Citylife in Lichfield - Dec 23/Jan 24

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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
businesses and homes in Lichfield, Kings Bromley, Fradley,
Alrewas, Hill Ridware, Whittington, Shenstone,
Hammerwich, Burntwood, Streethay, Yoxall 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
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Distribution - Rebecca Hill 07970 513144
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 happening in and around Lichfield.
12 CityView
Lichfield City Council's newsletter
20 Five Minutes With...
Panto star Sam Rabone is in the spotlight!
34 Festive Gift Guide
Find the perfect pressie from a local retailer
38 The History of Croxall Hall
Jono Oates takes a look at the past.
..................................
Citylife in Lichfield wishes all its readers,
advertisers and supporters a very Merry
Christmas and a prosperous New Year!
Cover Photo: Bruce Adams | Daily Mail
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.
Your Local
Community Magazine

5

LOCAL NEWS
6
Bargain Hunt
Christmas Specials
Filmed in Lichfield
Christmas came early when Bargain Hunt
returned to The Lichfield Auction Centre to
film this year’s Christmas Specials.
The two festive editions of the popular antiques
television programme will air on Monday 18th
December and Wednesday 20th December on
BBC One.
Lots of people flocked to the Fradley Park
saleroom to watch the auction action.
It was the second time Richard Winterton
Auctioneers has hosted the Bargain Hunt
Christmas Specials.
This time Charlie Ross was presenting, with
experts Izzie Balmer and Tim Weeks helping out
the Red and Blue teams.
Auctioneer Richard Winterton yielded the gavel
on the day.
“We were delighted to welcome back Bargain
Hunt for another Christmas cracker,” he said.
.......................................................................................
More of Canal
Completed
Another section of the Lichfield Canal is now in
water, thanks to funding from European
Regional Development Fund (ERDF) with
match funding from HS2’s Community and
Environment Fund (CEF), and separate funding
from the Biffa Award and the Wesleyan
Foundation.
A 500+ metre section of the canal has been
completed as part of the Darnford Moors
Ecology Park project by Lichfield and
Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust (LHCRT),
providing an aquatic habitat, with a wetlands
area, hedgerow corridors and trees. Work has
been carried out by a combined workforce of
LHCRT volunteers, visiting corporate
volunteers and Waterway Recovery Groups,
and the contractor Onsite Central Ltd installing
the lining.
LHCRT members were given the first
opportunity to see the canal in water at a
guided walk, led by operations trustee Peter
Buck, on November 19th. It will be open to the
public in the new year.
.......................................................................................
Community Supports
Local School
Over 80 Year 12 pupils at Chase Terrace
Academy in Burntwood were joined by
business contacts from across Staffordshire and
Greater Birmingham who spent the morning
conducting mock interviews and presentations
about how to gain employability skills.
Organisations including The Listening Centre,
Staffordshire Jobs and Careers Service, Balfour
Beatty, Equans, Inhealth intelligence, Midland
Metro Alliance and the Chartered Institute of
Logistics and Transport, which spoke to pupils
to pass on their advice and support.
Following the interviews, the learning continued
with carousel workshops with Alison Taylor, a
global business development entrepreneur
(pictured), sharing insights into the corporate
world, David Clift, founder of the Good Turns
Foundation, offering perspectives on the notfor-profit
sector and Chris Brewerton, division
director at the Lichfield and Tamworth
Chamber of Commerce, providing valuable
insights into the world of business.
Any business keen to offer its support to the
school can email
j.devereux@chaseterraceacademy.co.uk for a
list of available future dates.
Dynamic Council
Officer Scoops Award
The Health and Wellbeing Manager at Lichfield
District Council has been presented with a
special award in recognition of her tireless
work encouraging women and girls into sport.
Tasmin Turner has won StreetGames’ Midlands
Engaging Women and Girls Award after
demonstrating a relentless commitment to
addressing the sporting inactivity gap by
building strong relationships with local women.
For numerous years Tasmin and the Active
Lichfield programme have been providing
inclusive, safe and fun activities through
StreetGames’ Us Girls project.
Lichfield District Council recently secured
investment from the UK Shared Prosperity
Fund to continue and expand the US Girls
programme across the district working with
women and girls from the age of 8 years while
the Active Lichfield and Getin2it programmes
have seen a ‘huge uplift’ in females accessing
sport and physical activity.
The Us Girls programme offers 8 sessions per
week. For more information about the
programme visit www.activelichfield.co.uk/usgirls/.
Family Notices
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in Citylife in Lichfield magazine to let
others know of an important event,
occasion or celebration that is taking
place. If you would like to place details
of any births, deaths, marriages or
other occasions, please contact
Rebecca Hill at
rebeccahillcitylife@gmail.com or on
telephone 07970 513144.
Notices will consist of a maximum 50
words, plus an image, at a cost of £24
(inclusive of VAT).

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7

Christmas
Traditions of Days
Gone By
By Lesley Smith, Curator of Tutbury Castle
There are some traditions that are rooted
in a much further past than we realise.
Although many traditions are seen as Victorian
inventions, I would like to point out that
Charles Dickens and the Victorians generally
did not invent Christmas as we now know it
and there was a great deal going on in
between that first Christmas in Bethlehem and
now.
Some celebrations merged pre-Christian
festivals with modern celebrations, probably
because people like a tradition, even if it is
pagan! The early form of carol singers were
really mummers who would go from house to
house in wild clothing and paint their faces as they begged for money or
food. The pre-Christian version of heavy disguises was to transform
ordinary men into magicians capable of summoning back the sun in the
darkest days. If anyone was recognised and their name called out it could
break the spell, and the sun may not return.
This was originally a serious ritual but under Christian influence this
survived as mummers, who were really roaming actors and locals
drumming up money. There were plenty of them about, and I read a very
early Country Life article (late 19th century) when a correspondent
complains bitterly about having no fewer than five lots of mummers
leaping on his doorstep in one single day and what a nuisance they were
banging on his door! They had a fearsome reputation and if invited into
a house for some Christmas cheer they apparently frequently had with
them a small boy to go and raid upstairs whilst the family were being
entertained.
As a devout Christian himself, Nicholas attended church every day, and
eventually became the bishop of Myra. It was a post he held until his
death on December 6th in about AD 326, and December 6th is still the
feast day of St Nicholas. He is reputed to have performed many miracles
during his lifetime, and became the patron saint of many different groups
of people. Sailors pray to him when their ships are in danger, and one of
the more famous figures who supposedly prayed to him was William the
Conqueror, when a great storm rose up as he was about to invade
England. Nicholas is also the patron saint of the poor and humble,
pawnbrokers, unmarried girls, prostitutes and, finally, children. It is said
that a band of Norman pirates stole his remains from Myra on May
9th1087 and moved them to Bari in southern Italy, which was then under
Norman rule. As holy relics encouraged pilgrimage to a site, it would be
big business to obtain these relics, particularly as the saint had such a
wide group of followers.
Many people have heard of the Yule log, and this too stems from pagan
days and the midwinter celebrations. It was not just a good source of
heat at the coldest time of the year, but it was also thought necessary to
have fire rituals to attract back the sun. Yuletide lasted 12 days and was
the origin of the Twelve Days of Christmas. A massive log was dragged
into the house so that it could burn for the whole 12 days. It was an
important feature of this tradition that everyone in a household should
help to bring in the Yule log, as this would also protect them all from
witchcraft or wicked spells in the coming year. The log, once brought into
the hearth, was doused in alcohol, which formed a kind of sacrifice, but
also helped the fire catch more quickly. Each day the log was pushed in a
little further, taking care that it didn't burn too quickly. A very careful
watch was kept to ensure that the Yule log did not extinguish. At the end,
a portion of the log would be kept to light the following year, and so give
a sense of continuity from one year to the next. The Yule log could form
part of family life right up to the Victorian period, even if people had
forgotten its origin as a tradition.
Merry Christmas to all who read my column, from
me and all my staff at Tutbury Castle. Good health
and joy to you all!
They were very frequent sights on the streets in the 16th century, with
brilliant coloured rags cut into ribbons and feathered hats, bells and
banging sticks created a (sort of) musical atmosphere for dancing. If this
sounds familiar, you are right, they are an early version of Morris Men or
Border Rievers. We see them in large numbers every summer in Lichfield
each year, as they fill our streets with dancing.
Another tradition with early origins is that of Santa Claus, whose name
derives from St Nicholas. There are many stories surrounding the original
St Nicholas. He is supposed to have lived in 4th-century Lycia, the
modern Turkish seaport of Patara. He apparently was a very pious baby,
and his miracles began at an early age, supposedly including standing
upright in his bath on the day of his birth! His parents were very wealthy
and devout Christians, and when Nicholas was still only a young man,
both parents died, leaving him with great riches. He decided to give away
his money whenever he saw a need for it, believing that he had more than
he knew what to do with.
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9

