Uttoxeter & Cheadle Voice 110.pdf

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Uttoxeter
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Uttoxeter
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Issue 110

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Let The Uttoxeter & Cheadle Voice take your business to 13,000 local homes. To advertise, call 01538 751629 or 07733 466 970.
H
ave you received your Gas and
Electricity Bills recently!!! I nearly
fell off my chair when I opened mine
the other day. It was more than double what it
used to be and by all accounts we will be hit by
further increases very soon…
Add the ridiculous price of petrol and diesel
to the utility bills increases and virtually every
item going up on the supermarket shelves, where
on earth are people supposed to find the extra
cash.
I believe the Government have got to step in
with a major policy change or else this will very
soon get out of hand and they won’t be able to
turn the situation around.
The Chancellor saw this coming weeks ago
and failed to act – he seems to be always able to
find billions of pounds ‘from the back of the sofa’
for other emergencies…
Well let me tell him, you have to look after the
people of this country first!
The Queen’s Jubilee will soon be upon us and
I am sure the bunting will be out all over Britain.
When you think of it, this is a historic and
remarkable achievement – a monarch serving
our country for 70 years!!
She has given everything for her country and
now, at the age of 96, she is set to hopefully enjoy
her Jubilee.
There will be many people making plans for
their own events up and down the UK and I am
sure they will lift a glass to Her Majesty, Queen
Elizabeth II… Congratulations Ma’am and thank
you.
I hope you enjoy reading this issue of The
Voice colour magazine.
Nigel Titterton
Editor & Publisher
Dear Reader,
Publisher and Editor: Nigel Titterton
The Uttoxeter & Cheadle Voice is published by Community Voice
Publications Ltd
Telephone 01538 751629 e-mail uttoxetervoice@hotmail.co.uk
The views expressed in this publication are those of our contributors and are not
necessarily those of the publishers, nor indeed their responsibility.
All Rights Reserved.
Copyright Community Voice Publications Ltd.
Designed and Produced by noel@sergeantdesign.com
HOW TO GET IN TOUCH
The Uttoxeter & Cheadle Voice is wholly independent and
is published at 3 Spode Close, Cheadle, Staffs ST10 1DT
13,000 copies are distributed free to homes and
businesses in Uttoxeter, Cheadle, Rocester, Denstone,
Bramshall, Stramshall, Alton, Oakamoor, Tean, Lower
Tean, Checkley, Leigh, Church Leigh, Crakemarsh,
Combridge, Kingsley, Draycott, Cresswell, Saverley Green
& Fulford, Doveridge and Abbots Bromley, Sudbury,
Kingstone, Marchington, Ellastone and Hollington.
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UttoxeterVoice

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Could you offer the
home that elderly Staffy
Henley is looking for?
C
headle Animal Welfare Society would dearly love
to find a wonderful home for Staffordshire Bull
Terrier Henley. The Society’s Volunteer dog re-
homer Brenda says that Henley has been such a faithful
companion but sadly his owner has recently died and he
is missing her. He is gorgeous. He is 10 years old, a little
wobbly at times but young at heart and a very good
natured boy. He is very friendly and whilst happy to relax
(and snore!) he is still an active boy in short spurts! He
really does love to spend time playing with you and can
get quite excited with enjoyment.
We have discovered he is very hard of hearing so have
started to introduce techniques to get him to focus on you on walks and particularly
during his daily playtime sessions so that he knows when you want him to stop
something. His new owner must be prepared to carry on working with him on this
as it is definitely working. A ball to chase, a kong to chew on or a cuddly toy to carry
are all real pleasures to Henley.
He is enjoying his regular short walks and walks along nicely with you but he is
still a very big, strong boy and does need someone who will not be pulled over by
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constant companion, so a home where there is someone
around most of the day is the goal for him.
He is an absolute delight to be with and fully deserves
to be given the time and attention he needs to help him
overcome his lack of hearing. Whether adopted or
permanently fostered, Henley ought to be back in a home
environment as soon as possible.
Further details are given on his website page on
www.cheadleanimalwelfare.org.uk or telephone 07731
616 025.

