Citylife in Lichfield December 2019

Joy to the world

3

Welcome to
CITYLIFE
Welcome to CITYLIFE in Lichfield, a monthly magazine
bringing you our pick of the city’s news, events and stories.
Each month CITYLIFE in Lichfield is delivered to 18,000
businesses and homes in Lichfield, Kings Bromley, Fradley,
Alrewas, Whittington, Stonnall, Shenstone, Little Aston,
Hammerwich, Burntwood and Longdon, completely free
of charge; bringing you the best that the city has to offer.
Each issue features heritage stories exploring the rich
history of our area, plus competitions, interviews and the
latest in fashion and style.
Got a story or charity event you want to share with our
readership? Think you’ve snapped an image that captures
the spirit of the city? We want to hear from you!
Our business is bringing you Lichfield’s city life.
CITYLIFE Contacts
Editor - Kristen Lackajis 07885 380632
kristencitylife@gmail.com
Features - Jono Oates 07785 757201 jonocitylife@gmail.com
Advertising -
Steve Brown 07740 166497 stevebrowncitylife@gmail.com
Rebecca Hill 07970 513144 rebeccahillcitylife@gmail.com
Inside...
6 Win a Les Georgettes Bracelet
Courtesy of City Jewellers Lichfield
.............................
14 Tastes of the Season
Simon Smith offers up his Christmas Tips
.............................
28 The Garrick Theatre of Christmas Past
Jono Oates looks at the history of the
original Garrick Theatre
.............................
36 Ciao Bella!
Italian Night at The Strawberry Cabin is
one not to miss!
.............................
44 Christmas Gifts for Her
The perfect gifts for ladies this year
Production - Helen Smith 07967 154187
helencitylife@gmail.com
Citylife In Lichfield Ltd
PO Box 7126 LICHFIELD WS14 4JS
CITYLIFE in Lichfield and CITYLIFE in Rugeley magazines
are not connected to any other publication or publisher, and are
wholly owned by CITYLIFE in Lichfield Ltd.
Citylife In Lichfield
www.citylifeinlichfieldltd.co.uk
Citylife in Lichfield Ltd does not endorse any business or organisation
appearing in these pages, and the publication of any advertisement,
editorial, event listing or advertising editorial does not constitute an
endorsement by Citylife in Lichfield Ltd.
Your Local Magazine
The Cathedral Illuminated 2019: 'The Beginning'
Created and Produced by Luxmuralis Artistic
Collaboration

5

Win a Les Georgettes Bracelet
from City Jewellers
The original customisable French jewellery, Les Georgettes by Altesse
is the perfect accompaniment to your Christmas outfit this year!
In particular, the iconic Courbe bracelet, with cubic zirconia in a silver
finish, is chic and refined and can be worn with its interchangeable and
reversible leather band. Choose between its Coral side or its Metallic
Navy Blue side, to go with your daytime or evening look!
We’ve teamed up with City Jewellers of Lichfield to offer you the
chance to win a Les Georgettes Courbe Bracelet. Want to win? Simply
look at the picture on the right and contact us with your answer to the
following question:
How many baubles are in the window of City
Jewellers Lichfield?
Nearest answer to the correct amount wins!
For the truly dedicated among you, feel free to visit City
Jewellers’ shop window and have a go at counting them!
To enter, just send your name, contact details and answer to City Jewellers
Competition at competitioncitylife@gmail.com or post your entry to Citylife in
Lichfield Ltd, PO Box 7126, Lichfield WS14 4JS by the closing date of 18th
December 2019. One entry per household. Multiple entries will be disqualified.
No cash equivalent. Please note you must be 18 or over to enter.
All entrants’ information is processed in line with GDPR Data Protection
Regulations and our Privacy Policy (available at citylifeinlichfieldltd.co.uk). Full
t&cs on page 49.
6

First Anniversary for
The Courtyard!
..............................
Amanda Shaw and her team at The Courtyard Fine Art Lounge celebrated the
gallery’s first birthday by inviting guests to a lavish cocktail party on the
evening of Saturday 16th November.
Attendees, which included some of Lichfield’s best-known names and faces,
were treated to drinks and canapes at the Dam Street venue whilst listening to
the soul and jazz classics of Titine Lavoix.
Having stood empty for many years, the store saw a dramatic refurbishment
when Amanda took over in 2018 and is now home to stunning pieces of artwork
by some of the industry’s biggest names.
Amanda said: “Thank you to the girls who have worked so hard. To my
wonderful family, and to all our supporters over the past 12 months. Here’s to an
exciting, bigger and better second year!”
7

LOCAL NEWS
8
Cathedral Donates
Denis May Art
A series of dramatic monochrome prints
inspired by the poems of Wilfred Owen that
were on display during Remembrance-tide last
year in Lichfield Cathedral have been donated
to two National Collections.
The 22 linocuts, by Denis May, combine
religious iconography with depictions of the
horrors of war on the Western Front. The
strong graphic qualities of the work with their
blocks of velvety black ink, dramatic shading
effects and stark white lines are perfectly suited
to the intense nature of their subject matter.
A selection of the prints was exhibited at
Lichfield in 2018 under the title ‘Not about
Heroes’, before being donated to the National
Army Museum and Manchester Regiment
Collections.
.......................................................................................
Lichfield School’s
Cookery Cash Boost
Ian Harvey (left) from M6toll with pupils from the
Flamingo Class and teacher, Claire Dryhurst (right).
A local special needs school is set to offer
cookery lessons to its pupils after being backed
with a £1,500 donation from M6toll.
Lichfield-based Rocklands Special Needs
School, which provides enrichment
opportunities for children who have complex
medical and special educational needs, was
selected as one of M6toll’s monthly Drive for
Charity in the Community campaign winners.
The donation will finance the cooking element
of a ‘Dare to Dream’ topic, enabling equipment
and ingredients to be purchased to allow the
children to learn valuable cooking skills.
Since the M6toll opened 15 years ago, operator
Midland Expressway Limited (MEL) has donated
more than £1million to local good causes. To
find out more, visit www.m6toll.co.uk.
.......................................................................................
Awards for Love
Ladies’ Locals
Two Staffordshire
business women have
been recognised at
this
year’s
#LoveBizAwards, an
annual event hosted
by Love Ladies
Business Group, which
took place at The
Crowne Plaza, Solihull
on Friday 1st November.
More than 500 nominations were received
across 10 categories. Ruth Redgate, from Elford,
was named Ambassador of the Year for the
work she does for the Lichfield arm of The Love
Ladies Business Group, whilst Wendy Harris, of
Yoxall, was winner in the Business to Business
Impact category.
The Lichfield meetings of Love Ladies Business
Group are held on the second Tuesday of the
month at McKenzie’s in the City.
For more information visit
www.loveladiesbusinessgroup.co.uk.
.......................................................................................
Festive Run Goes
Green
On Sunday 8th December, Lichfield will host the
annual fun run event, the Festive Dash
(previously known as the Santa Dash), which
will see hundreds of fun runners completing the
2.5km traffic-free route around the city.
The event begins at 10.30am when Santa will
officially set the festive bunch on their way with
the help of his elves (and friends from the
Lichfield Round Table)!
Proceeds from the event will go to Shining
Stars, which provides night club experiences for
adults with disabilities in the area, and was set
up by local runner, Charlotte Aspley. She
commented: “As part of our mission to be
kinder to the planet we have decided to make
our fun run a festive fancy dress affair! By
wearing your favourite festive jumper or outfit
we can avoid discarded Santa suits ending up in
landfill.”
To take part in the Festive Dash visit
www.kpevents.net or The Barbers, 3 Tudor
Row, Lichfield.
.......................................................................................
Brook Clearance by
LARA
On 19th September and 31st October,
Leomansley Area Residents Association (LARA)
undertook work to help restore the water flow
to Trunkfield Brook where it flows through
Darwin Park.
Members of LARA were joined by local
volunteers, including Councillor Jamie
Checkland, and volunteers from South Staffs
Water.
Debris from the water and surrounding areas
was cleared along a considerable length of the
brook. The work included cutting back
overhanging branches and clearing the areas
adjacent to the brook. Every effort was made to
ensure that the ecology was not affected by the
work.
Thanks go to Lichfield District Council and
Taylor Wimpey for clearing away the resulting
debris and to Waitrose for providing washing
and toilet facilities.
The Darwin Park Pool and Wildlife Project is a
LARA imitative to improve the pools and green
spaces that form a part of the Darwin Park
Estate. More information can be found at
www.tell-lara.co.uk.
.......................................................................................
Congratulations to our
November winners!
P Rogers, H Benham and M Ruane will all
receive a canteen of Arthur Price cutlery.
The winners of tickets to the BBC
Winter Food Show were H Townsend, M
Crowton and J Phillips.
Well done!

