Citylife in Rugeley and Cannock Chase May June 2023

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Welcome to
CITYLIFE
Welcome to CITYLIFE in Rugeley & Cannock
Chase, a bi-monthly magazine bringing you our pick
of the area’s news, events and stories. Every other
month CITYLIFE in Rugeley & Cannock Chase is
delivered to businesses and homes in Rugeley,
Cannock Chase, Shoal Hill, Ravenhill,
Etchinghill, Slitting Mill, Armitage, Brereton,
Handsacre, Colton, Hawkesyard, Draycott Park
completely free of charge; bringing you the best
that the area 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 region? We want to hear
from you!
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
Mike James 07900 982456
mikejamescitylife@gmail.com
Design - Helen Smith 07967 154187
helencitylife@gmail.com
Citylife In Lichfield Ltd
PO Box 7126 LICHFIELD WS14 4JS
CITYLIFE in Lichfield and CITYLIFE in Rugeley and
Cannock Chase magazines are not connected to any
other publication or publisher, and are wholly owned
by CITYLIFE in Lichfield Ltd.
Inside...
6 Local News
What's been happening in and
around the area
12 Win County Show Tickets
Enter our competition for your
chance
16 Tastes of the Season
Simon Smith’s latest recipe
20 A Window on the Past
The Landor Society takes us
back in time
26 What's On
Events taking place in
May & June
Citylife's Website!
We've launched our brand new website
recently to accompany your two
publications. On our site you can find
more information about the magazines,
plus a revamped blog full of local news,
features and competitions!
Designed by InLife Design, based in
Burntwood, we look forward to
welcoming you at
www.citylifeinlichfieldltd.co.uk
Citylife In Lichfield
@citylifelichfield
@lichfieldcity
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.
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5

LOCAL NEWS
Teachers’
Tea Party
Local teaching staff recently
attended an event to learn how
arts and culture can contribute
to their curriculum and support
children.
The Creative Education Tea
Party was hosted by the
Cannock Chase Cultural
Education Partnership (CCCEP)
which provides and encourages
creative opportunities for
children and young people.
The event brought together
education staff from local
primary and secondary schools
with the goal of establishing a
district wide ‘teacher’s network’
to help shape the future delivery
of creative activities for children.
Local art and culture
organisations were present to
showcase
opportunities,
providing first-hand experiences
which could add real value to
schools and their wider
curriculum.
For more information, visit
www.cannockchasecep.co.uk.
...........................................................
Easter Goodies
Donated
Local businesses in Cannock
Chase made generous donations
of Easter goodies to the Rugeley
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Food Bank and Cannock Chase
Children’s Centre to help
struggling families over Easter.
Dodd Group Midland Limited,
contractors for electrical and
adaptations works for the
Housing service at Cannock
Chase Council, donated 50
Easter eggs to Rugeley Food
Bank.
Whilst Property Solutions
Limited, kitchen and bathroom
contractors for Cannock Chase
Council’s Housing service,
donated a variety of Easter
treats which made up 137
goodies bags for Cannock Chase
Children’s Centre.
...........................................................
New Dog
Control Signs
Signs advising of requirements
on dog owners have been
installed in local parks and open
spaces following Cannock Chase
Council’s adoption of a new Dog
Control Order, which imposes
certain requirements on dog
owners.
These requirements include
dogs to be on a lead in certain
areas, owners’ to carry dog poo
bags and remove their dog’s
faeces, and no more than six
dogs to be walked by one
person.
Enforcement Officers will be
patrolling problem areas and will
issue fixed penalties to anyone
not complying.
...........................................................
Improvements
for Elmore Park
Rugeley’s Elmore
Park will soon
see
a
replacement
toilet block, with
the Council set
to undertake a
tender process to
Cllr Robert
Hughes
provide the new facility and
appoint a suitable contractor to
undertake the works.
The current public toilets are in
a poor condition with no
running water for washing
hands, no baby changing facilities
and are unsuitable for less
mobile users. While a small retail
kiosk, next to the block, is
unoccupied and is currently
boarded up.
With the current toilet block
not compliant with current
standards, the Council has found
the funds to replace the existing
toilet block with a fabricated
steel frame building, clad with
brick and topped with a pitched
tiled roof, to house two unisex
toilets.

