the man responsible for building more railways in the world than any other person.

Eighteen people met at Hatherton House Country Hotel on Saturday last, to celebrate his life and work. Three of his descendants were also present. After a lunch and presentations, we walked the few yards past the Health Centre, down by the River Penk, and stopped for a while under the 7 arches where "Thomas Brassey" (alias John Whittingham), said a few words about his first project here - which is now one of Penkridge's most important buildings - across which thousands of people travel every week and which is a marvellous visual feature when viewing from the Market and Bull Bridge on the A449.

Your Penkridge Town Crier was also present and more information about Thomas Brassey and the building of the Viaduct can be found on the Penkridge Website.

RIVER TRENT POISONED raises other questions

2009-10-15T11:16:00.003+01:00

Trent Poisoning
"Partially treated sewage and cyanide were labelled as the two contaminants leaked into the Trent in Staffordshire earlier this month. It has transpired that over 30 miles of the river was polluted by the 200 million litre discharge on 4th October, killing thousands of fish and posing a risk to other animals for whom the river forms an integral part of their lives."

If we can't control something on our doorstep as serious as this, then how can we ever solve the problems that the Global Cooling and Global Warming camps are forecasting will happen?

The big problem, in my view, facing the people of Penkridge - and every other community in the world - is not whether the planet is warming or cooling. It is our increasing population and the provision of food for that population. In 1911 (according to the Census details which we now have), the population of Penkridge was 2,442. One hundred years later it now stands at 8,548 (2004 Estimate), i.e. an increase of 350%.

So two big questions - should we (and if so, how?) can/do we stop our population in Penkridge from growing any further and can/should we be growing more food LOCALLY (i.e. more sustainably) for 8,548 people? Individually, we can all do something about both these questions.

What are your views? Comment on here or on the Penkridge Community Forum. Is this something the "Lets Plan Penkridge" group should incorporate in their deliberations? Is there a role for Penkridge Parish Council? Should we perhaps set up a Co-operative to tackle growing our own food locally, working with the landowners/farmers in our Parish?

Elephants, Rhinos, Lammergeiers, Cheetah - but not in Penkridge

2009-10-02T22:50:00.003+01:00

Just returned from a trip of a lifetime. We joined "C" who has worked at a Research Station in the middle of an African Game Reserve for 3 years. We lived in a wooden bungalow in the middle of the Reserve for 2 weeks, driving around the Reserve each day. This is a White Rhino with a baby only a few days old. My first visit to Africa and my wife and I can't stop talking about the country, the animals, the birds, the snakes, the trees, the people, the problems, the opportunities, the poverty, the diversity, etc. etc. If you get a chance to visit then take it - you won't regret it. You may come back very concerned at some of the things you see but it is an experience you will always remember - and you will always remember Rhinos and Elephants, Cheetahs and Giraffes, Vultures and Eagles, Snakes and ghekkos, whales and pelicans, zebras and buffalo, Leopard and monkeys, Trogons, etc. etc.

Thomas Brassey back in Penkridge on his 204th birthday

2009-10-02T22:01:00.002+01:00

Any Railway Enthusiasts in Penkridge (and I understand there are quite a few) will surely know the name THOMAS BRASSEY. He was the man who built our Railway Viaduct across the River Penk which brought the railway and its Station to Penkridge. Thomas Brassey was perhaps the world's finest Railway Engineer and our viaduct was his first job. He went on to build railways all over the world.

On Saturday 7 November, the Thomas Brassey Society will be holding a Luncheon in Penkridge at the Hatherton Country House Hotel (a short distance from the viaduct)to celebrate his 204th birthday. Anyone with an interest in Thomas Brassey would be welcome to attend. Please contact me by phone (712733) or by email: brassey@penkridge.org.uk and I will give you full details.

Newsman

Rodbaston Windfarm Application

2009-08-23T10:10:00.002+01:00

South Staffordshire College at Rodbaston (as it is now known)has submitted a planning application for two large (126 metres high) Wind Turbines on their land close to the Staffs. & Worcs. Canal with a public right of way running between them.

Comments have to be submitted by the 27 August and this can be done ONLINE or by post.

For more information go to:

http://www.penkridge.org.uk/folders/windfarm.htm

Penkridge Civic Awards 2009

2009-07-24T13:10:00.003+01:00

Recently Penkridge Parish Council announced its 2009 Civic Award winners. The awards were made at a Civic Reception at Haling Dene and were presented by Cllrs. Anne Geoghegan and Petula Hughes, Chair and Vice Chair of the Council.

This year the awards were presented to:

Keith Burton - known to many elderly people in the village because of his Co-ordinators role for the local Voluntary Car Scheme and also for his sterling fund-raising efforts for Macmillan Nurses and for his work for St. Michael's church.

This year there were two Junior Awards made:
To Clare Blanchard - for her work as a Young Leader for Penkridge Guides. She is presently studying for her Duke of Edinburgh Award.
The second award was to Mark Gater for tutoring young children to swim at Penkridge Leisure Centre and his involvement as a member of Wolgarston School's Learning Council.

Heartiest Congratulations to all three of them. Penkridge is proud of you.

If you go to Parish Council Section of the PENKRIDGE WEBSITE at: http://www.penkridge.org.uk/pcouncil/civicaward.htm#2009 you will shortly see pictures and more about their work.

SEPARATING RECYCLED PRODUCTS - WHAT IS HAPPENING? Are Penkridge People "wasting" their time?

2009-06-25T14:49:00.003+01:00

I have had a serious report from the Grange Estate on the west side of Penkridge about their collections of recycled products. It would appear that – although South Staffs. Council are asking for materials to be SORTED in separate containers (i.e. paper, tins, plastic, glass) - that when the contractors come round with a wheelie bin to collect these materials (it is a paved area with many houses some distance from the road where the lorries park), that THEY TIP ALL THE DIFFERENT RECYCLED MATERIALS INTO ONE WHEELIE BIN.

Because of this, the householder concerned did not separate the items next time (“why should I, when they put them together when collecting them”). The contractor then refused to take away their recycled products.

This was reported to South Staffs. Council who contacted their contractor who said they used two different wheelie bins to collect both types of recycled materials. THIS WAS UNTRUE as they were watched doing the job and ALL THE CONTAINERS WERE TIPPED INTO ONE WHEELIE BIN.

Is this an isolated occurrence or have other householders in Penkridge noted this happening? It has been reported in the past that different recycled containers have been tipped into the same compartment of the contractors vehicle? I would be interested to hear Penkridge residents comments.

Round Table donation to Penkridge PADS

2009-06-23T10:28:00.002+01:00

Penkridge Amateur Dramatic Society were presented with a cheque for £500 recently by Penkridge & District Round Table Chairman Kevin Long.

The group, who have been celebrating their 50th anniversary recently with a performance of “The Railway Children” have been entertaining the people of Penkridge since 1959 when they performed their first production “Love in a mist”.

Kevin Day – Chairman of Penkridge Amateur Dramatic Society (pictured) is seen receiving the cheque from Kevin Long. The performance took place on Sunday June 7th , which although scheduled as an outdoor performance took place indoors due to inclement weather.

VOLUNTEERS WANTED FOR AGE CONCERN AT ROLLER MILL, PENKRIDGE

2009-06-18T21:16:00.002+01:00

Age Concern South Staffordshire (who now have their home at the Roller Mill, Teddesley Road, Penkridge), are wanting volunteers to be the first point of telephone contact for older people seeking help and advice in South Staffordshire. Volunteer telephone advisors will receive full training to be able to answer enquiries and full support from their Information and Advice case workers.

They are also wanting a Volunteer to undertake duties developing and maintaing their gardens on site at the Roller Mill for the benefit of their service users. They are looking for someone to plant out pots and hanging baskets and to create and improve the environment to include shrubs, flowers and vegetables.

Further information and details of these two volunteer opportunities in Penkridge can be found on the Penkridge Website (http://www.penkridge.org.uk) where you will find copies of the two adverts OR phone 01785 788481 (Gardening) or 788499 (Info & Advice).