9

LOCAL NEWS
10
Canal Trust Receives
Queen’s Award
Ian Dudson presents the award to Eric Wood.
Picture by Margaret Beardsmore.
Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Restoration
Trust (LHCRT) received the Queen’s Award for
Voluntary Services at a ceremony in the city’s
historic Guildhall.
The Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire, Ian
Dudson, presented a certificate, signed by Her
Majesty the Queen, to LHCRT president Eric
Wood at the event, attended by many of the
Trust’s volunteers as well as civic dignitaries and
representatives of groups and businesses who
have played a part in the on-going restoration of
the canals.
The Queen’s Award, the equivalent of the MBE
for voluntary sector organisations, recognises
the outstanding contribution made to local
communities by individuals devoting their time
for the benefit of others.
LHCRT was praised for ‘restoring a derelict
canal to improve the environment and for the
benefit of the local community, wildlife and
tourism.’
.......................................................................................
Auctioneer Teams Up
with John Lewis
Ben Winterton (left), Lucy Hughes from John Lewis &
Partners, Tamworth, and auctioneer
Richard Winterton (right).
Richard Winterton Auctioneers has teamed up
with John Lewis & Partners, Tamworth, for an
exclusive pre-Christmas event.
The Ventura Park store will be welcoming
Richard and his team for a special valuation
evening on Friday 6th December, from 5pm-
7pm. Entry to the special event costs just £5,
which includes a glass of prosecco as well as a
£5 John Lewis voucher to redeem instore on
the evening.
Mr Winterton, who appears regularly on BBC
Bargain Hunt and Dickinson’s Real Deal, said:
“Our team of specialists can cast a professional
eye over anything from jewellery and watches
to all kinds of antiques and curiosities, pictures,
wines, whisky and port.
“We can’t wait to see what treasures turn up.”
To reserve your place, ask instore at John Lewis
& Partners Tamworth.
.......................................................................................
Co-op Funds Local
Causes
Three local organisations celebrated with
Morley Road Co-op, Burntwood, on Saturday
23rd November after being awarded funding
from the Co-op local community fund and
sharing over £14,000 between them! Spark in
Burntwood, Hammerwich Women’s Institute
Hall and 2nd Norton Canes Brownies and
Guides were all selected to benefit this year.
The Co-op has also donated refreshments to
community events such as Play in the Parks and
the Burntwood Wakes, whilst Spark has a
partnership with the Co-op to distribute spare
food donations to local families.
During the last year every time Co-op
members at Morley Road and Chasetown Swan
Island shopped at their Co-op, 1% of what they
spent on selected own-branded products and
services has gone towards helping fund these
community projects. Co-op has also given all
money raised from shopping bag sales to the
causes, to help even more.
.......................................................................................
Helping Local
People in Crisis
The Citylife team joined other volunteers at
Lichfield Foodbank at Tesco on Thursday 21st
November for an eye-opening experience
helping to collect food items from generous
donators.
Lichfield Foodbank provides three days’ worth
of emergency food for people in crisis, and
helped more than 1,100 people in 2018.
We’d like to thank Lichfield Foodbank for
(From left) Rebecca, Jono and Krissy from the Citylife team.
allowing us to join them and see the hard work
that the dedicated volunteers do – without
them, it would not be possible. Thanks also go
to everyone who kindly donates food or money
to help out people in crisis.
To find out more about Lichfield Foodbank, or
to volunteer, visit
www.lichfield.foodbank.org.uk.
.......................................................................................
Local Golfer Climbs
the Ranks
November saw Tom Beard compete in the
EDGA Algarve Disable Open at Vila Sol Golf
Resort in Vilamoura, Portugal. This was a world
ranking event with the elite players fighting it
out for the title. Tom finished in twelfth place in
the gross category, and fourth in the nett
category (with handicap off). The field had 75
players from the USA to Australia and
everywhere between! This is a great result for
Tom as it means he has climbed up to 57th
place in the world rankings, maintaining a place
in the national team. Well done Tom – 2020 is
going to be an exciting year!
Opportunity for a
Sales Executive
Citylife in Lichfield Ltd is expanding!
We currently have an opportunity for a
Sales Executive to work on our two magazines
– Citylife in Lichfield and Citylife in Rugeley &
Cannock Chase. You must be self-motivated
and comfortable speaking to clients on the
phone as well as face-to-face. A car is
essential for this post.
For further information and a full job
description, please email
helencitylife@gmail.com

11

Win Tickets to see the NRO
“The Glenn Miller & Rat Pack Era”
Nick Ross is delighted to bring
the Big Band Sound of the 1940s
and 50s to Lichfield Garrick
Theatre on Sunday 19th January
2020 with a concert celebrating
Glenn Miller and the Rat Pack era.
With a full line-up of
saxophones, trumpets,
trombones, a rhythm section and special guest vocalist Sam Merrick, the
Nick Ross Orchestra will faithfully recreate the wonderful sound of the
Big Bands including those led by Glenn Miller, Count Basie, Tommy
Dorsey and Syd Lawrence.
Featuring numbers such as “Moonlight Serenade”, “In the Mood”, “A
String of Pearls” and “Little Brown Jug”, memories of wartime and the
blitz will no doubt be brought flooding back to life. The music will span
almost all the emotions of those difficult times: comradeship, doubt, fear,
loss and, most significantly, the hope in love.
The Nick Ross Orchestra uses arrangements exactly as recorded in
the Great Swing Era, coupled with outstanding instrumental and vocal
performances. This special concert celebrating the inimitable Glenn
Miller and other Big Band greats promise to be an unmissable evening of
music and song with a liberal sprinkling of swinging Rat Pack
arrangements.
We’ve got a pair of tickets to this event to
give away, courtesy of Nick Ross Orchestra. To
be in with a chance of winning, simply
unscramble the letters below to make the
name of a popular orchestral instrument.
mtebnroo
- - - - - - - -
To find out more about the Nick Ross Orchestra, or to book tickets
to this event, visit www.lichfieldgarrick.com or call the box office on
01543 412121.
To enter, just send your name, contact details and answer to NRO Competition at
competitioncitylife@gmail.com or post your entry to Citylife in Lichfield Ltd, PO Box 7126,
Lichfield WS14 4JS by the closing date of 18th December 2019. One entry per household.
Multiple entries will be disqualified. No cash equivalent. Please note you must be 18 or
over to enter. All entrants’ information is processed in line with GDPR Data Protection
Regulations and our Privacy Policy (available at citylifeinlichfieldltd.co.uk).
Full t&cs on page 49.
12
OFFER ENDS 31ST
DECEMBER 2019

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At Four Oaks Financial Services we
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13

Tastes of the Season
Christmas Tips
By Simon Smith
Christmas is coming and the goose is getting fat!
Now is the time to start planning the Christmas
meal and trying to avoid spending the whole day
in the kitchen. More often than not the ‘chef of
the day’ is short on space in the kitchen and
stressed about cooking for large numbers of
people. With a little bit of advance planning this
can be avoided.
Cook your sprouts a day or two before and put
them straight into cold water to stop them
cooking and keep a nice green colour. Drain
them off and keep them in the fridge. You can do
this with any green veg. When you want to
serve them, tip them into a pan of boiling water
for a minute, drain them off and put on a knob
of butter and a little salt and pepper.
You can also cook your carrots a day or two
before. I would recommend just covering them
with water, a knob of butter, fresh bay leaf, a
tablespoon of honey and some salt. Simmer
them gently until just cooked. Turn them off and
let them cool. Leave in the pan and put into the
fridge ready to reheat in the same beautiful
scented liquid.
Your roast potatoes can be blanched the day
before, cover with cold water and bring to the
boil. Drain in a colander and shake to rough up
the outside. On Christmas day dust with a little
plain flour and some chopped fresh rosemary
and sprinkle with some sea salt flakes. Cook in
hot oil. I always use Maris Piper for this as you
get a lovely crisp and fluffy potato.
The biggest issue of the day is always the turkey.
‘Will it fit in my oven?’ is the most common
question. If you think it may not you can always
ask your butcher to take the legs off and bone
them. This will give you a great cavity to put
your stuffing in. It also gives you some bones to
make turkey gravy with.
Instead of turkey you may want to try a little
something different. In this case I would plump
for goose. A beautiful moist meat but some
worry that it is very fatty. To overcome this I
always prick the breast skin and start to cook it
14
upside down on a cooling rack. This way the fat
drains out into the bottom of the pan and we
can use it to cook our roast potatoes in…
double whammy! Turn it breast side up after half
an hour to brown off.
Roasting times: Cook for 10 mins at 240C/fan
220C/gas 9, then reduce to 190C/fan 170C/gas
5 and cook for 20 mins per kg for medium-rare,
32 mins per kg for more well-done, plus 30 mins
resting.
How to carve: Goose breasts are shallow, so
take a sharp, long thin-bladed knife and angle it
at about 90 degrees to the breastbone, carving
from the neck end. Detach the legs then slice off
the thigh meat.
Citrus Butter
If you want to add a bit of extra flavour to your
bird you can make a beautiful citrus butter to
put between the breast skin and the meat.
8ozs salted butter
1 orange, zested
1 lemon, zested
2 sage leaves finely chopped
Ground black pepper
Method
Soften the butter and add the citrus zest, sage
leaf and black pepper. Work together until
completely mixed and then spread between the
skin and meat. Whilst the turkey is cooking the
flavours will infuse into the meat and the breast
meat will stay beautifully moist.
Simon Smith runs a catering business from his
production kitchen in Lichfield, providing bespoke
private dinners plus wedding, corporate and event
catering. Simon also undertakes cookery
demonstrations around the country and with local
businesses such as Arthur Price and Tippers. During
the summer months Simon works for private clients
both on superyachts and in villas in St Tropez and
Europe. If you are looking for catering or a day of
cookery skills go to www.simonsmith-chef.com
*All recipes serve four people.
**Please take extra care when preparing and
handling hot foodstuffs. Go to www.food.gov.uk for
further details.

