Citylife in Lichfield June 2022

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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, Stonnall, Shenstone,
Hammerwich, Burntwood and Longdon, completely free
of charge; bringing you the best that the city has to offer.
Each issue features heritage stories exploring the rich
history of our area, plus competitions, interviews and the
latest in fashion and style.
Got a story or charity event you want to share with our
readership? Think you’ve snapped an image that captures
the spirit of the city? We want to hear from you!
Our business is bringing you Lichfield’s city life.
CITYLIFE Contacts
Editor - Kristen Lackajis 07885 380632
kristencitylife@gmail.com
Features - Jono Oates 07785 757201 jonocitylife@gmail.com
Advertising -
Steve Brown 07740 166497 stevebrowncitylife@gmail.com
Rebecca Hill 07970 513144 rebeccahillcitylife@gmail.com
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.
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.
Competition Winners
May Winners!
Congratulations to L Moore from Lichfield who receives a pair
of VIP tickets to this year's Staffordshire County Show! Well
done!
Inside...
14 A Weak & Feeble Woman
Lesley Smith on Queen Elizabeth I's Lichfield visit
22 Lichfield's Jubilee Years
Jono Oates looks at past Jubilee events
28 Food & Drink Trail
Citylife maps out the local eateries
42 Burntwood Town View
Burntwood Council's Monthly Newsletter
47 City View
News from Lichfield City Council
..................................
From the Editor…
Welcome to the June issue of Citylife in Lichfield! Not only are
we celebrating all things food in this beautiful city of ours, but
we’re also paying homage to our monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, as
she celebrates her Platinum Jubilee this month!
Our resident historian, Jono Oates, takes a look back at
Lichfield’s former Jubilee years, whilst curator of Tutbury Castle,
Lesley Smith, gives us a glimpse into the time that Queen
Elizabeth I visited Lichfield!
Our Food & Drink section features just a handful of our
favourite restaurants and eateries in the area, and you’ll find
dining reviews, reader offers and competitions too.
Plus we’ve got local news, our What’s On events guide, and so
much more to boot!
Have a read, enjoy and join us as we celebrate the glorious
month of June!
Krissy

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LOCAL NEWS
6
England Squad for
Local Golfer
Tom Beard is on the EDGA Golf Tour
(European Disabled Golf Association), which is
a worldwide golf tour where golfers with a
disability can play in tournaments and climb the
world rankings.
Born with Bilateral Talipes (clubfeet), Tom
underwent 12 operations to rectify them and
still suffers from this condition today. However,
this doesn't stop him from playing the sport he
loves!
Tom’s results have seen him being selected for
the England Elite team for the European
Championships in Belgium (7th-12th June). He
will be part of the four-person gross team,
whilst a nett squad is also playing in the event.
Tom is also representing EDGA as an advocate
with voluntary coaching to get more disabled
people into the beautiful game. This is very
close to Tom's heart to give other people the
opportunity to pick up a club and try it out.
......................................................................................
Queen’s Baton Relay
to Visit Area
Kadeena Cox receiving the Baton from
The Queen
The Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay is
confirmed to visit Lichfield District on 20th July
during its final journey through England this
summer, as the full route is revealed.
Birmingham 2022 is hosting the 16th official
Queen’s Baton Relay – a journey which brings
together and celebrates communities across
the Commonwealth during the build up to the
Games. In England, the Queen’s Baton Relay will
provide the opportunity for communities to
experience the excitement for Birmingham
2022, as the 11 days of showstopping sport
nears ever closer.
The Queen’s Baton Relay is set to travel the
length and breadth of England for a total of 29
days, before culminating at the Opening
Ceremony for Birmingham 2022 on 28th July.
On 20th July, Lichfield District will officially
welcome the Baton at the National Memorial
Arboretum near Alrewas, in Kings Bromley,
Lichfield city, Burntwood, Chasetown and
Chasewater.
.......................................................................................
Tuneless Choir Set
to Launch
Lichfield is the latest
city to get a Tuneless
Choir in a trend
sweeping the
country. The choirs,
which are for those
who “lack the ability,
confidence or
practice to sing in
tune” are
increasingly popular
with those who
want the stress-busting effects of singing in a
group, without the pressure of hitting all the
right notes in the right order.
The Lichfield Tuneless Choir will meet at Wade
Street Church each week on Wednesdays from
7pm-8.30pm and on launch night, Wednesday
22nd June, doors will open at 6.40pm with a
celebration drink to lubricate the vocal chords!
Anyone interested in joining the Lichfield
Tuneless Choir is asked to book their place at
the launch at
http://www.tunelesschoir.com/lichfield contact
Sarah Spare on 07725 056821 or at
lichfield@tunelesschoir.com.
Tickets for the launch or first time at the choir
are £10, including a registration fee. Thereafter
it is £8 per session or £6 per prepaid term.
.......................................................................................
Council Cabinet
Member Steps Down
Councillor Ashley
Yeates has stepped
down as Lichfield
District Council’s
Cabinet Member for
Climate Change &
Recycling.
Monday 9th May was
his last day in the role
following four years’
Cllr Liz Little
service as a Cabinet member. Councillor Yeates’
will continue to serve as a district councillor for
Mease Valley ward and focus on his
entertainment business.
Councillor Liz Little will join Cabinet this week
with responsibility for the Joint Waste Service
run by Lichfield District Council and Tamworth
Borough Council.
Councillor Little, who has a background in
commercial waste management, is expected to
quickly grasp the brief, and begin to address the
unease with the rollout of the new dual
recycling scheme.
She has experience as a Cabinet member at
Lichfield District Council having had
responsibility for leisure, waste and major
projects.
.......................................................................................
Final Curtain for
Lichfield Mysteries
After almost 30 years of performances in the
city, the curtain is coming down on Lichfield
Mystery plays.
Lack of funding and volunteers on an
administrative level has forced trustees of
Lichfield Mysteries Community Arts to
announce the closure.
Hundreds of people have taken part in the 27
plays in the city since the first production in
1994.
Robert Leach was the first Artistic Director of
the Lichfield Mysteries and selected and edited
the plays.
Since then, thousands of people have enjoyed
the plays free of charge and participants have
included local groups and friends from
Lichfield’s twin towns of Limburg and Sainte Foy
les Lion.
The community-based arts project will officially
close down this month.

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LOCAL NEWS
8
Proms’ Sponsorship
Opportunities
A highlight of the area’s social calendar, Lichfield
Proms in Beacon Park, attracts more than
10,000 people every year, all intent on enjoying
a wonderful evening of stirring music as the sun
goes down.
The much-loved free concert, on the first
Saturday in September, features local musicians,
a prominent symphony orchestra and singers
and closes with stunning fireworks exploding to
the traditional song Land of Hope and Glory.
Lichfield Proms is only possible, however, due
to the generosity of businesses providing
sponsorship and advertising.
By supporting this event you too can get your
business noticed. Two twenty-foot screens,
either side of the stage, promote messages and
sponsors during the evening and there is also a
glossy event programme to advertise in.
There are three corporate sponsorship
packages available, Bronze, Silver and Gold, and
businesses can advertise in the Lichfield Proms
programme from just £100.
To find out more about advertising
opportunities or corporate sponsorship, please
call the team on 01543 308029 or email
proms@lichfieldc.gov.uk.
.......................................................................................
New CEO Joins
Cyclists
Andrew Harkness & Robin Vickers
The new CEO at St Giles Hospice is starting as
he means to go on after joining cyclists at the
charity’s annual Cycle Spring fundraising bike
ride on Sunday 8th May.
Interim Chief Executive Officer Andrew
Harkness, a pharmacist and experienced NHS
executive director, took up his new role last
month and set off on the 77-mile cycle
alongside St Giles’ Chair of The Board of
Trustees, Robin Vickers.
Starting from 7.30am, 509 riders set off to
enjoy one of three different routes through the
countryside – with 27-mile, 50-mile, and 77-
mile distances catering for cyclists of all ages
and abilities. All of the rides began and ended at
the Whittington hospice.
For more information about Cycle Autumn,
visit www.stgileshospice.com/cycleautumn.
.....................................................................................
Local Students Head
to Borneo
Charlotte Hurley, Rosie Bentley & David Niven
Ten Year 12 students from the Friary School,
Lichfield are taking part in an expedition to
Borneo on 3rd July 2022 returning on 18th July.
The expedition includes a series of activities
including a community project, a jungle trek
through Kiulu and an exciting visit to the
orangutan and sun bear rehabilitation centre.
The expedition will allow the students to
broaden their horizons, learn new skills and
also get involved with cultures and
communities that they’ve not yet experienced.
Along with this, they will also develop a greater
understanding of how to act for a more
sustainable future.
The students will be accompanied by Victoria
Plested, Head of Johnson House at the school.
The Rotary Club of Lichfield St Chad is
donating funds to support this venture using a
grant from the Sid Harlow Travel Bursary which
was created to recognise the 40+ years’ service
that founder member Sid has given to the
Rotary Club.
.....................................................................................
Volunteers Nominated
for Awards
Two Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration
Trust (LHCRT) volunteers, with an age gap of
over 70 years, have been nominated for
Support Staffordshire Awards.
Eric Wood, president of LHCRT, has been
nominated for a lifetime achievement award,
while Tom Wright has been nominated in the
young volunteer of the year category.
S u p p o r t
Staffordshire is the
largest independent
voice for voluntary,
community and
social enterprise
organisations in the
county, and its
Volunteer Star
Awards offer an
opportunity
to
recognise the work of the many volunteers in
the community.
Eric had the vision in the 1980s to restore
disused canal sections to provide a navigable
link across the north Birmingham conurbation.
He and fellow waterways enthusiasts
established LHCRT and he was its first
chairman.
Tom started volunteering with LHCRT for his
Duke of Edinburgh Award three years ago, aged
14, and quickly progressed to working with the
Trust's team on plant maintenance and use.
The 2022 Lichfield District Volunteer Star
Awards take place on June 20th at the School
House, Weeford.
.....................................................................................
Fitness in the Park
Battle LITE low intensity fitness classes have
launched in Beacon Park, Lichfield. The classes
are for anyone looking for a fun, social and
effective way to get fit.
They are run by Battle Bootcamp and take
place at Beacon Park every Monday, Wednesday
from 9:30am-10:15am and every Saturday from
9am-9:45am. The sessions include a warm up
followed by various different circuits using their
own body weight or lighter weights as
resistance.
The classes are aimed at older adults who want
to keep active, beginners who want to kick
start their new fitness regime or anyone trying
to overcome injury and need a lower intensity
form of exercise.
To get started, Battle LITE has a trial offer for
the first five classes for just £5. Full details at:
www.battlebootcamp.co.uk/locations/lichfieldbattle-lite.
To Advertise call:-
Steve Brown 07740 166497
stevebrowncitylife@gmail.com
Rebecca Hill 07970 513144
rebeccahillcitylife@gmail.com
Helen Smith 07967 154187
helencitylife@gmail.com