The Spirit of the Season
By Doug Pullen, Leader of Lichfield District Council
The festive season in our District is truly a
magical time, packed with community
events - from the Santa Special at Chasewater
Heritage Railway, to the festive Tractor Run, to
the numerous Christmas Light switch-ons, and
the glorious light display at Lichfield Cathedral
- they all offer us a chance to pause, revel in
celebrations, and cherish moments with family and friends.
As I navigate the familiar holiday hustle and bustle – from attempting to
orchestrate the perfect Christmas dinner to the (usually last-minute!) gift
hunt and the perennial tangled Christmas lights ordeal – I often find
myself vowing that “next year” will be different. A year where the focus
shifts to quality time, the simple joys of a warm home, acts of service, and
relishing the tranquillity of the Christmas break. Perhaps, this year will
finally be the one to break the cycle!
For those with young families, or those of us who are young at heart,
the enchantment of Christmas is genuinely special. However, I know that
not everyone finds this season easy. Many individuals dedicate their
Christmas period to ensuring that no one spends the day alone or hungry.
Thousands more tirelessly work through the holidays, delivering essential
services and support within our community. A heartfelt thank you
extends to all those who selflessly contribute to their communities and
actively seek out those who may find this time of year challenging.
As a final point - if you're still checking off your gift list, please support
our brilliant local independent retailers. Not only are you much more
likely to discover unique gifts, but your contribution also circulates within
our superb community, supporting local businesses and helping build a
lasting legacy for Lichfield.
As we dive into this festive season, may you experience a Christmas
filled with joy and may the spirit of the season bring warmth and
happiness to all.
Christmas and Beyond!
By Darren Ennis, Leader of Burntwood District Council
Merry Christmas to all in Burntwood and
across the wider District. I hope everyone
enjoyed the fantastic, free Christmas events
held across the town over the past few weeks,
and now is the time where most of us can start
to wind down and enjoy the festive season with
our family and friends and contemplate the year
to come.
Burntwood Town Council has had a brilliant year with the continued
support of our residents, community groups and businesses, we have
achieved so much in 2023. From free meals for children over the summer
holidays, free community events, grants for local charities, community
groups and students, the monthly producers markets, dementia awareness,
our Repair and Response Team and so much more. This year we have
managed to add to our offering through receiving corporate sponsorship
from so many phenomenal local businesses, too many to mention.
We have just completed the budget setting process for the coming year
and it’s always surprising what we can achieve with the proportion of
council tax that we receive. I know some residents will ask: “Why don’t you
fix the potholes or have more police on our streets?” but whilst the Town
Council campaigns on these matters, Staffordshire County Council is
responsible for the maintenance of our roads, and the Police and Crime
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Commissioner is responsible for local policing. Burntwood Town Council
receives just 2% of your council tax – but we use this to continue our work
to make a better Burntwood and every penny is spent on our town.
December gives us all time to reflect but, more importantly, to plan for
the upcoming year. To start 2024, Burntwood Town Council is completing
the purchase of its first community building, the old Chase Terrace
Methodist Church. This is a landmark moment for Burntwood Town
Council as the first asset we will own, and we are excited to provide this
building for community use. We hope this will provide new opportunities
for our town and a much-needed venue for activities and groups.
We will also be reviewing our community events in the New Year and
seeking sponsorship to build on the success of previous years in providing
events like the Wakes and Play in the Parks for free. Our Response and
Repair team will carry on working around the town to keep it looking tidy
and safe, and we will continue to engage with residents to make sure we
are responding to local need and getting the most for our town.
May I take the opportunity to wish you all a Happy New Year and all the
best in 2024. If you need further information on our events, services, or
sponsorship opportunities, this can be found by following Burntwood Town
Council on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, or on our website
www.burntwood-tc.gov.uk.

11

City VIEW
The Newsletter of Lichfield City Council
Grant Applications Now Due
Clubs, societies and voluntary groups in the City of Lichfield are invited
to apply to the City Council for a grant from the Council’s 2024/2025
budget. Grant forms are available by email at:
administration@lichfield.gov.uk, from the City Council Office, Donegal
House, Bore Street, Lichfield, WS13 6LU (telephone 01543 309858),
and on the Council’s website at www.lichfield.gov.uk. Completed forms
must be returned by 3rd January 2024.
To be eligible, organisations applying MUST operate for the benefit of
people living within the boundary of the City of Lichfield.
Each year the Council makes available a sum in its budget to be given
out to local voluntary organisations to assist in their work.
Organisations helped in the past have included youth groups, sports
clubs, arts groups, charitable bodies, and various other societies. Grants
totalling over £30,000 have been distributed during 2023/24, ranging in
value from £75 to £5,500.
The Council Leader, Councillor Dave Robertson said: “We are very
fortunate to have a wide range of local clubs and societies in the City
which support the needs and interests of our citizens. Grants provided
by the Council can support an organisation’s general funding or, in
particular, provide help with some special project. We feel the City
Council’s grants are particularly important to the local community and
we hope that as many organisations as possible can be helped through
this programme.”
The Council is particularly keen to receive applications from
organisations which have not previously applied.
Mayor’s & Sheriff’s Message
It is our great honour and pleasure to serve
as the Mayor and Sheriff of Lichfield City,
especially in this year when all the much-loved
regular events can take place without the
constraints caused by the pandemic and the
postponements necessary last year following
the death of HRH Queen Elizabeth the
Second. Residents and visitors to the City
have enjoyed the Greenhill Bower, the 470th
Sheriff’s Ride, Dr Johnson birthday
celebrations, Remembrance Day and Switchon
of the Christmas Lights. We are also
looking forward to Shrove Tuesday 13th
February and the St George’s Day
celebrations Tuesday 23rd April.
As well as supporting these annual events, we
have much enjoyed getting to know more
about the extraordinarily rich range of
charitable, community, cultural and economic
activities in the City. We have been to
concerts, religious services and lectures,
visited care homes, schools, sports clubs, and
voluntary organisations, marked anniversaries
and celebrated the opening of new
businesses. We give heartfelt thanks to
everyone whose commitment and hard work
makes this city such a rewarding place to live.
Mayor of Lichfield,
Councillor Ann Hughes
Sheriff of Lichfield, Adam
Burns-Mace
Shortly after our election in May, we were to visit our German twin
city Limburg an der Lahn where we also met representatives of our
French twin, Sainte Foy-les-Lyon. This was a real highlight of our year,
and we are grateful for the friendly welcome and outstanding
hospitality we received. We wish the Mayors and people of the twin
towns, our warmest greetings and good wishes for Christmas and the
New Year.
Friendship across national boundaries is crucially important in a
divided world. These are hard times for many in our city, and in the
world beyond, - a continuing cost of living crisis, a climate emergency,
and the dreadful suffering brought by war in eastern Europe and the
middle East.
A new climate change committee has been established by the City
Council, and in the summer, the Mayor’s ‘Back to School’ uniform
exchange helped local families with free school uniforms and saved
tons of good quality clothes from landfill.
We are busy raising money for our nominated charities: St Giles
Hospice, entering the fortieth year of its vital work for the patients and
their families and Lichfield District City of Sanctuary, working to make
the City a place of welcome for all, among them the people of
Afghanistan, Syria, Ukraine and Hong Kong, brought here by war and
other crises. We are very grateful to the City council officers, and to all
the local businesses for their support, and to everyone who joins us at
our charity events.
In the midst of winter, Christmas and other festivals are times of
fellowship, of hope, peace and goodwill. We hope to see many of you
at the Carols for Christmas Service at the Guildhall on Tuesday 5th
December and we wish everyone a happy and peaceful Christmas and
New Year.
12