15

Tippers held its
annual Christmas
Market on Saturday
23rd November at
its showroom in
Lichfield. The event,
which was very well
attended, raised a
total of £334 for St Giles Hospice!
We bring you a few highlights
of the day in pictures…
Tippers’ Christmas Market
.................................................
Amy Tipper with staff, chef Simon Smith
and Father Christmas.
Chef, Simon Smith, giving a seasonal cookery
demonstration at Tippers’ Christmas Market, helping
to raise money for St Giles Hospice.
Got a story or
charity event you
want to share with
our readership? Think
you’ve snapped an
image that captures
the spirit of the
region? We want to
hear from you!
Contact Citylife at
kristencitylife@gmail.com
16

17

DINING REVIEW
The Green Man
Middleton
................................
Located in the quaint village of Middleton, near Tamworth, The Green
Man has recently undergone a dramatic refurbishment to become the
perfect country pub, with a premium feel and a vibrant twist. So when
Citylife was invited to sample the exciting menu, we jumped at the chance
to see the renovation for ourselves!
Structurally, the building remains the same however the décor has been
substantially refreshed. Featuring deep, rich hues of peacock blue, green
and purple, the once dark and traditional interior has been transformed
into an opulent space with a contemporary vibe.
The menu boasted country fayre classics, with modern twists, such as
the Sticky Pig Sharing Board which combined favourites such as sausage
roll, scotch egg and pork belly with beetroot piccalilli, smoky creamed
corn and apple sauce and crackling.
Delightfully large and succulent lamb chops were cooked to perfection
(pink and juicy) and served with chorizo, butternut puree and
dauphinoise potatoes.
Supporting the British fishing industry, there were dishes of fresh fish
caught in the North Atlantic, and a delicately cooked skate wing arrived
with accompaniments of brown shrimp, garlic samphire and mashed
potato. Impressively, there is a full vegan menu available also, with wellthought
out dishes lovingly created by the masterful culinary team.
To finish off what had been a feast fit for a King and Queen, the
flamboyant Icon Sharing Dessert Birdcage played host to three fantastic
sweets and certainly created an interesting talking point!
Burntwood
Group Transforms
Smallest Park
...............................
Prince’s Park in Burntwood, which holds the Guiness World
Record of Britain’s Smallest Park, was spectacularly transformed
to create an Armistice Day Memorial by Friends of Princes’ Park, part
of Burntwood Action Group.
The display shows the silhouettes of two life-sized soldiers either
side of a refurbished bench, along with 1,000 poppies made out of
recycled plastic that cover the base of the small park’s three trees
and are dotted along the railings.
The two soldier figures were made from plywood and timber
donated by G. E. Collis & Sons Ltd of Chasetown, and made by Barry
Colbourne from a template supplied by Redwood Roofing.
Crown Cutting Ltd of Chasetown carried out a free ground
inspection to ensure no essential services were beneath the area
where the soldiers were secured with wooden posts.
Paint for the bench and railings was supplied by Tonks Brothers
Tree Services and Lichfield District Council’s parks team, which also
removed, transported and refitted the heavy cast iron bench so it
could be fully refurbished by members of the friends group.
Drinks-wise, the pub offers everything you would expect, plus a little
bit extra. From real ales to quality wines, and even cocktails, there’s
something for everyone. Even those driving can pick from a special
alcohol-free menu, meaning that no-one gets left out!
If you’re looking for somewhere to take family and friends to impress
them this festive season, then The Green Man combines incredible food
with lavish décor in a tranquil countryside setting.
Visit The Green Man at Church Lane, Middleton, Tamworth, B78
2AN or online at www.thegreenmanmiddleton.co.uk.
Volunteers made 1,000 poppies out of old plastic bottles which they
painted before being secured around the base of each of the trees and
along the railings.
Burntwood Action Group is sharing information about the project as it
progresses on its Facebook page, and has added a donation button so
followers can donate to the Royal British Legion. So far more than £150
has been raised.
18

19

20
‘For A Better Life VI – Red’ by Fabian Perez fetched £4,000.
Unexpected
Treasures!
By David Fergus, Decorative Arts Valuer at
Richard Winterton Auctioneers
................................
Adrenaline pumping, you open the wrapping and a treasure you never
expected presents itself.
It’s a festive scene soon to be played out all over the world but at The
Lichfield Auction Centre surprise finds ensure Christmas comes rather
more regularly than once a year!
It is rather like Christmas morning when a client brings in something for
a valuation and discovers they’re sitting on a fortune. Who knows what
wonderful artistic treasure is innocently hanging on walls across the
Midlands – or languishing in lofts?
Some people may inherit a piece of art, the signature is indecipherable and
they have no idea what it is. But remember, your gran and granddad were
once hip and trendy! The art they might have collected could turn out to
be something really special and these treasures are still out there waiting
to be discovered!
I shan’t forget a phenomenal collection of modern art which had been
stored in a Burntwood lock-up for 12 years.
Amongst it was an abstract oil painting titled ‘Artist and Curtain’ by Roy
Oxlade (British 1929-2014).
Taking it to sale, this was only the third time this particular piece had
appeared at auction and
there was a fierce bidding
battle to a £9,000 hammer
price.
It’s the best-ever for Roy
Oxlade by some distance –
the previous highest price
for an Oxlade was £2,000 in
2007. So, from a lock-up in
Burntwood to achieving a
world record price! Funnily
enough, the client previously
achieved a record price of
£3,200 for a 1963 abstract,
‘Guyana X’ by Aubrey
Williams (Guyanese 1926-
1990) from the same
collection in another of our
‘Guyana X’ by Aubrey Williams sold for
£3,200.
A signed print of ‘Peel Park, Salford’ by LS Lowry sold for £3,200.
‘Artist and Curtain’ by Roy Oxlade made £9,000.
Fine Art sales.
Other more leftfield originals sold recently include two abstract oils on
canvas by Mali Morris, a British artist born in 1945, fetching £2,200 and
£1,700.
Changing tack but staying modern, six paintings by the popular
contemporary Argentinian artist Fabian Perez fetched £18,400 earlier this
year.
In terms of prints, a perennial favourite at auction is LS Lowry. His art has
never been more popular; at auction his oil paintings now regularly make
several million pounds – increasing the price of limited edition signed
prints.
One such lithograph of ‘Peel Park, Salford’ from 1975 was a perfect
example of the artist’s trademark industrial scenes and matchstick people
and it sold for £3,200.
In fact, some say the Lowry market is at a possible peak – so if you have
a print you’re considering selling, now could be a canny time to do so.
Other artists in terms of prints to look out for include Patrick Caulfield,
Patrick Heron (we have a print of his up for auction this December),
Eileen Cooper and Sir Terry Frost.
Richard Winterton Auctioneers offers free valuations every Tuesday
between 9.30am-4pm at The Lichfield Auction Centre, Wood End Lane,
Fradley Park WS13 8NF. You can also email us at
office@richardwinterton.co.uk or call on 01543 251081.The auction
house will be closed from December 19th until January 2nd but do pop
in before or after the holidays with your surprises and help us keep
Christmas all year round!
Richard Winterton Auctioneers would like to wish CityLife and its
readers a wonderful festive season and peaceful new year.