"Battle of Britain" over Penkridge

2009-06-15T16:40:00.006+01:00

Whilst weeding on the allotment yesterday, we had glimpses of the Cosford Air Show 2009. The first picture is of the Vulcan Bomber, only just been renovated and back doing the air shows. The other, of course, is one that all those will remember who were in the forces during the 2nd world war or who were waiting at home for the news. There's nothing like the sound of a Lancaster, Spitfire and Hurricane overhead to bring back memories!

Cllr. Stan Wright's 80th birthday -11 June 2009

2009-06-12T21:56:00.005+01:00

At the Parish Council meeting last night, Cllr. Stan Wright received presents, a card, birthday greetings and a chocolate CAKE with 80 candles (sorry, 8) on his 80th birthday.

Here he is photographed with the Chair of the Council, Cllr. Anne Geoghegan.

Google Car in Penkridge - Before Wolverhampton?

2009-05-21T18:37:00.002+01:00

There are rumours that the Google Car was about in Penkridge today taking 360 degree photographs around the streets of our community. I have had one report and I briefly saw a car travelling south on the A449 late afternoon which looked suspiciously like it with a large pole on the roof of a black car with what looked like a camera system on the top. Perhaps Google have heard that Penkridge was the Capital of England many years ago so it deserves to be seen by the world at close quarters!

Rain creates floods which creates Sewage problems - BUT DAZ AND KEITH FROM Severn Trent Water COME TO THE RESCUE.

2009-05-21T15:46:00.004+01:00

What a morning! Woken by next door neighbour who informed me that our drains were blocked and it wouldn't be long before the sewage was over the top and, well, you can guess the rest! So up quick, no breakfast, out to lift manhole covers and confirm that all three were up to the top. Now, as we are the lowest house in this area we always get it first so we checked with those opposite who hadn't gone to work and then investigated to find out whether the blockage was on private land or in the main sewer. (Did you know that from next year, new legislation will mean all properties having sewer problems will be able to call on the Severn Trent/South Staffs. to solve the problem - whether public or private sewers. At the moment, if the blockage is not in the main sewer, then you have to solve it and pay for it. Only if a blockage is on private land built before 1937 is the Water Authority responsible for clearing it at present free of charge.)

So out with the drainage rods, mine and my neighbours, and I rodded from my manhole just 3 metres from my boundary and then out into the road. I used 16 rods before I reached the main sewer where it came to a stop. Then went on the phone to the emergency number and after listening and tapping in numbers I eventually got a lady who listened to my problem and took down details. I had great difficulty in persuading her that the problem was in the main sewer as she repeatedly kept saying that as the sewer was on the opposite side of the road, then the house on that side would get a problem BEFORE me and they should phone up. I said "NO", our house and land is lower than theirs so, from previous experience, we get all the backup water and sewage BEFORE anyone else. In the end she said reluctantly, I thought, that they would investigate the main sewer ONLY but that it might be 24 hours before they got to us.

I said thank you - but not very enthusiastically - and started organising my campaign to get things done. Neighbours opposite phoned up and I got another neighbour (also affected) to phone as she is a Child Minder and the last thing you want is problems with toilets and sewers with young children in the house. By jove! - it worked - within an hour the Severn Trent Water van was outside with 2 very amiable and co-operate men. They listened to what I had to say, and then went about their work, explaining what they were doing and why. They had problems as it would appear that STW do not have accurate plans of where all the drains are and in fact they were unable to find where our drain goes to. However, with 100 metres of hose jetting the main sewer, it eventually solved the problem. Putting dye down to ascertain where the drain led to did not work. There seemed to be more storm drains in our road than sewer drains - "has a sewer manhole been buried somewhere?" one thinks.

They agreed with me that a thorough investigation is needed - with cameras - to trace where the sewer goes and where the continual blockages keep occurring. AND WE NEED MORE REGULAR SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE OF OUR PUBLIC SEWERS. WE ARE IN SERIOUS TROUBLE IF THE PROBLEM GETS WORSE.

But a big thank you to Daz and Keith from Severn Trent Water for being so cheerful and solving our problem in Haling Road this morning. I wish there were more people like them around.

Penkridge Town Crier

Bats in Penkridge

2009-05-17T15:17:00.003+01:00

A small group of us are attempting to survey the bats of Penkridge Parish this year. Not an easy job - but we have acquired a more modern Bat Detector and a Recorder which should help us with identification. What do we do? The Detector can scan from 20 Khz to 120 Khz which is the range in which all bats make their echo location calls to help them fly in the dark and home-in on insects. So we scan the airwaves and when a bat is heard calling, the detector microphone picks up the echo location calls and turns them into sounds that the human ear can hear. With the recorder we can now record the calls on a disc and when we return home, we can analyze the calls with special software on the computer which produces a sonogram. Examining the sonogram closely we are able to better identify the different species that have passed over and that we have recorded.

On a visit to Gailey Pools recently we recorded much activity over a 2 hour period after dusk. On returning home and examining the sonograms we were able to confidently say that we had recorded 4 different species of bats that evening - Common Pipistrelle, Soprano Pipistrelle, Daubenton's and Noctule bats.

We would love to hear from anyone in Penkridge who knows of good areas for bats. Pipistrelle bats are common in the built up area (I have two or three regularly feeding over my garden and house as I have trees and a pond which means lots of insects here). What we are particularly wanting to establish is where our bats roost and breed so we can produce a picture of the different species we have in Penkridge and their preferred habitats and their breeding, roosting and hibernating sites.

Bats frequently change these sites throughout the year, depending on the weather, the humidity of the sites they use and the time of their breeding. They are found in cavities (sometimes only very small) in many types of buildings, old and modern, as well as in holes in trees, under bridges, in caves, as well as in bat and bird boxes, etc.

So if you ever see bats emerging from a particular spot in a tree or in a building (perhaps from under tiles or soffit boards) at dusk, we would love to know and would pay you a visit with the detector and identify the species and try to establish how many are there. This month female bats are beginning to form maternity colonies and are looking for suitable nursery sites, such as buildings, trees or bat boxes. Male bats of most species will roost on their own or in smaller groups.

We only have 17 species of bat in the UK, all of which are protected by law because their numbers have decreased so dramatically.

Bevan

BREAK-IN AT THE ATC HQ in Grange Road - HELP!

2009-04-28T00:39:00.002+01:00

Did anyone see anything suspicious between Sunday and Monday evening 26 - 27 April in Grange Road?

The Air Training Corps HQ at the end of Grange Road was raided (again) some time between Sunday and Monday evening. As the Police have yet to inspect the scene, details of losses, etc., are not known, but lots of damage to Radio Controlled model Aeroplanes has been done (the engines ripped out). The Radio Room has been trashed and some equipment is apparently missing.

If anyone in the vicinity of Grange Road has seen any suspicious activity, please can they let us know ?.
Either the Police, the Commanding Officer or Dave Coomber, the Radio Officer. (712172)

Garden Wildlife

2009-04-20T22:32:00.002+01:00

Our gardens are becoming a haven for wildlife. My next door neighbour on one side had a fox in his garden one evening recently and the neighbours on the other side had a badger eating worms on the lawn one night. One man living close by when walking to work early one morning last week, followed a badger up the road.

And from the larger mammals like fox and badger, there were also a couple of the smaller ones in my garden and on my allotment yesterday and today. On the allotment a mouse was running around in broad daylight while we were working and today, in the garden this evening, a Pipistrelle Bat was hawking for insects over the pond. It was successful in its hunting as the Bat Detector I was using, distinctively picked up the buzzing sound that the bat makes as he homes in on an insect.

Bird species breeding in my garden include 2 nests of blackbird, blue tit, great tit, robin, wood pigeon, collared dove, starling, house sparrow and dunnock. There may well be a song thrush and wren, goldfinch and chaffinch are behaving as if they will also nest in the garden or very close in the weeks ahead.

Recent summer visitors heard singing in the garden include, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Blackcap - but these species will move on to their more favourite habitats i.e. woodland. They all breed in the parish.

I am now waiting for the first house martins and swifts over the village. I have swift boxes attached to the house and they were investigating last year. Swifts usually return to their last year's nesting sites in the first week of May - only a couple of weeks to go.

But will we get a cuckoo in the parish this year? They used to be regularly heard even flying over our house on The Marsh but in recent years I have not heard of one in our parish, never mind in the village. Cannock Chase would appear to be the nearest where you can hear them now. Traditionally they are first heard around the 21 April - that's tomorrow folks - so listen out.