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LOCAL NEWS
Council
Supplies Safe
Bedding
Cannock Chase Council has
provided funding to supply 30
sets of flame-retardant bedding
to homes.
The funding, provided through
the Council’s Community Safety
Partnership, will ensure that
vulnerable members of the
community are as safe as
possible in their homes.
The flame-retardant bedding
will be distributed by
Staffordshire Fire and Rescue.
If you have a family member
who may be at risk from fire
and would like a safe and well
visit, call Staffordshire Fire and
Rescue on 0800 0241 999.
...........................................................
Award for
Wildlife Trust
Bryony Davison &
Hamish Jeffreson
Staffordshire Wildlife Trust and
the Environment Agency were
shortlisted for the 2023 UK
River Prize by the River
Restoration Centre, and on
Wednesday 19th April they were
crowned as the winners.
This recognition from sector
experts reinforces how
remarkable their achievements
are. Projects were varied and
included urban river ways,
headwaters and floodplain
rivers.
The partnership is using
pioneering and innovative
approaches to both river
restoration and land
management. The work is
restoring degraded rivers and
floodplains. It will benefit both
nature’s recovery and people in
the Staffordshire Trent Valley.
...........................................................
Job Fair is
Success
(L-R) Samantha Saunders, Andy Smith,
Tracy Evans, Donna Linton, Michael Evans
& Sarah Smith.
Over 200 job hunters attended
a jobs fair at Rugeley
Community Centre recently
hosted by Cannock Chase
Council, Jobs 22 and Cannock
Job Centre.
Dozens of employers gathered
to speak to potential employees,
including HB Leisure,
The Skills Network, The Best
Connection, Acacia Training, Pets
at Home, QTT Training- HS2,
Kids Planet Day Nurseries, Care
Service UK, Cannock Chase
Council, Upper Moreton Farm,
Secure Healthcare Solutions,
Avon, Home Instead, South
Staffs College, ICare Group,
Staffordshire County Council,
Staffordshire Police, GS
Associates and Balfour Beatty.
...........................................................
Local Pub Gets
Refresh
The Stag’s Leap pub in Rugeley
has received a new look after a
£100,000 investment into its
refurbishment.
The pub, which reopened in
April, is ideally located for a pitstop
following a visit to Cannock
Chase. It has a family-friendly
feel, with a beer garden
complete with children’s play
area, and it is also dog-friendly.
The refurbishment includes a
new varied menu of pub
favourites and elevates the pub’s
interior to suit all occasions,
from casual lunches to special
celebrations.
Read our dining review on page
28.

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Local & Community Groups
SI Cannock &
District
SI Cannock
held its AGM
at The Barns
on 18th April,
giving
its
members the
opportunity
to look back on another
successful year!
The club has been run by a
team this year rather than a
single President and will be run
the same way in the coming year.
Outgoing President, Trish Smith,
thanked everyone for their help
and support.
Successful projects through
the year included the
Books4Home campaign which
saw the charity surpass book
donations of 100,000 to children
who would not otherwise have a
book of their own. Another was
the support given to the
Ukrainian families that have
sought refuge in the area from
the war in their country.
Incoming President, Carole
Holdcroft, thanked Trish for her
hard work.
www.sigbi.org/cannock-anddistrict
..........................
The Ridwares
WI
Last month, The Ridwares WI
celebrated its 75th birthday in
style. This event took months of
meticulous planning by the
committee.
On the night, 61 members
(including 13 guests) were
greeted by President Karen
Wakefield with the official
photographer taking photos of
everyone arriving.
Excellent food was enjoyed by
all with Woodlands Caterer’s
doing a splendid job.
Raffles were held and
entertainment followed, with five
members giving short talks
during the intermission, speaking
of the history of the organisation
and how it engages the
community surrounding it.
http://theridwareswi.co.uk
..........................
Cannock &
District Ladies’
Probus
A n d y
French, a
l o c a l
Penkridge
m a n ,
accepted a
challenge to
entertain the ladies with a quiz
last month. A change from his
usual practice of having a
Speaker, it was thoroughly
enjoyed, making ladies delve into
memories and think ‘outside of
the box.’ Following a delicious
two-course meal, members
welcomed two guests and sang
Happy Birthday to the
Attendance Secretary.