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Win Tickets to NRO ‘The
Glenn Miller & Rat Pack Era’
The lights soften, the mood settles. An audience waits for that first moment of sound.
The Big Band is poised, relaxed, but with eyes anxious for the lead. And then, as if
giving body to an echo, the murmured notes of ‘Moonlight Serenade’… and the night,
it seems, is suddenly full and timeless.
Recapture the sounds of a bygone era as the Nick Ross Orchestra presents ‘an
unmissable evening of music and song’ – the Classic Big Band Sound of the 1940s &
50s at Lichfield Garrick on Friday 1st July at 7.30pm.
Tickets are available from www.lichfieldgarrick.com or the Box Office on 01543
412121.
We’ve got one pair of tickets to giveaway to one lucky reader. All you have to do is
answer the question below and send it along
with your contact details.
Which era will the Nick Ross Orchestra
be playing songs from?
a) 1920s & 30s
b) 1940s & 50s
c) 1960s & 70s
To enter, send your name, contact details & answer to Nick Ross at
competitioncitylife@gmail.com or to Citylife in Lichfield Ltd, PO Box 7126, Lichfield WS14 4JS by
closing date of 23rd June 2022. 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 50.
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11

Win Tickets to an
Open Air Performance
This year marks the Lichfield Festival's 40th anniversary and consists of
11 days of superb arts events, running from July 7th to July 17th 2022.
With a history stretching back to Shakespeare himself, The Lord
Chamberlain’s Men invite you to join them for a sparkling comedy, As You
Like It. One of the UK’s finest touring theatre companies present this
great play as Shakespeare first saw it performed – in the open air, by an
all-male cast and with Elizabethan costumes, music and dance.
The performance will take place on Monday 11th July at 6.30pm
outside Lichfield Cathedral.
Citylife has one pair of tickets to watch this fantastic performance,
courtesy of the Lichfield Festival. All you have to do to be in with a
chance of winning is correctly answer the question below and send it
along with your contact details.
Who wrote As You Like It?
a) Samuel Beckett
b) William Shakespeare
c) Harold Pinter
To enter, send your name, contact details & answer to Open Air at
competitioncitylife@gmail.com or to Citylife in Lichfield Ltd, PO Box 7126,
Lichfield WS14 4JS by closing date of 23rd June 2022. 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 50.
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13

The Body of a Weak & Feeble Woman
Queen Elizabeth I
in Lichfield
By Lesley Smith
As our own Queen Elizabeth’s Jubilee is
upon us lots of people are considering
the life and times of the other Queen
Elizabeth and, as a specialist historian in the
period, I am asked lots of questions about her
- some of the answers are extraordinary.
Most people don’t know that Elizabeth I not
only visited Lichfield but stayed from 27th
July to 3rd August 1575. Happily, there is a
full list of requirements and expenditure for
the Queen and her retinue, which makes
fascinating reading.
Occasionally they were educated too so lots of schools
were founded by Tudor monarchs, although such
foundations in history can be traced back a very long way
in our history.
The Queen was fantastically well educated herself
speaking and writing seven languages by the time she was
13. She was also a musician playing a number of musical
instruments and had a terrific sense of the political
landscape, both at home and abroad. Tall, slim and red
haired, but that rather thin red hair and not the thick celtic
curls one sees in some redheads, she had beautiful hands
and could ride like a man. She is known to have leapt over
hedges at 69 years of age hunting for stag, not many would
do that today!
She died at 69 having served the nation for over 45
years. She brought peace and a prosperity. She smiled at
our ancestors and ensured clever negotiations for peace
and trade. She may have had the body of a “weak and
feeble woman” but she also certainly had “the stomach of
a king, and a king of England too.” This all sounds very
familiar to us doesn’t it - a brilliant woman, a great queen.
Lesley Smith is the curator of Tutbury Castle and lives in
Lichfield.
“Item, to old Bate, for goinge to Mr Sprott ……
…. 2 (pence).”
Time does not tell us why old Bate was going to Mr
Sprott, maybe with a message, but at least old Bate
received two pence for his trouble. Other items are
clearer, such as chickens and salt fish and their cost,
and bellringers did rather better today than now in
terms of wages as they received 1 shilling and four
pence – as a group that is! That as an item is set in
perspective when one sees six men are paid just a
shilling for taking the Queen’s treasure to “Rydgeley” (Rugeley). “Mr Raffe Boo” also intrigues me as a
name and apparently he had a tent which was used for a fee of 10 shillings. Raffe is Ralph but Boo is
Boo and that is an odd name by anyone’s standards!
Look at the list and read it out loud and then it makes more sense as the English language did not
settle or start to settle until the work of a certain Dr Samuel Johnson of Lichfield wrote his dictionary
and pronunciations.
So back to good Queen Bess in Lichfield. We are not clear about where she actually stayed but it is
thought likely to be the Bishop’s Palace in the Close, the one before this one which is now the main
building of the school. She was on her way to Kenilworth to see Robert Dudley, a place she would visit
four times so on her progress around the nation she obviously had a soft spot for the Midlands – or
maybe that soft spot was for Robert Dudley! She moved around with up to 400 people in the summer
months (forget winter with all that mud) and that way made sure her people saw her and also to ensure
that an uppity Earl was not getting ideas above his station. The Tudors only came to the throne in 1485
and so were pretty new as a dynasty. Queen Elizabeth was watchful, very watchful, and had probably
the greatest privy council in terms of brilliance that this nation has seen, including Sir William Cecil, his
son Robert Cecil, Walsingham and many other great names. She also included Robert Dudley so she
could have someone to look at and cheer her up no doubt!
There would be an enormous build up for this event which much jostling from various of the great
and good to be close to her Majesty in one form or another such as “at sup.” She was rather a battleaxe
I gather, which is hardly surprising in view of that childhood, but it would be quite wrong to assume
that she only had time for the rich and powerful. She refused the patent on a weaving machine, despite
the lucrative outcome of such a grant as half to her and half to the owner, as she was concerned about
the “spinsters,” that army of unmarried women who span for a living, as no doubt she saw herself as
among their ranks spinning for the nation.
Queen Elizabeth also caused a fuss in some areas if she saw the poor and needy uncared for and
poor properties. The poor laws were clear about caring for the people and were needed after the
closure of the monasteries in the Reformation where people had been sheltered and fed and healed.
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Lichfield Bower
Behind the Scenes
The Lichfield Greenhill Bower is a
fantastic day out for everyone, filled
with fun, laughter and activities for
all the family. But have you ever wondered
how it all comes together so seamlessly?
There is, in fact, an awful lot that takes
place behind the scenes to ensure that
the Bower goes ahead successfully and as
hitch-free as possible.
A group of approximately 40 volunteers
make up the Bower Committee, with the
age of members ranging from 22 to 80
years! The Committee holds a regular
monthly meeting to discuss both the
current Bower, as well as the following year’s event, and thinking of ways
to make it bigger and better each and every time.
The Bower itself benefits many local charities, with the procession
collection monies being shared between them. The organisations who
collect are varied, with some entering a float and others just walking
alongside. This year, so far in the procession we can expect to see
Lichfield & Hatherton Canal Trust, local Scout troops, Silhouette Dance
Academy, Voluntary Transport for the Disabled, and Blood Bikers, to name
but a few.
All procession funds collected are presented via cheque at a special
evening ceremony which is held in September. The Bower also has a
charitable trust which allows it to divert funds in times of plenty to which
community groups can apply for funding and assistance.
To put on the Bower each year it costs roughly costs £80,000 and the
event is heavily reliant on sponsors, donations and local retailers, as every
penny counts. It is also supported with a grant from Lichfield City Council
and helped by Lichfield District Council too. The most important part of
the Bower is Beacon Park of which the gate monies help to fund the
event.
The Lichfield Greenhill Bower is always on the lookout for new
committee members - please come along and get involved to help keep
this historical and traditional event alive and kicking!
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
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17

St Chad’s Lichfield
Pageant 1972
By Jono Oates
On the 2nd March in 672AD Chad, the first Bishop of Lichfield, passed away as
a result of a plague that swept through Britain and Ireland at that time. He
was later canonised as a saint. In the years that followed thousands of pilgrims
flocked to Lichfield to pay their respects to St Chad, establishing Lichfield, and
Lichfield Cathedral, as one of the most significant centres of religious excellence in the
whole of the country. In June 1972, 1300 years later, a small group of volunteers put
on a medieval pageant to celebrate St Chad’s legacy to Lichfield, an event that is still
remembered by those present on the day as one of the greatest events in the city’s
recent history.
The idea for the pageant started in July 1971, as part of a series of events to mark the
1300-year anniversary of the death of Chad and the Rector of St Chad’s, Reverend Philip Seal,
asked people to come forward with their ideas on what events could be held. The Lichfield
School of Art became a co-organiser of the event and the suggestion of a medieval pageant
started to attract a lot of attention.
Lichfield City Council put forward £100 and St Chad’s Church contributed £200 which
helped support many of the proposed activities during the day but one particular event
prompted a financial headache. The Pageant Committee loved the idea of a costumed
medieval jousting competition but soon realised that this spectacular show would cost them
several thousand pounds and their budget would not stretch that far. Fortunately, Longdon
businessman Chris Hobbs stepped in to sponsor the event, and this allowed it to go ahead
with the much-anticipated jousting competition included.
The medieval pageant was based on the recreation of a visit to Lichfield of King Edward III
in 1348 and events took place on Friday 23rd and Saturday 24th June. The pageant started
with a procession through the city’s streets on Friday, with hundreds of medieval-costumed
characters on horseback and on foot. The procession was led by John Careless, as King
Edward III, and the King’s wife Phillipa, portrayed by Pauline Bryan. On Saturday, as well as
jousting, there was also a Mumming play, a Royal Barge and a ducking stool on Stowe Pool,
an archery contest, whippet racing and a display of falconry. Stepping out of the medieval
period there was also a re-enactment of the Battle of the Cathedral Close between the
Royalists and the Roundheads during the English Civil War in 1643, performed by the Sealed
Knot Society.
The highlight event was the jousting competition between 12 knights, who were played by
equestrian and stuntmen stars. One of them was Nicholas Hobbs, brother of Chris Hobbs,
sponsor of the pageant and organiser of the tournament, who played Knight Nicholas of
Grimesdyke. Two of the other knights were Max Diamond and ‘Nosher’ Powell, both wellknown
TV and film stuntmen. During the jousting Nosher took a blow to the chest from a
lance and he had to be rushed to Good Hope Hospital in Sutton Coldfield, strapped to a
stretcher but still wearing his full body armour. Luckily, he was discharged from hospital and
he returned to the tournament – although his weapon of choice from that point on was a
microphone rather than a mace, as he provided the commentary for the rest of the jousting
from the safety of a portacabin! Brave Knight Nick Hobbs was also hospitalised, suffering
from concussion following a fall, but he also made a full recovery.
On Saturday afternoon over 400 people sat down at Stowe Fields, to enjoy medieval fare
including chicken, beef and ham, all washed down with cider, while being entertained by music
with Olde English ballads and traditional folk dances. In the evening a similar feast took place
in the Lichfield Guildhall with all guests dressed in medieval costume and the event was
hosted by the Mayor of Lichfield, John Wilson. Finally, a procession made its way from the
Guildhall to St Chad’s Field, where a magnificent firework display brought the curtain down
on the two-day pageant.
As well as Rev. Philip Seal, John Careless and Chris Hobbs, other contributors to the
success of the event included John Sanders, Principal of the Lichfield School of Art, the noted
The King and Queen at Tamworth Street
Pageant Procession at Stowe Pool photo courtesy
Diane Hodson Walker
Lichfield Sheriff Edward Wills, Mayor John Wilson
and John Sanders at Stowe Pool
Lichfield historian and author Howard Clayton,
and the Pageant Committee secretary Josephine
Leeds.
The pageant was one of the most popular, and
impressive, re-enactment events in Lichfield’s long
history and was a fitting tribute to the man who
established a religious settlement in Lichfield
1300 years ago, paving the way for the
construction of our cherished cathedral…St
Chad of Lichfield.
*Vintage photographs courtesy of the St Mary’s
Photographic Collection
Sources: The British Newspaper Archive
18