Inter-Parish Games - help needed

2009-04-19T22:50:00.003+01:00

Bob Holmes is urgently requesting help from anyone who will volunteer to become part of a Penkridge team for Target Golf for the Inter-Parish GAMES. Please contact Bob Holmes by email at: robert.holmes@hotmail.co.uk

Wildflower Meadow

2009-04-15T19:31:00.007+01:00

I have been trying to turn a meadow by the River Penk into a Wildflower Meadow. With the help of wildflower plants supplied by South Staffs. Council and with some donated bulbs. At last I have pictures to show you that indicates, I believe, that we are succeeding.
Last autumn we planted 140 bulbs of wild Snakeshead Fritillaries (Fritillaria meleagris). This flower has become a favourite of mine ever since I was involved in managing the last two meadows in Staffordshire where this flower still grows in the wild - one at Wheaton Aston and one at Tamworth. At one time - before farmers started to drain lowland wet meadows, plough them and put fertilizer and chemicals on them, many of our wetland rough grazing meadows in lowland Staffordshire must have been covered by these purple chequered bell-shaped flowers.
I now have them growing in my own garden and on the front lawn (once part of the Great Marsh of Penkridge) and over the years I have grown many from seed (they take several years before developing into a proper bulb and start to flower like the one in the photo taken today).
The plan with our Meadow is to turn it into a really beautiful natural wildlife meadow on the banks of the River Penk. We checked what was growing there before we began introducing new species and found there were very few species. We have so far introduced about ten new wild species and the Fritillary is one of the first to flower in the spring - early April is their flowering time. Penkridge Parish Council have agreed not to mow the field until after the main flowering season so that the plants can seed and spread.

CHURCH BACK IN TIME.............

2009-04-10T20:01:00.006+01:00

At last we will be able to catch that train and bus folks! The Church Clock is ticking again. And you'll be pleased to see that its moved on from ten to three! TIME STOOD STILL IN PENKRIDGE FOR NEARLY 6 MONTHS! Three cheers for the Clock Winder.

CLICK HERE TO SEE WHAT WILDLIFE HAS BEEN SEEN AROUND PENKRIDGE

Newsman

Pro's and Con's - two sides to the coin

2009-04-07T09:48:00.003+01:00

There are always two sides to a coin - and sometimes you have to make a choice. Sometimes its made for you which of course, often goes against the grain - but sometimes we are given a choice. The problem, however, is that often the odds are weighed against us.

Today I am referring to the Planning System which is much more open than it was and now all planning applications are open to the public for comment. They all now appear on the Planning Authority's Website and you can even make your views known online.

Penkridge Parish Council regularly receive notices and details of all planning applications relating to our parish and their views are requested. The Planning Authority (i.e. South Staffs. District Council) then take those views, and any others they receive from the public, into account in arriving at a decision to either approve or reject the application.

In the near future, two very different applications will be submitted to the District Council for consideration by the Planners (the officers will advise the Council Members on them but the Members will make the final decision). Those two applications will be:

1. An Application by South Staffordshire Housing Association for a replacement Care Home for the elderly to replace the now demolished Silverdene which was closed by the County Council last year.

2. An Application by a developer (Wind Direct Ltd.) to erect two 130 metre high Wind Turbines on the Rodbaston College Estate.

Now, on the face of it, the above two applications seem pretty straight forward and most people would say "I have no problem with either of those - we need another Care Home and Wind Turbines turn the wind into energy that we can use and need".

BUT IF YOU LOOK FURTHER INTO THESE, MANY QUESTIONS ARISE AND YOU BEGIN TO WONDER WHETHER THEY ARE RIGHT FOR PENKRIDGE, PARTICULARLY ON THE SITES THAT HAVE BEEN CHOSEN.

I will leave it at that for the time being. Think about them both, ask questions, ascertain facts. I will write more about the the pros and cons of these two applications a little later or when they are submitted.

Newsman

Stafford Hospital NEEDS Surgery

2009-03-17T19:38:00.003Z

Everybody will have listened with horror to tonight's news that Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust had an "appalling" system for looking after patients in A&E that may have led to many deaths, a report says.

I suppose the question is: "Does the blame really lie with the NHS Trust Board, Chair and Chief Executive OR does it lie with the Government"?

If any Penkridge person has any stories or points to make, can I suggest they post them on the "Have Your Say" section of the Penkridge Website where the link will take you to a page explaining the Community Group on Google where you are able to put your views.

ECO-PROJECT IN PENKRIDGE

2009-03-03T16:01:00.002Z

Your Town Crier was invited to help announce (or should I say PROCLAIM) the start of building a new ECO-PROJECT in Penkridge this morning. The project by Central Borders Housing Group on behalf of South Staffordshire Housing Association aims to compare the green credentials of a brand new house against that of a refurbished house.
Building work on the homes has just started in Clay Street, Penkridge as Sue Rowley, Managing Director of South Staffordshire Housing Association explains “The aim of the project is to see whether you can really make a refurbished house as green and efficient as a new build. We will be measuring energy ratings, performance and fuel bills to see whether in the future we can provide our customers with eco-homes that are super-efficient to run.”

Both homes will include:
• a Swedish heating system which uses natural resources;
• solar powered hot water;
• triple glazing; and
• low energy lighting.

Ursula Bennion, group development director for CBHG said, “Our eco-homes have been designed to very high standards and to fit in with existing Penkridge buildings. What we learn will help us consider how we can cut emissions and fuel poverty in the future.”

Your Town Crier said "I very much welcome this project in Penkridge. It is a big step in the right direction which should lead towards lower running costs in our homes and a more sustainable form of living. Over 30 years ago, my father was researching Heat Pumps for home heating when they were in their pioneering stage – I am very pleased that the Housing Association is now leading the way in Penkridge with this new technology.”

The photograph above show: Penkridge Town Crier Bevan Craddock with left to right Mrs Anne Geoghegan (parish chairperson), Grant Mitchell (Housing, strategy and regeneration manager from South Staffordshire Council), Cllr David Billson (Portfolio holder strategic services at South Staffordshire Council) and Ursula Bennion (Group Development Director CBHG).

NEW PENKRIDGE LOCAL HISTORY BOOK

2009-02-26T14:18:00.005Z

Published this week was Robert Maddock's latest edition to the Social History of Penkridge. Entitled "The Shops, Businesses & Trades of Old Penkridge", it was written with the help of about 50 elderly residents of Penkridge, many of them born and lived in Penkridge all their lives - and many of their parents and ancestors too.

Many new photographs and facts have come to light and it makes a very welcome addition to Robert's three previous books (The Good Old Grit, The Day Before Yesterday, and Who Lived in Penkridge in 1901?).

All those who helped and supplied information are mentioned in the acknowledgements and at the event this week when the book was launched, it was agreed that we would continue with planning the next publication and there will be a further meeting of Penkridge's newest voluntary "Local History Group, Great Marsh Publications" towards the end of March. If you would like an invite (must be over 60 - give or take a few years! - and have lots of memories of life and people in Penkridge), then let me or Bob Maddocks have your name and address.

The latest book published by Great Marsh Publications is on sale at the Pot Shop, Hawkins Electrical and Sally's Hardware Shop at Stone Cross, price £8. Bob has also compiled a list of all the businesses in Penkridge from the Trade Directories from 1793 to 1947 and they are now all listed in a separate publication on sale for £2.

GET YOUR COPY NOW - IT'S SELLING LIKE HOT CAKES, as they say! All profits are being recycled into further written revelations about the history of Penkridge and its People. We thank the County Council for its financial grant towards this publication and our research under the Local Member Initiative Scheme - Veronica Downes being our local member.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

2009-02-23T20:33:00.002Z

I urge everyone to go take a look at this BBC TV Programme. It is a video of a Natural World TV programme all about the future of growing food in a world that is running out of fossil fuels, particularly oil. It lasts for 58 minutes but it will make you think. Let me know if you do watch it and what your reaction is please. I have some thoughts on how we might feed all Penkridge people with food grown locally but would like to hear whether there are others in our community who have ideas.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00hs8zp/Natural_World_20082009_A_Farm_for_the_Future/

Bevan

Its "Awards for Penkridge People" Year!