Retiring Chairman Sheila won
the Chairman’s Cheer raffle, and
Chairman Anne gifted everyone
with an Easter Egg and wished
them Happy Easter.
Contact Barbara on 01889 882
166 or Anne on 01922 418 037
to find out more.
..........................
Rugeley WI
A n
interesting
talk was
given to
members by
Bill Durose,
entitled ‘The
Antiques
Roadshow
Experience’.
Bill comes from a family of art
metal workers who owned a
business in Tunstall, established in
1880 by his grandfather. The
company celebrated its
centenary in 1980 and a
commemorative terracotta
figure was commissioned to be
made by Peggy Davies - a highly
regarded figure modeler at Royal
Doulton.
Years later, Paul Atterbury
from the Antiques Road Show
was made aware of this figure
and recognised it as a Peggy
Davies. Bill and his family were
invited to The Antiques Road
Show, filmed at Trentham
Gardens, to discuss the figure
and the family business.
Contact Barbara Johnson on
01889 586855 or Barbara
Coppard on 01889 579753.
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WIN 5 Family Tickets to
Staffs County Show
This year, the Staffordshire County Show will be held on
Wednesday 31st May and Thursday 1st June.
The Show at the County Showground on Weston Road, some
four miles from Stafford, is one of the area’s major events of the
summer and is expected to attract more than 65,000 visitors. A
packed Main Ring programme includes a range of attractions
that includes, in addition to the Monster Trucks, the Young
Farmer’s Floats which this year has a theme of West End
Musicals, show jumping, the Grand Parade of Livestock and the
Parade of Hounds. In the Country Pursuits Arena visitors can
watch the birds of prey display, the ferret roadshow, have a go
at fly casting or sit back and learn all about pigs with the Hogg
Show.
Around the Showground there will be demonstrations of
traditional rural crafts such as thatching, coracle making and
drystone walling as well as view a display of vintage cars and
agricultural machinery. However, at the heart of the Show is
livestock with over a thousand cattle, sheep, pigs and goats and
over 1,500 horses and ponies.
There are a number of competitions and shows within the Show
including the Sheep Shearing and Wool Handling Competitions,
the Farriery Competition where blacksmiths compete to make
the perfect horseshoe before using it to shoe a horse, the Fur
and Feather Show with a vast array of poultry, waterfowl, cavies
(hamsters and guinea pigs) and rabbits as well as the Bee &
Honey Show with its working hive. In addition the dog show will
attract around 2000 dogs representing every breed of dog in the
UK.
Children of all ages are especially well catered for with a
children’s farm, fairground rides and the opportunity to have
their picture taken with the giant tortoises.
Further details about the Show and purchase advance tickets
are available on the website at
www.staffscountyshowground.co.uk or follow on
Facebook@staffscountyshow.
We’ve got five family ticket to give away. To enter,
simply answer the question below and send your
details to us.
On which road is the County Showground located?
a) Weston Road. b) Stafford Road. c) Lichfield Road
To enter, send your name, contact details & answer to Staffs
Show at competitioncitylife@gmail.com or to Citylife in Lichfield
Ltd, PO Box 7126, Lichfield WS14 4JS by closing date of 21st
May 2023. One entry per household. Multiple entries disqualified.
No cash equivalent. Entrants 18 or over. All information in line
with GDPR Data Protection Regulations & Privacy Policy
(available at citylifeinlichfieldltd.co.uk). Full t&cs on page 34.
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Exploring the
Trent Valley Digitally
By Louise Morris, Landscape Partnership Manager
Discover more about the beautiful landscape
of the Trent Valley, filled with fascinating
history, stunning wildlife and exciting natural
places to visit.
The Transforming the Trent Valley project team
has created digital interpretation to show the
challenges we are facing and how you can get
involved with shaping and protecting the landscape
for future generations.
Created with local expertise and our heritage
volunteers, it displays the sites and initiatives we are
involved with to help species, habitat and heritage
in the Trent Valley.
The landing page starts with an aerial overview of
the whole Trent Valley. You can view films, history
and nature on four locations across the Trent Valley:
Rugeley Power Station, Tucklesholme Nature
Reserve, Burton Washlands, Willington Wetlands.