19

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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 22nd June 2022 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.
20

21

Lichfield’s
Jubilee Years
On 2nd June the celebrations for the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen
Elizabeth II will start, recognising the 70th anniversary of her reign. Here, Jono
Oates looks back at the royal Jubilee’s from Lichfield’s past.
The longest serving monarch, before Queen Elizabeth II, was Queen Victoria and in June 1887
she celebrated her Silver Jubilee. The celebrations in Lichfield itself were said to have been some
of the most enthusiastic in the history of the city. A sizeable fund of £750 had been raised and
the businesses and residents of Lichfield decorated their properties with flags and garlands.
Nearly 4,000 citizens sat down to a feast, there was a special service and procession at Lichfield
Cathedral, there were sports races up and down Bore Street, and a musical concert was held
at St James Hall on the same street (now the site of Wilko’s store). Two large arches were
erected on Bird Street and Bore Street, which were illuminated by the Lichfield Gas Company,
and at night the illuminations throughout all the streets were said to make the city look like a
‘veritable fairy-land’. Unfortunately, the plans to open the new public baths on the Walsall Road,
which had been funded by the Jubilee committee, were delayed, and the fund committee also
pledged £235 to provide a nursing home for Lichfield.
Ten years later, in June 1897, Victoria celebrated her Diamond Jubilee and thousands of
bonfires were lit across the country including those at Lichfield Cathedral, Beacon Hill,
Aldershawe and Shenstone. The bonfires were each lit at 10pm on 29th June and the National
Anthem was heartily sung at each site.
In May 1935 Queen Victoria’s grandson, King George V, celebrated his Silver Jubilee. In
Lichfield the Sheriff’s wife, Mrs Harold Graham, kindly offered to present a perambulator (pram)
to the first baby born in the city on Jubilee Day and the Mayoress, Mrs Thomas Moseley,
provided a silver cup to the second baby born on the day. A service was held at the cathedral
and a procession marched through the city, including around the Market Square. The Mayor,
Howard Howe Graham, planted an oak tree in the Recreation Grounds of Beacon Park, as well
as a silver birch tree at Beacon Street Infant School. Over 1,400 people enjoyed a two-hour
performance at the Regal Cinema on Tamworth Street, watching the Australian actor Cicely
Courtneidge in the film ‘Aunt Sally’ and a Mickey Mouse Birthday Party special. In the evening
the Museum Gardens, including the statue of George V’s father King Edward VII, and the Free
Library and Museum building, were all illuminated and Minster Pool was lit-up with hundreds of
brightly coloured lights.
Queen Elizabeth achieved her Silver Jubilee in June 1977 and on 22nd April the Lichfield
Greenhill Bower held their Jubilee Bower Queen Dance at the Civic Hall on Castle Dyke (site
of the Lichfield Garrick). The judges chose Megan Wellings as the Bower Queen and there was
a special appearance from Derek Hobson, judge of ATV’s New Faces tv show. Jubilee Day on
Tuesday 7th June did not start well as it rained sharply in the morning, although it did brighten
up as the day went on. There were 100s of street parties held across Lichfield District and
Lichfield Mayor Jim Bazeley and Sheriff Anne Hall visited over forty of them on the day. Mayor
Bazeley said that, despite the rain and cold, that there was a fantastic community spirit on show,
with people dancing and singing all day, despite the rain and cold. Five hundred children in
Whittington were supplied with ice cream and squash, with Parish Council chairman Maurice
Fisher saying he had never seen so many people turn out.
In Lichfield 72-year-old Hannah Pitch was selected as the Jubilee ‘Queen for the Day’, after a
contest organised by the Lichfield Mercury. Hannah was selected as the winner of the award by
a judging panel. Hannah, who lived on the Birmingham Road, was chosen because of the kindness
she showed to all her friends and neighbours, going to the shops on errands for them, visiting
them when they were poorly and helping at charity events. As well as being featured in the
Mercury, Hannah received a cheque for £100. The festivities for the day closed with a
spectacular bonfire and fireworks display in Beacon Park watched by a large audience of flagwaving
Lichfeldians.
The celebrations in Lichfield in 2022 may not be as grand as in previous years but thousands
of people across Lichfield District will turn out on June 2 this year to celebrate the Platinum
Jubilee of our longest serving monarch, Queen Elizabeth II.
Street party at Waverley Walk, Queen
Elizabeth Silver Jubilee 1977
Market Square Silver Jubilee King
George V 1935
Market Square Diamond Jubilee Queen
Victoria 1897
*Vintage photographs courtesy of the St Mary’s
Photographic Collection
Sources: The British Newspaper Archive
22

23

Life Transformation
Through Nature
want to transform and
redirect your life through
nature-based learning and
skills? All while making a
positive impact on local
wildlife havens?
Transforming The Trent
Valley’s Transforming
Lives programme could
help and applications for
the next cohort will open
in August!
By Simon Lowe
The 10-12 month programme equips trainees with valuable skills and
experience while also preparing them for employment. Completion of a City and
Guilds level 2 Diploma in Work based Environmental Conservation is also
included.
The programme is open to anyone and we have people of all ages and
backgrounds sign-up. We think this is a fantastic opportunity, but don’t just take
our word for it…
Here’s what recent trainee, Liz, had to say about the programme:
“I wanted to join the traineeship as I am looking for a mid-life career change.
After spending the last few years working part time to raise children, I wanted
to retrain in something that I
have a passion for – wildlife
and conservation. This course
has covered a diverse range of
skills and knowledge and given
me an insight into many areas
of conservation work. It has
also allowed me to meet and
network with people who
already work in this field.
“The course has been
physically hard work but also a
lot of fun. I have very much
enjoyed meeting all the staff
and volunteers who look after
the local Wildlife Trust sites
and working alongside them,
learning all the time. It is very
rewarding to be able to see
tangible improvements from
the work you are doing.”
The latest trainees carried out various types of habitat management across
the Trent Valley, constantly improving and developing their teamwork and
communication skills. They acquired woodland management skills by pruning,
thinning, felling small trees and coppicing. Working alongside the Derbyshire
Wildlife Trust Trent Valley volunteers, they also practiced the art of hedge laying.
They’ve learnt how to implement safe working practices, manual handling,
dynamic risk assessment and construction skills while completing the renovation
and installation of a boardwalk at Hilton Gravel Pits.
Not all the sessions are practical as tree identification, surveys of vegetation
and access issues assessment and solutions are also covered. Written work
cements and demonstrates their understanding and knowledge of the subjects
covered throughout the programme.
If this sounds like something you might be interested in, please contact Simon
Lowe slowe@derbyshirewt.co.uk for more details.
J HOWELL &
DAUGHTERS
FUNERAL DIRECTORS LICHFIELD
LICHFIELD’S LONGEST ESTABLISHED INDEPENDENT,
FAMILY RUN FUNERAL DIRECTORS.
SECOND GENERATION BUSINESS HERE TO ASSIST YOU
AND YOUR FAMILY.
24 hours a day
We are proud to be Lichfield's longest established family run funeral directors offering a wide range of
choices to suit all requirements. Horse drawn hearse, non religious ceremonies, floral tributes and
memorials are but a few of the services we offer.
Pre-paid funeral plans are also available.
For a truly personal service please call
24
01543 255776
Private Chapel of Rest 116 Netherstowe,
Lichfield, Staffs. WS13 6TS

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...
Riders on the St Giles' Cycle Spring event
(image courtesy of St Giles Hopsice)
The opening of Burntwood's Vintage
Liquid Taphouse on Bridge Cross Road
Waterstones store opening on
Market Street
Mayor and Sheriff of Lichfield
officially open C1 Hair Academy,
Swallow Croft Lichfield
??
Jane Sutton at the Stephen Sutton
Ride Out charity event
The Kamado Joe BBQ Open
Day at Tippers
Gaia Exhibition, Hub at St Mary's
City of Lichfield Concert Band in
Beacon Park
25

Top Teddy Makes £4,000
By Richard Winterton
Childhood dreams realised thousands of pounds at a recent specialist
toy auction.
Star Wars, Action Man, model trains and diecast vehicles were among
the lots going under the hammer, with bids flying in from all over the
country and internationally.
Amongst all the interest from collectors, one lot still stood out – a
wonderful vintage Steiff teddy bear.
This 72cm tall teddy had clearly been well-loved during his 100-plus
years and treasured he certainly continues to be, fetching a magnificent
£4,000 hammer price with Richard Winterton Auctioneers in May.
The rare bear – complete with working ‘growler’ sounding when the toy
is tilted and trademark Steiff button in ear – has aged to a dignified blond
but would have been white when new.
All that time ago, white was a less popular colour and teddies were
generally bought in darker colours as those would take longer to look
grubby!
Fast forward more than a century and this particular bear was certainly
coming up roses for our delighted client!
You can watch the sale and other highlights with Tom Winterton on the
rostrum on our Facebook page, @RichardWintertonAuctioneers.
Other lots included a wonderful collection of boxed Corgi and Dinky
diecast vehicles in superb condition with original accessories, totalling a
hammer price in excess of £6,500.
And we were left saying “holy bidding, Batman!" as a 1960s Corgi
Batmobile and matching Batboat from the collection totalled £660!
Presented in around 40 lots, this impressive single owner collection had
been lovingly treasured by the Midlands vendor – in fact our toy valuer Jon
Price said it was one of the finest collections of diecast he’d ever had the
pleasure of cataloguing!
Staying with the 60s, a Japanese tinplate walking moon explorer sold at
£520.
Five lots of Action Man totalled £770, including a pilot figure making
£260, and vintage Star Wars figures and fighters fetched £320.
What a joyful day! It’s a lot of fun to research and catalogue so many
things which have brought such joy to people over the years; seeing these
special collectables find a new home so successfully, where they can carry
on making more happy memories, is another dream come true.
To book a free valuation of all types of vintage toys, trains and diecast,
telephone 01543 251081 or email office@richardwinterton.co.uk.
Sold for £4,000: The rare
Steiff teddy bear.
Sold at £520: A 1960s Japanese
tinplate moon explorer.
This 1960s Corgi Batmobile in original packaging sold at
£460. A matching Batboat made £200.

