Good News and not so good News

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

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!

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

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

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

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?

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?