5
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Uttoxeter
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Uttoxeter
& Cheadle
Issue 110
Uttoxeter
& Cheadle
Uttoxeter
& Cheadle
Book your advert now
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magazine!!
Out June 29th
Email: uttoxetervoice
@hotmail.co.uk
We are open
Thursday-Tuesday 10am-4pm
and closed Wednesdays.
We have lunchtime specials on
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Coffee and home baked scones
Welcoming families, ramblers, cyclists,
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Lots of outside seating available
Froghall Wharf, Foxt Road,
Churnet Valley ST10 2HJ
Situated 5 minutes from Cheadle &
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by the canal in Froghall Wharf.

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Party on
the Pitch
T
he Uttoxeter Beer and Cider Festival returns
in June bigger and more ambitious than
before, after two years lost to the pandemic.
The event - now known as Party on the Pitch - will
be the town’s only major beer festival and only music
festival this year following the cancellation of other
advertised events.
The organisers, Uttoxeter Lions Club, are
bucking the trend by expanding Party on the Pitch
- which raises funds for their life-saving prostate
cancer screening programme. The new-look, bigger
event, on Friday June 10th and Saturday June 11th,
was launched just as the proposed Staffordshire Beer
Festival at the racecourse in April was cancelled and
the Acoustic Festival of Britain was postponed until
next year.
Party on the Pitch kicks off on the Friday
evening with Glory Days, the UK’s longest
established tribute to Bruce Springsteen and the the
E Street Band. Springsteen himself, acknowledged
as one of the greatest live shows in the world,
delayed touring this year, and so Uttoxeter is getting
the next best thing. On the Saturday the lively and
well-loved Americana band Big Stone Gap and local
talent Jason Callear will be followed by the
undisputed highlight of the beer festival for the past
ten years, the party band Upfront, who have become
firm favourites with the Uttoxeter crowd.
Uttoxeter Lions’ president Simon Smith said:
“We have a long history of providing entertainment
in the town and there is no better time than now to
put on our biggest and best beer festival. After all
the hardships people have been through and are still
facing, it’s time to party.
“There are two days of great live music and a
range of beers, ciders and other drinks that we’ve
never seen before. I’m hoping the town gets behind
us and supports this event because it’s vital to raise
money for our free prostate cancer tests, which we
know have saved the lives of dozens of local men in
the past few years.”
The free blood tests will be available to local
men aged over 50 at Oldfield sports and social club
in Springfield Road, from 6pm until 9pm on
Thursday, June 9th, the evening before Party on the
Pitch. Hundreds of men have used the service in
previous years, and special parking arrangements
will be in place to make the event run as smoothly
as possible. The tests will be offered by appointment
only at times which can be booked at
ulc.mypsatests.org.uk. Unfortunately, we will be
unable to accommodate walk ins so online bookings
are essential.
Mr Smith said: “We are victims of our own
success, and we are managing the large crowds
better each year, but we know it’s worthwhile.
Dozens of men have benefited from an early
diagnosis which almost certainly saved their lives.
Prostate cancer is the biggest killer of men in that
over 50 age group. We offer the tests free because
the NHS doesn’t. Each one costs us £20 and we
welcome any donations on the night.”
Although the money raised promotes men’s
health, the organisers want the beer festival to
appeal to all with a gin and Prosecco bar alongside
more than thirty beers and ciders. The Lions say that
it’s still a beer festival - and an adult event. They
cater for families at other times of year with the
annual bonfire and fireworks, Christmas Cracker
Night, and the Lark in the Park on August Bank
Holiday weekend.
Tickets are on sale at local shops and online on
the Eventbrite site. The local outlets are:
• Weaver Lodge Post Office 46-48 Windsor Road
ST14 7EU
• Select Convenience 2 Sandmartin Court,
Kingfisher Way ST14 8TE
• Uttoxeter Shop 40 Market Place ST14 8HP
• The Post Bar & Lounge 3A High Street ST14
7HN
• Nisa Local 43 Ashbourne Road ST14 7BA
• Oldfields Sports & Social Club Springfield Road
ST14 7JX