2009-02-15T15:32:00.002Z

And I hear of yet another well-earned award. Anne Geoghegan, who many of you know as Chair of the Parish Council and owner of the Pot Shop in the centre of the village, is also an ajudicator for the Board of Trinity/Guildhall College of Music in London.

Each year the Chairman of the Board gives one Award from the Board for "Services to the College". This year the Award has been presented to Anne. This is a great honour for her. She is shortly going out to Hong Kong for the third time to adjudicate at the Hong Kong Schools Music Festival and will be one of the 30 adjucators from all over the world. CONGRATULATIONS ANNE.

Good News and not so good News

2009-02-11T12:12:00.004Z

First the Good News - Penkridge British Legion have just been awarded the South Staffordshire County ~"Presidents Shield" for increased membership - a branch without its own hall. WELL DONE BOYS AND GIRLS - IT JUST GOES TO SHOW THAT COMRADESHIP IS AS STRONG AS EVER IN PENKRIDGE.

AND A Local woman recognised for work with older people

Dawn Northwood from Penkridge has been shortlisted as Tenant Liaison Officer of the Year for her dedication and sensitivity to older tenants who are moving house.

Dawn is a tenant liaison officer with South Staffordshire Housing Association and was nominated for going above and beyond the call of duty.

Residents May and Wilf Lewis think Dawn should win, they say “Dawn did everything, she even offered to turn up our new curtains. Dawn still pops in to see us. She’s an adopted daughter really; I’d like to take her on permanently.”

Dawn was modest about her achievements: “It helps that at SSHA we have a policy of providing excellent service to everyone and I know I have the backing of senior staff. Basically though I just think about how I’d want my own parents to be treated. That’s what most people would do, isn’t it?”

The Connecting People Tenant Liaison Officer of the Year award is sponsored by TPAS, the Tenant Participation Advisory Service. The overall winner will be announced in March.

And NOW the not so good news - its my birthday today but I aint telling you how old I am. All the cards I have received have reminded me I am a year older. SO WHAT! I AM ALSO ANOTHER YEAR WISER.

And some more good news - for those who have helped Bob Maddocks and me with information about Penkridge in the Past, you will be pleased to hear that the book is due from the printer any day now. We are planning another meeting of our Social History Group to launch the book on Tuesday, 24 February - Shrove Tuesday. Invitations will be going out to all those who have attended meetings in the past. Bring your own Pancakes.

Bevan

Sudden Oak Death identified on Cannock Chase

2009-01-06T23:30:00.000Z

A potential outbreak of Phytophthora ramorum has been identified by Staffordshire County Council in Brocton Coppice, Cannock Chase *. The exact extent of the infection is not yet known. Otherwise known as Sudden Oak Death *, this relation to potato blight is a virulent and deadly fungal type infection that is spread by spores. These can be spread on clothes, animal fur, and in soil on boots, tyres etc.

Phytophthora ramorum attacks a range of species including oak, ash, beech, sycamore, yew, bilberry and heather. There are therefore potentially very grave consequences for the ancient oaks at Brocton Coppice and for the internationally important Cannock Chase heathland. Phytophthora ramorum is a notifiable plant pathogen and the Environment & Countryside Unit * at Staffordshire County Council is liaising with DEFRA's Plant Health and Seeds Inspectorate * regarding control and eradication measures.

The Council is not, at this point, closing the Chase to visitors, but is asking people to stay on footpaths and tracks and to keep dogs on leads in the woodland. If you visit this area please refrain, however tempting, from leaving footpaths. Apart from the risks to this special site, there is the chance of spreading the infection to gardens and other places visited. Among the many ornamental plants susceptible are rhododendron, magnolia, lilac and camellia.

Global Warming! Surely they mean Global Freezing!

2009-01-06T22:31:00.004Z

I have always had my doubts of the hype about Global Warming. Now, everyone seems to be changing their minds - and at minus 9.5 Celsius last night I am not surprised. I well remember 1962/3 winter which was the coldest in England and Wales since 1740. Forecasters are already predicting that this January chill could rival that. I haven't been able to contact my ancestors who were around at that time but I do remember the 1946/7 winter when the snow drifts were over the front door! We didn't have central heating in those days but depended on heat from the open coal fire in the front room (where I used to sit for ages toasting bread on the end of an extendable toasting fork) and the Aga cooker in the kitchen.

Last night (on the day when the Russians cut the gas to the EU via the Ukraine), and temperatures plummeted to minus 10 Celsius in the UK, our state of the art Gas Central Heating decided to break down. Panic stations when we woke this morning to find no hot water or heating. By mid afternoon (after driving to Stafford to collect the plumber whose van was out of action), it was got going again. Relief!

Have you noticed how your dog behaves when snow covers the ground and it freezes? No smells and they can't nuzzle through it. Our poor Bess seems to have grazed her nose on the ice - or is it frostbite? No shortage of birds in the garden searching for food. Squabbling over the peanuts, the mixed seed, the bits of pork pie, the crusts of bread, the turkey remains, etc. Gulls and Jackdaws chasing each other after collecting stale bread thrown on to the garage roof. Today we had visits from Mistle Thrush, Long-tailed Tits and Pied Wagtail.

Bevan

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2009-01-01T00:06:00.001Z

A Happy New Year to all visitors to this BLOG and the PENKRIDGE COMMUNITY WEBSITE.

Bevan
Penkridge Town Crier & Webmaster
http://www.penkridge.org.uk

Waxwings arrive in Penkridge for Xmas

2008-12-19T19:48:00.003Z

One of my favourite birds, after Nightjar, Swift, Hawfinch, Bullfinch and Chough, is the Waxwing. A text message this morning told me of 14 having been seen in Penkridge on the Cherrybrook Estate. I went straight up and walked all round the estate and eventually found these two feeding on a small tree covered with white/pinkish berries (Sorbus hupehensis (Hupeh Rowan Tree). I also had a male Blackcap taking berries there too.

Lovely birds - keep an eye on any berry bearing shrub/tree in your garden or anywhere in the village - they are tame and allow fairly close viewing. Size of a Starling but with a crest, yellow tip to the tail, black chin - well look at the photo! Let me know if you see any.

Bevan

READING ROOM DAMAGED

2008-12-15T18:24:00.002Z

Within a few days of the re-opening of the refurbished Reading Room, the vandals appear to have struck. I have just been informed that a window at the front was broken over the weekend.

When we were all thinking that crime was on the decline in Penkridge, it would seem that the opposite is happening. The above incident comes after a break-in at the Co-op, a burglary at Eldershaw (the butchers), a burglary at Somerfields, and a couple of cars stolen.

PLEASE BE EXTRA VIGILANT BETWEEN NOW AND XMAS. IF YOU SEE ANYTHING SUSPICIOUS, DIAL 999 IMMEDIATELY AND MAKE A NOTE OF ANY VEHICLE NUMBERS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN USED BY THE CULPRITS.

WHY HAS THE CHURCH CLOCK STOPPED AT 10 TO 3?

2008-12-03T11:22:00.002Z

After my recent posting about the Church Clock being changed from summer time a few days early, I now see that the clock has stopped at 10 to 3.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED? ALL SORTS OF RUMOURS ARE GOING ROUND THE TOWN -

Is it because someone has over wound it?
Is it because the winder is on holiday?
Is is because the winder is on strike?
Is it because there are bats in the clock (protected by law)?
Is it because someone has lost the key to the stairs?
HAS THE CLOCK BROKEN?
OR - is it some other reason?

Come on Mick! - Why is it not telling us the time?

Penkridge Boy Hits a Six

2008-11-24T11:07:00.006Z

Some local good news at a time when everyone is down in the dumps, worried about credit crunches (is that a new chewy bar for guinea pigs!?) - a teenage youngster studying for his A levels at Wolgarston High School has hit the headlines this week in a Press Release from the NHS.

Jake Murphy has been telling the world about how the new Insulin Pump he has that enables him to carry on with his outdoor sporting activities - he is a very keen cricketer and footballer. He has been able to dispense with the four-times-a-day injections that he used to have to do, often having to stop in the middle of a game.