21

22

Advertising Feature
Oh Christmas Tree!
................................
Forestry England at Cannock Chase Forest is turning choosing a tree into an
unforgettable day out. Find the right tree for your home and family with their
expert advice.
Christmas begins the moment you pick up your tree. And at Cannock Chase
Forest, choosing your tree becomes an extra special festive tradition, with woodland
rambles, Christmas trails, delicious treats, and even a visit to Santa.
It’s also a great place to find specialist advice. Not every tree will suit every family,
and Forestry England’s knowledgeable Tree Team can recommend the right tree for
the right home, as well as offering detailed care tips so that you can make the most
of your tree right through to Boxing Day (and beyond!). Once you’ve found your
favourite, the Tree Team will cut the tree stump to ensure it lasts as long as possible
and carry your tree to the car - leaving you to carry on making special memories
with your family.
Traditional Nostalgia - Norway Spruce
Looking for a storybook Christmas tree? Go for a Norway Spruce. This
traditional tree is classically shaped with an abundance of branches, which means
plenty of spots for all those sparkly baubles you can’t bear to leave in the box.
• Wonderful, Christmassy scent. You’ll want to bottle it!
• Sharp and spiky to touch, so be careful with little hands hanging decorations.
• Loses needles slightly quicker, so is best bought fresh close to Christmas.
• Keep away from heat and water regularly.
Standout Sparkle
For those searching for a statement tree, we always recommend the Lodgepole
Pine. Lush and bushy, it’s perfect for big rooms with high ceilings and lots of space.
When choosing, look closely - you might find one with pine cones clinging to the
branches. Nature’s already done a little decorating for you!
• Big personality, so be daring with your decorations. This tree will pull anything off!
• Lusciously long, yellowy green needles and a full, bushy appearance.
• Fresh pine scent.
• Distinctive branches that point upwards.
• Holds onto needles for a long time - great if you like to start Christmas early!
Family-Friendly Simplicity
A true crowd-pleaser. The Nordmann Fir is the most popular Christmas tree in
Europe, and it’s no surprise - it’s non-allergenic, soft, and gorgeously green. It also
holds onto its needles for much longer than some other varieties.
• Good for allergies as needles have a thick, waxy coating.
• Soft foliage and an even shape - a joy to decorate.
• Glossy, dark green needles with an almost light blue underside.
• Strong branches are ideal for hanging heavier decorations.
• Long-lasting, requiring little maintenance.
23

Buddy Holly Rocks
Cannock!
.................................
Greyhounds are
Good for your
Health!
By Lauren Hirst of Greyhound
Trust Hall Green
.........................
World renowned tribute
act, Buddy Holly and The
Cricketers, has delighted
audiences around the globe and
recently in Cannock too when the band took to the stage at the Prince of Wales
Theatre.
The authentic sound and pure professionalism did the late Buddy Holly proud, and
featured his greatest hits including Rave On, Peggy Sue, Everyday, Heartbeat and
beautiful ballads like Raining in my Heart and True Love Ways. The ensemble also played
Chantilly Lace as a tribute to the Big Boppa, who tragically died in the plane crash that
also claimed Buddy’s life.
The superb venue was packed as the audience ‘rocked out’ for more than two hours.
It’s safe to say that Buddy Holly and The Cricketers will be very much welcomed back!
For further information on forthcoming events at the Prince of Wales Theatre, visit
www.princeofwalestheatre.co.uk.
Christmas is almost upon us, bringing with it all of
its holiday excess. But did you know that studies
have shown that pets are good for your health? So
forget crash diets, slimming clubs and the gym - dog
owners hold the secret to staying healthy and shedding
the pounds!
Walking the dog is great exercise but there are also
emotional benefits, too - dogs keep us connected to the
world. People with pets are approached more often for
conversation than when alone. A survey by the
Greyhound Trust revealed that 97% of dog owners say
that their canine pals have made them happier people.
Dogs don’t judge us when we’ve put on a few pounds
after Christmas, or when we are having other difficulties
in our lives. People with pets have higher levels of the
chemicals in the brain that stimulate feelings of
satisfaction, and love... and the dogs feel it too.
So it’s official: pets are good for our physical and
emotional health!
Greyhound Trust Hall Green has kennels in Shenstone
and Hagley with 40 dogs looking for homes. Greyhounds
only need two 20 minute walks a day so they make
perfect pets for people with restricted mobility or time.
To find out more about the dogs waiting for
adoption, or how to become a volunteer dog
walker, phone the Trust on 0121-426-4810,email
hallgreen@greyhoundtrust.org.uk or visit
www.greyhoundtrust.org.uk.
24

25

The Month in
Pictures
November
We take a look at the events
and activities over the last
month, bringing you a roundup
of the city in pictures...
Historian, Victorian Jono, at Lichfield
Foodbank, Tesco
LHCRT Queen's Award presentation at
Lichfield Guildhall
Richard Winterton in full swing at the
Abbotts Bromley School auction
Volunteers of the LARA Pools Project at
Darwin Park
Citylife ladies, Rebecca and Krissy,
volunteering with Lichfield Foodbank at Tesco.
Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum
celebrates Staffordshire Tourism Award
Remembrance Sunday parade at Alrewas
26
Peter Walker’s latest art installation at
Lichfield Cathedral
Images by Jono Oates
www.jonotourism.co.uk
Blooming Lichfield Award at Monks Walk
Garden
Cast of Last Tango and Panto in Little
Grimley, Cathedral Hotel
NHS Families' Health and Wellbeing
Service at Commuity Event, Market Square
Snapped a picture at a local
event that you'd like to see in
Month in Pics?
Send your photos to
jonocitylife@gmail.com
for consideration.

Specsavers Remembers
............................
S
taff from Specsavers in Lichfield travelled back in time on Friday 8th
November to raise money for Blind Veterans UK and Poppy Appeal.
Members of the team raised £200 whilst hosting the charity fundraiser.
Staff dressed up in 1940s style clothing and customers made donations
by purchasing a sweet treat from the cake sale and entering the raffle.
All donations from the cake sale and raffle will be handed over to
Barry Harteveld, a representative from Blind Veterans UK. The charity
helps ex-service men and women of all generations to rebuild their lives
after sight loss. The charity has worked to provide rehabilitation, training,
practical advice and emotional support since 1915. Their support means
thousands of veterans around the UK can still live a life of fulfilment.
27

The Wilko store on Bore Street, site of the former
Garrick Theatre
The Garrick Theatre
of Christmas Past
By Jono Oates
............................
‘Tis the Season to be Jolly… and there is no better place to be jolly at
Christmas than at the traditional panto at the Lichfield Garrick! This
year’s production is Cinderella and Citylife in Lichfield will be there to
shout out “He’s Behind You!” along with the rest of the audience, for
what will be another sell-out festive season. However, the theatre that
currently stands on Garrick Square was not the first Garrick Theatre in
Lichfield. Here, I delve into the story of the David Garrick Memorial
Theatre of the 1950s.
The Garrick Theatre is one of the most recognisable buildings on
Lichfield’s skyline but the site of the original David Garrick Theatre is one
that many Lichfeldians will also recognise… that of the Wilkinson’s store
on Bore Street.
In 1949, Mrs Joan Cowlishaw opened a new Repertory Playhouse and,
for four short years, it produced hundreds of plays for Lichfield
audiences including, of course, the obligatory festive panto.
Joan purchased the building, which had previously been the Palladium
Theatre and the Lido Cinema, with the intention of reviving the name of
David Garrick in the city where he had been brought up as a child.
After converting the former cinema to a theatre in early 1949 it
opened its doors for the first time in the March of that year, with a
production of Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier. George Roche was the
first producer but he was soon replaced by Kenneth Tynan. Tynan put on
an elaborate, and controversial, production of the play The Beaux
Stratagem, written by Irish playwright George Farquhar while staying at
the George Hotel. Tynan soon left the company and later became a
noted, and feared, theatre critic for the London Evening Standard and The
Observer.
The David Garrick Memorial Theatre
Joan Cowlishaw
In 1949 the company put on a panto and, coincidentally, they also
chose Cinderella. John Boulter and Sidney Dench played the Ugly Sisters
while Cinderella was played by Elizabeth James who struggled on despite
having been injured in a car accident the day before the first
performance. The panto proved to be a great success with the audiences,
despite the fact that the company did not really want to produce that
kind of theatre.
The company continued to schedule productions on a weekly basis
which put a huge strain on the actors and the behind-the-scenes teams.
One of their best-known actors was Lionel Jeffries, who later went on
to star as Dick Van Dyke’s father in the hit 1960s film Chitty Chitty Bang
Bang. Lionel starred in Noel Coward’s Private Lives on the Garrick stage
as well as Mr Bennett in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.
In December 1950 they produced another pantomime, this time Dick
Whittington, with Jacqueline Mackenzie playing a ‘gallant’ Dick and Jimmy
Thomas producing ‘an ideal cat.’ Although it was a production with more
glitz and glamour than the 1949 offering, the audiences were much
smaller and the following year they put on Lewis Carroll’s Alice in
Wonderland. Audiences did not flock to that either, despite the efforts of
a young Hilda Braid, who provided a fine performance as Alice. In later
years, Braid starred in the TV comedy Citizen Smith and, more recently,
as Nana Moon in Eastenders.
In January 1953 tragedy struck when owner Joan Cowlishaw passed
away after a short, and unexpected, illness. Beset by financial issues, and
despite the intervention of noted actor Sir Michael Redgrave, the theatre
closed its doors for the last time in July 1953. It later re-opened as the
Adelphi Cinema before being converted in to a supermarket and is now
home to the Wilko’s store.
In 1949 the David Garrick Memorial Theatre put on its first
pantomime, Cinderella, and now, 70 years later, the current Lichfield
Garrick will put on the same performance. Today’s audiences will
undoubtedly get just as much enjoyment and fun out of this classic panto
as their forebears did in 1949 – long may the Christmas panto reign in
Lichfield!
Cinderella, at the Garrick Main Theatre, runs from Thursday 28th
November until Sunday 5th January 2020.
My thanks to Susan Kahn for her help with this article
28