T
he Rotary Club of Uttoxeter has recently funded the provision of 20 new Bat
boxes and their erection in Bramshall Road Park. The project in conjunction
with the Friends of Bramshall Park will support the natural habitat for these
endangered mammals.
Rotarian Anita Thomas-Epple, the Club’s Environmental Officer reports, “This
project fits perfectly with Rotary International’s environmental focus and our own
local biodiversity plans. We were pleased to be able to respond with the funds when
approached by Carolyn Green, one of the Friends of Bramshall Road Park.”
It is hoped that the boxes will attract further numbers of bats and enhance this
important and popular local resource.
Rotary Club go‘Batty’
in Bramshall Road Park
Have you been
married recently or
are you getting
married soon?
Would you like to be part of
our Wedding feature?
Contact Nigel
Email: uttoxetervoice@ hotmail.co.uk
Tel: 01538 751629
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H
elping nature to recover and increasing
biodiversity are just some of the ways we can
tackle climate change – and the community
orchards being planted across the Moorlands are
playing a key role.
The first two orchards in Cheadle were planted at
Glebe Road and Beswick Close with more locations to
come.
Councillor Joe Porter, Cabinet member for Climate
Change and Biodiversity at Staffordshire Moorlands
District Council, joined volunteers from the local
community, the Lions and 2nd Cheadle Scout Group
to plant the trees.
He said: “Increasing biodiversity is a major
contributor to tackling climate change and it’s a central
element of our nature recovery plans. These two
orchards in Cheadle are the latest sites to be planted as
part of the bigger network of local orchards in
communities across the Moorlands.
“As well as playing a key environmental role, trees
and improved green spaces like this have such value for
our wellbeing so it’s great to see so many members of
the local community getting involved.
“I’m particularly pleased that so many young people
are taking an active role in planting and caring for these
orchards as they will be the ones who have to live with
the consequences if we don’t take steps and positive
actions now to deal with our changing climate.
Jess Kirby, 2nd Cheadle Scout Group Leader said
“It was a great opportunity for the scouts to get
involved in this wonderful project, especially with it
being so close to home. Helping increase biodiversity
and protecting nature is something our group is keen
to do and actively looks to include in all our activities.
“This particular activity has also helped many of the
Scouts achieve their World Challenge badge which is
all about exploring the world from your doorstep.
Caring for the Orchard in the future will provide a
legacy for our group and a chance for them to learn all
about nature as the seasons change.”
Councillor Joe Porter went on to say “Here in the
Moorlands we’re determined to do all we can to meet
our target of carbon neutrality by 2030 and to leave our
environment in a better state than we inherited.”
Since adopting a Green Infrastructure Strategy in
2018, the Council has worked with Staffordshire
Wildlife Trust to map the District and prepare a
delivery plan which includes an ambitious list of
around 60 potential projects.
The community orchards are amongst the first of
these projects to be delivered.
The council has previously planted orchards in five
locations in Leek and volunteers from Biddulph have
been busy in recent weeks planting orchards at multiple
sites. There are further sites in Cheadle to be planted,
with more planned on parish council owned sites in
other villages across the Moorlands.
You can read more about what the Council is doing
to mitigate the impact of climate change at
www.staffsmoorlands.gov.uk/ClimateChange
Cheadle orchards helping to sow seeds of
nature recovery

17

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Memorial
Garden
discussions for
respected
Councillor
P
lans are being discussed
for a Memorial Garden
at Greatwood Hall, Tean,
in honour of a community
stalwart who sadly passed away
last May.
Pat McGarry, who was so
well respected in the area for
his tireless work as a District
and Parish Councillor, died
aged 90.
Pat was born and raised in
Tean and he was very well
known as a Shopkeeper in the
High Street, always available for
a chat with customers and he
was never happier when that
conversation was about
Sport….
He became Chairman of
Staffordfshire Moorlands
District Council and he was
awarded the Freedom of the
Parish of Checkley for his
dedication to the community
and Tean.
Pat had a wonderful sense
of humour and his passion for
Cricket was well known,
playing and umpiring locally.
He always had a laugh and a
joke with cricketers which led
to him being respected within
the cricketing community.
He founded Tean British
Legion and he was Chairman
and President over many years,
positions he took great pride in.
He was also thrust into the
limelight when Stoke City’s
Pottermouth mentioned him
and his shop in Pottermouth’s
Battle Cry!
Pat was a wonderful family
man and is much missed by
wife Margaret, daughters
Elizabeth and Catherine and
son Ian. Pat was brother to
Graham, sister Eileen and the
late Dennis.
There can be no doubt that
Pat McGarry gave a lifetime to
local people in so many ways –
he was the epitome of a
community stalwart and a
Memorial Garden would be a
fitting tribute to such a great
man – you made a big
difference to a lot of people
Pat…
See how
The Voice can
publicise your
business
Give us a call on
01538 751629 or
07733 466 970
or Email:
uttoxetervoice@
hotmail.co.uk