An expert team from Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust supports 16-year old Jake Murphy so that he can use an insulin pump, which is aimed at improving his quality of life. Since being diagnosed with diabetes in 2001, Jake's conditon has hampered his ability to participate in his two passions - cricket and football.

But he has been at the top of his game for the last two years after being fitted with the device, which measures out a steady flow of insulin to control the blood sugar levels in his body. Jake carries the pump - which is the size of a pager - on his waistband and it delivers the insulin through a tube into his tummy.

The Wolgarston High School pupil said the pump had made it much easier for him to play for his two sports clubs - Hawkins Cricket Club, in Cheslyn Hay, and Penkridge Juniors Football Club.

Jake said: "Before I was fitted with the pump, I had to take an injection in the middle of cricket matches and I would often go hypoglycaemic when playing sport, which is when your blood sugar level drops too low.

"When I play cricket now the pump allows me to lower the amount of insulin given to me before and during the match and I take the pump off altogether for football.

"I love playing football and cricket and the pump has given me a lot more flexibility to follow my sporting ambitions. I played for Penkridge Juniors under 16s side last year and my next goal is to get into the adult team".

Talking to his grandparents yesterday, they said they were very proud of Jake.

Floods and Trees

2008-11-10T23:12:00.002Z

I am registered for telephoned Flood Warnings from the Environment Agency and this year I have received several - most turning out true and resulting in me having to wear wellies to carry our waste to the bottom of the garden to put into the compost container. Whether or not Global Warming is taking place, it certainly seems to be true that we are getting much wetter in Penkridge - I have even got a rain guage in my garden now to measure it. I am seriously thinking of acquiring a boat - maybe a canoe - as I think we may need it before long.

Trees - wonderful plants that I wouldn't be without. We have several in our garden and I wish I had more ground and could grow more. I believe no tree should be cut down or even pruned without very good reason. Not only are they important as habitat for wildlife, they also act as screens, camaflaging ugly man-made structures that seem to be spreading throughout our countryside. So imagine my surprise when I drove back into Penkridge from Stafford and noticed a few days ago that they had pruned all the Willows on the Market Site which grow on the banks of the River Penk. Now I know that willows will pollard and grow again but suddenly we now see not one, but three, Mobile Phone Masts sticking up and taking over the landscape from the trees. Its ironic really, when you think that the Planners actually encourage the Phone Companies to make their masts look like trees. I have seen lots that look like Pine trees both elsewhere in the UK and overseas.

We now have to look at these ugly masts until the willows re-grow and hide them again. As soon as they do, no doubt they will prune them again. You would have thought they could at least have not done them all at the same time. And this has all happened right on the edge of the Conservation Area. Yes, we can see the Church much easier from the north but we can also see the buildings on the Market site too which aren't exactly beautiful!

Is it just me?

Church behind Times

2008-10-25T16:31:00.002+01:00

Perhaps the Church "Clockman" was checking to see whether anyone ever looks at the Church Clock when he put the clock back one hour on Friday (maybe even earlier). The Town Crier has learned that the Railway and Bus Companies have been inundated with calls asking why their services are all running an hour late. Special buses and trains have had to be run because of the number of complaints.

When the Town Crier pointed out to passengers waiting in the cold for an hour that it was not the fault of the Train and Bus Companies but of the "Clock Tender" of Penkridge Church, they said they would therefore be sending a bill to the Church for extra costs incurred as some, it seems, had ordered taxis to take them to their destinations.

Meanwhile, the Penkridge Town Crier has volunteered his services to wander the streets of Penkridge proclaiming the correct time that European Summer Time ends.

A Break in Scotland

2008-10-22T18:46:00.003+01:00

No news for a while is because we have just been for a short break to Scotland - our first Coach Tour. NOT our first visit to Scotland I hasten to add as we have travelled all over Scotland since our marriage 46 years ago. Our honeymoon was spent in Scotland!
This time we went on a luxury coach from Wolverhampton and stayed at Tyndrum in a great hotel - the Ben Doran - excellent food and staff. Each day we were coached out to places like Stirling, Loch Lomond, Ben Nevis and Fort William, Oban, Glencoe, etc. Unfortunately, we had a lot of rain but still managed to see some wonderfuly scenery and met some lovely people.
Last night we had a Scottish party with the pipes and dancing, followed by a great meal, including, of course, haggis and neeps!
Great to be back in Penkridge but nice to see the mountains - and the first snow on the tops and red deer starting to descend to the lower ground.

TALENT IN PENKRIDGE - is there any?

2008-10-09T23:26:00.003+01:00

6 years ago I posted the following on this website. I am still waiting!

Penkridge is a town with a population of over 9,000 people. I am attempting to discover how many of them have hidden artistic talents which can be illustrated on the following pages to show the rest of Penkridge and in fact, the world. Painters, musicians, actors, poets, writers, artists, photographers, craftsmen and craftswomen, etc. etc. I believe everyone of us has some gift, some way of expressing themselves and which they enjoy doing. Some people have turned their artistic creation into something they can make a living at, others just create for their own enjoyment and keep it very private.

If you are a Penkridge artist or craftsperson and have in fact developed to the stage where you are selling or would like to sell the products you create, then this can be your shop window. If, on the other hand, you are not interested in selling your creations, can I persuade you to let others see what you have done. It might encourage others who have not "tried" to actually "have a go". Your name and address can be kept confidential if you wish. Simply contact the Webmaster and arrange for an informal chat. Let the world see what Penkridge people can create! Your work can be illustrated by images or by words (or both) - and even by sound! All copyright will be retained by the creator and that will be made clear.

Although the main purpose of these pages is to illustrate the artists of today, if anyone can supply me with information on Penkridge artists of the past then it would be nice to pay tribute to them too.

Go to: http://www.penkridge.org.uk/talent/intro.htm to see some of Penkridge's talent. I would like to be inundated with requests - come on, spread the word.

Bevan

Wednesday's in Penkridge

2008-10-08T20:59:00.002+01:00

I feel like going out Town Crying and telling people to avoid Penkridge at all costs on Wednesdays. Why? Well, today I had to collect a 90 year old lady who was disabled and take her to her hairdressers in the village and that entailed using the A449. As usual, on a Wednesday, the A449 was gridlocked with people queuing from outside the village to go to Penkridge Market - to the car park by the River Penk off the A449 near Bull Bridge. I eventually made it by trebling the mileage it usually takes. While she was having a wash and set, she asked me if I would go to the market for her but there was no way I could cross the A449 in the car so I came home and my wife agreed to walk to the market and collect her order.

An hour later I then collected my client from the hairdressers and took her to the Co-op to buy her food for the week. I eventually managed to find a space in the Co-op car park but while waiting in the car I watched cars pouring into the car park and unable to find any spaces, reversing out again, causing all kinds of problems for other cars and pedestrians. Not that everybody was shopping in the Co-op - I saw several people not only parking in disabled spaces although they didn't display a Blue Badge, but also walking off into the village and NOT into the Co-op.

There wasn't a space to park anywhere in the village this morning - the Chapel Car Park was completely full and all the road verge spaces were taken. Co-op car park full and all Market Street - the most dangerous place to walk in the village - narrow pavements and cars parked all down one side. Bellbrook completely full of cars and even Haling Road (Belbrook end) narrowed down to one way right up to the junction with illegally parked cars.

Our Penkridge Market is becoming more popular but at the expense of safety and inconvenience to many local people on market days. We have nowhere to create any more car parks as the planners have allowed development on ALL our open spaces in the community. THE CAR HAS TAKEN OVER PENKRIDGE - WE ALL COMPLAIN THAT SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT IT BUT WE DON'T WANT TO ADMIT THAT WE COULD EASILY SOLVE THE PROBLEM OURSELVES. I tried - I got rid of my car. My wife has one and we share it. I have a bike although its not very safe to ride a bike in Penkridge (particularly on Wednesdays).

Practically all Penkridge houses have two cars, sometimes three - some even four, parked in their drive or on the road every night. If they were all parked outside the house on the road at the same time - Penkridge would entirely become grid-locked.

A Big Problem - but when we ask the experts to suggest solutions - there is a big outcry as the only solution is to control where cars go and where they are parked. Everybody would appear to feel that they have a right to take their cars wherever they want to take their bodies. THE CAR IS NOT PART OF YOU - YOUR MOTHER DIDN'T GIVE BIRTH TO YOU AND TO YOUR CAR. YOU WEREN'T BORN WITH A CAR!