29

Sooty steals the
show! Vintage
puppets owned by
Harry Corbett sell for
thousands!
By Adrian Rathbone of Hansons
Auctioneers
............................
Sooty’s enduring popularity was proved at auction as a set of vintage
puppets and a Sooty Mobile used on TV sold for thousands of pounds.
Sooty, Sweep and Soo puppets, given as a gift by their inventor Harry
Corbett to a Yorkshire brother and sister in the 1970s, sold for £5,000 at
Derbyshire’s Hansons Auctioneers on 19th November.
In the same sale, a Sooty Mobile used on the children’s TV show by
Matthew Corbett in the 1970s, sold for £1,100 despite needing restoration.
Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons, said: “Sooty has stolen the show yet
again - with a little help from Sweep and Soo. The puppets had a particularly
touching story as Harry gave them to two children after their mother was
diagnosed with breast cancer in the 1970s. He even did puppet shows for
them at their home. Their
father was Harry’s
financial adviser.
“The seller was with us
in our saleroom and it was
an emotional moment for
her. The good news is, the
puppets are staying in
Yorkshire. They’re going to
a private collection and
will be joining a rare Sooty
puppet which sold for a
world-record total price
of £14,500 at Hansons in 2018.
“We were equally delighted to help the
Sooty Mobile find a new home after being
stuck in a Cambridge garage for 20 years.
Hopefully, it can now be restored to its
former glory.
Seller Bruce Harward, 43, from
Cambridge, took the Sooty Mobile, a rare
Honda Acty van, on a European road trip
when he was 18. He was given the vehicle by
Matthew Corbett, Harry’s son, in the mid-
90s. They used to be neighbours in
Camberley, Surrey.
Items are invited for Hansons’ 2020
auctions. Free home visits for large
valuations, house clearance and downsizing
quotes available. To find out more, email
Adrian Rathbone at
arathbone@hansonsauctioneers.co.uk or
call 01889 358050.
Hansons’ staff member Jill Gallone with Sooty, Sweep
and Soo. Credit: Lorne Campbell/Guzelian
Provenance with the puppets
includes photo cards signed by
Harry Corbett and Matthew
CorbettImage by Hansons
30

J HOWELL &
DAUGHTERS
FUNERAL DIRECTORS LICHFIELD
LICHFIELD’S LONGEST ESTABLISHED INDEPENDENT,
FAMILY RUN FUNERAL DIRECTORS.
SECOND GENERATION BUSINESS HERE TO ASSIST YOU
AND YOUR FAMILY.
24 hours a day
We are proud to be Lichfield's longest established family run funeral directors offering a wide range of
choices to suit all requirements. Horse drawn hearse, non religious ceremonies, floral tributes and
memorials are but a few of the services we offer.
Pre-paid funeral plans are also available.
For a truly personal service please call
01543 255776
Private Chapel of Rest 116 Netherstowe,
Lichfield, Staffs. WS13 6TS
31

DINING REVIEW
The Ultimate Vegan
Vampire Experience!
.............................................
A
great time was had by ghouls, ghosts and monsters alike at the Ultimate Vegan Café’s Halloween Event,
held on Thursday 31st October.
With all staff dressed up in amazing costumes, and the café decorated in a spooktacular fashion, the
atmosphere was simply electric and the café was full with both regular customers and newcomers to the
vegan eatery, based in City Arcade, Lichfield.
Citylife witches sampled a devilishly delicious menu which included treacherous treats such as the
Moving Mountains Burger, complete with ‘blood curdling’ red relish and ‘tragic tomatoes’, as well as the
café’s signature fries. There was also a stack of Ludicrous Nachos with salsa, guacamole, and ‘phantom’
facon (fake bacon), along with ‘curdled’ cheese and ‘chillblain’ chilli! Both of these were a taste sensation
to truly whet the appetite, and the perfect treat to satisfy even the most horrific of hungers!
To find out about forthcoming events, visit Ultimate Vegan Café on Facebook, or pop in and sample the
menu for yourself.
32

33

Lichfield Cathedral St Michael's on Greenhill St Chad's Christ Church
The Churches
of Lichfield at
Christmas
............................
As we approach the season of goodwill the churches of Lichfield will
be filled with worshippers singing Christmas carols and lighting candles,
and in our festive edition Jono Oates looks at the history of some of the
churches in the city who will be holding services this winter.
St Chad’s Church, on the north side of Stowe Pool, is one of Lichfield’s
oldest churches and, of course, bears the name of St Chad, the first
Bishop of Lichfield from 669-672AD. Originally a wooden structure, a
stone church was constructed in the 12th century. The churchyard has a
covered well over a spring which is believed to be where Chad would
pray and baptise the local people who had been converted to
Christianity.
To the south-east of Lichfield stands St Michael’s Church on Greenhill,
located on the site of an ancient burial ground. The church was originally
built in 1190 and the nave of the church contains commemorations of
Samuel Johnson’s father Michael, his mother Sarah, and his younger
brother Nathaniel.
St John’s Church Without the Barrs on St John Street was built in 1135
and was just outside the Culstubbe Gate, which protected the city at
night, so that travelling pilgrims could find overnight hospitality if they
arrived after the gates had been locked. The chapel contains a stunning
stained-glass window by 20th century artist John Piper.
Christ Church at Leomansley was built in 1846, thanks to the
generosity of Ellen Jane Hinckley, wife of Lichfield solicitor Richard
Hinckley, who owned a large mansion called Beacon Place, now
demolished, in the grounds of what is now Beacon Park.
The Holy Cross Chapel, on the junction of Upper St John Street and
Chapel Lane, is a Georgian building, constructed in 1803 using funds
raised by Father John Kirk. A church school, St Joseph’s, was added in
1860 which eventually moved to its current location on Cherry Orchard
in the 1960s.
Finally, Lichfield Cathedral, whose history can be traced back to the
8th century when a church was erected and dedicated to St Chad and
St Mary some thirty years after Chad had died. Known locally as The
Ladies of The Vale, the cathedral was ravaged and ransacked during the
English Civil War and its main spire collapsed in 1646 at the end of the
fighting, before being restored in the 1660s.
The cathedral will again be lit by art installation illuminations this
Christmas, as featured on our front cover.
Sources: www.stjohnslichfield.org; www.christchurch-lichfield.org.uk;
www.romancatholiclichfield.co.uk; www.stjosephslichfield.org.uk
Holy Cross Chapel
St John's Without the Barrs
34

35

Dining Review
Ciao Bella!
...............................
Italian Evening at The Strawberry Cabin on Saturday 16th November was a
roaring success. Helen Smith, from Citylife in Lichfield, attended the sell-out
event.
Following the appointment of new Head Chef, Gábor Wachter, the restaurant has gone
from strength to strength and took the opportunity to showcase its varied cuisine, and
open out of hours, at a recent evening event.
The two-course menu boasted a whole host of delicacies that were synonymous with
Italian dining, such as antipasto platters, seafood linguine and the traditional hearty favourite
of lasagne. However we plumped for the chicken parmigiana, served with Italian dressed
salad and parmentier potatoes; and a herb crusted rack of lamb with patata campagna and a
mint jus.
The chicken was succulent and juicy, whilst the lamb was pink inside and melted in the
mouth – we were both unduly impressed with our ‘secondi piatti’ and left wanting more…
which was handy, as dessert, or ‘dolce’ was just around the corner!
The classic tiramisu was my choice, and the
indulgent layers of cream, coffee liquer and
delicate sponge was the perfect way to finish
off my meal. My partner opted for the
limoncello and raspberry semifreddo (made
using Manor Farm’s own home-grown
raspberries) and declared it equally divine –
hats off to the talented dessert chef, Paighton
Smalley!
Needless to say, The Strawberry Cabin is so
much more than simply a stop-off for tea and
cake; it is a countryside retreat that is quickly
becoming known for its exceptional dining
experiences!
Christmas 2019
The hard-working staff at The
Strawberry Cabin will be
taking a well-deserved break!
The Cabin will close on
Monday 23rd December
2019 and re-open on
Thursday 2nd January
2020 at 9am.
36

