Another couple of Half-Term Events – Hednesford, Staffs

Another couple of Half-Term Events 

Hednesford, Staffs

Friend of Hednesford Park

Lantern Walk 31st October 2014

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Come along and join in the spooky goings on! Meet from 4 pm by the gazebo near the main gate to The Park to collect your entry form for the treasure hunt.

Activities on the night will include a scary story walk, spooky disco music, and competition prizes for best fancy dressed, best lantern, best pumpkin and prizes for completed treasure hunt entries! There will also be fun fair rides, story-telling in the Pavilion and food from Spencer’s Kitchen.

There will be free workshops in the Pavilion leading up to the event;

Monday 27th October 12noon – 3pm Get ECO Creative Lantern Bottle Workshop

Tuesday 28th October 12noon – 3pm Great Ghouls Workshop

Thursday 30th October 12noon – 3pm Get creative Bring a Pumpkin Workshop

Friday 31st October 4.30 – 6.30pm Spooky Spiders Workshop

There will be a parade to show off fancy dress and lanterns at 5.45, when judging will take place by Backstreet Theatre Company. Pumpkins should be in the Pavilion by 5pm latest for judging. Event will finish at 6pm with a dance extravaganza in partnership with The Cadets and Jacquie Stokes.

And don’t forget – Chasewater Railway’s diesel Service on Thursday

Some August Events

Museum of Cannock Chase

Summer Workshop – Myths and Legends from Around the World
29 July 2014 at 11:00 to 26 August 2014 at 15:00
Every Tuesday

Venue
Museum of Cannock Chase
Category
For children
Description
Come and explore Myths and Legends from Around the World at our summer craft workshops!

These are workshops for all the family to enjoy, so children must be accompanied. Make exciting different crafts from around the world as you explore a different continent each week to discover the strange and wonderful myths and legends from each one! Collect stamps on your passport each week and join in our end of summer tea party!

Tues 29th July – Africa Anansi spiders and moving Hippo heads.  Egyptian window hangers and Arabian nights craft.

Tues 5th August – Europe Norse mythology, make Viking helmets.  Romulus and Remus bookmark and Greek myths, make Methuselah’s head dress.

Tues 12th August – Americas.  Native American totem poles and Hopi paper dolls

Tues 19th August – Asia.  Dragon stick puppets and Indian myths.

Tues 26th August – Loch Ness monsters and mermaid magnets.

No need to book, just drop in! Adults go free. Attend 3 drop-ins, fourth one free, with free drinks for accompanying adult.
Cost
£1.50 per child

Wolseley Playday 2014

Wed, 06/08/2014 – 11:00am – 4:00pm

Event details
Wed, 06/08/2014 – 11:00am – 4:00pm
Come out an play with Staffordshire Wildlife Trust!

We’ll be celebrating woodlands this year through bushcraft, graffiti art, willow weaving and a range of other activities all designed to inspire youngsters to enjoy the natural world.

Entry is £4 on the door or £3 in advance from the Wolseley Centre reception.

Venue location
The Wolseley Centre,
Wolseley Bridge,
Staffordshire,
ST17 0WT

From Monday 4th to Sunday 10th August it will be Airfix Model Making week at Cosford. A choice of kits will be available to make including a Sopwith Pup and Albatros. All materials will be provided and the activity costs £3.00 per person. Full details are available on the website.

Week three of August activities runs from Monday 11th to Sunday 17th August and back by popular demand is parachutes and gliders. Design and make paper aeroplanes and see how well they fly. Participation costs £1.00 each and all the activities are from 11.00am to 3.30pm.

August Activities Weeks 4 – 5
Week four of August Activities is keyrings and uniforms taking place from the 11th to 17th August. Children can decorate one of our shaped keyrings and take it home for their school bag. We will once again have a range of RAF uniforms available to try on and the cost for both activities is £1.00 per person.

We conclude our August Activities with rocket cars from Monday 25th to Sunday 31st August. Using K-Nex visitors can make their own car and see how far it travels using our special launcher. Each participant receives a sticker if their car moves and to take part costs £1.00 per person. See website for full details and timings.

Chasewater Railway running every Thursday, Saturday and Sunday during August

 

Museum of Cannock Chase – Mining Gallery Official Opening

Museum of Cannock Chase

Mining Gallery Official Opening

Welcoming speeches

Welcoming speeches

Welcoming speeches

Phil Harding

Up to the Gallery

Inside the Gallery

Inside the Gallery

Inside the Gallery

Inside the Gallery – be careful of this one!!

Inside the Gallery

Rugeley Power Station Band

Smart or what??!! Voting – Smart 2. Or what 48!!

Saturday 28th June 2014 saw the official opening of the new Mining Gallery at the Museum of Cannock Chase.
The proceedings started with the Rugeley Power Station Band welcoming visitors, not on the front lawn as hoped, but, as the weather forecast was for heavy showers, in the Conference Room.

From 12.30pm the official opening and welcome by invited speakers, again inside, this time in the Local History Gallery. The speakers were from Cannock Chase District Council, the Lottery Heritage Fund and the Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust. Thanks were given to the various bodies for having the confidence to invest in the Museum and to the Museum staff for their work within the new gallery.