Call Emily on 01782 415649
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S
chools across Uttoxeter Learning Trust have
joined together and collected donations to help
families affected by the Ukraine crisis.
Pupils have donated dried food, first aid kits,
sleeping bags, foil survival blankets, nappies, torches
with batteries, and toiletries.
Sarah Clark, Chief Executive Officer, Uttoxeter
Learning Trust, said: “The Ukraine conflict has
touched so many lives. I would like to thank all of our
schools for supporting this cause.”
She added: “I am especially proud of our pupils who
have shown the importance of being good citizens and
given so generously to those in urgent need.”
Schools that have supported the appeal include
Windsor Park C.E. Middle School on Springfield Road,
Picknalls First School on Oldfields Road, and
Hutchinson Memorial C.E. First School on Uttoxeter
Road.
Lisa Wilbraham-Jones, Headteacher, Windsor Park
C.E Middle School (pictured), said: “The response was
amazing. At a time when many families are struggling
financially, we were overwhelmed by the generosity
shown. Parents, children and friends dug deep and gave
from their hearts.”
She added: “Donations were sorted, packaged and
transported to a local church last month that was
shipping donations to Poland and Ukraine, showing
our young people the importance of giving to those in
need.”
Anne Tapp, Headteacher of Picknalls First School,
said: “In our school community we have families
directly affected by the war in Ukraine and they asked
if we would be able to help by being a collection point
for donations to aid those affected by the crisis.”
She continued: “Due to the urgency of the situation,
we gave our pupils and parents and carers 24 hours to
bring in donations so that they could be transported
the following day. We are very grateful to our school
community for their swift and generous response. Our
thoughts continue to be with all of those affected by
this distressing situation.”
Paula Snee, Headteacher, Hutchinson Memorial
C.E. First School, added: “A huge thank you to all of
our families who donated so generously. We were
inundated with donations.
“We got in touch with a local company, Listers in
Stoke on Trent, who offered to be a collection point for
donations and had already sent two lorries filled with
emergency aid to Poland. They had one more delivery
planned and asked for first aid, toiletries, dried food,
nappies and baby milk donations.
“All of the items were sorted, bagged and labelled
by our Years 3 and 4 children. It was heart-warming to
see our children being involved in emergency aid to
help those whose lives have been shattered by the
ongoing crisis in Ukraine.”
Uttoxeter Learning Trust thanks local
community for supporting its Ukraine appeal

21
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Tel 01889 564216
tyreways@uttoxeter.ndo.co.uk
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For a FREE Estimate call Carlton Upholstery on
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Uttoxeter Lions Club
Ukraine Appeal
Are you an ex Matelot,
Bootneck, Jenny, an Admiral,
Jimmy, Tankey, Bandy, Jack
Dusty, WAFU?
Fancy an evening ‘Swinging the
lamp’ and ‘Swopping dits’
Join us at the Bankhouse Hotel in Uttoxeter
every 2nd Wednesday of the month, 1930hrs
For details call Dave Emery on 01782 331730
or Mike Bell on 01889 563897
O
ver the past month Uttoxeter Lions have
been raising funds to support the people
of the Ukraine. However, this has not
been a solo effort. Lions’ clubs worldwide have
also been heavily engaged in this too. Every
penny raised has gone directly to where it is
needed. Lions’ club’s that neighbour the Ukraine
have been working tirelessly to assist those who
have been driven from their homes as a result of
the invasion. Countries such as Poland, Romania,
Hungary and the Czech Republic have been
doing sterling work. Our club has concentrated
on raising cash as it is the most practical and
efficient way of giving support. Whilst material
things are also needed it would not only increase
costs met from donations but would not support
the financial aid needed. Instead, we have
directed people to donate material things by
taking them to CTR Transport on the
Marchington Industrial Estate. They have done a
magnificent job so far by sending one truck load
a week over to the surrounding border area
where it is then distributed by the Red Cross to
the refugees.
There are many other organisations there too
who again are doing a fantastic job in supporting
those people who are in dire need.
Lion President Simon Smith of our Uttoxeter
Lions Club along with all members wish to say a
massive thank you to all the people in Uttoxeter
and surrounding area who have so kindly
supported us in making much needed donations.
In addition, we must thank Thomas Alleynes
High School and Loxley Hall Academy for their
fantastic donations £1164 and £410 respectively.
The total funds to date stand at just over £2500
hopefully this will increase in the forthcoming
weeks. Lions Clubs International Foundation
worldwide have donated over £600,000 to date,
and this is increasing daily. This situation
unfortunately, is very likely to carry on for some
time and we request that you continue to give the
cause further support as far as you are possibly
able to do so.
Finally, the latest update from Lions Clubs
International Foundation (LCIF) a report from
clubs on the ground in Romania state that they
are working with The Red Cross,
LCI (Lions Clubs International) and LCIF
also grants of $619,125 have been allocated in
support of the refugees. This figure is divided
between Poland, Romania, Hungary & The
Czech Republic, and administered by those Lions
over there.
Lion Graham Dow (Uttoxeter) 105CN District
Officer
Lions Clubs international Foundation
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See how
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Give us a call on
01538 751629
or 07733 466 970
or Email:
uttoxetervoice@
hotmail.co.uk
Advert prices start
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13,000 homes