13

Your Garden in December
By Byron Lewis
This month we’re focusing on Christmas trees (the wet weather
recently has stopped most of us from doing ‘proper gardening!).
For many, Christmas starts with putting up and decorating a tree
– so how do you buy and how do you care for your tree?
Firstly, buy early so you get the best selection. Our trees are now
in stock – we have around 450 to pick from. If you can’t decorate
your tree straight away, it still pays to buy early.
You’ll need a stand for your Christmas tree – make sure it has a
reservoir which will hold water. A medium sized tree can drink a
couple of pints of water each day so make sure the stand is
regularly topped up or the tree may start to droop. If you already
have a stand, bring it with you when picking your tree – you can
then check that the trunk fits (otherwise be prepared to trim it
to fit with a saw when you get it home!).
Choose Nordman or Fraser Firs for the best needle retention –
these are the most popular types available. Norway Spruce can be
cheaper, but are better in much colder positions like a porch or
outside your front door – in heat, they can quickly lose many of
their needles. Alternatively, pick a pot grown tree – with the right
treatment these can last for many years, just be sure that you
leave plenty of room for it to grow if you’re planting it in your
garden after Christmas!
As usual after Christmas, St Giles Hospice are running their
popular ‘Treecycle’ event where your tree will be collected for
recycling in return for a donation to St Giles. Find out more on
their website.
Lichfield Garden Centre's Christmas Shop is now open, with a
huge range of new and unusual Christmas decorations, lights and
Christmas gifts. Happy Christmas!
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Byron Lewis runs Lichfield Garden Centre, based at
Curborough Countryside Centre, Watery Lane,
Lichfield. Visit the website at
www.lichfieldgardencentre.co.uk or find them on
Facebook, Twitter & Instagram.

15

Christmas Light Show
at Lichfield Cathedral
Lichfield Cathedral has been delighting its visitors for years with
an annual Christmas Light Show, with visitors describing the
experience as ‘mesmerising and magical’, and ‘perfect to get into
the Christmas spirit’.
For 2023, Lichfield Cathedral promises another spectacular show
delivered by the acclaimed animation team: Illuminos. There will be
audiovisual shows on the Bishop’s Palace and West Front and the festive
experience will continue inside the Cathedral alongside a visit to the
stunning Christmas Tree Festival. Illuminos will be using the popular
carol ‘In the Bleak Midwinter’ to tell the Christmas story, introducing
visitors to a kind and generous fox who gives gifts to other animals he
meets along his journey to see the newborn baby Jesus.
Jan McFarlane, Interim Dean of Lichfield said: “When the team at
Illuminos came to us with their concept for 2023 we were blown away.
Last year they delivered a West Front teaming with singing angels, and
we didn’t know how they could top that! ‘In the Bleak Midwinter’ is
such a recognised and well-loved carol, so with the haunting tune and
beautiful lyrics as the backdrop, they will weave in the journey of a fox
to the manger. The fox represents the outsider, often greeted with
suspicion but even so in this story the fox offers what he has to those
animals he meets along the way. There is something profound in the
Christ Child accepting the offerings of those who are treated with
suspicion by others.
“We loved this concept so much that we are going to base our
Christmas Eve Crib Service on it. We invite everyone to come along,
this has become somewhat of a tradition for many people from all over
the region and if you haven’t been along yet, do come and join in!. You
are always welcome at your Cathedral.”
The Christmas Light Show runs from 17:30 on 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th,
20th and 22nd December. Tickets are available on the Cathedral’s
website now and are priced reasonably at £10 per adult, £7.50 per child,
£30 for a family ticket, and under 3s go free.
www.lichfield-cathedral.org/lightshow
The Christmas Light Show is sponsored by Richard Winterton
Auctioneers who said: “We are delighted to sponsor Lichfield
Cathedral’s Christmas Illuminations for the third year. This stunning
event has become a major festive spectacle in the city, attracting people
locally and from across the region to come together and celebrate the
joy of this special season. We’re also pleased to once again be taking
part in the Christmas Tree Festive inside the cathedral.”
16

The Staffordshire
Regiment Museum
Come and see us at the Staffordshire
Regiment Museum for our Wartime
Christmas event on December 9th. Lots
of Christmas orientated fun for the
whole the family, including trench tours,
themed displays, Christmas crafts, and
more. Museum will be open 1000 to
1600. For 2024 the Museum has a
number of events planned, which will be
entertaining for the whole family and we
look forward to seeing you and your
families in the New Year. For more
information please visit:
www.staffordshireregimentmuseum.com
17

New Year, New
Beginnings
By Lauren Hirst
It’s heartwarming when volunteers
who are out and about introducing
retired racers to the big wide world are
stopped by people who say they’ve been
reading about the greyhounds in Citylife
magazine. Those of you with a keen eye
for details will notice a few changes from
January 2024 with volunteers wearing a
new navy blue polo shirt and the dogs
wearing navy blue “I Need A Home”
coats with a different logo. This is due to the homing centre, based in
Shenstone, being taken over by Home Run Hounds (HRH) in the new
year. HRH is taking over the lease from the Greyhound Trust who are
currently in the process of relocating so please look out for more
information about this in due course. The more people involved in
promoting greyhounds as pets, the better!
Home Run Hounds is a not-for-profit, volunteer-led organisation that
was founded last year by Claire Butler who has over 30 years of
experience working with greyhounds including volunteering for many
years with various homing charities. Currently based in Wombourne,
HRH is expanding its operations with kennel space for more than 50
greyhounds looking for their “forever after” homes. Apart from a
change at the top and a change of logo, it will be business as usual with
the same team of dedicated volunteers at the Shenstone kennels, raising
awareness about what excellent pets greyhounds make.
Home Run Hounds also works within communities most often
accompanied by homed hounds who not only love all the fuss and
attention they get but act as fantastic “ambassadogs” for their breed.
Some examples of the activities HRH volunteers undertake include:
visiting care homes for the enjoyment for all the residents, including end
of life care homes to brighten up patients last days; conducting talks to
community groups all ages; supporting various diet-focused groups (re
increasing weight loss through walking activities); working with the
disabled and people with mental health challenges to enhance their
mental and physical wellbeing; and offering a small number of work
experience and Duke of Edinburgh placements for those who want to
work in the homing sector. If you are involved in any of the above and
would like to find out more about how HRH can work alongside you,
please get in touch.
Home Run Hounds is looking forward to continuing the wellestablished
group walks in Tamworth on the 1st Saturday of each month
and the walk in Lichfield on the 3rd Sunday of each month. Both walks
start at 11am and are a great place for prospective adopters to come
and meet the breed and talk to owners about what it’s like to own a
retired greyhound.
It’s also business as usual for the hounds currently in kennels whose
Christmas wish list is simply to be loved as a family pet. Greyhounds
give so much during their racing careers and expect so little in return.
Please open your hearts and home and “let the love in.”
Visit www.greyhoundtrusthallgreen.org.uk if you can help a homeless
hound currently in kennels, or https://homerunhounds.co.uk to find out
more about Home Run Hounds.
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
18