The Daily Grind Cafe Bar
A lovely contemporary, stylish Cafe Bar
serving great food and drinks in the heart of
Market Street. Licensed to sell beer, wine,
spirits. Come as visit us in a relaxed
atmosphere, with friendly staff, great coffee
and tasty food.
Available for private hire.
Call: 01543 418911
Email: thedailygrindlichfield@gmail.com
2 Market Street, Lichfield WS13 6LH
Le Rêve
Le Rêve is Lichfield's hybrid between a
bustling city cocktail bar and an atmosphere
alike to a boutique club at the weekend.
Sultry vibes, funky house music,
Mediterranean DJ’s & unique cocktails in a
dimly-lit ambience.
3-for-2 cocktails & cocktail making classes
available. No bookings required. Walk-in at
your convenience. www.lereve-bar.com
Facebook: Le Rêve Cocktail Bar Lichfield
Instagram: Le_reve_bar
The Hub at St Mary's
The Hub is one of the most beautiful spaces
for coffee and cakes in Lichfield, also serving
light lunches and operating a fully licensed bar.
Open daily from Tues-Sat, 9.30am to 3pm. The
Hub Little Shop sells beautiful handmade
cards, gifts and Lichfield souvenirs, plus
there's a children's play area, baby changing
facilities and it is all dog friendly!
Check out the website to see the
programme of evening activities, including live
music, comedy, family shows and plays.
The Hub at St Mary's, Market Square (above
the Library). www.thehubstmarys.co.uk
The Cheese Cavern
A family-run cheesemongers located in
Lichfield’s Corn Exchange which stocks a wide
range of artisan cheeses, and high-quality
charcuterie meats, chutneys and olives from
local dairies and producers, as well as stonebaked
pizzas freshly made in-store.
Open daily from 9am-3pm (closed on Monday)
and Saturday 9am-4pm. The online shop also
shows some of the many cheeses stocked and
delivery to the local area is free.
www.thecheesecavern.co.uk
The George Hotel
Open seven days a week, The George Hotel
in the centre of Lichfield offers a choice of
delicious dining options, including the
Lounge Bar and courtyard, which are open
for breakfast and all day for coffee and cake,
as well as lunch, afternoon tea and
main meals.
Find out more at
www.thegeorgelichfield.co.uk.
JSK
Jungle Street Kitchen (JSK), on Bore Street,
is a must if you want to try something a
little bit different. Inside, the restaurant is
colourful, vibrant and larger than life, and
the food menu reflects this too, with
creations such as Crazy Bombs, Brazilian
Lamb Steak, Rhubarb Chicken, and Bunny
Chow, plus the famed Bubble Tea Bar!
www.junglestreetkitchen.co.uk
Pizza By Goli
Established in 1987, independent restaurant
Pizza by Goli has been delighting the people
of Lichfield with its authentic Italian cuisine
for more than 30 years. With a unique
culinary style that emphasises the flavourful
ingredients, the menu is both traditional and
exciting, with a range of fish, meat and
poultry dishes, plus handmade pasta and
pizza bases too!
www.pizzabygolilichfield.co.uk
The Bengal
As the longest-established Indian Restaurant
in the City, The Bengal, situated on Bore
Street, first opened its doors in 1968. Now,
under new management the restaurant is
thriving as it offers a range of authentic
mouth-watering dishes for the discerning
diner, along with more modern cuisine to
provide something for everyone.
www.thebengallichfield.com
Duke of York
A lovely traditional pub, dog friendly, adult
only. Newly extended fabulous large garden,
regular food traders. Weekly Sunday live
music sessions and monthly quizes. Sister pub
to the Angel Inn, which has a weekly Thursday
Open Mic night and music every Friday and
Saturday evenings, also known for their
Cheeseboards.
Duke of York Greenhill, Lichfield WS13 6DY
T: 01543 898228
Dining Out - A City of Flavours

Lichfield Pantry
Independent café at the Plant Plot garden Centre,
open 7 days a week for breakfast and lunch.
Serving a selection home made cakes, scones,
freshly ground coffees and speciality teas. Serving
a range of home made daily specials as well as
classics such as cottage pie, burgers, sandwiches
and jacket potatoes. Outdoor seating available,
dog friendly. Reserve a table by calling 01543
253066 www.thelichfieldpantry.co.uk. Open Mon-
Sat 9am-4.30pm and Sundays 9.30am-4pm
Toluca Mexican Bar & Grill
Lichfield's premium Mexican bar and grill, Toluca,
has a plethora of authentic dishes to choose
from. Formerly Los Banditos, the newly-branded
restaurant boasts a mouth-watering new menu
too, featuring a range of tapas plates; the typical
Mexican fare of nachos, fajitas, burritos and tacos;
plus a street food menu featuring gyros kebabs
and quesadillas. Toluca also has gluten-free and
vegan options too, so you’ll really be spoiled for
choice! Visit www.toluca.co.uk or find the
restaurant in The City Arcade.
Pom’s Kitchen & Deli
An independent family-run business, founded in
2015, Pom’s proudly serves fresh produce from
local suppliers and loves to celebrate the City
through its seasonally changing menu! Pom’s
meat is sourced from Russell’s Butchers of
Shenstone; its fruit and veg from Fresh View;
fresh fish arrives daily from Birmingham
Market; bread comes courtesy of Silver Tree
Bakery; beer from Purity; and wines from
Perkins Wines. There is always something
exciting to discover at Pom’s which is why
customers continually return to enjoy the
quality fresh food and fantastic service!
www.pomskitchen.uk
The Whippet Inn
The Whippet Inn is Lichfield’s only real ale and
craft beer micro pub! Situated on Tamworth
Street, this quirky establishment has a real vintage
feel to it, featuring four real ale pumps and four
craft kegs, as well as cider pumps, and a selection
of wines and gins.
Opening Times: Wed-Fri: 4pm-10pm, Sat: 12pm-
10pm, and Sun: 12pm-6pm.
Win Tickets to BBC
Gardeners’ World Live
& BBC Good Food
Show Summer
From Thursday 16 June to Sunday 19 June,
BBC Gardeners’ World Live & BBC Good Food
Show Summer will return to Birmingham’s NEC
for the first full-scale show since 2019, packed
with the latest garden ideas, products and
trends, alongside inspirational tips and advice
and a whole host of famous faces.
Green-fingered royalty Frances Tophill and
Arit Anderson will be live on stage offering
unique gardening trends with a heap of seasonal
ideas alongside a star-studded line-up of the
nation’s favourite chefs, including Nadiya Hussain
and John Torode on the stage and Joe Hurd and
Samuel Goldsmith in the Italian Kitchen.
The Spiritualist
The Spiritualist, situated on St John Street in
Lichfield, is an independently run speakeasy gin
bar, housed in an atmospheric and historic 16th
century building. Serving an array of fine gins,
premium spirits, delicious cocktails and draught
beers, there is something for everyone at this
purveyor of fine refreshment!
The Spiritualist is open Weds & Thurs: 6pm-
10.30pm, Fri: 4pm-11.30pm, Sat: 2pm-11.30pm,
and Sun: 4pm-10pm.
For more information and tickets visit
www.bbcgardenersworldlive.com or
www.bbcgoodfoodshow.com.
For your chance to win two tickets to BBC
Gardeners’ World Live & BBC Good Food Show
Summer, simply correctly answer the following
question and send it along with your details.
Where is the show held this
year?
a) NEC b) NIA c) O2 Arena
To enter, send your name, contact details & answer to BBC
Comp at competitioncitylife@gmail.com or to Citylife in
Lichfield Ltd, PO Box 7126, Lichfield WS14 4JS by closing date
of 15th June 2022. 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). The prize
is valid for 2 people to attend on Sunday 19th June 2022. Travel
and accommodation expenses are not included. Contact
information will be supplied to a third party who will send
your winning tickets electronically via email. There are two
prizes available & two winners, winning 2 entry tickets. Full
t&cs on page 50.
The School House - Weeford
Nestling in the heart of rural Staffordshire, The
School House, Weeford, is a unique location for
dining, a spot of lunch, afternoon tea, meeting
friends and family, celebrations or getting
married, all in the heart of picturesque
Staffordshire countryside.
The School House, Church Hill,
Weeford, Nr Lichfield, Staffs WS14 0PW
Tel: 01543 480009
www.schoolhouse.co.uk
Vintage Liquid Taphouse
Formerly known as Sankeys Taphouse, Vintage
Liquid Taphouse in Burntwood is under new
ownership! This cosy micro pub specialises in
craft ales, premium wines, spirits, lagers and
ciders, as well as hand-crafted cocktails, and with
monthly live entertainment and regular quiz
nights, there’s something for everyone!
Visit www.vltaphouse.co.uk to find out more!
Dining Out - A City of Flavours