There are other ways of getting around our community - dare I say "walk, or ride, or share - whether it be by car, bus or train". WE HAVE TO REDUCE OUR DEPENDENCE ON THE CAR IF PENKRIDGE IS GOING TO BE A PLEASANT PLACE TO LIVE.

My first visit to an excellent Delicatessen

2008-10-01T23:10:00.013+01:00

I took my wife out for lunch today - but not in Penkridge! However, we were supporting a Penkridge family. They have recently purchased a lovely very old shop just over the border in Shropshire in the centre of Newport - the Wycherley Delicatessen at 49 High Street, right in the centre of this Market Town.
It must be one of the oldest buildings in Newport, built in approx. 1610, nearly 400 years ago. Liz and Tony Minshall, who have lived in Penkridge for a very long time, have set up a lovely small business, running a Tea Room on the first floor, and a Delicatessen on the ground floor, specialising in local cheeses from Shropshire and Staffordshire, with a few rare ones from further afield. With Xmas not far away, Hampers are a speciality of theirs too.
I recommend you pop into Newport and taste their cheeses, drink their coffee or teas, served by caring staff (including Liz and Tony's daughter Jenny), and, like me, I am sure you will love the experience. I wish we had one in Penkridge!

Back after a few days in neighbouring Shropshire

2008-09-29T17:30:00.003+01:00

Nice to be back in Penkridge but in just over a week we got to know parts of South Shropshire quite well. A lovely part of the world and very different from South Staffordshire. Up and down, more trees, roads much better, and some attractive towns and villages like Ludlow and Cleobury Mortimer and some interesting small churches. We also spent a day or two exploring the Titterstone Clee Hill, with it's Industrial History, particularly the Quarrying and Mining that has taken place over the last 150 years. At one time it was the largest quarry in Europe. Quarrying still takes place but now only employs a couple of dozen men or so compared with the hundreds that worked there in the early 1900's.

I purchased in Ludlow the book by A E Jenkins "Titterstone Clee Hill - Everyday life Industrial History & Dialect" which is a must if you are exploring the area. Titterstone Clee Hill is within the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and is Open Access Land although care must be taken as much of it is Common Land and several people still have Sheep Grazing Rights. During the week we had the Hills to ourselves but at the weekend, it unfortunately turned into a noisy hill with illegal scrambler bikes tearing around and damaging the habitat as well as disturbing the peace and quietness of the hills. Designating areas is great but there must be enforcement of the rules governing areas like Titterstone Clee Hills and Cannock Chase.

I will return, however, as the views on a good day are tremendous - an easy summit to reach gives one superb views around 360 degrees. I met some very interesting people up there - from Scotland and Poland as well as many local people, some of whom have lived around the Hills all their live, One evening while I was photographing a fantastic sunset, a man from Worcester appeared who had driven up to near the summit to mount his astronomical telescope on a tripod in order to study the sky at night. Light pollution in urban areas makes it practically impossible to see details of the stars but up on the Clee you feel a lot nearer to them and there are no street lights or cities nearby polluting the sky with their light.

Safe Cycling in Penkridge

2008-09-13T20:22:00.000+01:00

For some time now I have been advocating safe cycling in our community. To start with I am proposing the following and I would like any comments please. There is a long way to go before we (whether young or elderly) can cycle throughout our community safely. However, I believe that if the following routes are tackled first, it will give us a strong base upon which to work and will provide a useful, safe cycling routes through our community.

1. The Staffs. & Worcs. Canal runs through the centre of our community from south to north. It enters the urban part of the village just south of Wolgarston Way close to the large housing estate and then runs past the Druids Way Estate, past Princefield First School and the Saxon Road housing estate. Then under the Cannock Road, past the Boat Inn and Little Marsh and then on past Marsh Lane and Leacroft Road estates before it runs on the eastern boundary of Penkridge Middle School to the Teddesley Road and on towards Acton Trussell and Stafford.

2. Otherton Brook (with its adjacent open space) runs from Boscomoor Lane in the south, through housing estates, under Vale Gardens road and north to where the footpath finishes at New Road, very close to the centre of Penkridge.

With the Canal route we only have to deal with British Waterways (the owners) and with the Otherton Brook route we only have to deal with South Staffs. District Council (the owners). I believe we will find both these authorities sympathetic and co-operative. British Waterways have already expresed an interest. I believe these two routes could be the first of a network of safe cycle routes in our community - all it needs is a partnership between County, District and Parish Councils and British Waterways.

WOULD THE PEOPLE OF PENKRIDGE SUPPORT THIS IDEA? IF THERE IS A RESOUNDING YES FROM CYCLISTS AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, THEN I WILL INITIATE A STEERING GROUP TO TAKE THIS FORWARD. HELP WOULD OBVIOUSLY BE APPRECIATED.

There are obviously many more routes that could be explored but I think they would be more difficult to set up and would take much longer to come to fruition. There would be less red tape with these two routes and they should not be that expensive - but inevitably it will cost. Once we get the ball rolling, however, we can go on to explore other possible routes.

Penkridge Floods

2008-09-09T21:46:00.005+01:00

After putting on my wellies to wade through 10 inches of water to reach the bottom of my garden, passing the greenhouse where the tomato plants were under 3 inches of water, and passing the underwater courgettes (a new species?), my wife and I ventured round The Marsh and on to the Teddesley Road.
These photos will show what we saw - the flooded Penk looking like a great lake; cars splashing through floods; and the usual high water mark right up to the Health Centre.

"Notable" Penkridge Citizens from the past

2008-09-01T13:37:00.005+01:00

Tim Cockin produced the Biographical County Map of Staffordshire in 2006 (published by the Malthouse Press). It is based on the Ordnance Survey New Series six inch to one mile maps 1875-86 and it shows, presumably, his chosen, single most notable person associated with each parish.

Of course, I looked eagerly to see who Tim had chosen in Penkridge. No, not the first Lord Hatherton, Edward John Littleton, whom many people would say today was perhaps the most notable person, who had a great influence not only on the Penkridge we know today but also greatly influenced British history at the time. No, he was listed under Teddesley Hay Parish. (The map shows the old Ecclesiastical parishes, whose boundaries and names have changed in some cases since our current Civil Parish Councils were created in 1894.) He chose a churchman, Bishop Richard Hurd (1720-1808), born at Congreve, who became Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry and Bishop of Worcester, but declined the Archbishopric of Canterbury in 1783.

Why do historians, when considering a question like this and having to choose just one person, always look back to centuries ago and never consider people who were living in the 20th century. Is it because they don’t believe any 20th century person is “notable” or is it maybe that historians are programmed to only think back from the 19th century?

Are the happenings of the 20th century not history? Surely there are some notable persons of that century in Staffordshire, many of them still alive of course? Can you name anyone from Penkridge who you consider more "notable" and list his/her achievements? Or does it take over 100 years after someone dies before anyone considers they are notable enough to be remembered?

Town Crier helps celebrate Pauline's 80th birthday

2008-08-30T22:37:00.003+01:00

Tonight we walked a few yards to our neighbours house where, along with about 40 other people we celebrated Pauline D'Agorne's 80th birthday in the marquee in her garden. What a marvellous way to celebrate - in your own home with your husband, your family, your relatives, your neighbours, your ex-colleagues and your friends.

The wine and champagne flowed, the refreshments were delicious, the birthday girl was toasted, the birthday song was sung, the cake was cut and ate, the fireworks popped, and the cameras flashed.

I met people I hadn't met before, I got to know people better than I knew them before, we all chatted and communicated for about 3 hours - and the time flew. But what a way to spend an evening, getting to know your neighbours and their family and friends, discussing everything under the sun.

THIS SORT OF EVENING SHOULD BE COMPULSORY FOR AT LEAST ONE HOUSEHOLD IN EVERY STREET IN PENKRIDGE ONCE A YEAR.

If anyone wants to invite me to their celebration in the marquee at home in their back garden, the Penkridge Town Crier is available - and no charge will be made. But beware, you might have to plug your ears!