19

Five Minutes
with… Sam
Rabone
As panto season begins, we caught up with Lichfield pantomime
legend, Sam Rabone, as he took a break from rehearsals. Famed for his
performances as comical panto dames over the years, Sam tells us more
about his journey into acting and what he likes to do to relax.
• Hi Sam, thanks for chatting to us. Now, you’re obviously from the
area – where did you grow up?
Yes, I am from round here. I actually grew up in Sutton Coldfield, so
just down the road really.
• How did you get into acting and directing? Where did it all start?
It all started by accident really. I helped backstage at school plays as a
youngster and eventually joined what was then the Vesey Players,
although I had no desire at all to act and was very happy being
backstage. However, everyone kept telling me I would be great on stage!
I ended up auditioning for Pontin’s, spending a year there and
discovering that I absolutely loved entertainment! I was also a nightclub
DJ too!
• You’re well-known for your panto dame performances. How did that come
about?
Well I have a very distinctive voice! It kind of suits the role very well
as it’s very Monty Python-esque! Initially I put a voice on when
auditioning, but was told to do it in my own voice!
• Now synonymous with the Lichfield panto scene, what is it about Lichfield
that keeps you here? Is Lichfield a special place for you?
Lichfield is a lovely place and The Garrick is a great venue to play at
as there genuinely isn’t a bad seat in the house. Even on the back row,
you don’t miss a thing on the stage as it’s all so close and intimate. I love
it.
Photos - credit Pamela Wraith Photography.
Oooooh! I think it has to be Hook, although I’m not sure it’s a
Christmas movie to be honest, but it’s set at Christmas and I watch it
every Christmas!
• Thanks Sam, and good luck with the Panto!
You can see Sam Rabone starring in Beauty and the Beast at The
Lichfield Garrick Theatre this festive season. Book your tickets at
www.lichfieldgarrick.com or from the Box Office at 01543 412121.
• What’s been the highlight of your career
to date? Any particularly memorable
moments you can share?
I have loved working with all the
different people over the years. But I
think my favourite person to work with
was the late Keith Chegwin, who
genuinely was the nicest person. I am so
grateful that I got to meet and work with
Keith.
• When you’re not working, what do you
like to do to relax and unwind?
I walk the dogs and I love baking (well,
I love eating it more!) And I travel. I’m
planning to do six months of travelling
next year and I’ve got a YouTube channel
with some of my travels on it, called Sam
Rabone Presents.
• Finally, what is your favourite Christmas
movie and why?
20

21

Local Environmentally
Friendly Villages
Whittington and Fisherwick residents
and businesses celebrated success in
the annual Heart of England in Bloom
Awards, retaining their Gold Award for
Horticultural excellence for a fourth
successive year, and topping that with the
2023 regional trophy for the Environmental
Award for the entire Heart of England
region (6 shire counties and the
conurbation).
The judges commented:
“Whittington and Fisherwick litter, graffiti and dog
foul free what a great start to a visit to probably the
most environmentally friendly villages in
Staffordshire.
“This Bloom entry from the outset has held high
environmental credentials having the benefit of a
close working relationship between the Parish
Council and the Whittington and Fisherwick
Environment Group.
Latterly the village has been transformed by
substantial and well-planned wildflower sites which
complements its rural setting. Their ability to garner
funds through grant funding of projects such as the
Bit End Playing Field improvement and the addition
of solar panels for the local Hospice is quite
amazing, but it cannot have come easy!”
The judges were also much impressed by the
stunning Swan Meadow wildflowers and much
more besides including restoration work at
Whittington Wood, the Hedgehog Highways
initiative, Woodhouse Farm collaboration, the
80 fruit tree Community Orchard at Jubilee
Park, water collection at the allotments, and the
superb quality of some of the residents’ gardens.
Irene Rushton & Clare Jansz
Bloom judges visit Whittington allotments
Bloom Gold Award Certificate
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.
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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
22

23

HRH
The Princess Royal
at NMA
24
Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal attended the
Service of Remembrance on the iconic Armed Forces
Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum (NMA),
the Nation’s year-round place to Remember. The service on the
anniversary of the signing of the Armistice, the treaty which
brought an end to the First World War, was held in memory of
all those who gave their lives in service to their country since
1914.
The service was led by The Right Reverend Libby Lane, Bishop of
Derby, and included an Act of Remembrance, incorporating a twominute
silence at 11am. At the conclusion of the Act of
Remembrance, HRH The Princess Royal laid a wreath on the central
plinth of the Armed Forces Memorial. The wreath sat adjacent to the
giant bronze wreath which captures a shaft of sunlight at 11am on
11th November each year, thanks to a carefully designed gap in the
imposing Portland stone walls of the memorial.
Further individuals laying wreaths during the service, included:
• Mr Ian Dudson CBE KStJ, His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of
Staffordshire
• Mrs Victoria Hawley, High Sheriff of Staffordshire
• James Cartlidge MP, Minister of State for Defence Procurement
on behalf of the Ministry of Defence
• Sir Michael Fabricant MP, on behalf of Parliament and His
Majesty’s Government
• Rear Admiral Richard Murrison, Royal Navy
• Major General James R Martin, British Army
• Air Vice-Marshal Tim Jones, Royal Air Force
• Philippa Rawlinson, Director of Remembrance for RBL and
Director of the National Memorial Arboretum
• Group Captain Anny Reid OBE ARRC (Rtd), Chair of the
National Memorial Arboretum
The service also included performances from the British Army
Band Catterick and a recital by Dan Simpson, the Arboretum’s poetin-residence,
who read his new poem ‘Enduring Freedom’.
On Remembrance Sunday (Sunday 12th November), the National
Memorial Arboretum is hosted a Service of Remembrance at the
base of the Armed Forces Memorial, which will include musical
performances, readings, and a two-minute silence. Thousands of
members of the public are expected to stand together at the
Nation’s year-round place to remember to pay tribute to those who
have served and sacrificed in the Armed Forces.
Engraved with the names of over 16,000 service personnel, the
Armed Forces Memorial at the NMA honours all those who have
been killed whilst on duty, died in operational theatre or been
targeted by terrorists since the end of the Second World War. The
Memorial gives recognition and thanks for those who have given their
lives in service but is also particularly important for the many families
and friends who have no grave to visit, or who remember those in
graves in far-off places.