37

Lichfield Lights
Switch On
On Sunday 24th November large crowds gathered on
Market Square to enjoy the traditional Lichfield
Christmas Lights Switch On! Live music was provided
by groups The Hustle and Punch the Air, followed by the
Lichfield Rock Choir and then carol singing by the
youngsters from Christ Church Primary School. The
cast from the Garrick Theatre’s panto, Cinderella,
including Cbeebies star Rebecca Keatley, joined in with
a song from a show, before the Mayor of Lichfield,
Councillor Deborah Baker, along with two young
competition winners helped push the button to switch
the lights on!
Tres Tres Eye Opening!
By Jo Howell
Sssh! Do you wanna know a secret?
A really funny, albeit rude, secret?!
Well, let me tell you about Lichfield’s
best kept secret I had the pleasure of
seeing on Saturday 2nd November.
I expected a bit of dancing, maybe
a comedian and definitely some
singing – and technically I got all
three. Just not quite the stereo
typical acts you would expect to find
in Lichfield on an autumn evening!
Stage Door
Johnny
We arrived at the
beautiful St Marys
Church in Market
Square and were led
upstairs to The Hub, a
rather quirky venue
with the most
amazing backdrop of
the old Church.
Something told me
that irony of the stained-glass biblical
scenes was not lost on what I was
about to witness.
The compere, a rather jolly chap
by the name of Stage Door Johnny,
opened the evening with fast one
liners, a wonderful wit and charm
and the words ‘You will see things
you’ve never seen before tonight’.
He was not wrong! We watched a
Burlesque dancer remove everything
except her modesty, a male
acrobatic dancer who did amazing
things with chairs, poles and left
nothing to the imagination, a
hilarious juggler who was both funny
and awesome to watch and a girl
that made our eyes open wider and
our mouths hit the floor. She is not
for the faint hearted!
The show was split into three parts
and Johnny
i n t e r t w i n e d
each act with
singing, comedy
and general
n a u g h t i n e s s ,
with the
i n t e r a c t i o n
with the
audience being
just perfect.
Scarlett Daggers
You will need to leave your
inhibitions at home and keep a very
open mind to watch this show, but
you know what? It’s Tres Tres worth
it!
The next Tres Tres Cabaret is on
21st December. For more
information, or to purchase tickets,
visit www.thehubstmarys.co.uk or
pop into St Mary’s on Market Square.
38

39

Your Garden in
December
By Byron Lewis
Another year has come and
gone and it's now Christmas
all the way - time to buy
your REAL Christmas tree!
Here at the garden centre,
our best seller by far is the
Nordman Fir. This is a softto-the-touch
tree which is
easy to decorate. Nordmans
are classed as 'low needle
drop' meaning they will stay
looking good right the way
through to New Year with
the correct care.
Advertising Feature
Other types are available including the narrower Frazer Fir and the
Lodge Pole Pine, but steer clear of Norway Spruce if you have a
particularly warm house as these can drop their needles quite quickly -
no-one wants a bare tree on Christmas Day!
Whatever tree you choose, there are a few simple rules to follow:
• Keep your tree watered. This is the most important part of the
process. Once a tree has been cut, it is no longer able to find water itself
– so you will need to water it regularly. There are numerous designs of
Christmas Tree Stand which incorporate a water ‘reservoir’, so keep this
full of water at all times. A medium tree can drink up to three pints of
water daily!
• Select your tree early in December. This should give you the best
selection in terms of choice of sizes and shapes. But once you’ve
purchased, keep the tree outdoors until you are ready to decorate – this
will keep it looking better for longer.
• Keep your tree away from heat – if you can, turn off any radiators or
fires that are alongside the tree. Again, this prolongs the life of the tree.
If you want to grow your own tree year after year, pot grown trees are
also available (generally in smaller sizes). A good tip for pot grown trees
is to keep them outdoors as long as possible. If you do take them
indoors, acclimatise them after Christmas to the lower outdoor
temperatures to reduce stress, and as before, water regularly and keep
away from direct sources of heat.
Lichfield Garden Centre’s Christmas Shop is now
open, with a huge selection of cut and pot-grown real
Christmas Trees, as well as homemade wreaths and
garlands.
Byron Lewis runs Lichfield Garden Centre, Curborough
Countryside Centre, Lichfield. Tel: 01543 254306, visit
www.lichfieldgardencentre.co.uk or follow on
Facebook & Twitter.
40

41

42

Advertising Feature
Big Benefits, Local Values
UK Boiler Fit can source, install and maintain gas, oil and
LPG boilers using only the industry’s leading brands, and
providing rates that are significantly cheaper than the larger
energy companies (with typical installation costing as little as
£1800). All members of the team are DBS-checked, as well as
being expert gas-safe engineers.
Directors Mark and Dave are always available to help, guide
and advise customers on choosing what is right for them and
their budget, offering a first-class, personal service to each and
every one. The firm has a five-star Trustpilot rating thanks to
satisfied customer’s reviews.
There are even options to pay via an FCA-regulated finance
deal and spread payments out over a longer period of time,
should you need to.
There are no hidden extras with UK Boiler Fit – what you
see is what you get, which means great customer service and
quality products at consistently affordable prices!
43

£660 £2,250
£239
9ct Gold Diamond & Opal
Earrings. Available from Allen Brown
Jewellery, Heart of the Country
Shopping Village, Swinfen, Lichfield -
www.allenbrownjewellery.co.uk
£195
Keith Sherwin ‘Giraffe and Calf’
Nickel and Resin Sculpture. Available
from The Courtyard Fine Art Lounge,
Dam Street, Lichfield.
www.thecourtyardfineartlounge.co.uk
18ct White Gold Aquamarine & Diamond Ring.
Available from Allen Brown Jewellery, Heart of
the Country Shopping Village, Swinfen, Lichfield.
www.allenbrownjewellery.co.uk
Perfect Presents
for Her
From stocking-fillers to special items,
we've got your Christmas shopping all
wrapped up with our selection of gifts
from local retailers.
£6
Silver Plated Candelabra. Presented in an
Arthur Price of England gift box. Available from
Arthur Price, Britannia Way, Lichfield.
www.arthurprice.com
£115
Original Nomination
Watch with Gold Glitter
Dial. Can be personalised
with composable charm
links. Available from ES
Jewellery, 1 Tamworth
Street, Lichfield.
www.esjewellery.co.uk
£12pp
Afternoon Tea, including a pot of tea or
coffee, an assortment of finger sandwiches,
fruit scones with cream and strawberry jam
and a selection of afternoon tea cakes.
Available at The George Hotel, Bird Street,
Lichfield - www.thegeorgelichfield.co.uk
Create a personalised bracelet with your
favourite symbols, letters, and charms for a
gift that’s 100% original. Composable charm
links start from £15. Available from ES
Jewellery, 1 Tamworth Street, Lichfield.
www.esjewellery.co.uk
£6.95
Ladies Bamboo Socks -
assorted designs. Available
From Dame Oliver's, 19 Dam
Street, Lichfield.
www.dameolivers.co.uk Tide Jewellery: Holly Pendant -
£9.50.Robin Earrings - £9.50. Bee
Pendant - £9.50. Mistletoe Brooch -
£13.50. Available at Dame Oliver's,19
Dam Street, Lichfield.
www.dameolivers.co.uk
£135
Bamboo Travel Cup. Six patterns to choose
from. Available from Arthur Price, Britannia Way,
Lichfield - www.arthurprice.com
£995
£1,650
£135
Silver plated 8-inch Mounted Rose Bowl.
Presented in an Arthur Price of England gift box.
Available from Arthur Price, Britannia Way,
Lichfield. www.arthurprice.com
Vienna Wall Clock - Circa early
1900s. Spring movement, chimes on
the hour and half hour. Available from
Golden Oldies, 5 Crown Bridge,
Penkridge.
www.goldenoldiesfurniture.co.uk
18ct White Gold Ruby &
Diamond Cluster Pendant.
Available from City Jewellers,
23-25 Bore Street, Lichfield.
www.cityjewellers.co.uk
18ct Ruby & Diamond Cluster
Earrings. Available from City
Jewellers, 23-25 Bore Street,
Lichfield. www.cityjewellers.co.uk