Win Sunday Lunch &
Fizz for Four!
The Barn has been an established and well loved part of Lichfield for
over 20 years with its blend of character and charm. Set in the sun filled
garden courtyard, it makes the perfect spot for a meeting with old
friends al fresco or a cosy lunch for two inside. We offer contemporary
British cusine with a classical twist, packed with flavour, but without the
fuss.
Our exciting new menus boast a wealth of well cooked and locally
sourced produce by our talented Head Chef Adrian. Whether you are
looking for brunch in the sunshine, tea and scones with Nan, a special
occasion Afternoon Tea with a glass of fizz, a seasonal dish from our
weekly changing specials, or a speciality homemade cake there’s
something for everyone. Visit us on a Tuesday or Wednesday and get a
free tea or coffee with any breakfast or brunch purchased.
Upcoming dates-
Traditional Jubilee Afternoon Tea - 3rd, 4th & 5th June
Sunday lunch launching - 12th June
Father’s Day - 19th June (free beer for Dad with 2 courses)
We are excited to announce that evening events will be coming soon.
Keep a look out of our Facebook and Instagram pages for more
information. We can't wait to welcome our customers old and new!
Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10-4pm and bank holidays.
thebarnatswinfen@gmail.com. 01543 480307
Heart of the Country Shopping Village, Swinfen, Staffordshire,
WS14 9QR.
We’ve teamed up with The Barn to offer our readers the chance to win
a fantastic Sunday Lunch
for four people, along
with a bottle of fizz!
All you have to do to be
in with a chance of
winning this delicious
prize is correctly
answer the following
question and send it
along with your details.
What date do
the Sunday
lunches start?
a) 15th June
b) 12th June
c) 9th June
To enter, send your name, contact details & answer to The Barn at
competitioncitylife@gmail.com or to Citylife in Lichfield Ltd, PO Box 7126,
Lichfield WS14 4JS by closing date of 23rd June 2022. 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 50.
Dining Out - A City of Flavours

As whisky matures and develops its
complex and satisfying flavours,
some of the liquid disappears,
seemingly mysteriously, but in
reality, through evaporation.
Distillers romantically call the
missing whisky ‘the angels’ share’.
Jez Roney and Oz Horrocks, under
the banner of Mercia Whisky, are
interested in angels’ shares of a
more tangible nature. With a
passion for bourbon, they have
already launched a limited edition
Mercia Rye and are now forging
plans to build their own distillery by
2023. They are also offering a
unique investment opportunity.
You have the chance to buy one or
more 50l casks of whisky which are
held in bond as they mature. In
three years’ time, when the whisky
is ready for bottling, you can either
bottle it to keep or sell it back to
Mercia Whisky for a great return on
investment. Not only do you have a
strong ROI but you are on the
launch team of a fine and rare
English whisky!
New Small Batch
Gin!
With generously steeped
botanicals to give a sweet
natured spirit that is soft
on the pallet and smooth
on the tongue, Mercia
Spirits Crafted Small Batch Gin is the
perfect served over ice and with a
mixer!
Ready to be an angel and share in
this exciting venture? Find out
more at www.merciawhisky.co,
drop Jez an email on
jez@merciawhisky.co or call
01889 52 92 91.
Dining Out - A City of Flavours

Win Ice Cream!
What’s not to love about ice cream? When Citylife was
invited to try out Sun Cream Ice Cream at Truly Scrumptious
on a sunny day, we obviously said yes!
The Grade II listed building is full of history and this quaint
little shop is stacked with traditional sweet jars, an array of ice
creams and handmade fudges - it truly is a feast for the eyes!
We opted for a sprinkle cone with strawberries & cream, plus
a chocolate cone with cappuccino amaretto. Completely
delicious and we can’t recommend this place enough! The
shop also serves ice cream for your dog, so no-one is left out!
We’ve teamed up with Truly Scrumptious to offer one lucky
winner four 1-scoop ice cream cones, plus 1 for the dog! To
be in with a chance of winning this fantastic prize, simply
correctly answer the following question and send it with your
details.
What is the ice cream brand that
Truly Scrumptious stocks?
A) Carte D’Or
B) Sun Cream
C) Häagen-Dazs
To enter, send your name, contact details & answer to Truly
Scrumptious at competitioncitylife@gmail.com or to Citylife in
Lichfield Ltd, PO Box 7126, Lichfield WS14 4JS by closing date of
23rd June 2022. 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 50.
Dining Out - A City of Flavours

Lunch with a View
Located in the village of Hanbury,
overlooking the Dove Valley and
with enviable views of the rolling
hills of the nearby Derbyshire
Dales, The Cock Inn is perfect for
a spot of lunch, be it for country
lovers or for walkers trying out
the many rambling routes nearby.
So, when Citylife director,
Rebecca Hill, was invited to try the latest dishes on offer, she was only
too happy to oblige!
A relaxed and welcoming atmosphere greeted us on arrival, and we were
shown to our table to peruse the new lunchtime menu which features a
tantalising array of salads and sandwiches.
After much deliberation, I settled for a Ciabatta filled with roasted
tomatoes, mozzarella and garlic, with a salad garnish and skinny fries on
the side. Priced at just £6.50, this feast for the eyes (and the tastebuds!)
was beautifully presented, with a little pot of honey and mustard dressing
for good measure! Ideal for a light lunch and thoroughly delicious.
My dining partner opted for a Chicken Caesar Salad, priced at £7.50, and
enjoyed a juicy chicken breast, bacon, croutons, anchovies and a creamy
Caesar dressing, all sitting on a bed of crisp iceberg lettuce.
We were going to leave it there, but then we spied the dessert menu…
How could we resist the luxury artisan ice cream from Bluebells Dairy?
With three scoops, each one a different flavour, nestled on a bed of
biscuit crumb and accompanied by fresh fruit, this was the perfect, light
finish to a truly lovely ‘lunch with a view!’
Visit The Cock Inn at Hanbury at Hanbury Hill, Burton on
Trent, DE13 8TD, or take a look at the menu at
www.thecockinnhanbury.com.
Dining Out - A City of Flavours

Recipe for
Mexican Hash
By Keal Tooth, Head Chef at Pom’s Kitchen & Deli
Ingredient for x4 people
8x of Russell’s of Shenstone Spicy
Sausage
8x Free Range Eggs – We use
Packington Free Range
8x Medium White Potatoes
50g x Jalapeno
2x Peppers
1x Red Onion
1x Can of Mixed Beans
1 x Can of Chopped Tomatoes
2 TSPN of Siracha Seasoning
1 TSPN of Cajun Spice
10g of Coriander
80g of Smoked Cheddar
Then add the Siracha Seasoning & Cajun Spice followed after couple of
minutes the chopped tomatoes. (Season to Taste)
Leave to simmer for approx. 10min
Once everything is cooked take sausages and sliced them and mix into
the sauce.
Then add the potatoes and mix everything together top with grated
smoked cheddar.
Then bake in the oven in a suitable dish for 20 minutes until the potatoes
have stared to crispen on top.
Fry the Free Range Eggs to your liking then place the eggs on top of the
hash and finish with Chopped Coriander.
If you like you can also add sour cream to cool it down if you find it a
little spicy
Method
Take a pan of water add the potatoes these should be chopped into
20mm Diced you can leave the skin on.
Cooked the potatoes until part boiled.
Placed Russell’s Sausages in the oven at 180 for Approx. 20min until
cooked.
Dice the Red Onion, Sliced and remove the centre of the peppers
Take a Sauce Pan add some olive oil and once hot add the red onion &
Peppers for a few minutes until they start to soften.
Banana Bread
By Ruth Redgate
Despite its name Banana Bread isn’t actual a bread, but a cake so you
might be wondering why we are offering this as our recipe this month?
Well, that’s easy – it’s to honour Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as we
celebrate her Platinum Jubilee as, allegedly, it’s her favourite!
Looking to make a vegan version? Just substitute 6 tsps of aquafaba for
the eggs, and use plant-based butter and milk.
Ingredients
285g/10oz plain flour
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
½ tsp salt
110g/4oz butter, plus extra for greasing
225g/8oz caster sugar
2 free-range eggs
4 ripe bananas, mashed
85ml/3fl oz buttermilk (or normal milk mixed with 1½ tsp lemon juice)
or you can use plain yoghurt
1 tsp vanilla extract
Method
1. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4.
2. Sift the flour, bicarbonate of soda and salt into a large mixing bowl.
3. In a separate bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until light and
fluffy.
4. Add the eggs, mashed bananas, buttermilk and vanilla extract to the
butter and sugar mixture and mix well. Fold in the flour mixture.
5. Grease a 20cm x 12.5cm/8in x 5in loaf tin (2lb) and pour the banana
bread mixture into the tin.
6. Transfer to the oven and bake for about an hour, or until well-risen and
golden-brown.
7. Remove from the oven and cool in the tin for a few minutes, then turn
out onto a wire rack to cool completely before serving.
Ruth Redgate is the owner of Hunnypot Cottage Bakery. Visit
www.hunnypotcottagebakery.co.uk for more information.
Dining Out - A City of Flavours

Win
Tickets to
see Texas!
Texas have announced dates as part of Forest Live, the
summer concert series presented by Forestry England,
where acts perform in spectacular woodland locations
around the country.
‘I Don’t Want A Lover’ brought Texas to the world’s
attention with a global hit in 1989 beginning the Scottish
band’s illustrious career. Texas became mainstays of the
UK charts with a raft of hits such as ‘Say What You Want’,
‘Halo’, ‘Black Eyed Boy’, ‘In Our Lifetime’, ‘Summer Son’, ‘In
Demand’, and ‘Inner Smile’. Classic albums such as
‘Southside’, ‘White On Blonde’ and ‘The Hush’ ensured
their presence among multi-million-selling artists.
As part of Forest Live, Texas and special guest, Sam Ryder
will be appearing in Cannock Chase Forest, Staffs on
Thursday 9th June. Tickets and further info from:
www.forestryengland.uk/music
Citylife has one pair of tickets to give away to see Texas
perform at Forest Live. To be in with your chance of
winning this fabulous prize, simply answer the question
below and send it along with your contact details.
Where does the band, Texas, originate
from? a) America b) Scotland c) Australia
*Winning tickets are complimentary and cannot be resold. In the
unlikely event the concert is cancelled there is no alternative
prize.
To enter, send your name, contact details & answer to Texas at
competitioncitylife@gmail.com or to Citylife in Lichfield Ltd, PO
Box 7126, Lichfield WS14 4JS by closing date of 5th June 2022. 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 50.
Art Competition Launches
Lichfield’s L2F Festival launched this
year’s Art competition on May 16th.
The theme for the year’s
competition is ‘Freedom’ and L2F
welcomes any original, twodimensional
artwork, with a
maximum size of A1 (23.4 x 33.1
inches) in any medium (except for
photography).
All shortlisted entries will be
exhibited in an exhibition from
Saturday 8th to Sunday 16th October
'Early One Morning' by
Diane Griffiths was
2021's winner
2022, at the Samuel Johnson Museum, as well as a series of
prizes on offer for finalists. All entries must be received by
the closing date of Monday 1st August 2022 either via the
submission form, by emailing a photograph of your artwork
to: lynda.english@lichfieldarts.org.uk, or by sending a printed
photograph (8×10 max size) with full contact details, posted
to: Lynda English, Lichfield Arts, Donegal House, Lichfield
WS13 6LU.
All entries must contain the artist’s name, address, phone
number and email address, details of the medium used and
approximate size.
For full details, plus entry form, visit www.lichfieldarts.org.uk.
37