25

Lacing together a Victorian love story
By Alex Keller, Richard Winterton Auctioneers
The love story behind a Victorian wedding
dress brought a warm glow to The Lichfield
Auction Centre this winter.
The 126-year-old century ivory coloured silk
and lace dress complete with lace veil, white
leather boots and silk slippers went under the
hammer at Fradley Park recently.
Made for the marriage of Emily Gertrude
Haynes and Henry Hawson Jago on June 16
1897 at Christ Church in Bootle, Liverpool, the
bespoke dress impressed valuers at Richard
Winterton Auctioneers.
But was the provenance from a direct
descendant which really brought the late 19th
century garments alive.
The bride’s granddaughter told me: “My gran,
who was known by her middle name Gertrude,
came from a typical middle-class Victorian
family.
“She had three older sisters, none of whom
married. They apparently led quite genteel lives,
largely spent sewing lace and crocheting –
probably all the lace and crocheted collars and
cuffs I brought in will have been sewn by them.
“It seems Henry – who was known as Harry
– and Gertrude’s marriage was extremely happy
and they had four sons, my father being the
youngest and born in 1908.”
Harry was a postmaster and the family
moved from Liverpool to Yorkshire, then to
Shanklin on the Isle of Wight, and then to
Stranraer, in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.
But tragedy struck when, in 1921, Harry
developed appendicitis. An emergency
operation to remove his appendix was carried
out on the kitchen table and he subsequently
developed an infection, dying at the age of 52.
This was a calamity for Gertrude both
emotionally and financially – there were no
social services, she had no husband bringing in
an income and no training in terms of
employment.
She moved in with her sisters, by then living
in Kingston upon Thames, and, as her only way
of earning some money, went out to work as a
cleaner.
Her eldest son, a 21-year-old teacher, also
helped as did his brothers when they grew up
and got jobs and happily in later life Gertrude
was back on a more even footing.
But – as was Victorian custom – she never
wore colours again and her wardrobe consisted
of black and grey, sometimes with white or
cream blouses.
She passed away in her mid-80s and her
wedding dress remained boxed away for
decades until the auction recently.
It sold comfortably above estimate at £320
Engagement photos of the couple, Henry
(known as Harry) and Gertrude.
but for
us at The Lichfield
Auction Centre,
discovering the story
of Gertrude and
Harry was priceless.
Richard Winterton
Auctioneers closes
for Christmas at 5pm
on Thursday,
December 21,
reopening at 9am on
Tuesday, January 2
2024.
To book an
appointment for free
valuations of all types
Jess Boam from Richard
Winterton Auctioneers with the
126-year-old wedding dress,
made for the marriage of Emily
Gertrude Haynes and Harry
Hawson Jago on June 16 1897.
of items, call 01543 251081 during opening hours
or email office@richardwinterton.co.uk. Free home
visits for large collections and house clearance
quotations are also available.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

28

29

Here at Just Granite Ltd, we pride ourselves on being the experts for any worktop needs you may have.
Be it a beautiful bespoke and unique kitchen worktop, a bar, bathroom or even a barbecue area, we have
an extensive in-house range ready to be chosen by you! We stock a varied range, in a variety of materials,
such as our own competitively priced quartz, granite, marble and porcelain, as well as all the top brands
from around the world.
There really is no reason to go anywhere else!
Win a Granite Chopping Board
If you require our services please do not hesitate
to call us on 01785 711096 or email your quote
request to stef@justgranite.ltd.uk
With the largest variety of natural stones in the Midlands, the
solid slabs are kept on-site and are available for a virtual viewing
from 9am-5pm on Monday to Friday. Located at The Stone
Works, Pillaton Hall Farm, Penkridge, ST19 5RZ.
We’ve got a bespoke Chopping Board (in the
colour of your choice) to give away! To be in
with a chance of winning this magnificent prize,
simply answer the following question correctly:
Where does the supply
of granite come from?
a) Spain
b) Italy
c) Germany
To enter, just send your name, contact details and answer to Just
Granite 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 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 50.
30

31

The Month in
Pictures
We take a look at the events and
activities over the last month, bringing
you a round-up of the city in
pictures...
The unveiling of the newly commissioned
mosaic sign at All Saints Infant and Junior
School in Alrewas.
Michael Fabricant MP at Jobs 22’s Lichfield
Restart Scheme office on Friday 10th
November.
HRH The Princess Royal at the NMA in
Alrewas for Armistice Day.
The impressive tree at Chasetown Christmas
Lights Switch On.
The Lichfield Chamber of Trade & Commerce
Christmas Fayre in The Hub.
Free refreshments outside the Helping
Hands store at Chasetown Christmas
Lights Switch On.
PCs Clayton-Tang, Harris & Ford with the blades
collected across Lichfield District following the
backing of a National Youth Anti-Violence campaign.
Chef James Hillery at Tippers Christmas
Market which raised £471.83 for St Giles.
Cllr Di Evans and a local schoolgirl turned on
the Christmas Lights in Burntwood this year.
Sebbie Hall with his statue which is available
to view at The Hub at St Mary’s.
Remembrance Sunday at The Memorial Garden in Lichfield (photo Robert Yardley).
32

33

M.B.Designs
Staffordshire-based illustrator, Mandy
Billington, has a passion for architecture
and combines her love of drawing with
ceramics to produce a beautiful
homewares range. See the full range of
gifts and find out more about personalised
products at
www.Etsy.com/uk/shop/MBDesignsEngland
or call 07841 108207.
DB Vaping
Treat someone to an amazing Christmas
hamper from DB Vaping. Choose from a
vast range of NicSalt flavours and pod
systems to personalise your individual
hamper and create the perfect Christmas
gift. Pre-order now for Christmas by
contacting DB Vaping at Unit 2 Blewitt
Court, 8 Bore Street, Lichfield or follow
@dbvaping on Instagram/Facebook.
Clive's Wines
Why not try fizz with a difference this
Christmas with Rhubling? This delightfully
refreshing sparkling rhubarb wine from local
wine merchants, Clive’s Wines, is made using
the traditional method to create bubbles,
making it the perfect fizz to help you
celebrate in style! Available from Clive’s
Wines of Burntwood. Tel: 07972 269 620.
www.cliveswines.co.uk
Festive Gift
Guide
City Jewellers
Make a statement with these beautiful
Shaun Leane Tusk Earrings. Priced from
£195 and available in a range of different
sizes and colourways from City Jewellers
of Lichfield, Bore Street.
Just a few of our favourites from
local retailers, artisans and
craftspeople to delight your loved
ones at Christmas!
Allen Brown
Add some sparkle with these 18ct white
gold and diamond star earrings. Priced at
£1760 from Allen Brown Jewellery
located at Heart of the Country
Shopping Village, Swinfen, WS14 9QR.
Tel: 01543 481 948.
www.allenbrownjewellery.co.uk
34
Michael's Menswear
Feast your eyes on these wonderfully
colourful Christmas ties in a range of
different styles, with some in bow tie
form as well. Carefully crafted in England
these are great accessories for the big
day. Priced at £21.95 and available from
Michael's Menswear, 14 Market Street.
Tel: 01543 262264.
Radiance Residence
Discover the perfect Christmas gift at The
Radiance Residence! Treat your special
someone to the ultimate Hydrafacial
experience at 13 Tamworth Street, Lichfield.
Gift vouchers available. Email
hello@theradianceresidence.co.uk to book
this rejuvenating treat, starting from £90. Give
the gift of radiant skin this holiday season!
info@vivisluxelaser.com. 13, Tamworth street,
Lichfield WS13 6JP. 01543 622348
Eden Gallery
“The Books Transported Her…” from Matilda.
Framed Official Collector’s Limited Edition by
Roald Dahl & Quentin Blake. Priced at £249
and available from Eden Gallery, The Hexagon
Centre, Curborough Countryside Centre,
WS13 8ES.
Open Wed-Sun 10am-4pm and Tues by
appointment only.
www.edenartandframing.co.uk

