Cannock Chase Events – Events Listings: Christmas Tree Festival

Cannock Chase Events

Events Listings: Christmas Tree Festival

Christmas Tree Festival

Date: 27th Nov 2013 – 30th Nov 2013

Location: St. Lukes Church Cannock

Cost: Free – £5 depending on date.

ST LUKE’S CHURCH Christmas Tree Festival November 27th – 30th DAYTIME FREE ENTRY Over 50 decorated trees Display of Nativity sets Christmas Stalls, Refreshments Open 10am – 6pm (5pm Saturday)

Wednesday 27th November 7.30pm

Grand Opening

Music by Staffordshire Youth Recorder & Renaissance Ensemble,

Gentleshaw Handbell Ringers,

SongbIrds in Harmony Choir

Tickets £5 (or pay on the door)

includes mulled wine and mince pies

Thursday 28th November

10am – 6pm    Free Visitor Entry

7.30pm Bel Canto Choir and organ recital

(music and Christmas readings)

Tickets £3 (or pay on the door)

 Friday 29th November

10am – 6pm   Free visitor entry

7.30pm Carols by Treelight and organ recital

with St Luke’s church Choir

Tickets £3 (or pay on the door)

Saturday 30th November

10am – 5pm  Free visitor entry
music provided by school choirs

 The Friends of Hednesford Park

We will be supporting Hednesford Town Christmas Light Switch On, Friday 6th December 2013
Our stall will be outside The Kitchen Cupboard, opposite the Lightworks, we will be doing a Teddy Bear Tombola.

258 – Chasewater Railway Museum Bits & Pieces From Chasewater News – Autumn & Winter 2002 Part 4 Narrow Gauge – Early Days

258 – Chasewater Railway Museum Bits & Pieces

From Chasewater News – Autumn & Winter 2002

 Part 4 Narrow Gauge – Early Days

More up-to-date!

Chasewater Railway Museum News – LNWR Private Sidings Diagrams

Chasewater Railway Museum News

LNWR Private Sidings Diagrams

The Chasewater Railway Museum has recently acquired a folder containing over 200 diagrams of private sidings on the London & North Western Railway, dated Euston 1911.As can be seen, the folder itself is rather fragile, but the diagrams inside are in very good condition.Anglesey Sidings

Our good friend Ian Pell has put all the diagrams onto a CD, which is now in the Museum – thanks Ian.Cannock Branch, Hednesford – the shed on the centre-left of the photo is the original HQ of the Railway Preservation Society.Cooper’s Junction, near to the Cannock Wood CollieryHednesford Station area, showing the sidings coming from the Pye Green Valley – West Cannock No. 1 Colliery.Holly Bank Colliery

Just a few samples which are of local interest the the Chasewater Railway.

Chasewater Railway Museum News – A couple of old photographs

ChasewaterRailwayMuseum News

 A couple of old photographs

The first one is a photograph of the ‘Works Siding’ notice in situ in the old Brownhills West yard.  Also in the photo is the Manchester, Sheffield & Lincoln carriage, looking quite smart considering it was kept outside in those days.  Now the notice is standing on the hand-pump truck outside the museum.

The other photograph is of Much Wenlock  station. This one comes from a selection of paperwork and photographs from David Ives – a long-time Board member.  On the reverse of the photo are two Newspaper articles in small, very neat hand-writing, which I have reproduced here.

December 1895 – The Wellington Journal

During the railway mania the heart of Dr. Brookes was stirred to the very depths.  He saw lines after lines projected and schemes of railways propounded in all sorts of directions, some merely speculative, others ‘bona fide’, and he wooed in vain the great companies to look in the direction of Wenlock, but the most reckless stood aghast at the steep gradients and the abrupt curves to be encountered in climbing the hill; besides, several companies gave the project the greatest opposition.  Ultimately, mainly through the unwearied exertions of Mr. Blakaway, the Town Clerk, aided and seconded by Dr. Brookes and his brother, Dr. Q.G.Brookes, who became Chairman of the Company, and continued so till his death, these efforts were crowned with success, and the hitherto isolated town of Much Wenlock found itself in communication with the productive district of Corvedale and Ludlow on one side, and Coalbrookdale, Wellington and Birmingham on the other.  The line is 16 miles in length, the gradients, the greatest of which is from 1 in 40 to 1 in 45, are not so great at this time of day as to frighten anybody.  If anyone travelling that way is struck with the beauty of Wenlock station, its rocky pile on the Abbey side, studied with flowers, rare plants and shrubs, asks, as many do, who was the author of so much beauty, he is told – Dr. Brookes.