Zooming in on Tucklesholme Nature Reserve, it
showcases the variety of wildlife to be found,
including Kingfishers and Sandmartins and how to
identify them. It highlights the type of habitats
needed for wildlife and how a growing network of
volunteers are helping to monitor, survey and
record wildlife to support the restoration of
biodiversity.
People of all ages can enjoy the interactive games
and learn how to create a healthy river, explore
nature recovery networks and watch river flooding
animations.
There is also the opportunity to journey through
time to view the heritage of the Trent Valley from
Pre-history, to Viking, Industrial times and World
War II. It is useful to learn about the importance of
each stage and impact of each era on the landscape
and people of the area.
It has been a real team effort; the photographs
have been captured by our excellent photography
volunteers and the voice-overs to the films are
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read by team members and project volunteers. This
digital interpretation is an interactive way for all to
enjoy, to find out more about the sort of work we
do in the Trent Valley and why it is so important. It
will stay on our website when the project ends.
www.thetrentvalley.org.uk/past-andpresent

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Tastes of the Season
By Simon Smith
This time of year brings us three of my favourite ingredients, which
fortunately sit very well on a plate together. Those are spring lamb,
Jersey Royal potatoes and English asparagus.
My recipes are always for four people and designed to be relatively easy rather than
complicated restaurant dishes.
Rack of Lamb with Asparagus, Jersey
Royals and Mint Ragout
4 x 3 bone rack of lamb
12 x heads asparagus
12 x fresh mint leaves (either garden or apple mint)
12 x cherry tomatoes
12 x cooked Jersey Royal potatoes
6ozs cooked peas
1 x bunch chives
½ pt lamb gravy
Method
Pre heat the oven to 180°C. Snap the asparagus stalks in half and discard the bottom stalk (or
keep to make soup). Drop into boiling water for two minutes, remove and drop into cold water.
Cut the cherry tomatoes in half. Cut the potatoes in half. Roughly chop the mint.
Season the racks of lamb with salt and pepper, seal in a hot pan and cook in the oven for 15-20
minutes depending on how you like it cooked. Bring the gravy to a simmer and drop in the
asparagus, tomatoes, potatoes, peas and mint to heat up. When the lamb is cooked, dip the back
in the chopped chives and place on the ragout. This sauce will work equally well with lamb steaks,
roast leg of lamb or a boned saddle.
Simon Smith is available to cater for dinner parties, BBQs, buffets and corporate
catering events, and can be reached on email: simonsmith57@icloud.com.
Alternatively, visit www.simonsmith-chef.com for further information.

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Perry’s Field to Fork
European Bakes Course
Fancy something a bit different? Then read on! We sent Citylife’s Helen Smith on
a European baking course at Perry’s Field to Fork - an Artisan Butchery and
Cookery School that delivers cookery courses, based in the historic market
town of Eccleshall.
On arrival we were greeted by Debbie Hill who owns the cookery school, and the setting
was a lovely purpose-built building, surrounded by beautiful gardens. We were made to feel
welcome straight away and, after a quick brew, we all introduced ourselves.
Running the course was professional baker, Steph Clubb, and she guided each of us
through her recipes for the day. First off, we prepped our doughs for our cinnamon cruffins,
apple and raisin Spandau, and maritozzi, and we left them to rest whilst we moved onto
prepping the rest of the ingredients ready to assemble.
Then back onto the dough to make our raisin spandau. We added apple sauce, marzipan
and raisins to the centre, folded them, added a splash of egg wash, and then it was straight
into the oven. Easy! Even I could manage this!
Next was the maritozzi. These are round buns filled with cream and they smelt amazing,
with sweet orange zest in the dough, and filled with vanilla and orange double cream, with
a smear of lemon curd on the inside, then brushed with marmalade once cooked. Luckily,
they don’t count calories in the school!
The next tasty treat was the cinnamon cruffins - well I have never heard of these before!
They are a cross between a muffin and a croissant and were great fun to make, and even
better to eat!
Everything you bake you can take home for your family and friends (if you want to share
them that is!) so make sure you bring enough Tupperware.
To go with our lunch, Steph knocked us up some quick and easy lemon and blueberry
muffins, topped with a lemon poppy seed sugar crumble crumb and a drizzle of lemon icing.