35

Paul Martyn
The Finlay Fox Doorstop from Dora
Designs is the perfect winter piece to
adorn your living room this Christmas!
Size 23cm x 18cm x 21cm. Priced at £35
and available from Paul Martyn Furniture,
Heart of the Country Shopping Village,
Swinfen, WS14 9QR.
Tel: 01543 481592.
www.paulmartynfurniture.co.uk
Tippers
DEWALT Combi Drill & Impact Driver
Twin Pack, 1 x 4.0Ah & 1 x 5.0Ah Li-Ion
18V - XMS23TWINPK. Priced at
£229.99 and available from
www.Tippers.com or in-store.
ES Jewellery
This sterling silver Pandora charm features
a loveable penguin in a skiing pose, as if it's
swishing through the snow. The penguin is
brought to life with black enamel on its
body, wings and eyes, and a cosy scarf
embellished with sparkling pavé. Priced at
for £45. Available from ES Jewellery,
Tamworth Street.
www.esjewellery.co.uk
Mercia Distillery
Whether it’s the traditional, juniper-rich
Purple Label, crowned with silver by the
International Spirits Challenge; the vibrant,
citrus-infused Yellow Label with its New
World flair; or the signature Contemporary
Blue Label, there’s definitely a gin to suit
everyone! Priced at £42 and available from
Mercia Distillery, Bishton Hall, Rugeley, ST17
0XN. www.merciadistillery.co.uk
Arthur Price
Sophie Conran Rivelin 6-person, 52 -box
set. Made from the finest 18/10 stainless
steel with a 50-year guarantee. Usual
price £380, now just for Christmas it is
priced at only £189! Available from
Arthur Price Factory Shop, Britannia
Way, Lichfield, WS14 9UY.
Tel: 01543 267324.
WS Aesthetics
Nestled within The Radiance Residence
and with 20+ years of expertise, WS
Aesthetics provides transformative
treatments including a detailed
consultation and health check. Call
07498 241 813 to book.
36
Tippers
Faithfull 4-piece Soft Grip Chisel Set is
the ideal thing for the DIY enthusiast in
your life! Priced at £23.99 and available
from www.tippers.com or in-store.
Corn Exchange Jewellers
Treat your loved one this Christmas to
the perfect gift, such as a pair of
diamond stud earrings. Available in a
range of sizes and price points, from
Corn Exchange Jewellers of Lichfield,
Unit 2, The Corn Exchange, Conduit
Street, Lichfield. Tel: 01543 415484 or
find on Facebook.
Little Flock
Stockist of pure woollen rugs, blankets,
throws, British Sheepskins and Ewemoo
Sheep footstools – you’re sure to find the
perfect cosy winter accessory!
Search for @Littleflockstaffs on Facebook
and @littleflocklichfield on Instagram.
www.littleflock.co.uk

37

The History of
Croxall Hall
By Jono Oates
Croxall Hall lies close to the villages of Alrewas and Catton and not far from the
National Memorial Arboretum. It can trace its history back to medieval times,
has been home to several notable Staffordshire family names and has been
subjected to financial tragedies and tragic accidents.
In the 11th century Croxall was one of 140 Manors in Derbyshire that were granted to
significant landowner Henry De Ferrers. For many generations Croxall Manor was under
the ownership of the Curzon family. During the 16th century Robert Curzon was the Lord
of the Manor and it was the childhood home of his daughter, Joyce, later to become Mrs
Joyce Lewis. During the reign of Queen Mary, who was a Roman Catholic, Joyce was a
Protestant dissenter and, when she refused to retract her views, she was burned at the stake
on the Market Place at Lichfield.
Sir George Curzon, Sheriff of Derbyshire, was the last male Curzon to own the Manor and
Hall, and when his daughter married, the estate passed to her husband, Edward Sackville, 4th
Earl of Dorset and Lord Chamberlain to King Charles I. In July 1643 Queen Henrietta Maria,
wife of Charles I, stayed at Croxall while travelling south with an army of 3,000 Royalist
soldiers.
During the time of the 6th Earl of Dorset, Charles Sackville, the poet John Dryden, who
became England’s first Poet Laureate in 1668, visited Croxall Hall several times and his
favourite walk around the area became known as ‘Dryden’s Walk’ and still appears as such
on maps.
In 1779 John Frederick Sackville, 3rd Duke of Dorset, sold the Hall to Mr Thomas Prinsep,
a commoner. Prinsep was a High Sheriff of Derbyshire, an artist and noted cattle breeder,
specialising in the ancient English Longhorn breed. When Prinsep’s son, also Thomas, died in
1835 without any children to inherit it, the Hall passed to his nephew, Thomas Levett of
nearby Wychnor Hall. As part of the arrangement, Levett agreed to change his surname to
Levett-Prinsep. His son, another Thomas, inherited the estate in 1849 and became a Justice
of the Peace for Lichfield and Brownhills, was a magistrate for Warwickshire and was a
director of the Lichfield Brewery Company on St John Street for many years. He was also a
benefactor to the local area, providing an annual treat of afternoon tea at the Hall to the
children from the Croxall and Edingale school and, when his daughter married in 1896, he
treated 200 local residents to a substantial supper of roast beef and plum pudding with ale,
followed by dancing and entertainment.
When Thomas’s wife Georgina died in 1919, just a year after they celebrated their Golden
Wedding Anniversary, he sold the estate and the Hall and moved to Overstowe, Gaia Lane,
in Lichfield. In December 1920 Mr Thomas Jenkins, a former Mayor of Burton Upon Trent,
purchased the Hall, and grounds, for £55,000.
In 1930 the Hall was purchased by Captain Geoffrey Charlton and when he died it passed
to his son, Major Nicholas Charlton. Nicholas had served in the Norfolk Regiment at the
start of World War Two but had been invalided out when injured in action. In the early hours
of November 13th 1942, a fire broke out in the library at the Hall and swept through the
building. Major Charlton, and his wife Ethel, both perished in the fire. Their bodies were
discovered in the corridor outside their bedroom and it was believed that they had gone to
rescue a house guest in another room who, unbeknown to them, had left the Hall the
previous afternoon. Edith, Charlton’s mother, escaped the flames by climbing down the ivy
outside her bedroom window and three servants, a Land Army girl and a two-year-old child
also managed to escape by lowering themselves to a lower roof using bedsheets. The fire was
so severe that the entire west wing of the Hall had to be demolished and many valuable
paintings and art were destroyed.
Now fully restored and in private hands, Croxall Hall has survived the ravages of time,
financial decline and a disastrous fire to remain as one of the most impressive, and historic,
country houses in the area.
Thomas Levett-Prinsep of Croxall Hall
Croxall Hall
The Vicarage, Croxall
Sources:
The British Newspaper Archive; Croxall Hall
by Helen Pilgrim
38

39

Win a Little Greene
Paint of Your Choice!
Whether you’re looking for something contemporary to
modernise your home, or something more traditional, you’re
bound to find exactly what you need at family-run local business,
Interior Choice.
Situated above Sure Storage on Eastern Avenue, Lichfield, the
showroom is packed with more than 18,500 products and
options, including stunning fabrics, blinds, shutters, paints, more
than 100 wallpaper books, trackings, curtain poles, and other
accessories, offering every single pattern, style and colourway
you could possibly imagine!
As a five-star rated business and Lichfield’s only Luxaflex dealer,
plus a stockist of Little Greene paint, Interior Choice also has a
user-friendly online booking system, for showroom, or home and
business, appointments!
To celebrate Christmas this year, we’ve teamed up with Interior
Choice to offer one lucky reader the chance to win a 5-litre tin
of luxury paint by Little Greene, in your colour and finish of
choice.
To be in with your chance of winning, simply answer the
Celebrate Christmas
at The Hub
Ruby Bridge
following question correctly:
Which well-known
Lichfield landmark is
featured in Interior
Choice’s festive window
display?
a) Cathedral.
b) St Mary’s
c) St Chad’s
To enter, just send your name, contact details and answer to
INTERIOR CHOICE 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 19th December 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 50.
There’s an abundance of Christmas treats waiting for you at The
Hub including music for all tastes, festive cabaret and comedy,
a great Christmas shopping opportunity and an extra special
Christmas Party Night!
There’s folk music with ‘Familiarity: An Evening of Warming Winter Folk’
(8th & 9th Dec), a stripped back acoustic
concert-cum-theatre from Lichfield favourites,
Let Me In.
It will be a welcome return to The Hub for
the excellent Highly Strung Quartet with
‘Seasonal Strings’ (10th Dec). There’ll be
excerpts from The Nutcracker, The Snowman,
Frozen and Ravel’s Bolero plus plenty of
Christmas Carols and popular Christmas pop
hits.
The Hub’s very own ‘Inspire Choir’ (14th &
15th Dec) will be feeding your spirit with soulsoothing,
uplifting and exquisite music, including a few festive treats, and
the ‘John Rutter Quartet’ will be along on 17th Dec bringing you an hour
of his popular works with some well-known classics and festive favourites.
Calling all Christmas party animals! Join live band, Ruby Bridge for a
‘Christmas Party Night’ like no other (22nd Dec). Bring your friends along
for a fabulously festive celebration.
Comedy and cabaret are also on our Christmas list as the sell-out ‘Alter
Comedy Club’ returns to The Hub on 6th Dec for another evening of
relaxed vibes and top-notch comedy from some of the UK’s best awardwinning
acts including Catherine Bohart and Will Robbins.
‘Très Très Cabaret’, the show that’s the talk of the town is back (16th
Dec), with a special performance to tickle your festive fancy and our
boozy bingo night, ‘#BingoHun’ (23rd
John Rutter Quartet Dec) will take you right up to Christmas
with an evening of fun, frolics and bingo
mayhem!
For some Christmas shopping ideas,
come along to The Hub Little Shop for
our ‘Maker’s Mini Market’ on Saturday
16th Dec 10am - 3pm. Featuring a
number of our regular sellers plus some
new local crafters and makers; there’ll be
a great selection of gift items. You can also
enjoy coffee, cake and the Amington Brass
Band who will be popping by with some
Highly Strung jolly Christmas music.
40
Tickets to an event at The Hub
will make an extra special
Christmas gift! Or why not treat
yourself and a loved one to make
Christmas memories? Find out
more and book on website
www.thehubstmarys.co.uk.