Then came the ribbon cutting, by Mr. Phil Harding (from the Time Team TV programme) and a chance for guests to see the new gallery.

The Tower Players gave performances in the Lamp Room at 1.30pm and 2.30pm.

The whole event was very well organised and also very well attended.

CANNOCK CHASE MINING HISTORICAL SOCIETY – Talk and Hawkins Book

CANNOCK CHASE MINING HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Founded 2002

HQ: 27 Melbourne Rd, Heath Hayes, Cannock, Staffs. WS12 2SH

Dear Member

The next members meeting with speaker will be held on Wednesday May 21st at the Museum of Cannock Chase, Valley Rd, Hednesford, Staffs. WS12 1TD.

We start at 3.00pm prompt and the speaker will be DAVID MOORE who will speak on ‘South Staffs Water’

Please make every effort to attend as numbers were low at the last event the Panama Canal talk

Bring a friend or partner its free with no obligations

BREAKING NEWS

Hot from the printers the “Hawkins Colliery” book is now available for purchase it costs £10.00/copy + P&P and they are available from the address above.

The book will also be available from the Chasewater Railway Museum

This IS the final book in the series and the society would like to thank everyone who has helped with or supported this monumental task

Thank You Very Much

Best Regards

Alan Dean (Chairman)

Webpages: http://www.ccmhs.co.uk

Email: enquiries@ccmhs.co.uk

Cannock Chase Mining Historical Society News

CANNOCK CHASE MINING HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Founded 2002

The first talk of this year will take place  Wednesday 26th March 2014 at 3.00 p.m at our usual venue the Museum of Cannock Chase.

The talk will be by  Alan Hill and is entitled the “Panama Canal”

The second talk will be on Wednesday 21^st May 2014 at 3.00pm. Again at our usual venue the Museum of Cannock Chase.

The talk will be on “South Staffs Water” and will be given by David Moore.

All our talks are open to the general public so make an effort to attend and bring a friend.

Please see and note, the following has now been confirmed:

Hednesford Mining Memorial Phase III

Dedication Service

Saturday 26th April 2014 – 2pm

Lichfield and the Museum of Cannock Chase News

Love your pool with 2 for 1 offer this Valentine’s weekend!

Friary Grange Leisure Centre is encouraging everyone to fall back in love with their local swimming pool this February.

Following the £500,000 makeover of its changing rooms and front entrance, Friary Grange Leisure Centre is launching a ‘Love Your Pool’ campaign to highlight how much its 25-metre swimming pool has to offer.

To start the ball rolling, the Lichfield leisure centre is offering a discount on swimming. It will run from Friday 14 February to Sunday 16 February, and will allow two people into the pool for the price of one at public swimming sessions.

Councillor Andy Smith, Lichfield District Council’s Cabinet Member for Leisure and Parks, said: “We’re keen to showcase the recent improvements to Friary Grange Leisure Centre and to get even more people swimming. This is why we’re launching the ‘Love Your Pool’ campaign, which encourages people to rediscover what the swimming pool timetable has to offer. So, whether you’re coming to the pool to have fun with friends, are learning to swim, or want to keep fit, we have a session for you.”

For the swimming pool timetable, to find out about signing up for swimming lessons, or how to book a pool party, visit www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/loveyourpool.

The 2 for 1 on public swims is available at the below times:

• Friday 14 February 2014: 6pm to 9pm
• Saturday 15 February 2014: 11am to 1.30pm
• Sunday 16 February 2014: 8am to 1.30pm

About the makeover project

The Friary Grange Leisure Centre makeover included a new front entrance and reception, refurbished swimming pool changing rooms, and improvements to the layout to make the pool and centre more accessible to people with disabilities.

The project was funded by Sport England, Aiming High, Staffordshire County Council, Lichfield District Council and section 106 contributions.

Next week at the Museum of Cannock Chase, Hednesford:

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.

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.

Forthcoming Event – Miners’ Reunion and local history weekend at the Museum of Cannock Chase in Hednesford.

Another event on the weekend September 21st & 22nd – the Miners’ Reunion and local history weekend at the Museum of Cannock Chase in Hednesford.

Not to mention the Severn Valley Railway Gala!

More Recent Chasewater Railway Museum Activity

A couple of Thursdays in August have seen Chasewater Railway and the Aston Manor Road Transport Museum put on a joint project including children’s activities at each venue and a train and bus ride. This is one of the buses used.

We found this picture of an LMS horse-drawn parcels van – very similar to the one owned by Chasewater Railway and currently on loan at Shugborough.

Another item bought by Barry Bull.  A Rhymney Railway Company Coat-of-Arms.  The Rhymney Railway was virtually a single stretch of main line, some fifty miles in length, by which the Rhymney Valley was connected to the docks at Cardiff in the county of Glamorgan, South Wales.

The final item at the moment (27-8-2013) is this life-size fibre-glass model of a pit pony.  It was given to Chasewater Railway Museum by the Museum of Cannock Chase, who are re-designing their mining display, after having been seen offered on the Staffordshire Museums’  Development Officer’s weekly update email.  A couple of quick emails and some phone calls made sure of a good home for the pony! Our thanks to Nick Bullock  for the use of his van.