Our lunch was included in the price and consisted of an extremely tasty homemade Thai
chicken dish, with the muffin for pudding, all washed down with a glass of fizz.
The courses run over a full day from 9.30am till 3.30pm. It was relaxed, fun and very
informative, and I loved it that much that I have already booked in for the pork pie, sausage
roll and scotch egg course in June, so watch this space!
As well as cake baking, Perry’s runs a variety of courses, including breadmaking, Indian
cooking, Italian cooking, butchery, and pie making, with new courses being added all the time.
Keep a look out on the website. It makes the perfect gift for a loved one, a corporate team
building event, special occasion or just to treat yourself and learn some new skills! There
are also gift vouchers available too.
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Perry’s Field to Fork, The Old Cookery School, 23 Stafford Street, Eccleshall,
Stafford, ST21 6BL. Tel: 01785 851911. www.perrysfieldtofork.co.uk

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A Window on the Past
By The Landor (local history) Society
Electricity Supply
In the 1920s, Brereton Colliery built a
steam powered generator at their
Brick Kiln colliery. The surplus
capacity was used to light the colliery
manager's house and other houses near
the colliery, and later other buildings in
Brereton as far north as the Coal Wharf
at Rugeley. In 1928 they signed a
contract with the Trent Valley and High
Peak Electricity Co. Ltd.to supply
electricity throughout the town. Some
six years later the Company brought
their own supply lines from Stockport
into the area.
Technology developed over the next four
decades and Rugeley "A" power station
opened in 1961, followed by "B" station in
1968. "A" station's dry cooling tower was
the largest vertical wind tunnel in the UK.
"A" station stopped generating in
September 1994, equipment was auctioned
in the following February and the first three
towers were blown up on 6th August that
year. "B" ceased to produce power in 2016.
1. Offices of the Trent Valley and High
Peak Electricity Co. Ltd. in Upper Brook
Street c. 1936. The original offices were in
Albion Street. For their first six years they
used electricity produced by the generator
at Brick Kiln Colliery.
20
1
2. Rugeley "A" and "B" stations in 1995.
3. January 1960 No 3 cooling tower being
partially demolished "due to constructional
difficulties".
4. The main control room at "A" station
with Ted Parsons in the foreground.
5. The station provided guided tours for
both adults and school parties. The guides in
1995 were (from left to right) Jenny Losh,
Barbara Johnson, Dorothy Dutton, Sheila
Jones, Sue Edwards, Linda Allan, Julie Wale,
Vilma Shuttleworth.
Please see the Landor (local history) Society
website www.landorsocietyrugeley.uk for our
autumn/ winter programme of events.
Continued on page 22

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We’ve got a bespoke Chopping Board (in
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To be in with a chance of winning this
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Where does the supply
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To enter, just send your name, contact details and
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competitioncitylife@gmail.com or post your entry to
Citylife in Lichfield Ltd, PO Box 7126, Lichfield WS14
4JS by the closing date of 26th June 2023. 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 34.
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Continued
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Co-Op Partners
with BillyChip
Making a difference is easy with a BillyChip, as
the chips - which are made from a biodegradable
ceramic polymer - cost £2 and can be given to
someone sleeping rough as a way to support them.
This £2 goes straight to BillyChip who, through
their foundation, help support other relevant local
charities in the Society’s trading area.
The simple act of giving a chip allows someone
to redeem the chip for a hot or cold drink of their
choice at any Central Co-op store. Two chips can
be redeemed for a meal deal in-store as well,
including a snack, main, and a drink.
Central Co-op recently welcomed
BillyChip® into all 250+ Central Co-op
food stores, allowing customers to spread
kindness to those in need with a simple gift.
Central Co-op celebrated the launch at the
Boley Park store in Lichfield, joined by Claudia
Walker, footballer for Birmingham City. Co-
Founder, Meg Abernethy-Hope, also attended the
launch to talk about the scheme.
Find out more about BillyChip at
www.billychip.com.
22

30th June 2023.
23

Bottom’s Up!
By Kristen Lackajis
Have you heard about the latest, greatest
beauty treatment that all the stars are
having? Fat Cavitation combined with RF Skin
Tightening (otherwise known as the Brazilian
Bum Lift!) is all the rage among the celeb world
as it is a non-invasive treatment that is
guaranteed to get results… and fast!