25
Registered General Nurse (RGN)
We are looking for a caring, proactive, passionate,
and ambitious
with a valid PIN, to support us in creating the best person-
centred environment for our residents at our friendly and
established Residential and Nursing Home in Uttoxeter.
Full time night and day positions available 37.5 hours a week,
working alternative weekends pro rota.
Salary based on £19.00 an hour, Nursing PIN paid after
qualifying service, DBS paid, generous pension scheme, paid
breaks and further training.
AboutYou
As an experienced qualified nursing professional, who shows the
most up-to-date knowledge of clinical practices, you will be
able to demonstrate excellent leadership and communication
skills, be keen in developing yourself and others and able to
build good close relationships with residents and their families.
You will be driven and determined to deliver continuous
improvement, with an enthusiastic approach and the ability to
be highly responsive under pressure. It is also important that you
share our same family care values, be a team player and
committed to ensure the very best of care is delivered to our
wonderful residents.
Please contact for more information
Tel: 01889 562628 • Email: Stacey@kirk-house.co.uk
Kirk House Nursing Home, Uttoxeter ST14 8JE
A
t Angus MacKinnon Ltd, we pride ourselves on giving back
to the community. Uttoxeter and the surrounding areas has
been without a first responder for many years and our
community has been affected.
Mary Dorrington is now our new community first responder
and she reached out to Angus Mackinnon Garage looking for a
vehicle and they were more than happy to help!
Angus MacKinnon Ltd have donated a high spec Land Rover
Freelander, carried out the relative conversions, and pledged to
maintain the up keep of the vehicle throughout its duration of
service.
HEX Signs and Graphics, part of the Bri-Stor Group generously
supplied and fitted the government specific Community First
Responder lively, we think it looks fantastic.
Also, an extended gratitude to RBA Wealth Management,
Uttoxeter, for donating fuel, National Farmers Union for insuring
the vehicle and MotorKraft Vehicle Accessory Specialists for
supplying racking in the rear to house the precious medical
equipment.
The unveiling of the vehicle to Mary and many other special
guests took place recently including, The High Sherriff of
Staffordshire – Mr James Friend, Deputy Lord Lieutenant of
Staffordshire, St. Johns Ambulance
County President and Trustee of the Community Foundations
for Staffordshire - Mr Ashley Brough, Our Mayor of Uttoxeter –
Mr Chris Sylvester and Our Community Response Manager and
Mr Cliff Medlicott – First Responder Operations Manager.
Angus MacKinnon Ltd are delighted to be involved in such an
amazing yet vital aspect of Mary’s journey in becoming the
Uttoxeter and the surrounding areas Community First Responder.
Pictured: Stuart MacKinnon hands over the keys to Mary
Dorrington.
Angus MacKinnon Ltd responding to
the community

A Tean Primary School has
hailed a Fundraising Event a
massive success!!
C
hildren in Year 6 at St Thomas’ Primary School, Tean, have been learning
about WW2 in their history lessons and they had visits from a local historian
and a trip to RAF Cosford.
So the children decided to hold a Coffee Morning to raise funds for the Royal
British Legion.
Queues of parents, family and friends poured into the school recently for the
Coffee Morning and a staggering £675 was raised for the Royal British Legion.
Year 6 pupils sold cakes (many of which were made by parents and grandparents),
tea and coffee and a Raffle was held. Morrisons Supermarket in Cheadle kindly
donated a tea/coffee and biscuits hamper which was raffled off and the Tean School
sincerely thank Janet Calderhead for this gesture.
A big well done to everyone at St Thomas’s Primary School in Tean - all donations
go to the Royal British Legion…