Elderly of Penkridge help write our History

2008-08-26T11:58:00.004+01:00

We have now had two gatherings of the elderly/senior long-term residents of Penkridge, many of whom were born in Penkridge and even some of their parents and grandparents were too. At the first meeting in Haling Dene 24 people attended and at our second meeting, 30 people attended with about 10 apologies.

Robert Maddocks (author already of two history books of Penkridge) and myself have set ourselves a target of producing several smaller social history booklets of Penkridge and approached the older residents of Penkridge for help in providing information from their memories of the village/town in the past. So far we have produced one booklet (the Pot Shop have one or two left) entitled "Who Lived in Penkridge in 1901?". This was based on the 1901 census (the last so far to be made available to the public) but with more information about some of the residents and their lives at that time, with some photos of them and where they lived.

As well as providing us with lots more information about the people and their lives in the last 40/80 years, the meetings have turned out to be successful social events for people with many of them having grown up together in the community. We have also had lots of laughs and fun listening to the stories they tell - some you will read about in future booklets.

Our next one will be about the Shops, Businesses and Trades of Penkridge over the years and we have lots of ideas for future ones too. These booklets will be produced as cheaply as we can and any profits will be ploughed back into producing further ones.

If you, or anyone you know, feels they can help with information and stories about Penkridge over the last century, please ask them to contact me or Bob Maddocks.

5 Species of Bats in one evening in our Parish

2008-08-25T22:12:00.003+01:00

I took three other Penkridge people along to the Bat Walk organised by British Waterways at Gailey Pools on the evening of the 24th August. Paul - British Waterways Ecologist - lead about 16 people around the pools for a couple of hours. I had my own bat detector but Paul distributed half a dozen around the group and also brought along an expensive and very sensitive one that recorded all the bat calls it heard and we were able to analyse the sonagrams on a laptop computer with the special software at the end of the walk.

Paul was able to demonstrate the difference in the patterns of the sonagrams between the species. We eventually decided that we had heard four, and possibly five, different species during the walk. Noctule, Common Pipistrelle, Soprano Pipistrelle, Daubenton's and possibly Brown Long-eared.

Gailey Pools is in the parish of Penkridge and the Swamp Conservation Group of Penkridge is shortly going to begin a survey to try and establish the species that inhabit our parish and what buildings and habitats they use for breeding, roosting and feeding. With this batwalk around Gailey we have established that Gailey Pools is an important area, not only because of its Heronry on the island of the Lower Pool, but also because of the bats that are to be found feeding there.

Milk on your Doorstep

2008-08-25T20:58:00.002+01:00

Well, I've done my bit! I helped an elderly lady carry several heavy cartons of milk from a supermarket a day or two ago and said to her "have you thought of going back to bottles being delivered on your doorstep". Result - she asked me to ask my milkman to call on her.

If you drink milk or put it in your tea or coffee, I can give you the phone number of the milkman. A few more customers and there is a better chance of him continuing to deliver MY milk. I don't want to start carrying it from the supermarket either.

Support your Local Milk Delivery Man

2008-08-14T18:41:00.003+01:00

We have our milk delivered by a local delivery Van and its always delivered early, fresh on the doorstep. He is a young and friendly guy and someone that we have not only found we can trust but so have many other people. Today, however, he was a little down in the dumps. Why? Because he has had one or two people cancel because they argue they can buy it slightly cheaper in the supermarket.

It is a free country and we can buy whatever we need from anywhere, I know. Nobody is owed a living. But just read on and think about what I am going to say.

I know for a fact that my milkman delivers to lots of elderly people, many of whom can't get down to the supermarket and carry their milk back. They rely on him and some even trust him to the extent of giving him the means to access their property and put the milk in their fridge. And they don't buy gallons of milk a week from him either, but he sees this as part of his job - helping these aged people to survive in a world where it seems people are becoming more and more selfish and greedy.

The reason I am pointing this out is that there will come a point when, if more of us cancel our milk and buy from the supermarket, our milkman just won't be able to survive himself and he will have to pack up the round and then what will our elderly people do. Will you fetch their milk from the Supermarket every other day for them?

ASK YOURSELF - "AM I REALLY THAT POOR THAT I CAN'T AFFORD A FEW PENCE EXTRA FOR NOT ONLY HAVING THE PRIVILEDGE OF MY MILK BOTTLES BEING ON MY DOORSTEP IN THE MORNING, BUT also to know THAT I AM HELPING THOSE LESS FORTUNATE THAN MYSELF TO HAVE THE BENEFIT OF OUR FRIENDLY AND HELPFUL MILKMAN TAKING THEIR MILK TOO". These elderly people happily pay the same as you and me for this service - they don't complain about the price. They know it costs extra to travel round delivering to the doorstep.

So, come on - if more of us purchased our milk from our local delivery man, his overall delivery costs might be reduced and the price of the milk might actually come down a little. If the so called "credit crunch" is worrying you, then why not cut down on some of the luxuries (or unnecessaries) that you buy, like cigarettes, sugar, biscuits, beer, wine, chocolate, etc. The supermarkets won't go bust because they sell a few less plastic containers of milk.

Let me know what you think. Am I being unreasonable?

Sports Organisations in our Community

2008-08-07T16:16:00.003+01:00

Since I set up the Penkridge Community Website I have been trying to find out details of ALL the Organisations in Penkridge so newcomers - and potential newcomers - could find out what we have to offer. I have lived here now for 44 years and am still finding it difficult to find out details of one organisation that has been established here for many years and I am sure you all know exists - and that is the Bowling Club situated next to the Memorial Gardens opposite the Littleton Arms.

I have approached Officials of the Club and asked if they would supply me with details (e.g. names and addresses, membership subscriptions, opening times, etc.) but to no avail. The question has to be asked - don't they want new members? If the reason they don't want publicity is because they do not have room for any more members, then please tell us so we can look into providing a second green in the community.

I thought tennis was a popular game! When I was a member of the Committee of the Monckton Recreation Centre, there was a strong Penkridge Tennis Club. Now, you may or may not know, the Club no longer exists. The two tennis courts are still there at the Monckton and available to play on I understand. I am not sure who you get in touch with, if anybody, to get permission to play there. These two courts costs an awful lot of money to provide and should not be allowed to fall into disuse.

Is there no one out there who plays tennis today? If there is, how about forming a new Club or re-forming the old one. Tennis is always going to be a popular game but you can't play it without the facilities - and we have them at the Monckton.

Football, of course, is probably the most popular game carried out by Penkridge lads. In the 1950's and 60's, Penkridge United were winning trophies galore and I have some photos of their successful teams which I will put on the website soon.

Other sports pastimes still popular and facilities still provided in Penkridge Parish are:- Cricket (at the Pillaton ground, where I played as a lad); Swimming (at the Leisure Centre); Rugby (at the Monckton); Darts (at all the pubs); Sailing (South Staffs. Sailing Club at Gailey Pools).

We don't have facilities for Golf (the Chase Club is just outside our Parish); Hockey (but excellent Club and facilities at Four Crosses, Hatherton).

Athletics is, I think, one of the most interesting and widely supported activities and we are shortly going to see the world's best athletes competing at the Beijing Olympics. Should we be providing facilities within our community where our future athletes can train locally?

A Pleasant wake-up Call

2008-08-06T15:02:00.002+01:00

I was awoken at just before 8 this morning to the noisy sound of machinery outside our house. On looking out of the bedroom window I spied (and photographed) the scene above. It was only a couple of weeks ago I completed an online form to Clarence at the County Council about a dangerous hole in our road. This morning they were out there filling it in. Thank you Staffordshire County Council, Highways Department. Cyclists can now safely ride our road again.

Bat Walk in the Parish

2008-08-06T14:57:00.003+01:00

Bat boxes erected by British Waterways

If any of you are interested in the Bats of Penkridge Parish, then I strongly suggest you contact me and we will invite you to an event that British Waterways are organising on Sunday, 24 August, from 7.45 until 10pm in the evening.
I have been out today with the Biodiversity Officer of British Waterways and they are carrying out a really great project in our parish, from Gailey Reservoirs north along the Staffs. & Worcestershire Canal right through our community to Teddesley. If you come along on that evening you will not only learn more about the project from British Waterways specialist staff but you will learn more about, certainly hear, and maybe see lots of bats of several species. We will be using specialist Bat Detecting equipment which can hear the echo location calls they give and turn them into not only sounds that the human ear can hear, but also produce sonagrams which can help us identify the species.
Contact me if you wish to come along - email:bats@penkridge.org.uk I need to know in advance so I can tell the Project Officer so he knows how many are coming. Interested childen can also attend but must be accompanied by a parent, guardian or responsible adult.