Sandra Morgan dominated the
Beginner’s/Intermediate Print competition by
taking first and second positions in both the
colour and monochrome competitions. In the
Advanced Section, Richard Moore took the top
two awards in the colour competition while
the Monochrome competition was won by Sue
Freeman.
1) Sandra Morgan’s winning colour image “Blue
Bottles” had strikingly vibrant colours and a
Lichfield Camera Club
lovely textured background.
2) Annette Keatley won third place with her
abstract image: “Sand and Clay.”
3) Ivan Shaw used a textured processing to
achieve a watercolour effect in “Boats at the
Marina” which was Highly Commended.
4) Ann Wright showed her creativity in her
achieving a diffused background “Misty Red”
image of a poppy.
5) “Three Trees in Snow” was Sandra Morgan’s
winning image in the monochrome
competition.
6) “A picture within a picture” was Annette
Keatley’s cleverly conceived image that gained
third place.
Lichfield Camera Club welcomes photographers of
all ages and abilities. For more information visit:
www.lichfieldcameraclub.org.
2.
3.
1.
4. 5. 6.
38
On the Road Again
By Lauren Hirst
June is such a
lovely time of year –
the days get longer,
the weather gets
warmer, and
summer is just
around the corner.
It’s also the time of
year for village fetes
and carnivals and of
course this year, the
Queen’s Jubilee.
We’ve really
missed getting our
greyhounds out an about on our awareness roadshows during lockdown
but we’re making up for it this year!
Awareness roadshows are vital to the Trust to raise much needed funds;
let people know what great pets retired greyhounds make; and find them
loving homes. They are also just good fun! It is a great opportunity to
introduce our homeless hounds to life after racing and to experience the
big wide world and all it has to offer. They love all the fuss and attention
they get - many people go on to adopt a greyhound who never considered
one after meeting our volunteers and hounds at our events.
Two regular events that happen each month are our group walks where
adopted greyhounds, their owners, our volunteers, and kennel hounds meet
up for stroll and a natter. The Tamworth walk is the first Saturday of every
month and meets by the Hub in Castle Grounds. The Lichfield walk is the
third Sunday of every month and the meeting point is outside the Lakeside
Bistro in Beacon Park. Both walks start at 11am. Come along and say hello
to the humans and their hounds. It’s a great way to “meet the breed” if you
are thinking about what sort of dog to get
If you fancy a trip further afield, come along to our Open Day and Jubilee
Celebrations at our Broadmarsh Kennels in Hagley on 3rd June. We’ll also
have stalls at the Jubilee celebrations at Mercia Marina on 4-5th of June,
Chase Terrace Fete on 18thJune, Tatton Park Dog Fest 18-19th June, and the
Derby County Show, 26th June. We’re adding events to our calendar all the
time so please check for updates and other great events throughout the
year on our website: www.greyhoundtrusthallgreen.org.uk/awarenessroadshows/.
If you’d like to meet LOTS of greyhounds, Greyhound Trust Hall Green
and Merseyside and Cheshire are holding the first ever Central Greyhound
Gathering at Uttoxeter Racecourse on Sunday July 10th. There will pedigree
and fun dog shows for greyhounds, sighthounds and their pals, loads of
stalls, flyball, entertainment, canine massage and more. For more
information dog show class list, please visit @Central Greyhound
Gathering on Facebook. Hope to see you there!

PLEASE
MENTION
CITYLIFE WHEN
CALLING
39

Open Gardens
2022
Open garden events make a great day out for all the
family. Why not travel a little farther afield and visit
some of the many beautiful towns and villages which
are opening their gardens up to the public this year?
Shenstone
Saturday 2nd & Sunday 3rd
July
£4 per person, covering both
days
There are 17 gardens to
visit, and Flower Festivals in
both village churches, at the
biennial Shenstone Village Festival. Some gardens will be
open both days whilst others will open either Saturday or
Sunday, however all will be well worth the visit. Entry to
the gardens is by festival programme which also allows
access to the many other entertaining village events which
take place over the weekend.
40
Marchington
Saturday 18th & Sunday 19th June
At least 12 beautiful gardens to view, as well as
scarecrows, a craft fair, vintage vehicles, owls and
refreshments. Free parking and Shuttle Bus. Location
ST14 8LJ.
Opening Times: 11am-5pm
Price: £5 per person to buy on the day
For more information about other events, visit
www.marchingtonfestival.co.uk.
Yoxall
Saturday 11th & Sunday 12th June
We love our gardens at Hadley End, Yoxall, and we
would like to invite you to join us over the weekend. So,
bring the family, your well-behaved pooch too (on a lead
please), and why not bring a blanket to stretch out upon
whilst enjoying our homemade cakes and a refreshing
drink? Whether you're after gardening ideas, plants, a
vintage tractor display or musical entertainment, there’ll be something to interest
you! . Opening Times: 12.30pm-5.30pm. Price: £4 per adult for both days
(accompanied children and dogs free). Tickets on the day from the first garden
visited. Proceeds shared between Barton Lions (supporting local charities) and the
Red Cross.
Back Lane, Hadley End, DE13 8PF and follow the signs for the car park. Disabled
parking available.
Fradley
Saturday 25th & Sunday 26th
June
There will be 14 interesting
gardens to view ranging
from the bijou to large
gardens, even the school
children's wildlife area and
garden! There are two refreshment areas selling homemade
cakes, and on Saturday the church will be open early at
12pm noon selling ploughman's lunches and cakes, whilst
on Sunday the Youth Centre will provide refreshments
from 1pm. A lovely canalside garden is also providing
refreshments both days. Full musical itinerary and craft
stalls on both days, as well as Morris Dancers on Sunday.
Car parking available on Church Lane.
Opening times: 1pm-5pm. Price: £5 per adult, under 16s
free.
Alrewas
Saturday 2nd & Sunday 3rd July
Alrewas Open Gardens weekend is
back after a break of two years and
features around 24 venues, with
some past favourites and some new
gardens to enjoy. There will also be
plant stalls, musical and craft artists, a
free children’s treasure hunt and free
parking, in addition to the traditional
refreshment venue at The Vicarage
grounds this year.
Alrewas village is located on the A38 between Lichfield and
Burton, near the National Memorial Arboretum. Please
follow signs to the free parking area.
Opening Times: 12pm-5pm. Price: Admission by programme
at £5 per adult, under 16s free.

41

Who’s who at Burntwood Town Council.
Chair -
Cllr Rob Birch
Burntwood Town View
Leader -
Cllr Sue
Woodward
Deputy
Leader -
Darren Ennis
Burntwood Town Council’s newsletter
BTC invite you to our
Jubilee Wakes celebration
This year’s FREE festival (on 4th June) is shaping up to be THE
Burntwood-wide event of the year, celebrating HM The Queen’s
Platinum Jubilee.
Cllr Darren Ennis, who has been organising Wakes’ events, said:
“We want to make this a really memorable event, one which
children will remember for years and one which every Burntwood
resident can enjoy. Come along, bring a picnic and enjoy the fun!”
Attractions will include live music and entertainment, a market
and community stalls, a heritage display, sport fun and attractions
for the children, all at Burntwood Leisure Centre from 12pm-8pm.
Staff Team - Jayne Minor, Deputy Clerk, Carole Payne,
Admin Officer, Mark Jones, Caretaker, Joe Bartram,
Cemetery Assistant, Alison James, Finance Officer, Michelle
Brownridge, OMC Cleaner.
Burntwood Town
Council
The Old Mining College Centre | Queen Street |
Burntwood WS7 4QH Telephone | 01543 677166
Email info@burntwood-tc.gov.uk
Website | www.burntwood-tc.gov.uk
follow us on Twitter @burntwoodtc and Facebook
@burntwoodtowncouncil
42
Chief Officer
and Town Clerk
- Steve Lightfoot
New Chair Elected
At its Annual Meeting,
Burntwood Town Council
unanimously elected Cllr
Rob Birch as its Chair for
this civic year. Rob, who
represents Boney Hay &
Central ward, has gained a
reputation for his
excellent Chairmanship of
the Council’s Planning & Development Committee
which will now be chaired by Cllr Paul Flanagan
(Chase Terrace ward). The Vice-Chair for the year
will be former Chair, Cllr Di Evans.
Rob announced that his charity for his civic year will
be Papyrus dedicated to the prevention of youth
suicide. “I am honoured to have been selected as the
Chairperson of Burntwood Town Council and I look
forward to representing the town and supporting
the work of the Councillors and volunteers across
our town during the coming year.”
Dementia Friendly Town
The Council’s ambition to make Burntwood a dementiafriendly
town has been rewarded by formal accreditation as a Dementia Friendly Community.
A working group, including partner organisations, has been raising awareness through activities
such as sharing forget-me-not seeds and an exhibition of photographs taken by people with
dementia, now on display at Greenwood Health Centre.
Dementia Awareness Week was celebrated by the group as work started on site at the Old
Mining College in Chasetown to develop a sensory garden which will be accessible to the
general public. One of the key partners in this initiative, MHA Communities, is planning a
Jubilee launch event in June.
Response & Repair Initiative
Gets Thumbs Up
Burntwood Town Council is taking forward new proposals for
a Burntwood Response & Repair Team (BuRT for short) The
scheme will see a fully-electric van purchased and a part-time
member of staff taken on to work with voluntary groups
making simple repairs to equipment such as bus shelters, signs
and reporting problems such as potholes.
Council Leader, Cllr Sue Woodward, said: “We see this as a real boon for the town and a
significant step in creating a Better Burntwood. The sorts of issues which cause frustration will
be on the Team’s action list and can be reported to the Council or local town councillors when
the service is up and running.”
The Council is also working with Burntwood Litter Heroes who recently received a grant to
continue the excellent work they do in keeping our town tidy.
Markets
Council Leaders are
saying “You asked. We’re
delivering”. It has been a
longstanding ambition to
bring markets to our town and they are now
scheduled for the 2nd Sunday of every month,
April to October (inclusive). The markets so far
have been greatly welcomed by local residents and
are growing month by month with more stalls and
visitors each time.
The Council has engaged market specialists, Bert
& Gert’s, to organise the market. Contact Bert &
Gert’s on info@bertandgerts.co.uk
Sunflower
Competition for
Ukraine
The sunflower is their
national flower. Can you
grow the tallest? Free
seeds available from Old
Mining College or use
your own. Make our
town smile in support of Ukraine! You can
collect free seeds from the Old Mining
College, Queen Street, Chasetown.