Customer Testimonials
“When we opened our doors five
months ago we needed to let the
people of Staffordshire know that the
Ultimate Vegan Cafe had arrived in
Lichfield.
“Our first advert in the area was
placed with Citylife, where Steve,
Krissy, Helen and the rest of the team couldn't have been
more helpful in sorting out our artwork and promoting our
business. We found that we had a response from it almost
immediately.
“Steve is always most attentive, popping in on a regular
basis and making sure we are happy with the content of our
adverts and write-ups. Thank you to the team for helping us
promote our new adventure!”
- Ian, Ultimate Vegan Cafe
“Myself and Mark, the two directors of UK Boiler Fit, were
really amazed by the amount of calls that we received
throughout the month following our appearance in Citylife
magazine.
“We had such an overwhelming response from our
advertisement and editorial that we have even had to revisit
our business plan and pull forward the recruitment of extra
staff!”
- David, UK Boiler Fit
Allen Brown Supports
Cancer Charity
............................
T
hroughout October Allen
Brown Jewellery supported
Breast Friends Sutton Coldfield
for Breast Cancer Awareness
Month and raised a total of
£1,175 for the charity.
The jewellery gallery, based at
Heart of the Country Shopping
Village, produced a diamond and
sapphire Radiant Ribbon Pendant,
worth £2,000, and invited people
to enter a draw for the chance to
win the pendant, with a minimum
donation of £5 for entry.
The winner was Clarice Jones
from Four Oaks, who entered
the draw as a surprise for her
mum Angela. Angela is a member
of Breast Friends and recovering
after receiving treatment.
For more information on
Breast Friends visit
www.breastfriends.org.uk.
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Lichfield
Cathedral
Advent Special
Services 2019
............................
There are plenty of opportunities to get into the
Christmas spirit at Lichfield Cathedral as the festive
season approaches.
It all starts with the Advent Carol Services on Saturday 30th
November and Sunday 1st December at 6pm.
These will be beautiful thought-provoking services with readings,
carols and hymns that help worshippers begin the Advent journey.
Starting in darkness, the Cathedral is gradually lit by thousands of
candles as the first of the Advent candles is taken in procession through
the church.
Then on Wednesday 4th December there is an opportunity to join an
evening hosted by TV presenter and writer, Pam Rhodes, for The
Leprosy Mission Carol Service. This will be a chance to hear about
leprosy in the 21st Century. The service will end with free refreshments.
A very special carol service will be on Thursday 5th December at 2pm
when there will be the chance to celebrate and pray for the work of
Embrace, our partners and the church in the Middle East.
The Entrust Christmas Festival of Music is on Friday 6th December at
7.30pm and on Saturday 7th December there will be a special concert
by Lichfield Cathedral Chorus which is at the end of its 60th anniversary
year. This will include a performance of Puccini’s Messa di Gloria and
Vaughan Williams Fantasia topped off with a set of Christmas carols
specially arranged by musical director Ben Lamb.
On Sunday 8th December at 4pm is the Christmas Lantern Service.
Sung by the Cathedral Choir, this service for people of all ages will
include a Lantern Procession around the Cathedral and the lighting of
the Christmas Tree.
Also on Sunday 8th December at 6.30pm is the St Giles ‘Light Up a
Life’ service. This will be a special
service outside the Cathedral to
remember loved ones lost in recent
years. It’s a chance to reflect and
remember while also viewing the books
of remembrance, lighting a candle and
sharing in some refreshment.
The ever popular Cathedral Chorus
and Salvation Army Christmas Carols
will be on Thursday 12th December at
7.30pm. Sing along with your festive
favourites and enjoy music and readings
to usher in the Christmas spirit. Arrive
early to be sure of a seat.
The very special and popular
Christmas by Candlelight featuring the
Cathedral Choir is on Saturday 14th
December at 7.30pm and the
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Emergency Services Carol Service is on Sunday 15th December at 6pm.
On the same day at 3pm will be Sharing the Gift, in which people are
invited to bring toys and gifts suitable for distribution to children and/or
store cupboard items to support the work of the foodbank.
On Saturday 21st December at 2pm and 3pm, take a break from the
Christmas shopping for a short time of peace and reflection with some
popular readings and carols at the Shopper’s Carol Service.
For further information, and for tickets, visit www.lichfieldcathedral.org.

TUDOR ROW - a wonderful place
for Christmas Shopping
Tudor Row is surely one of the prettiest places to shop and relax in the area. It connects Bore Street to the Lichfield Garrick Theatre and
Three Spires Shopping Centre, and is a great place to spend an enjoyable afternoon browsing its many independent stores.
There’s Erase UK – a well-established intense pulsed light (IPL) and skin rejuvenation clinic;
Bene Umbra where you'll find truly affordable hairdressing; Tudor Sew with more than 30
years’ experience in ladies’ and gents’ clothing
alterations and repairs; The Little Make-Up
Shop which stocks top brands such as Max
Factor, Bourjois and L’Oreal, plus designer
perfumes for men and women, and, to top it all
off, there’s The Tudor of Lichfield – a historic
restaurant offering everything from a relaxing
pit-stop afternoon tea, to breakfast or even a
full dining experience!

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Forgotten Lichfeldian Emerges
from the Shadows
By Philip Modiano
............................................
The Reverend John Louis Petit (1801-68)
was nationally famous in his day, and not
just for his art - he was the leading
opponent of the extreme promotion of neogothic
architecture that swept the country in
the middle of the nineteenth century.
Eldest son of the wealthy vicar of Shareshill,
the family moved to Lichfield in 1823, buying
Redcourt, a big house on Tamworth Street. This
was to be the family home until 1897 when the
last of Petit’s sisters died.
Petit himself graduated from Cambridge and
took holy orders in 1826. He worked at the
parish of Bradfield and Mistley, Essex, before
resigning in 1834 to focus on his twin vocations
of art and architecture and returning to the
Lichfield family home in the late 1840s/early
1850s.
One of his driving motivations was to
preserve ancient churches from the extremes
of the Gothic movement. They were being
restored, but altered in the process to the ‘one
correct style’ that the movement demanded,
destroying their ancient character. Writing
books and speaking up and down the country,
Petit was the first major, national, advocate of
preservation, decades before the Society for the
Preservation of Ancient Buildings.
Petit used his art mainly to demonstrate his
views. He never tried to sell it, although it was
exhibited widely. His ‘studio’ was Lichfield itself
and he would be out daily capturing the
cathedral from every angle and in all weather.
He painted the cathedral well over 100 times
and perhaps half have survived. By the mid-
1850s, the peak of his career, Petit had
developed his own distinctive style. In direct
opposition to the detailed studio work of mid-
Victorians, Petit’s quick impressions are entirely
modern for the times. Done without the
pressure of painting for the market they simply
show the beauty of the scenes that he wanted
to capture.
After his death in 1868 the annual
Architectural Exhibition housed a memorial
exhibition of over 300 of Petit’s pictures,
including seven of Lichfield and others of
Rugeley, Cannock Chase and Upper Longdon.
Then, all his art disappeared into the family.
The bulk of his art was initially cared for by
his sisters, who continued to live at Redcourt,
and subsequently it went to a nephew and then
his only daughter, living in Surrey.
The art, or what was left after
various tragedies, was dumped in
auctions at Sotheby’s Billingshurst in
1980s and 1990s, all jumbled up
alongside works by his sisters who
had accompanied him on travels.
The remarkable thing about his
art though is how different Petit is
to other 19th century artists. It sold
easily even from an unknown artist
and is now widely dispersed except
for a chunk with a few large
collectors in the Reverend Petit
Society who would like to seed
public collections.
Philip Modiano has been researching
the Reverend Petit for three years since
stumbling across his art at a London
dealer. He is the founder of the Rev
Petit Society www.revpetit.com and has
written “Petit’s Tours of Old
Staffordshire”, which organises 150 of
Petit’s Staffordshire works into eight
tours. This is available in S&J Music, the
Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum
and at St Michael’s.
Stowe Pool excavation, March 1857
Cathedral from St Michael’s. 1857
Cathedral from Grange Lane, 1863, Courtesy Samuel
Johnson Birthplace Museum
Huddlesford Mill under snow, from Cappers Lane canal
bridge, February 1855
St Michael’s church porch, c1827,