41

A Time for
Giving
By Jono Oates
As is usual at this time of year, our thoughts turn towards charity and those that
are less fortunate than ourselves. Many of the Lichfield charities would often
distribute their financial contributions on Christmas Eve, or Christmas Day, as
that was seen as the most appropriate, and most beneficial, time of the year for the
poor and the needy.
By the middle of the 19th century there were nearly sixty charities in Lichfield, many of
them named after the benefactor that provided the financial support and several of which
had been providing that support for hundreds of years, through to the current day.
In 1593 Michael Lowe, a lawyer, of Timmor near Whittington, left £100 of money and
income from rented lands, in his will to provide twelve poor men of Lichfield with a coat, a
cap, a supply of coal and 12 shillings every year. Over the years increased income meant that
more beneficiaries would receive the charitable funding and in 1884 the charity also provided
£30 per annum to support the selection of one pupil to attend Lichfield Grammar School on
St Johns Street for free. On December 21 1965 twelve men were presented with the
traditional items at the Lichfield Guildhall. Instead of the coat and cap however the men were
allowed to choose their own clothing, some opting for a jacket but others chose to go for
winter warmth underwear! All of them were still awarded with their ton of coal as well as
some silver coins.
The Michael Lowe charity was amalgamated in with twelve other charities in 1980 to form
the Michael Lowe and Associated Charities group which is still in existence today and
although the recipients no longer receive clothing the charity helps to support elderly people
over the age of 70 providing winter fuel grants and makes grants to organisations providing
support for those in need.
Father and son benefactors, both named Simon Biddulph, granted £5 every year to be
distributed amongst the poor of the city on Good Friday and on Christmas Eve. In 1908 the
Biddulph’s Charity was merged with the Lichfield Municipals Charity, which also exists today
and mainly supports the William Lunn’s Homes on Stowe Street.
In the 1640s Ann Matthews, wife of Humphrey Matthews, a Lichfield leather tanner,
provided six poor widows with a waistcoat each and after 1645 her husband provided six
acres of land in Lichfield to endow the charity. After they had died the land passed to the
city’s corporation to administer and they allocated twenty shillings from the land rent income
to spend on sermons at St Mary’s and St Chad’s churches, two shillings to spend on
administrating the charity and the rest on providing waistcoats on St Thomas’s Day, 21
December, each year. By 1745 the income had increased enough to allow the charity to
provide gowns, as well as waistcoats and money, to the poor women of the city. The charity
was amalgamated in to the Municipal Charity in 1835.
Margaret Haworth, widow of John Haworth a Registrar of Lichfield Cathedral who lived in
the cathedral close, left £2,000 in her will when she died in June 1867. The monies were
allocated to the Dean of Lichfield to help support the poor of the city and in particular those
suffering from consumptive diseases such as tuberculosis (TB). The charity, the John Forster
Haworth and Blanche Susan Haworth Charity operated until 1989 when it became part of
the Michael Lowe’s and Associated Charities group.
In 1770 Richard Edge, a Lichfield mercer or trader, allocated £30 a year for the poor and
elderly of the city, and his trustee, James Wickins, used the interest from the investment to
buy loaves of bread which were distributed by the churchwardens of St Mary’s church on the
market square on 23 and 24 December. In 1820 Wickins transferred the funds to the Vicar
of St Mary’s who used the interest to pay the churchwardens to distribute the bread on
Christmas Day morning. The charity was discontinued at some point after that.
Although many of the individual charities that were operating in the 18th and 19th
centuries in Lichfield have died out, or been amalgamated, there are still several charitable
organisations helping to support the elderly or those in need today and it is heartening to
know that the spirit of festive charity is still very much alive in Lichfield.
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Merry Christmas
One and All!
Sources: The British Newspaper Archive;
www.lichfieldmunicipal.org.uk

Cannock Chase
AONB renamed
National Landscape
Photo of Cannock Chase by Sam Carpenter
All designated Areas of Outstanding Natural
Beauty (AONBs) in England and Wales are
becoming National Landscapes, including
nearby Cannock Chase.
The rebrand, which came into effect from Wednesday
22nd November reflects the areas’ national importance,
the vital contribution they make to protect the nation
from threats of climate change, nature depletion and
the wellbeing crisis, whilst also creating greater
understanding and awareness for the work they do.
Manage by Staffordshire County Council (SCC),
Cannock Chase - which spans over 67km² – was
designated an AONB in 1958. It is rich in heritage and
home to a range of sensitive species, making it an
internationally important site for wildlife.
SCC is part of the Cannock Chase National
Landscape partnership, which brings together local
authorities, statutory agencies, landowners and
community representatives to conserve and enhance
the area’s natural beauty.
By 2030, National Landscapes aim to:
• Restore 200,000 hectares of the most valuable
natural areas, including Sites of Special Scientific
Interest) to favourable conditions.
• Create and restore 100,000 hectares of wildlife-rich
habitats.
• Plant and regenerate 36,000 hectares of woodland.
There are 46 National Landscapes in the UK, covering
14% of England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Visit www.cannock-chase.co.uk for further information.
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Christmas Buffet Classics
By Kristen Lackajis
It’s always nice to learn a new skill, and so we were delighted to be invited to Perry’s Field
to Fork Artisan Butchery and Cookery School in Eccleshall to make a few classic
Christmas buffet table treats, including sausage rolls, pork pie and scotch eggs.
On arrival we were greeted warmly by owner, Debbie, and Carl, the butcher and chef who was
taking the course, and who also regularly makes items to sell in the family’s deli and butchers on
the High Street which runs through the village.
Being just a short half day course, we had to work fast and so we got cracking on making our
pastry – from scratch! Feeling like a contestant on The Great British Bake Off, I diligently rubbed
flour and butter, laminated my puff pastry, and created hot water crust too – simply by following
Carl’s lead and his instructions as he took us through the process step by step.
Once pastry was set aside, we learned a little about the meat we were going to be using as the
fillings for our products – finely minced for the sausage rolls and Scotch eggs, and a coarser mix
for the pork pies to give them that characteristic bite that we all know and love.
On to putting together our creations, and I was amazed as just how simple these seemingly
complex items were to make. They even looked like the shop bought ones, just more rustic and,
of course, much larger than you would ever see on the supermarket shelves!
After a fabulous afternoon, we left with our Tupperware containers full of food to feed our
families for a week!
Perry’s Field to Fork offers a range of different cookery classes, and also sell gift vouchers,
making it an ideal gift for a loved one this Christmas time – and who knows, you may even get to
eat the results!
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Visit www.perrysfieldtofork.co.uk to find out more, or call them on 01785 851911.