L
eek United Building Society proudly re-opened its doors on
Monday 4 April to their newly refurbished branch on Uttoxeter’s
Market Place. The new look, modernised branch features
different areas where members can undertake traditional counter
transactions, browse products and services, and enjoy relaxed and
comfortable conversations in a variety of meeting spaces.
The Society has transformed the space which is designed to cater
to a wide range of customer needs, encouraging visitors to engage in a
way that suits them with team members on hand to answer any
questions. Leek United continue to offer a wide range of savings
products and mortgage advice, with the renovated space lending itself
to hosting events alongside Society partners that offer pension advice,
investment advice, life protection and home insurance.
Throughout the pandemic, the mutual society’s members have
been clear that they really value the friendly, face to face service that
their branches offer, along with the financial guidance that their staff
provide – something the Society is deeply committed to continue
providing.
With a dedicated community zone, the Society is looking forward
to providing a platform for its charity and community partners to get
involved and help enhance their relationships with both members and
the local community.
Reinforcing this unflinching commitment to supporting the local
community and continuing to provide exceptional face to face service
to their members, Ian Blurton, Head of Branch Network, said:
“Continuing to provide Uttoxeter residents with a local branch where
they can access our products and services is really important to us.
We’re passionate about providing new and existing members with
memorable experiences and our transformed branch provides the
perfect environment to make this happen. We cannot wait for you all
to see what we have done.”
The branch is open from 9:00am until 3:00pm, Monday to Friday
and 9:15am to 12:00 noon on Saturdays.
For more information about Leek United Building Society, visit
www.leekunited.co.uk
Leek United re-opens their Uttoxeter branch
following a six-week transformation!
Cheadle Academy Students
off to Cambridge University
T
he Cheadle Academy Public Speaking
team have reached the National Final
of the prestigious ESU-Churchill
Public Speaking Competition, sponsored by
the International Churchill Society. The finals
are to be held on Sunday 8th May at
Cambridge University.
This is the largest such contest in England
and Wales, with around 400 teams (each
comprising a speaker, questioner and a
chairperson). The different roles allow
students to practise and excel in different skill
sets, and the competition’s unique format,
which pairs the speaker from one school with
the chair and questioner of another,
encourages quick thinking and relationship
building. Most of all it’s fun, and a great way
for students to develop their oracy skills in a
friendly, supportive environment.
After being successful during Rounds 1
and 2, the team went to Birmingham to
compete in the Regional Finals. And again the
team were the worthy winners of that round
and have now progressed to the National
Final to be hosted by Cambridge University on the 8th May.
The prestigious England and Wales-wide competition is highly
motivating for students and the school as a whole in a non-
adversarial format which emphasises cooperation and presentation
skills. It also challenges students to engage with wide-ranging
cross-curricular topics, while helping to meet National Curriculum
speaking and listening targets while encouraging confidence,
critical thinking and social mobility, broadening students’ horizons
and opportunities.
The Cheadle Academy are extremely proud of their team of;
Sian Day, Fern Ratcliffe, Matthew Wallace, Callum Smith, Emily
Burndred and Maddison Brindley. This team have gone from being
in the initial 400 teams to the last six in the country.
The competition has been extremely stiff, from a huge range
of schools, but also done in an exemplary spirit and the team have
had an outstanding journey so far. The Cheadle Academy could
not be more proud of the students and the way they have
represented the school.
Students from The Cheadle Academy at the Regional Finals Final, hosted by Ninetiles
Academy in Birmingham.
Book your
Advert Now
for the next
Voice colour
magazine -
out 29th
June!
Give us a call on
01538 751629 or
07733 466 970
or Email:
uttoxetervoice@
hotmail.co.uk
Advert prices start
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A
My love of Life, Lorries and Coaches
by John Willmore, of Cheadle
His series continues from previous Voice
magazines...
S
o, one night when coming from work as I came
towards Blythe Bridge, an old wartime Bedford
Lorry turned in front of me, going to Clover
Dairies down Caverswall Lane…
This caught my eye as my father used to drive one,
the same at Lymers of Tean as mentioned in a previous
article.
It was loaded with milk churns so I followed it and
when the driver, Mr Colley, parked up, I approached
him to ask about the lorry as most had disappeared
from the scene by this time in the late 1960’s.
He explained that there were more of the same,
picking milk up in the area and this whetted my
appetite and I asked if he thought that I could drive one
for them, being Mr Dave Weaver of Endon, he
explained that they were in need of a driver and I was
to ring to make an appointment on the following
Sunday for an interview.
So, I did give them a ring and I was offered the
post!! Wow!! Me driving a wagon picking milk up from
farmers which were in my blood…
So I started my time of driving for Mr Weaver and
I loved it – doing two loads a day, one to Nestle’s at
Ashbourne and one to Holden Bridge Co-Op in The
Potteries, and in my spare time I used to help on Dave
Weaver’s farm which kept my hand in. Also, I still used
to help out at Mr Walker’s at Draycott and worked
milking when he needed a break and harvest time.
Talking of harvest time, it was all hands to the
pumps at Mr Weaver’s and my wife used to drive
another old wartime Bedford, picking up the hay bales.
She was a natural and it was thought at one time that
we would team up as drivers going onto the Continent,
but that would be later.
As you know, Endon and Tean, where I was living,
is quite a distance to travel daily and in bad weather it
was difficult sometimes, taking hours to get home in
the snow, and then getting back next morning to work
as the farms needed their milk picking up, but another
opportunity was about to come my….More about this
next time…