July 1962 ‘The Last Train’ The Birmingham Post

 Engine No. 4406 is not the most glamorous of railway locomotives and there was nothing spectacular about the two coaches which it pulled from Wellington to Craven Arms and back again on Saturdays.  The majority of passengers from Wellington alighted at Much Wenlock, and on the return journey only one ticket was issued at the booking office at Craven Arms.

Yet this was one occasion when the rather elderly engine and the empty carriages could have been fêted along the 14 miles between Craven Arms and Much Wenlock, for it was the last journey to be made along this line, which was opened in 1867.  But in its demise the Craven Arms to Much Wenlock line aroused as little interest as it had attracted custom these latter years – and that lack of custom is the reason for its closure.  The one ticket issued at Craven Arms was for Mr. J.F.Anstey, the District Commercial Superintendent, who was there to give official recognition to the last journey.  There was another railwayman or two, one or two returning passengers and a party of railway enthusiasts from Birmingham and District – for Birmingham took a greater interest in the closing of the line than did Shropshire.

There was no ceremony at Craven Arms.  Driver Joe Watkins looked down the platform at Guard Dick Davies.  There was a wave and the driver said to his passengers: ‘Well, I suppose we had better be off.’ And off we went, with Driver Watkins taking the train along the single track as he had done for twenty-odd years.  Beside him, shovelling coal into the furnace was Fireman Tony Falkner.  At Much Wenlock Mr. K.Carpenter was there, also Mr. D.Luscombe of Northfield, Mr. D.Woodhouse of Smethwick, Mr. Tandy and Mr. R.T.Russell

railuk.info

257 – Chasewater Railway Museum Bits & Pieces From Chasewater News – Autumn & Winter 2002 Part 3 B-Hills West Notes

257 – ChasewaterRailwayMuseum Bits & Pieces

From Chasewater News – Autumn & Winter 2002

 Part 3 B-Hills West Notes

Lichfield News – Volunteers needed for heathland management

Lichfield News

Volunteers needed for heathland management

Published on Friday, 8th November 2013

Council calls for more volunteers to help keep rare heathland at Chasewater Country Park under control.

Ten members of the Countryside and Parks Conservation Group cut down and cleared young trees at a conservation day on Wednesday 6 November 2013.

The day is one of two heathland management events planned this month to help maintain the heathland environment on the north shore of Chasewater Country Park.

Now Lichfield District Council is calling for even more volunteers to get involved in this important work.

The second heathland management day will take place on Thursday 28 November from 10.30am to 3pm. It will involve clearing more trees and having a bonfire to burn all the scrub that has been gathered over the two conservation events.

Councillor Ian Pritchard, Lichfield District Council’s Cabinet Member for Development Services, said: “Protecting our heathland is really important, as it is such a rare habitat and one that will be lost from our landscape, along with all the wildlife it supports, unless we work to preserve it.

“For the last six years a local farmer has loan a small herd of cattle to us. We use them to graze on areas of the country park, to help us to keep the heathland clear of scrub.

“After what was our second year of grazing on the north shore, we’re returning the herd of cattle to their farm before the winter sets in. This means that any tree shoots and scrub that were missed need to be cleared, before the cattle come back to the country park early next spring.

“We hope even more people will join us for our next day in the great outdoors, and our thanks to everyone that has volunteered and worked so hard to help us to protect this special site of scientific interest.”

The group will meet at Chasewater Heath Station, which is off the A5190 roundabout on the West side of Burntwood, WS7 3PG.