Bevan

In Holland 3,000 wild geese gassed.

2008-08-06T00:57:00.005+01:00

As well as being concerned about my community of Penkridge and what happens here, I also listen out for problems occurring elsewhere on this planet, particularly when it concerns wildlife which is unable to speak up for itself. So one of my many voluntary roles is acting as the UK Midlands Co-ordinator of PROACT - an international organisation which campaigns for the protection and conservation of birds and their habitats worldwide. Our latest campaign is supporting the Dutch Wildlife Conservation Organisations. Below is a report I have just received of what has been happening over in Holland.

During June and July the authorities on the Dutch North Sea island of Texel contracted out to a firm the trapping and gassing of thousands of wild geese. Local conservationists have monitored the operations and describe it as an unprecedented wildlife protection scandal. Observers from the Committee Against Bird Slaughter CABS and the Dutch wildlife conservation organisation Faunsbescherming have reported that workers of the Duke Faunabeheer trapped some 3,000 birds in 6 separate operations, loaded them onto lorries and transported them to an unknown location. The scandal has now spread to Germany after it has become known that the birds gassed on Texel have now been sold to a German slaughterhouse. The local newspaper ‘Leeuwarder Courant’ reported in a recent issue that the birds are to be used inter alia for the production of Foie gras in Germany.

Log on to the site below for further information and where you can support our objections to this terrible incident.

http://www.proact-campaigns.net/proactholland/geese_killing.html

Trees in our Community

2008-08-04T14:59:00.005+01:00

Walking round the Penkridge Community at this time of the year really opens your eyes to the importance of trees in the town/village landscape. Within the Conservation Area of course, all trees are automatically protected because of the Planning Status of that designation. If anyone wishes to prune, lop or fell a tree within the Conservation Area, then they need to apply to the Planning Authority (the District Council at Codsall).

Outside the Conservation Area boundary, trees do not have the same protection but any important ones can be given it by Tree Preservation Orders. I will endeavour to find the list of those Orders so we can all learn which trees are given protection.

I live in Haling Road (formerly called "The Marsh", which I prefer). We have a beautiful Monkey Puzzle Pine in a front garden close to us which has grown over the last 44 years (the time we have lived here) into a wonderful tree which is now a feature of our road. Does it have protection I ask? Doubtful but I will check. What is a little worrying is that suddenly we have noticed that many of its lower branches have turned brown and I have been trying to discover whether what the cause is. It may not be early signs of the death of the tree as we first thought, as it seems that in their native area of South America (Chile), they grow to enormous trees and often finish up with just a top knot, like the Scots Pines of Scotland.

Monkey Puzzles are either male or female and you can't tell until the cones appear when they are mature. This one has started to produce cones which are round so therefore it is a female tree. (Males have more pointed cones). These female cones are beginning to explode and drop their seeds (not fertilised because we don't have any male trees around here - or do we?). I discovered from searching the internet that the seeds of this tree are edible and that the natives of Chile used to rely on them for food - they are very productive and rich in carbohydrates I believe.

It would be interesting to find out whether we have any other Monkey Puzzle Trees in Penkridge and where they are - and are they male or female? And are people planting them these days. They were first brought to this country in the late 1800's and can grow into very big trees - I think I heard that there is one in Scotland that is about 150 years old.

Do you know of any individual tree, or group of trees, that you think is important in our community and should be given protection? Tell us about them and we can draw up a list of ones that people think are important features of Penkridge.

Bevan

Town Crier meets up with a couple and their dog and discuss the issues of the day

2008-07-28T21:32:00.004+01:00

I got my Claude Butler bicycle out and rode down to the town (if you want to argue whether Penkridge is a town or a village, I am quite willing to put the case for town). I had been asked to take some photos of the traffic island by the Parish Council. It looked absolutely marvellous today in the sunshine as I dodged the traffic on the A449 and took several photos, two of which are to be seen on the first page of the website.

I also wandered into the Memorial Gardens on the west side of the A449, adjoining the Bowling Green, and there, on this lovely sunny day, I spied two young people sitting on the bench in the middle with their dog. What a lovely picture that would make, with the church in the background, so I leaned my bike up against the wall and walked into the gardens and approached them, asking if they would mind if I took some photos of them to put on the website. They agreed and you see the results above.

Before taking the photos, however, we had a long discussion, covering many local issues and subjects - they learned a bit about me and I learned a bit about them - and their dog. Why doesn't this happen more often I thought. Why have many of us become silent, not communicating with all those wonderful people like these two I have just met. The world is full of wonderful people - isn't it time we talked to each other and discovered what language is really for.

Thank you, M and B for talking to me (or should it be listening to me, my wife says :-)) And "A" their dog had plenty to say to me I can tell you. I then took my photos of the island flowers and pushed my bike up Market Street.

On my way, I made a quick pop-in to Gordon Hawkins (Electrical Shop), another cyclist - why don't more of you folks out there cycle into the centre of our town to shop? I then called on my friends Colin and Sheila for a chat about two photos I had acquired. One of a Town Crier taken in the 1960's and one of a Penkridge C.E Schools, Class IIa - no date, but taken before the last war I think. All girls, with a banner behind them on which are the words "HDMC Strive and Sing School Choir". Can anyone help in identifying when this was taken and could you possibly identify any of the choir - it is a very clear photograph. Incidentally, Colin thinks he knows who the Town Crier is but we need to check with another elderly Penkridge person before releasing the information that Bevan might be the 6th Town Crier and not the 5th :-))

God Save the Queen

A new interest for the senior residents of Penkridge

2008-07-24T17:47:00.005+01:00

OYEZ OYEZ OYEZ

This morning, Local Historian Robert Maddocks (author of several local history books) and Town Crier Bevan Craddock, met 24 keen and excited elderly Penkridge residents at Haling Dene Centre in the community where, for 3 hours, we discussed the economic face of Penkridge over the last 60-80 years. Showing them photographs of the different buildings in the main street of Penkridge, we tapped into their memories of the past and brought to light many of the changes and the people who have lived and run their businesses in our community over the years.

It was great to hear all the stories, the names, the characters, the language of those people from the past, many of whom were personally known to most people in the room. They went to school with them, they played with them as children, they even married some of them, many were relatives, had been neighbours, worked with them, had good times with them and also the "not so good times" during the wars.

It was indeed a fascinating morning and I think has highlighted the need for more human contact like this in our community.

I will keep you informed of developments. We know that there will be others who would like to talk to us of their knowledge of the 1900's and we really do want to hear. If you know of someone who would like to be invited to our next gathering (and we certainly intend there to be one as we didn't complete our agenda today), then let me or Bob Maddocks know.

God Save the Queen

Bringing you NEWS and INFORMATION

2008-07-23T14:30:00.000+01:00

Town Criers have been delivering news and information to Penkridge people for over 400 years. Back in 1608 it was Edmunde Wolley, who was then called the "Bellman of Penkridge". Today it is me, Bevan Craddock, Penkridge Town Crier and Webmaster, appointed by Penkridge Parish Council back in 1989 (now nearly 20 years ago!).

And what better way than to bring you the news than via the Internet (as well as the traditional ways). So, as well as the website (http://www.penkridge.org.uk) I have created this BLOG which will be a bit more chatty and not so formal - and will not necessarily be the views of the Parish Council. You can also add comments on the Blog yourself so please feel free to do so. News comes from all sorts of sources but in the end it is ordinary people that make up this community, not newspapers, television programmes, mobile phones, the internet, etc. So its news about what ordinary Penkridge people are doing that I hope you will read on this Blog and if you can help me by providing some of that information, all the better.

I won't be posting necessarily every day but on occasions I might even post more than one message (or Cry) in a day. It depends on what is happening - what Penkridge people are up to, what news they are creating or observing.

This is the end of my first proclamation on this Blog and I end it in the traditional manner with

GOD SAVE THE QUEEN