43

What’s On
Saturday 4th & Sunday 5th June. Feast
on the Farm for the Queen’s Platinum
Jubilee
Join us for a Feast on the Farm,
celebrating the best of British Produce &
seasonal treats. The 2 course meal will be
freshly prepared by our Butchers, Deli
Team & Cafe Chefs and served to you out on the Farm, amongst
our crops, on long communal tables. There will be live music, a
local bar, a royal quiz & private access to our Strawberry Picking
for the duration of the event.
Venue: Canalside Farm, Shop & Cafe, Mill Lane, Great Haywood,
Staffordshire ST18 0RQ
Time: 12pm – 3pm. Price: £25 (adult), £12.95 (child), children age 2
& under eat free.
Booking essential. Visit www.canalsidefarm.co.uk to book.
Saturday 18th & Sunday 19th
June. Father’s Day Gentleman’s
Afternoon Tea
Treat Dad to an Afternoon Tea with
a difference, this Father’s Day.
Packed full of local & homemade
savoury treats & a locally produced
bottle of beer included, it is the
perfect way to celebrate our super
hero Dads!
Venue: Canalside Farm, Shop & Cafe, Mill Lane, Great Haywood,
Staffordshire ST18 0RQ
Time: 3pm – 5pm. Price: £18.95 (inc. beer) £15.95 (without beer),
kids £8.95. Booking essential. Visit www.canalsidefarm.co.uk to
book.
Promote your event in our What’s On guide and reach over 16,000 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 Lichfield'.
Throughout the month of June. Pick Your Own
Strawberries
Head down to the Farm throughout the month of June to Pick
Your Own Strawberries. A great day out for all of the family.
Our strawberries are grown on tabletops so there is no
bending over to pick & wide rows of strawberries to make
them as accessible as possible.
Venue: Canalside Farm, Shop & Cafe, Mill Lane, Great Haywood, Staffordshire ST18 0RQ
Time: 10am – 4pm daily. Price: Free entry, just pay for what you pick by weight.
No need to book. Please just double check our website before you travel to us as when we
get picked out, we just need to close for a few days to replenish the crop
www.canalsidefarm.co.uk
Tuesday 7th June
The City of Lichfield Ladies’ & Men’s Probus Club
Members of the Club meet on the first Tuesday of the month for an optional buffet lunch
followed by a talk. In June, the talk will be “Embroidery Meets the Queen” by Barbara Marshall.
New members are always very welcome.
Venue: St Matthew’s Social Club, Burntwood, WS7 9EP. Time: 12.30pm
Contact peter.hitchman44@gmail.com or telephone 07971 113505.
Saturday 25th June
A Day at the Waterworks
Lichfield Waterworks Trust is opening the gates of Sandfields
Pumping Station to the public for “A Day at the
Waterworks” at which there will be tours of the 1873
Cornish Steam Engine, community and volunteer group
stalls, refreshments, music, book and plant sales plus
afternoon and evening concerts.
Venue: Sandfields Pumping Station, Chesterfield Road, WS14
0AA. Time: From 10am. For further details see the LWT website at
www.lichfieldwaterworkstrust.co.uk or email chrispattison10@gmail.com.
Sausage & Cider Festival
23rd – 26th June
Catton Hall & Park, West Midlands
The original and biggest Sausage & Cider Festival in the UK will
see a return this year in June to the beautiful grounds of
Derbyshire’s Catton Park, offering sizzling food, drink and more
- plus over 20 of the world’s top tribute acts across four days.
A big weekend for foodies and music-lovers alike, attendees can either camp on site or come
down for the day.
The music line-up includes The Bootleg Beatles, BGT's Whitney Houston Tribute - Belinda
Davids, Take That Rule the World and Kings of Lyon. Attendees can choose from a large
selection of stalls and mouth-watering street food - including the very best sausages (one
sausage even requires signing a disclaimer form before tasting!) - as well as an array of drink
stands with over 20 varieties of cider to sample. www.sausageandciderfestival.com
Back 2 Festival
30th June – 3rd July
Catton Hall & Park, West Midlands
The most outrageous trip down memory lane, Back
2 Festival is returning with a line-up boasting over 50
artists from the 80s, 90s and 00s!
Festival goers will be dazzled with performances
from a variety of pop legends, garage acts, dance DJs,
and retro chart-toppers across two, fantastic stages.
Nostalgic reggae-pop heavyweights UB40 featuring
Ali Campbell (In Memory of Astro); pop superstars Steps and Aqua; and German dance act
Cascada will be topping the bill across the four-day festival. Joining these pop heavyweights on
the bill are the likes of East 17, S Club, Fatman Scoop, Vengaboys, T’Pau, Scouting for Girls,
Toploader, Basshunter, Ace of Base and more. www.back2festivals.co.uk
44
F2F
Friends 2 Friends, the charity which supports adults with learning disabilities and other
vulnerable adults, celebrated its 10-year anniversary in May. F2F meets at Cruck House and
Curborough Community Centre every week. Come along and join in. Contact
f2friendscharity@gmail.com for more information.

45

ES Jewellery
From the new Fred Bennett Reborn
collection, this bracelet is crafted from dyed
blue cork, black recycled leather and
features a stainless-steel clasp - ideal for
those who are mindful of sustainability. Why
not create the perfect Father’s Day gift with
engraved handwritten text using the free
engraving service?*
*Allow 3 working days for engraving.
Available from ES Jewellery, Tamworth
Street, Lichfield.
www.esjewellery.co.uk
Eden Gallery
'Dad' - a framed signed limited edition by
Alexander Millar. Perfect for Father's Day.
Priced at £295. Available from Eden Gallery,
Curborough Countryside Centre, Watery
Lane, Lichfield, WS13 8ES.
Tel: 01543 268393.
www.edenartandframing.co.uk
Mercia Spirits Lab
With generously steeped botanicals to give
a sweet natured spirit that is soft on the
pallet and smooth on the tongue, Mercia
Spirits Crafted Small Batch Gin is the
perfect served over ice and with a mixer,
for that special Father’s Day tipple.
Available from Mercia Spirits Lab, Bishton
Hall, ST17 0XN.
www.merciawhisky.co
Tippers
Treat Dad to his dream barbecue, such as
this Weber Master-Touch E-5750 GBS 57cm
Charcoal Kettle BBQ in Black. Priced at
£287 and available from PavingPlace.co.uk.
Something for Dad
Father’s Day is on 19th June this year, but
what do you get the man who has
everything? We’ve put together a guide of
unique gift items from some of our
favourite local retailers to give you some
inspiration.
Allen Brown Jewellery
Why not treat Dad to this leather and
stainless steel multi strand bracelet? Priced
at £103. Available from Allen Brown
Jewellery located at Heart of the Country
Shopping Village, Swinfen, Lichfield, WS14
9QR. Tel: 01543 481 948.
www.allenbrownjewellery.co.uk
City Jewellers
Single Watch Winders by Wolf make the
perfect gift for Dad this Father’s Day! Priced
at £269 and available from City Jewellers,
Bore Street, Lichfield.
www.cityjewellers.co.uk
46
Paul Martyn Interiors
At Paul Martyn, you’ll find a wide selection
of unique and quirky Father’s Day gifts all
under one roof! From handmade leather
wallets, to mugs, sculptures and ornaments
– you’re bound to find the ideal pressie
for Dad!
Visit Paul Martyn at Heart of the Country
Shopping Village, Swinfen.
www.paulmartyninteriors.co.uk
Michael’s Menswear
Claudio Lugli designer label summer
patterned short sleeve shirts. Priced at
£74.95. Plus see the extensive range of
summer wear at Michael's Menswear,
Market Street, Lichfield. Tel: 01543 262264.

City VIEW
The Newsletter of Lichfield City Council - June 2022
Councillor Mark Warfield, Leader of the Council
Welcome to this issue of City View.
One of the areas which makes our City unique is the variety
of traditional events for the community which we organise
each year. As all Covid restrictions have finally been lifted it
is wonderful to see these events returning once more. From
all the fun of Shrovetide Pancake Races and Court of Arraye,
through to the Samuel Johnson Birthday celebrations and the
Christmas lights switch-on ceremony. The next key event in
this annual calendar is the Sheriff’s Ride which this year will
be held in a reduced capacity on Saturday 10 September
(further details can be found on these pages) closely followed
by the Samuel Johnson Birthday Celebrations, which are
being held on Saturday 17 September.
This year of course will be extra special as we commemorate
Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee and I expect many of you will
be celebrating with street parties. To mark the occasion the
City Council will be holding a special Jubilee Market along
Minster Pool Walk across the Jubilee weekend and
incorporating the usual Producers’ Market on Sunday 5 June.
The Council is also joining forces with Lichfield Cathedral to
mark the national celebrations with the lighting of a beacon
and the official Platinum Jubilee Cry will be given by the
City’s Town Crier.
The Annual Meeting of the Council was held on 16 May.
where a new Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Sheriff were
appointed. I would like to thank the retiring civic team for their
tremendous work on behalf of the City during their year in
Office and wish the new office holders every good wish for an
interesting and enjoyable year ahead.
The City Council is a large and active parish council and our
annual report summarising the work of the Council over the
past year was presented to the Annual Town (electors)
meeting on 25 May. This annual report gives a clear
overview of the range of services which the City Council
provides, from grounds maintenance to the markets and
community halls, the Guildhall and civic events, Twinning and
of course the Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum. Copies
are available from the City Council’s offices or can be
downloaded from our website.
I hope you all have an enjoyable summer relishing everything
that is on offer in this wonderful, vibrant City of ours.
Official Jubilee Celebrations
The City Council will be joining forces with Lichfield Cathedral to officially mark the
occasion of Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee on Thursday 2 June.
Joining the national celebrations, the City’s Town Crier will perform the Platinum
Jubilee Cry at 9.30pm at the West Front of the Cathedral, following which the choir
will sing the Song for the Commonwealth. As the sun sets a Piper will play a special
tune composed for the occasion by Stuart Liddell of Inveraray, Scotland. This will
be followed by a bugle call and the lighting of the Beacon by the Bishop of Lichfield
and the Deputy Lieutenant.
A special Platinum Jubilee flag will also fly above the Guildhall throughout the weekend.
Members of the pubic are encouraged to attend to watch this historic event.
Civic Team for 2021/22
The investiture of the new Mayor, Deputy
Mayor and Sheriff took place at the
Guildhall on Monday 16 May 2022.
The new Mayor of the City is Councillor
Jamie Checkland who will be supported
by the Mayoress Mrs Stephanie
Checkland.
In accepting the office of Mayor for the
forthcoming year, Councillor Checkland
thanked his fellow councillors for their
support and stated that it was a great
honour and privilege to be elected. He
also paid tribute to the work of the
outgoing Mayor, Councillor Robert
Yardley and Sheriff, Mr Peter Hitchman,
who had together raised just over
£10,000 for their chosen charities; We Love Lichfield and Friends2Friends during
their year in office.
The new Deputy Mayor is Councillor Paul Jones and Mrs Laura Wilkes is the
Deputy Mayoress.
Completing the new Civic Team is Councillor Janice Greaves who has now
become Sheriff of the City and will be supported by her Consort Mr Keith
Greaves.
The Mayor proudly announced his appointment of Police Cadet Thomas Dodds
and Mayor’s Chaplain, Revd Ian Hayter for his forthcoming year in office.
Following the investiture of the new Civic Team, the retiring Mayor, Mayor’s
Consort and Sheriff were presented with replica badges of office.
During their year in office the Mayor and Sheriff will jointly host three events to
raise money for their nominated charities: the Sebbie Hall Kindness Foundation
and the Pathway Project. Further information regarding these events will be
published over the course of the year on our website www.lichfield.gov.uk. If you
would like to be included on our mailing list, please email civic@lichfield.gov.uk
L – R: Sheriff - Cllr Janice Greaves Mayor - Cllr Jamie
Checkland and Deputy Mayor - Cllr Paul Jones
Police Cadet Thomas
Dodds receives his badge
from the Mayor at the
Annual Council meeting on
16 May
If you would like to keep up to date with more of the City Council’s
activities, you can follow the City Council on Twitter @lichfield_cc.
47

