<strong>Lichfield</strong> Chef Appears <strong>in</strong> BBC TV Show .............................. Liam Dillon, chef and owner of award-w<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g local restaurant, The Boat Inn, is mak<strong>in</strong>g his mark on the BBC TV Show – The Great British Menu <strong>2021</strong>. The <strong>Lichfield</strong> chef is starr<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the new series of the television show The Great British Menu which started on Wednesday 24th March on BBC TV 2 at 8pm. Born and raised <strong>in</strong> <strong>Lichfield</strong>, Liam has cut his teeth <strong>in</strong> several notable kitchens <strong>in</strong> the UK, such as Marcus Ware<strong>in</strong>g at The Berkeley, Five Fields <strong>in</strong> Chelsea, and Story by Tom Sellers <strong>in</strong> Bermondsey, London. Travell<strong>in</strong>g further afield, he’s also had st<strong>in</strong>ts at Quay <strong>in</strong> Sydney, Noma <strong>in</strong> Copenhagen and other experience at Eleven Maddison Park, New York. Return<strong>in</strong>g to his hometown, Liam opened The Boat Inn, based <strong>in</strong> <strong>Lichfield</strong>, <strong>in</strong> 2017 and transformed this tired road-side pub <strong>in</strong>to a Michel<strong>in</strong> School’s Out – <strong>in</strong> Nature! By Nicola Lynes & Kathryn Kavanagh .............................. Throughout the pandemic, Transform<strong>in</strong>g the Trent Valley have been provid<strong>in</strong>g lots of opportunities for people to cont<strong>in</strong>ue to connect with their local nature. Our Trent Talks, Wildchild videos, downloadable resources from our website have all been available for families and adults to help them explore the outdoors <strong>in</strong> their daily exercise or home school<strong>in</strong>g. Now that pupils are back <strong>in</strong> school, we are excited to announce new resources to cont<strong>in</strong>ue support<strong>in</strong>g teachers and community groups <strong>in</strong> explor<strong>in</strong>g and learn<strong>in</strong>g about nature. As children have returned to schools, it is recognised that ensur<strong>in</strong>g the wellbe<strong>in</strong>g of children is just as important as catch<strong>in</strong>g up on curriculum they have missed – with our m<strong>in</strong>i school packs you can do both! There are three m<strong>in</strong>i school packs that will be available to download from the Transform<strong>in</strong>g the Trent Valley website; ‘Recreation and Relaxation’, ‘Landscape Evolution’ and ‘Role of the River’. Each pack consists of a master teacher booklet and a children’s activity booklet, and can be completed <strong>in</strong> and around your school grounds or home. These packs are aimed at KS1 and 2. For older school years or community groups who would like to f<strong>in</strong>d out more about the wildlife <strong>in</strong> the Trent Valley area, we have developed our ‘Wildlife Monitor<strong>in</strong>g Survey pack’ and ‘Wildlife Identification Guide’. These two pr<strong>in</strong>ted resources are designed to be used to contribute towards the monitor<strong>in</strong>g and report<strong>in</strong>g of key wildlife species <strong>in</strong> the Trent Valley, and conta<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong>structions on where to spot and how to report your wildlife sight<strong>in</strong>gs. You can request pr<strong>in</strong>ted packs, or download your own copy from our website. This pack will be launched on Monday 19th <strong>April</strong>. All the resources will be added to our website dur<strong>in</strong>g <strong>April</strong> and will be free to download thanks to our fund<strong>in</strong>g from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. You can f<strong>in</strong>d the l<strong>in</strong>ks to register here: www.thetrentvalley.org.uk/downloads.php 26 recommended, three AA rosettes restaurant (the only place <strong>in</strong> Staffordshire to hold this accolade). Draw<strong>in</strong>g on his experiences from across the globe, Liam’s menu at The Boat Inn is modern, honest, and focuses on British flavours with locality at its heart. Known for quality-driven dishes, coupled with his