I went along to a local clinic offering this
pioneering new procedure to see what it was all
about.
To say I was a little nervous about getting my
derriere out in an understatement, but I needn’t
have been! Katie Hayes of Shape Me Up in
Hednesford immediately put me at ease as I was
greeted at her house, and led upstairs to her
beautifully appointed, and fully equipped, home
salon.
Being a lady of a certain age, I’m not afraid to
admit that I have what are commonly known in the
beauty industry as ‘problem areas’… these being,
pockets of fat on my bottom and thighs, along with
the classic orange peel skin and dimpling of
cellulite. Promised a new bum with immediate
results, I eagerly de-robed and hopped onto the
couch to begin, after Katie had taken some photos
of my behind for a before and after comparison!
Cold gel was applied and my gluteus maximus
was vigorously massaged using the cavitation
machine, with Katie focusing on my left, and then
right side, for about 10 minutes each. This machine
is designed to break down my fat cells using
vibration and ultrasound and the feeling was not
unpleasant, in fact, it was rather relaxing and Katie
chatted to me throughout, putting me even more
at ease.
Next, came the RF skin tightening procedure and
again my bottom was treated to a good, firm
massage with the radio frequency device, which
delivers an electromagnetic wave to stimulate the
production of collagen, elastin and new skin cells.
Finally, Katie provided a brief massage to help
encourage the broken-up fat cells to move through
my body and out (in case you’re wondering, they
come out in the urine, so drinking a lot of water
post-treatment is highly recommended!)
So did I achieve the perfect peach? Impressively,
my ‘after’ photographs show that my skin is visibly
smoother, less dimpled and my buttocks were lifted
(but don’t panic, I’m not going to subject you to a
picture of my rear in the magazine)! Katie informs
me that the effects continue to work for the
following 72 hours, and it is recommended that six
treatments are taken for maximum results.
The bottom line is… if you’re looking to achieve
a ‘beach bum’ this summer, then I can highly
recommend this treatment to give you a butt to be
proud of!
Search for Shape Me Up on Facebook, or
@ShapeMeUp1 on Instagram to find out more.
Alternatively, contact Katie on 07455 391884 or
shapemeup12@gmail.com.
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What’s On
Saturday 13th May
Birthplace Writers Group
Free session on the second Saturday of every month.
Beginners and current writers are welcome to this
friendly adult group to nurture their writing
aspirations in an inspiring venue.
Venue: The Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum
Time: 2pm-3.30pm
Call 01543 264 972, email sjmuseum@lichfield.gov.uk
or visit the Museum.
Saturday 13th & 27th May
Birthplace Bookworms!
A fortnightly reading club for 7–11-year-olds! Read
along and enjoy themed craft activities.
Venue: The Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum
Time: 10:30am-11:40am
Price: £3.50 per child. Discounts available for family
groups.
Booking required. Visit
www.samueljohnsonbirthplace.org.uk, call 01543 264
972 or email sjmuseum@lichfield.gov.uk.
Monday 15th & 22nd May
Birthplace Writing Café
A relaxed course welcoming participants of all levels
to create stories, poems, and scripts at your own
pace.
Venue: The Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum
Time: 2pm-3.30pm
Price: £4.50 per person.
Visit www.samueljohnsonbirthplace.org.uk for more
details.
Fri 19th May
Phil King
Phil King presents an evening of Acoustic, Folk,
Americana, and Blues & Roots. King has the whole
trinity: A beautiful soulful singing voice, deft skills at
playing the guitar, and the capacity to write elegantly
worded and powerful songs.
Venue: The Hub at St Mary’s, Lichfield
Time: 8pm
Price: £15. Book at www.thehubstmarys.co.uk.
Sat 20th May
Lichfield Sinfonia
Lichfield Sinfonia is
returning to Lichfield
Cathedral for a Spring
Concert. The soloist is
prize winning pianist,
Victor Lim, who will
play the ever-popular Grieg Piano Concerto. The
orchestra will also play Brahms’ Academic Festival
Overture, and the Adagio from Khachaturian’s
Spartacus ballet, amongst others. It will also perform
The Three Spires Suite - very fitting considering the
concert’s location!