30 If you are responding to an advertisement in The Uttoxeter Cheadle Voice, please let the advertiser know. Thank you for your support.
Ginny’s Community Corner
by Ginny Gibson of Uttoxeter
H
ave you ever sat in a café listening into the
conversation on the next table and wanted to
join in?
I know that I have, but knew it was not the done
thing to do, so stopped myself (I know hard to believe).
But now there is a place in Uttoxeter that you can go
on a Monday morning from 11am – 12.30pm, where
chatting between tables in activity encouraged. It’s
called the Natter Monday at Saddlers Yard Café, 2 Old
Saddlers Yard, off the High Street, Uttoxeter, ST14 7RT,
where some of the tables within the café are purely for
nattering to people you don’t know, with a cuppa, cake
or one of their famous fry ups.
The team at Saddlers Yard Café are Jayne, Helen,
Sharon, Jane, Christina, Gemma and Sue and they
thought up the idea after the lock down ended, they
knew people had been isolated for over 2yrs, wanting
to connect again, but not knowing where to start, so
the Natter Monday was created.
Jayne said, “It’s amazing, we have found that people
are really enjoying coming along to exchange ideas with
each other, some cooking tips, knitting tips, gardening
tips, but generally they are coming to relax in the
company of people who they knew by sight, but not as
friends. Real friendships are being built as a result”.
The Saddlers Café team knew about how isolation
had affected people in lockdown, they were part of the
community that supported people who were isolated.
As a result of their efforts in lockdown, Mr Ian Dudson,
Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Staffordshire, sent the
team a thank you letter for the selflessness they all
showed during the Covid 19 pandemic. The ladies
delivered hot home cooked food
to residents in and around
Uttoxeter, they ensured that a
jigsaw puzzle swap was part of the
service, plus flowers and even a toy
monkey to one lady, who they felt
needed something to cuddle. They
are truly an inspiration to all of us
and now they want you to join
them each week for a Natter.
As I was leaving, Jayne told me
about the Queen’s Jubilee weekend
street party they are organising, it
will be held within the whole of
Old Saddlers Yard, from 12pm-
4pm, a buffet will be provided,
games and of course a good old
sing song too. Tickets are going fast, so book yours, at
£12.50 each, by calling into the café or telephoning
01889 562270.
In the meantime, if you fancy joining into a
conversation with the table next to you, then pop on
down, on Monday’s between 11am- 12.30pm to
Saddlers Yard Café, it is a fun, friendly place to be, with
amazing tea, coffee, cakes and food too.
Chocolate and Peanut Butter Reese Cup
Birthday Cake
G
race, my daughter’s best friend, was having her
sixteenth birthday. I wanted to make her a cake
that was special and she would always
remember. Her favourite thing is Reese’s peanut butter
cups. I decided to make her a chocolate cake with
peanut butter frosting, covered with chocolate ganache.
I decorated it with a giant Reese’s peanut butter cup and
some mini peanut butter cups. Sprinkled with glitter,
the cake looked and tasted fantastic! It was a great
success.
To make one 20cm two layer cake you will need the
following:-
230g 70% cocoa solids chocolate
170g unsalted butter
350g golden caster sugar
3 free range eggs (separated)
370g plain flour
1 ½ tsp baking powder
1 ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
½ tsp salt
500 ml semi skimmed milk
2 tsp vanilla extract
To make the peanut butter frosting you will need:-
175g smooth peanut butter
110g unsalted butter
500g Icing sugar
60ml double cream
To make the chocolate ganache you will
need the following:-
250g good quality chocolate
235ml double cream
I also used 1 large Reese’s peanut butter
cup, mini Reese’s peanut butter cups and
edible glitter.
Firstly, preheat your oven to 170˚C fan
oven. Grease and line two, deep sided 20
cm sandwich tins. Melt the chocolate in the
microwave for approx. 2 minutes, or over a
pan of simmering water. Leave to cool
slightly. Cream together the butter and
sugar until pale and fluffy, and then
gradually add the beaten egg yolks. Next
add the chocolate and mix well. Sift
together the flour, baking powder, bicarb of
soda and salt, and add one third to the
mixture. Mix together the milk and vanilla
and add one third to the mixture, then a
third of the flour, then milk, then flour and finally milk,
mixing well after each addition. In a clean bowl whisk
the egg whites until soft peaks form, then carefully fold
into the mixture. Divide evenly into the tins and bake
for approx. 30-40 mins, until a skewer comes out clean.
Remove from oven and leave to cool in the tins for 10
mins until turning out onto wire racks.
To make the frosting, whip the peanut butter and
butter together until fluffy, and then gradually add half
the icing sugar. Next add the cream, followed by the
remaining icing sugar. Add more cream if needed.
When the cake is cooled, sandwich the cake together
and cover with the frosting.
Next to make the chocolate ganache, bring the
cream to the boil over a medium heat, watching
carefully, and pour over the broken chocolate, Whisk
until smooth. Allow the ganache to cool slightly before
pouring over the cake. Start at the centre of the cake
and work outward.
When the cake had set, I decorated with the Reese’s
peanut butter cups and some gold edible glitter. You
can, of course, decorate how you like!
Karen’s Cake Corner
by Karen Hill