Promote your event in our What’s On guide and reach over 18,000 homes and businesses for
only £15 for businesses and £5 for charities. Entries must be 50 words maximum. To book
contact Rebecca Hill 07970 513144 rebeccahillcitylife@gmail.com (businesses who are
already advertising in the relevant issue may place additional what’s on listings free-of-charge).
Please clearly mark your email ‘What’s On Lichfield'.
What’s On in
December
Monday 2nd & Tuesday 3rd
December
Christmas Voices at The
George Hotel
Intimate Theatre presents an
entertaining compilation of lighthearted
poetry, music and drama
for the festive season.
Price: £11 per person, includes a
mince pie and a glass of mulled
wine.
Tuesday 3rd December
The City of Lichfield Probus
Club meets on the first Tuesday
of each month at St Matthew's
Sports Club Burntwood. There is
are speakers on a variety of
subjects and coming up in the
New Year is "The A-Z of
Lichfield" by Jono Oakes and
"Your Heart" by Warren Appleby
from The British Heart
Foundation. New members are
always made welcome. For more
details call 07971 113505 or email
peter.hitchman44@gmail.com.
Saturday 7th December
Lichfield Cathedral Chorus
Come and join Lichfield
Cathedral Chorus at the end of
its 60th anniversary year as it
launches into the Advent season
with a performance of Giacomo
Puccini’s Messa di Gloria, to
which Ralph Vaughan Williams’
Fantasia on Christmas Carols will
add yet more festive cheer.
Venue: Lichfield Cathedral
Time: 7.30pm
Tickets available from Lichfield
Cathedral, by calling 01543
306150 or at
www.thelittleboxoffice.com/lichfie
ldcathedral .
Sunday 8th December
Fairy Toy Workshop &
Storytelling
A magical experience for families,
inspired by Johnson’s fairytale ‘the
Fountains’. Book a place at a
hands-on craft session to make
fairy decorations and toys to take
home (4-12 years, must be
accompanied) and enjoy
storytelling sessions (free, all ages
welcome!) throughout the day.
Venue: The Samuel Johnson
Birthplace Museum
Fairy toy workshops (1hr) at
1:30pm - £3.50, accompanying
adults £1, advance booking
required.
Storytelling sessions at 11.30am,
12.30pm, 1.30pm & 2.30pm - free
event, just drop-in.
To book call 01543 264 972, email
sjmuseum@lichfield.gov.uk or
visit
www.samueljohnsonbirthplace.org
.uk.
Wednesday 11th December
U3A
A Potpourri of Entertainment by
speaker David St-John.
Venue: Lichfield Guildhall
Time: 2pm
Tickets for this meeting must be
purchased in advance.
Tuesday 17th December
Lichfield Civic Society
The Butcher, The Baker & The
Undertaker by speaker Jono
Oates.
Venue: The Lichfield Room, Wade
Street Church Community Hall,
Frog Lane, Lichfield.
Time: 7.45pm
Admission is free to members
and students. Non-members are
always welcome (£3 at the door).
Wednesday 8th January
U3A
The Role of Cadbury Workers in
the 1st World War by
speaker.Fiona Joseph
Venue: Lichfield Guildhall
Time: 2pm
Wednesday 22nd January
Stonnall Conservation Society
Stonnall Conservation Society will
not be holding a meeting in
December this year but will look
forward to seeing everyone in
2020 when Phil Griffiths will give
a talk on “Stories of the English
Coinage” from the earliest coins
in Greece almost 3,000 years ago
up to Decimalisation and the
present day.
Venue: Stonnall Youth &
Community Centre, Main Street,
Stonnall, WS9 9EE.
Time: 7.30pm
Christ-mouse Trail
The Samuel Johnson Birthplace
Museum
Until Sunday 5th January, 11:00am
– 3.30pm Daily, Free
A fun festive trail for children to
find ‘the smallest of all beasts’
around the house. Available every
day throughout the holidays.
For more information call 01543
264 972, email
sjmuseum@lichfield.gov.uk or
visit
www.samueljohnsonbirthplace.org.uk
Creative Experiences - Gift
Vouchers and Workshops
Struggling to find a unique gift or
would you like to learn a new
skill?
For: Adults & Group Talks -
Children’s Parties - Hen Parties
(including
Bubbly).
December Workshops: 7th &
15th - Feltmaking. 14th - Batik
Painting. 8th - Mosaics.
Visit website www.feltworld.co.uk
or telephone Barbara on 07966
944817.
Decor Supplies Sale - Now On!
On paint, wallcoverings and fabric
until Saturday 28th December.
Please see the advertisement on
page 33 showing all our
Christmas opening times.
Décor Supplies, Unit 23, Britannia
Way, Lichfield, WS14 9UY.
Words Alive!
The Samuel Johnson Birthplace
Museum
Saturdays 10:30am – 11:45pm
until 14 December
A weekly club for 8-12 year olds
who love words! Read, write,
create, act and illustrate in the
inspiring setting of the Samuel
Johnson Birthplace Museum. Try
your first session free!
£3.00 per session, £2.00 for
siblings
To book call 01543 264 972, email
sjmuseum@lichfield.gov.uk or
visit
www.samueljohnsonbirthplace.org
.uk
Competition and Prize Draw Terms and Conditions
1.Entrants’ details will be held and processed in line with Citylife in Lichfield Ltd’s
Privacy Policy, which in turn adheres to GDPR Data Protection legislation. For a
copy of our Privacy Policy please email josscitylife@gmail.com
2.By entering the prize draw/competition, you agree to the terms and conditions
stated.
3.The closing date is stated on each individual prize draw or competition.
4.Entrants’ details will be securely held by Citylife in Lichfield Ltd in accordance
with our Privacy Policy. Details will be held only until the closing date of the
competition. After this date entrants’ details will be securely destroyed/deleted.
Winners’ contact details will be securely stored only until the winner has been
informed of their win/prize. After this details will be securely deleted/destroyed.
5.Entrants’ details will never be shared with any third party. The only exception to
this is the name (and if the prize is to be posted) address of Competition/Prize
Draw winners that will be communicated to the competition partner to allow
winners to securely claim their prize, after which all details will be securely
destroyed. The initial and surname of winners will be printed in our magazines –
no other details will be published.
6.By entering the competition/prize draw, entrants agree to Citylife in Lichfield Ltd
using or publishing materials provided by the entrants (but not address or contact
details apart from initial and surname) in any of their publications and online.
7.Citylife in Lichfield Ltd accepts no responsibility for any breach of copyright or
breach of any other legislation entailed by entrants in their creation or submission
of materials.
8.Only one entry per prize draw/competition, per reader.
9.Except in the case of cash prizes, no cash equivalent will be offered and the
prize is non-transferable.
10.All prizes are subject to availability and the prize suppliers' terms and
conditions.
11.No purchase necessary.
12.Prize draws and competitions are only open to UK residents aged 18 years or
over (unless otherwise stated).
13.Competitions and prize draws may not be entered by any employee of
individual associated with any employee, agent or third party of Citylife in Lichfield
Ltd.
14.Winners will be selected at random in the case of applicable prize draws and
competitions, or by an independent judge in the case of photographic/art
competitions from all entries received.
15.Winners will be notified by Citylife in Lichfield up to 28 days after the closing
date of the competition/prize draw by the contact details provided by the entrant.
16.A list of the surnames and county of residence of the winners will be available
by writing to Citylife in Lichfield Ltd no earlier than six weeks after the competition
closing date.
17.When the prize draw/competition winner has been selected, this decision is
final and no correspondence will be entered into.
18.Citylife in Lichfield Ltd accepts no responsibility for the prize being lost,
damaged or delayed in transit. When the prize is provided by a third party, Citylife
in Lichfield Ltd accepts no responsibility for any change to the prize, or for the
quality of the prize provided.
19.Competitions may be amended or withdrawn at any time.
20.By entering the competition or prize draw, you agree to having your name,
(photograph, where stated) and city or county of residence published in any of
Citylife in Lichfield’s publications and online.
21.Unless otherwise stated, the promoter is Citylife in Lichfield Ltd, PO Box 7126,
Lichfield, WS14 4JS.
22. Citylife in Lichfield Ltd do not express any warranty or endorsement of any
competition prize, information, service or product provided in connection with a
competition by printing or otherwise publicising any competition.
23.To the full extent of the law, Citylife in Lichfield Ltd shall not be liable for any
loss, claim, punitive, indirect, incidental or consequential damages of any kind
incurred as a result of entering this prize draw or competition.
24.By submitting photos, text or artworks as part of competition/prize draw entries
you agree that you own these photos text or artworks, that it is your original work
to which you own all rights to distribute, and that your entry is accurate, moral and
legal.
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To advertise
please call
Citylife
07970 513144
from
£40 plus vat

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