Venue: Lichfield Cathedral
Time: 7.30pm
Price: Tickets are £18, and £5 for children.
Book at www.ticketsource.co.uk/lichfieldsinfonia.
Fri 26th May
The London Django Collective
Born out of the desire to create a local and
innovative forum for musicians influenced by the
musical legacy of Django Reinhardt, the Collective
remains in the spirit of Django, whilst pushing the
genre of gypsy jazz forward into the vibrant UK jazz
scene.
Venue: The Hub at St Mary’s, Lichfield. Time: 8pm
Price: £18. Book at www.thehubstmarys.co.uk.
Sat 17th & Sun
18th June
Marchington Open
Gardens
At least 12 beautiful
gardens to view.
Scarecrows, Craft Fair,
Vintage vehicles, music,
photography exhibition, refreshments and RAF fly past
of the marvellous Hurricane!
Free parking and Shuttle Bus.
Venue: Marchington, ST14 8LJ
Time: 11am - 5pm
Price: £5 (buy from community shop or gardens).
Visit www.marchingtonfestival.co.uk for more.
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Promote your event in our What’s On guide and reach over 8,000 homes and businesses for
only £20 for businesses and £10 for charities. Entries must be 50 words maximum. To book
contact Rebecca Hill 07970 513144 rebeccahillcitylife@gmail.com
Please clearly mark your email ‘What’s On Rugeley and Cannock'.

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A Giant Leap Forward!
By Kristen Lackajis
It’s been in the offing for quite some time, so when we were invited along to the new look
Stag’s Leap pub, in Rugeley, to try the new menu, we were excited to see the
transformation that had taken place.
On entering the establishment, the atmosphere is very refined. The opened-up space has much
more of a country dining feel to it, as it befitting to its situation on the edge of Cannock Chase.
Think wood panelling painted in the latest, deep colours, comfortable tweed seating, and elegant
light fittings, and you’re nearly there!
We were shown to our table and presented with the new menu which boasts an incredible array
of classic and more modern dining options, from burgers to light bites and from salads to hearty,
indulgent meals.
We took advantage of the ‘three starters for £13 offer’ and opted for Mozzarella & Croxton
Manor Cheddar Bites, Buttermilk Chicken Strips & Popcorn Chicken, and BBQ Cauliflower Wings.
Delicious, light and the perfect start to what was a delicious meal.
Next came our main meals. I had opted for the lighter option of a Chicken & Bacon Salad, and
my friend chose the Surf & Turf. Neither of us were disappointed in the slightest! The Chicken &
Bacon Salad was possibly the largest salad I had ever encountered! The usual salad leaves and
veggies, mixed with quinoa, edamame beans and tossed in a French dressing. Topped with a
generous portion of grilled chicken, crispy bacon and crispy onions. It was very filling to say the
least!
The classic pub dish of Surf & Turf featured a perfectly cooked 8oz rump steak, with scampi, chips,
tomato, mushrooms, peas and onion rings! Again, more than enough on the plate, and everything
was delicious!
So our verdict? The portions were plentiful, the food was very tasty, and the atmosphere of the
new look Stag’s Leap makes this the ideal place for a brunch, lunch or evening meal!
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The Stag’s Leap is situated on the Wolseley Road, Rugeley, WS15 2ET. Tel: 01889 584587.
www.stagsleappub.co.uk

29

My Month in
Parliament
By Amanda Milling MP
Over the last few
months I have been
knocking on doors and
talking to residents ahead of
the local elections. Antisocial
behaviour is
something that constituents
have often brought to my
attention.
No one should have to live in fear of
intimidation from their neighbours or gangs of
teenagers causing trouble in a town centre or
local park. In addition, these areas should not be
littered with empty nitrous oxide canisters and
women and girls should feel safe walking alone at
night. For so many residents anti-social behaviour
is not a low level crime. It is far more than a
nuisance and can ruin communities. More action
is needed to help stamp out anti-social behaviour
once and for all and to ensure everyone in
Cannock Chase treats their fellow residents with
respect.
I therefore warmly welcome the
Government’s Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan.