Hot drinks and snacks will be provided throughout the day, but bringing a packed lunch is recommended.

Volunteers must be 18 years of age or over to take part in this conservation activity. To book your free place, please contact Lichfield District Council’s countryside team by calling Denice Deverall on 01543 308183 or email denice.deverall@lichfielddc.gov.uk

For more information about the Countryside & Parks Conservation Group, please visit www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/cpcg

 

Bulb planting day success

Published on Friday, 8th November 2013

More than 25 people lent a hand to plant around 1,500 spring flower bulbs at Chase Terrace Park on Saturday 2 November 2013.

Thanks to a donation of £200 by County Councillor Sue Woodward, through the Staffordshire Local Community Fund, Lichfield District Council’s parks team invited local people to help plant more than 1,500 bulbs at Chase Terrace Park this November.

More than 25 people of all ages volunteered on the day, planting bulbs under the trees and around the main entrance of the park.

Next spring, park users can look forward to seeing English bluebells, snowdrops and daffodils when they come into bloom.

255 – Chasewater Railway Museum Bits & Pieces From Chasewater News – Autumn & Winter 2002 Part 1 – Editorial

I seem to have had a ‘senior moment’ and put posts out of order – missing No.255 – so here it is:

255 – ChasewaterRailwayMuseum Bits & Pieces

From Chasewater News – Autumn & Winter 2002

 Part 1 –  Editorial

Burntwood Chase Heritage Group – The Miners Hymns

Burntwood Chase Heritage Group

Tuesday 5th Nov 2013.

All Talks will be at St John`s Church, High Street at 7.30pm. Doors open 7pm.

The Miners Hymns.


This is a special show by a Birmingham Arts Group of Mining History using unseen footage from Museums. This will be on a large Cinema type screen and free tickets will be available at our October Show and other places in Burntwood. There will still be a door charge for room hire etc.

Chase Gazette Magazine

I am enjoying reading the ‘Chase Gazette’, Issue No. 3 which has arrived today, with an excellent front cover photo by Ian Garfield and lots of local interest pieces.

I also enjoyed No. 1But sadly, issue No.2 eluded me – shame!

More Halloween and Half-Term Stuff

2013 Half term holiday fun at BeaconPark

There is a lot of fun to be had at BeaconPark in Lichfield this autumn half term with plenty of family activities.

BeaconPark is offering a range of activities for families this half term. The fun kicks off with a Feed the Birds workshop.

Taking place at the park’s Discovery Hub on Saturday 26 October, between 11am and 3pm, this drop-in workshop is a chance to make a bird feeder out of pine cones and seeds. Each feeder costs £1.

Over half term, children are also being offered a spine-chilling time by following BeaconPark’s Halloween Puzzle Trail.

The trail guides families around the historic park, solving clues to help Witch Wizz remember her cat’s name. It costs £1 for each trail, which includes a small prize at the end.

The Halloween Puzzle Trails are available from BeaconPark’s Ranger Station (the kiosk next to the crazy golf course) from 26 October to 3 November between 10am and 3pm.

Families are also invited to tee-off at Beacon Park this half term holiday with the Rapid Round special offer.

A Rapid Round is perfect for beginners and young people as it allows players to complete a smaller circuit of 9-holes.

The offer is running from 26 October to Sunday 3 November between 10am and 2pm. It costs £2.50 for children and from £3.50 for adults. All the equipment can be hired from the Ranger Station. There is no need to book, just turn up, pay at the Ranger Station, and enjoy a ‘Rapid Round’.

Councillor Val Richards, Lichfield District Council’s Cabinet Member for Leisure, Communications & Tourism, said: “BeaconPark offers so much for families to do on a day out in the autumn, from woodland walks and playing in the play area, through to pond dipping. This half term BeaconPark is once again running a great programme of activities and so there is plenty to keep families busy all week-long.”

To see Lichfield District Council’s full half term Holiday Fun programme, which includes activities at BeaconPark, Burntwood, Friary Grange and King Edward VI leisure centres, visit www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/holidayfun.