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Tastes of the Season
By Simon Smith
The Goose is Getting Fat!
Now is the time to start planning the Christmas meal so
you don’t have to spend the whole day
in the kitchen. The best way to avoid this
is to prepare early. 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. Here are a few of my top tips to
help you out on the big day!
• 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 along with 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.
• An easier method is to roast all your vegetables and then put
into a foil container. This can then be put into the oven for 15
minutes (if the oven is big enough).
• 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. Another method is to
make a turkey ‘tornedo’. For this you either make it smaller by
cutting a breast in half lengthways and then into steaks or just buy
a smaller breast joint. Make your stuffing mix, pop it on top and
wrap with bacon for an individual portion.
• The inevitable question of ‘leftovers’ always crops up. There are
so many ways to overcome this problem. The first is to buy a
turkey the right size for your needs.
The list otherwise becomes endless
with curry, soup, cold meat, pie and
other favourites. The important thing
when reheating is to make sure its
heated all the way through and
piping hot to be safe.
• 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
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.
• This is a good time of year to be
using game as it is plentiful. Bear in mind that all game meat is very
lean as it spends its time foraging rather than sitting on a perch
bored out of its mind. When cooking game be careful and do not
overcook it. Venison, partridge and pigeon are best off cooked
pink. If roasting I always cover with streaky bacon to protect the
meat and introduce some moisture.
I wish you all a wonderful and very happy Christmas and stressfree
cooking!
I am still available to cater for dinner parties,
barbecues buffets and corporate catering and can be
reached on simonsmith57@icloud.com. Alternatively,
visit www.simonsmith-chef.com for further
information.

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Spotlight On…
Scott Doonican
Comedy folk band The Bar-Steward Sons of Val Doonican is due to
play Lichfield Guildhall on Saturday 13th January. We caught up with
Scott Doonican, the founding member, singer, acoustic guitarist, mischief
maker and general ringleader of the band.
• Hi Scott. Can you tell us, in your own words, what it is you do?
The Bar-Steward Sons of Val Doonican take songs you have known for
years, exchange the lyrics with comedy parodies on a range of subjects
and play them all on folk instruments. As well as playing theatres and
other ticketed venues, we’ve been on the UK’s festival circuit since 2012,
playing to crowds as big as 20,000 people at Fairport’s Cropredy
Convention (twice), Glastonbury, Beautiful Days, Cambridge Folk
Festival, Bearded Theory and even the amazing Lichfield Fuse Festival.
Alongside the band shows, I also do solo shows where I play the band’s
songs stripped back to just me on an acoustic guitar, a ukulele and my
1981 Suzuki Omnichord.
• How did you get into the industry? Has this always been a passion
of yours?
I was a primary school teacher for 11 years, but even in my first six
years of teaching infants, I was playing with the band on weekends, until
I quit the day job and decided to make a go of it as a full-time working
musician. It was a scary thing to make that leap of faith but it kind of paid
off… I don’t make anywhere near as much money, but I am a LOT
happier!
• Can you describe your musical style for us? Has this changed or
evolved at all over time?
It’s comedy-parodies of famous rock, pop, punk and metal classics
played predominantly on folk instruments… in gorgeous knitwear and
dodgy wigs. Most of the material is co-written by myself, and my partner
Amanda, as well as our accordion player Alan Doonican.
• Which artists inspire and influence you the most, both growing up
and now?
I love everything from Frank Sinatra to Slayer, but in terms of the
people who inspired and influenced the direction of the band, it would
be the comedy-folk antics of the likes of Mike Harding, Jasper Carrot,
Richard Digance, Billy Connolly, Tony Capstick and all the other funny
folkies who mostly became telly comedians in the late 70s/early 80s,
mixed with the overblown stage antics of the likes of Queen, Rammstein
and Slipknot. We like to put on a show. The late, great Val Doonican
himself once said, “When you entertain the public, it’s no good just
having good music or singing, you must also have entertainment value,
so people will go home having had a good time”. I totally subscribe to
that mantra.
• What motivates you to create your music?
Making people laugh is the most contagious and positive force in the
world. Smile and the world will smile with you. I want our shows to be
an escape from all the rubbish that is going on in the world. Life is hard
enough, so it’s good to have an escape for a few hours and have a good
laugh amongst like-minded people.
• How important do you feel that music as an art form is to society?
You must remember how horrible it was during the pandemic, when
all of the music venues, theatres and festivals were closed? That time
proved just how much as humans we need music and the arts as a way
of communicating, showing our feelings, as a medium through which
people share experience or enjoy a moment with friends. Without it, we
were all a little poorer. Amanda and I worked online for 68 Saturday
nights during that time, producing ‘Scott Doonican’s BIG NEET IN,
bringing a regular three hour long show into people’s homes, and people
still tell us how much of a lifeline it was. It was for us too.
• And finally, Lichfield holds a special place in the hearts of many.
What does the City mean to you?
It’s a great city and we have visited many times in the past. We’ve had
lots of fun and memorable moments, particularly at Lichfield’s amazing
free Fuse Festival, which I have had the pleasure of headlining in both a
solo capacity and with my band. I’m looking forward to returning to play,
so I’ll be starting the new year with a bang! It’s selling well too, so I hope
to see you there if you want an evening of silly songs, stories, singalongs
and shenanigans. It’d be lovely to see you all.
www.thebarstewardsons.com
48

What’s On
Wednesday 13th December
Lichfield u3a
A Christmas sing-a-long to the guitar group. Refreshments
are included. Everyone is welcome. Meetings held on
second Wednesday of each month.
Venue: Lichfield Guildhall
Time: 2pm
If you’d like to attend, please book by emailing
lichfieldu3a@gmail.com or leaving a message on 07510
634476.
Thursday 14th December
Carols with the Band!
Join the Lichfield Cathedral Chorus with the Salvation
Army Cannock Citadel Band.
Venue: Lichfield Cathedral
Time: 7.30pm
Free entry. Limited pre-bookable seats available.
Visit www.lichfieldcathedralchorus.co.uk.
Plus find a plethora of other Christmas events
taking place at Lichfield venues such as The
Hub, The Cathedral and The Garrick Theatre
in the pages of this issue!
Property of the Month
....................................
Chapmans Croft, Swadlincote, DE12
Guide Price
£450,000
This well presented family
home is situated in a quiet
cul-de-sac in the sought after
village of Coton-in-the-Elms.
The spacious accommodation
is tastefully decorated
throughout and briefly
comprises: reception hall, reception room to the front, living room, extended
dining kitchen, utility/guest WC. To the first floor there are four good sized
bedrooms, ensuite bathroom to the master with jacuzzi bath and family
bathroom. To the front of the property there is a block paved driveway which
leads round to the single garage and double gates leading to the rear garden.
To the rear there is an attractive well maintained private garden.
The pretty village of Coton-in-the-Elms forms part of the National Forest
and there are many pleasant countryside walks nearby. It is a delightful rural
village made up of charming cottages and character homes, having a small
village brook running through the centre. The village is home to amenities
including old time pubs, a village hall, village church as well as a very good
primary school. Additional amenities can be found in Rosliston, having a Coop
general store, fish & chip shop and post office and Burton-on-Trent, having
excellent leisure pursuits.
Rebecca Adams In Partnership with The Property Experts
E: rebecca@thepropertyexperts.co.uk.P: 07715 763563
49

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