City VIEW
Coming soon at the Samuel
The Newsletter of Lichfield City Council
Jubilee Markets in
Lichfield
To celebrate the Queens Platinum
Jubilee, Lichfield Markets will be
relocating to Minster Pool walk from
Thursday 2 June - Sunday 5 June,
allowing the Bower fair to take up its
usual place of residence on the
Market square.
A market has been specially created
on Thursday 2 June to mark this
historic occasion where you can expect to find a variety of stalls and light
entertainment, the General market
will then relocate to Pool walk on
Friday 3 & Saturday 4 June and we
round off the weekend with the
popular Producers Market on
Sunday 5 June.
We still have limited spaces
available for stall holders and face
painters to register your interest
contact the City Council’s Markets
Officer. Tel: 01543 309853 or e-mail: markets@lichfield.gov.uk
Don’t forget the majority of the roads in the City Centre will be closed from
Thursday 2 and Sunday 5 June.
Sheriff’s Ride Saturday 10
September
Following a decision by Council
to examine the costs associated
with the Sheriff’s Ride and
options for its long-term future, a
Sheriff’s Ride Working Party
comprising of cross-party
councillor representation and
also including the Clerk of the
Course has been set up to
investigate these matters and all other elements of
the Ride.
Subsequently the working party has advised
Council that the ride should take place on a muchreduced
scale this year (as also occurred last
year). This will involve the Sheriff maintaining the
charter command and also visiting landowners
along the route of the Ride followed by a
celebratory Banquet at the Guildhall on the evening.
Unfortunately for this year, no other horses/riders will be invited to take part in
the Ride. As a result, we will not be accepting registrations or riders from
Cannock Chase Trekking Centre (with whom we would usually run the event
in partnership) or private individuals this year. This is an ongoing review, and
we are hopeful that a clear way forward will be established during 2022.
If you would like further details, or tickets to the banquet please contact the
City Council Offices on 01543 20011 or email civic@lichfield.gov.uk
Johnson Birthplace
Museum
Birthplace Bookworms
Fortnightly Saturday, 10:30am –11:40am, £3.50 (Discounts for families)
Our fortnightly reading club for 7–11-year-olds. Bookworms offers little ones
the chance to read stories aloud, brought to life with fun craft activities.
Booking is required.
Birthplace Writing Group
Second Saturday of the month, 2pm, free
Both beginners and current writers are welcome to this friendly adult group
to nurture and fulfil their writing aspirations in our inspiring venue.
House of Games
Thursday 21 July – Friday 2 September, Daily 10.30 – 4.30pm, free
The historic house will be filled with traditional toys and games to delight all
ages throughout the holidays
Summer Fun at Sam’s House
Every Thursday in August from 11.00am. Booking required, £3.50
Hands-on creative activity sessions for the summer holidays
Samuel Johnson’s 313th Birthday Celebrations
Saturday 17th September, 10.30 – 4.30pm, free
Join us for day of celebration for Lichfield’s most famous son, including a
slice of birthday cake, family activities, readings by Lichfield Poets and more!
The Old Guildhall
Prison Cells
The Old Guildhall Prison Cells are open to
visitors on Saturdays from 10am – 4pm until
September.
Entrance is free.
The Museum is open daily from 10.30am-4.30pm. Standard entry is Free
of charge. Call 01543 264 972 or email sjmuseum@lichfield.gov.uk for
more information or to book an event.
48

City VIEW
The Newsletter of
Lichfield City Council
Dates for your diary…
Saturday 4 June Court of Arraye
10.30am Guildhall. The Mayor will then crown the
Bower Queen at 12 Noon outside the Guildhall
Saturday 10 September Sheriff’s Ride & Banquet
Sheriff leaves the Guildhall (time tbc), Banquet 7.00pm
Guildhall
Saturday 17 September Dr Johnson Birthday
Celebrations
11.50am Market Square
Sunday 13 November Remembrance Sunday
10.00am Cathedral Service, 10.50am Garden of
Remembrance
Saturday 19 November Mayor & Sheriff’s Charity
Dinner Dance
7.00pm Guildhall
Sunday 27 November Switch on Christmas
Illuminations
5.00pm Market Square
For more information call 01543 250011,
or email civic@lichfield.gov.uk
OUR WEBSITE:
www.lichfield.gov.uk
Have you visited the City
Council’s website? It offers a
wealth of information about
the work of the City Council,
including details of all Council
meetings and associated
documents. In addition, it
contains useful information
about the City, its history, festivals and major events,
and its many unique customs and traditions.
The right Council…
Lichfield City Council is the ‘parish’
authority for the City and is the smallest of the
three councils serving the City area. Within the
City we deal with local matters such as the
markets, maintenance of open spaces and
churchyards, civic and mayoral events, the
Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum and public
lettings of the Guildhall.
Lichfield District Council (Tel: 01543 308000)
is the larger local authority dealing with such
matters as planning, environmental health,
refuse collection, housing, car parking, arts and
tourism, and leisure services.
Staffordshire County Council (Tel: 0300 111
8000) is the responsible authority for wider
services such as Education, Social Services
and Highways.
Public
Participation
City Council meetings are held in the Guildhall, Bore Street. Dates and times of meetings can be found
on the noticeboard outside the Guildhall, and on the City Council's website at www.lichfield.gov.uk
Meetings are open to the public, with public participation
sessions held at full Council and at the Planning
Committee(when called). Advance notice needs to be given to
the Council of the subject matter of each question, and any
person wishing to speak must contact the Council Offices at
Donegal House, Bore Street (next to the Guildhall) before
NOON on the day of the meeting.
Monday 13 June 2022 6.30pm COUNCIL
Monday 25 July 2022 6.30pm COUNCIL
Monday 27 September 2022 6.30pm COUNCIL
Monday 12 December 2022 6.30pm COUNCIL
49

CLASSIFIED
To Advertise In
Citylife Call:-
Holiday Cottage
Woolacombe, North Devon
Steve Brown 07740 166497
stevebrowncitylife@gmail.com
Competition and Prize Draw Terms and Conditions
1.Entrants’ details will be held and processed in line with Citylife in Lichfield Ltd’s Privacy Policy, which in turn adheres to
GDPR Data Protection legislation. For a copy of our Privacy Policy please email kristencitylife@gmail.com
2.By entering the prize draw/competition, you agree to the terms and conditions stated.
3.The closing date is stated on each individual prize draw or competition.
4.Entrants’ details will be securely held by Citylife in Lichfield Ltd in accordance with our Privacy Policy. Details will be
held only until the closing date of the competition. After this date entrants’ details will be securely destroyed/deleted.
Winners’ contact details will be securely stored only until the winner has been informed of their win/prize. After this details
will be securely deleted/destroyed.
5.Entrants’ details will never be shared with any third party. The only exception to this is the name (and if the prize is to
be posted) address of Competition/Prize Draw winners that will be communicated to the competition partner to allow
winners to securely claim their prize, after which all details will be securely destroyed. The initial and surname of winners
will be printed in our magazines – no other details will be published.
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by the entrants (but not address or contact details apart from initial and surname) in any of their publications and online.
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by entrants in their creation or submission of materials.
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10.All prizes are subject to availability and the prize suppliers' terms and conditions.
11.No purchase necessary.
12.Prize draws and competitions are only open to UK residents aged 18 years or over (unless otherwise stated).
13.Competitions and prize draws may not be entered by any employee of individual associated with any employee,
agent or third party of Citylife in Lichfield Ltd.
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Rebecca Hill 07970 513144
rebeccahillcitylife@gmail.com
Details/Pictures:-
www.leesideholidays.com
johns@leeside.myzen.co.uk
Tel: 0121 353 6613
14.Winners will be selected at random in the case of applicable prize draws and competitions, or by an independent
judge in the case of photographic/art competitions from all entries received.
15.Winners will be notified by Citylife in Lichfield up to 28 days after the closing date of the competition/prize draw by the
contact details provided by the entrant. Winners have 28 days to respond if contact cannot be made initially. If no
response is forthcoming after 28 days, Citylife in Lichfield reserves the right to redraw the competition and select a new
winner.
16.A list of the surnames and county of residence of the winners will be available by writing to Citylife in Lichfield Ltd no
earlier than six weeks after the competition closing date.
17.When the prize draw/competition winner has been selected, this decision is final and no correspondence will be
entered into.
18.Citylife in Lichfield Ltd accepts no responsibility for the prize being lost, damaged or delayed in transit. When the prize
is provided by a third party, Citylife in Lichfield Ltd accepts no responsibility for any change to the prize, or for the quality
of the prize provided.
19.Competitions may be amended or withdrawn at any time.
20.By entering the competition or prize draw, you agree to having your name, (photograph, where stated) and city or
county of residence published in any of Citylife in Lichfield’s publications and online.
21.Unless otherwise stated, the promoter is Citylife in Lichfield Ltd, PO Box 7126, Lichfield, WS14 4JS.
22. Citylife in Lichfield Ltd do not express any warranty or endorsement of any competition prize, information, service or
product provided in connection with a competition by printing or otherwise publicising any competition.
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consequential damages of any kind incurred as a result of entering this prize draw or competition.
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text or artworks, that it is your original work to which you own all rights to distribute, and that your entry is accurate, moral
and legal.

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