This Action Plan will see anti-social behaviour
treated with the urgency it deserves by bringing
in 'hotspot policing' to target the worst affected
areas. It means we will have more police and
more uniformed officers tackling the most
prolific offenders. We will also introduce a new
approach called 'Immediate Justice' to make
perpetrators repair the damage they have done.
They will be forced to pick up litter, wash police
cars or clean up graffiti within as little as 48
hours of being caught.
There will also be a zero-tolerance approach
to other issues that blight our communities,
including cracking down on illegal drugs. We are
going to ban nitrous oxide and increase the use
of drug testing on arrest. We will expand not only
the types of drugs which police test for, but also
the situations where tests are used to include
anti-social behaviour and violence against women
and girls. In addition, we will make it easier to
evict tenants who are persistently disrespectful
and disruptive to their neighbours, and we will
bring in new tools to help those living on the
streets access specialist care and support.
The plan will also grant police and other
agencies the tools they need to act and restore
pride in our communities. We will increase the
amount of on-the-spot fines for litter, graffiti and
fly-tipping and seek to increase their use.
Councils will also be given new funding to
restore local parks and greater powers to revive
their high streets by bringing empty shops back
into use. This plan is very welcome and helps
tackle one of the issues that Rugeley residents
have raised with me.
As always, if you require my help with anything
at all please do not hesitate to contact me via e-
mail at amanda.milling.mp@parliament.uk or by
telephone on 01543 877142.
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Wildlife
Calendar Comp
Staffordshire Wildlife Trust has launched a
competition to find images for its 2024
calendar.
Photographers can submit any photographs
featuring wildlife or places of Staffordshire.
The 13 best entries will feature in the 2024
calendar and winners will receive a copy. The
overall winner will be picked by UK wildlife
photographer Kevin Morgans, and their image will
feature on the calendar’s cover. They will also
receive a camera bag worth £300 from Lowepro.
The closing date for entries is Wednesday 7th
June 2023 and the 13 winners will be announced at
the end of June and invited to an event at The
Wolseley Centre near Rugeley.
To enter, and see full T&Cs, visit www.staffswildlife.org.uk/2024-staffordshire-wildlifetrust-calendar-competition.
Female stonechat (Ben Hall)
Radford Meadows Nature Reserve (Christine Harding)
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Memories of Rugeley
By Len Hough
From a letter written in 1986
I
have been trying to find out more about the
Drill Hall site. The Drill Hall was certainly
there in 1932 as I used to deliver groceries
there for Hunter's Tea Stores; there was a
resident sergeant and his wife and family there.
I had to take the groceries up a flight of stairs
to the flat over the entrance. This was just
before I started work at the old Palace Cinema.
I feel sure that in my early days Mr Wood's
newsagent’s shop was in Lower Brook Street
opposite Hunter’s. Sometime after Mr Wood left it
became Melia's grocery shop... but these are very
early memories. Do you remember Leeson's
butchers’ shop? It was where the Halifax is now.
Sausage was a speciality and they always had a
number of pigs' bladders, inflated, hanging up. There
was a watch repairer's next door, halfway up the
windows were opaque glass. This later became a
bicycle shop and then the Square Radio shop.
Another old trader, in Bow Street, next to Mr
Wood's was Mr Edge, a very skilled tinsmith. He
could make anything - kettles, billy cans, milk
servers, even magic lanterns, which he sold for a
shilling along with two slides. My brother and I had
one. There was a small paraffin lamp included for
the light source, we used to use it under the stars.
It was a wonder we did not set the house on fire at
times!
My cousin Victor wrote to say he remembered
the Tanyard in Church Street as one day he was
coming home from school and saw two men
beating a horse coming out of the Tanyard. I wrote
back and told him his memory was playing tricks.
The Tanyard was in Bryan’s Lane, it was Thomas's
Saw Mills that was in Church Street. I have seen as
many as four big horses coupled to a load of timber
there, but it would not have been Mr Thomas or his
son beating the horse as he was a most kindly man,
as was his son. We used to go there for sawdust for
our rabbits. He would always leave off what he was
doing to give us a bagful. Oddly enough I cannot
remember what happened to the sawmills. I can
only think he had a good offer for the land for
building; it was nearly opposite the Prince of Wales
pub.
The shop with "Your Murphy Dealer" on the blind is the
Square Radio shop
The Drill Hall in 1937
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