progressive approach to cook<strong>in</strong>g, Liam's menus sh<strong>in</strong>e a spotlight on the Midlands d<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g scene. Liam said: “I grew up watch<strong>in</strong>g the programme, dream<strong>in</strong>g of be<strong>in</strong>g a chef so it's a bit surreal, but also an honour, that here I am, years later, a professional on the show. “I enjoyed every s<strong>in</strong>gle second. It was excit<strong>in</strong>g, stressful... I was surrounded by some amaz<strong>in</strong>g fellow chefs...it was actually a privilege to be part of the programme. "I am also extremely proud to be fly<strong>in</strong>g the flag for Staffordshire, and represent<strong>in</strong>g my home town of <strong>Lichfield</strong>. "It's been a tough year for everyone, especially those work<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the hospitality <strong>in</strong>dustry. Here at The Boat Inn, we've made many changes both to the decor and the menu. We've also <strong>in</strong>vested heavily <strong>in</strong> outdoor d<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g and I and the team can't wait to open the doors aga<strong>in</strong> and welcome people back." Liam’s menu for the Great British Menu is creative, <strong>in</strong>novative and pays homage to local pioneers such as <strong>Lichfield</strong> born Samuel Johnson, who wrote the early Dictionary of the English language. Bestsell<strong>in</strong>g Author’s Collection Comes Home to Auction ........................... The life’s work of a local man and <strong>in</strong>ternational bestsell<strong>in</strong>g author, credited as creat<strong>in</strong>g the technothriller, is com<strong>in</strong>g to auction <strong>in</strong> <strong>Lichfield</strong>. Craig Thomas’ 1977 landmark Firefox was made <strong>in</strong>to the 1982 Hollywood blockbuster of the same name directed by and starr<strong>in</strong>g Cl<strong>in</strong>t Eastwood. Copyright to the book and the former English teacher’s 17 other Craig and Jill Thomas with Cl<strong>in</strong>t Eastwood (courtesy of the Estate of Jill Thomas) novels – <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g two published under the pseudonym David Grant – will be sold together as one collection by Richard W<strong>in</strong>terton Auctioneers on Monday 12th <strong>April</strong>. A notice of copyright assignment will be provided to the new owner. Mr Thomas lived <strong>in</strong> Whitt<strong>in</strong>gton with his wife Jill for many years. He taught at <strong>Lichfield</strong>’s K<strong>in</strong>g Edward VI School and Shire Oak School <strong>in</strong> Walsall Wood before the success of his debut novel Rat Trap allowed him to move to writ<strong>in</strong>g full-time. Fans regard Mr Thomas as the true <strong>in</strong>ventor of the technothriller, with his run of meticulously researched novels revolv<strong>in</strong>g around cutt<strong>in</strong>g-edge technology. Appropriately, the sale will be hosted onl<strong>in</strong>e with live <strong>in</strong>ternational bidd<strong>in</strong>g through the <strong>in</strong>ternet. Copyright to the 18 novels will go under the hammer at 9.30am on Monday, <strong>April</strong> 12, as Lot 1 <strong>in</strong> Richard W<strong>in</strong>terton Auctioneers’ Antiques & Home Sale from The <strong>Lichfield</strong> Auction Centre. For bidd<strong>in</strong>g and other enquiries, email office@richardw<strong>in</strong>terton.co.uk or telephone 01543 251081.
Staffordshire Pie Drop ......................... Staffordshire Pie Drop is a home delivery service br<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g you award-w<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g pies, handmade <strong>in</strong> Melton Mowbray us<strong>in</strong>g locally sourced meat and produce, straight to your door! Pies are frozen and can be cooked from frozen. You can choose from a variety of meat/fish/vegetarian/fruit and gluten-free pies <strong>in</strong> family size (600g) and <strong>in</strong>dividual (300g). There is also the famous Melton Mowbray pork pie available! Deliveries are weekly and with your first order you receive a free pie! Visit www.piedrop.co.uk to see the full range. 27
Change language