31
Let The Uttoxeter Cheadle Voice take your business to 13,000 local homes. To advertise, call 01538 751629 or 07733 466 970.
Bramshall Village improvements
U
ttoxeter Rural Parish Council are delighted to be able to announce a couple
of changes to Bramshall Village. The first being that two speed indicator
signs have been installed, the first one by Bramshall Inn(Butchers Arms)
and the second on Stocks Lane. Both signs will remind drivers of the speed they are
travelling and thank them if they are doing the correct speed and ask them to slow
down, if necessary. Research shows that these visual reminders help to change driver
behaviour and will complement the chicane that was installed a couple of years ago.
The second change is to the village entrance on Bennetts Lane, the land owner
kindly allowed the Parish Council to install Gateways before the narrow bridge and
to complement these, the railings have been painted white, by a few volunteers from
the Village. This change is again a visual reminder to drivers they are entering a
residential area and to drive accordingly. Later in the year a Bramshall village sign
will be installed on the Gateway.
Chairman of the Parish Council, Cllr Jones said, “The Parish Council works
closely with Staffordshire County Council Highways Team to ensure that drivers are
reminded about their speed through our Parish villages. In Bramshall, both the
inclusion of Speed Indicator signs and a Gateway entrance sign have proved to
change driver behaviour and we are delighted to have been able to deliver this
solution to residents of Bramshall Village”.
Top: Stocks Lane SID Sign installed
Top right: Stone Road SID Sign installed
Right: Bramshall Gateway and white railings

Charity Football
Match
F
ormer Stoke City stars will be guest players at a charity
football match in Cheadle. Carl Dickinson, Mamady Sidibe
and Liam Lawrence have pledged to be at the event in June,
say organisers. Other players supporting the day include Josh
Gordon, Christian Montano, Andy Griffin and Danny Pugh - and
boxer Nathan Heaney.
It’s on June 11 and is in memory of young Tean man Lewis
McFarlin, 24, who died in an industrial accident in January 2020.
It will be a Cheadle Rovers v Lewis Legends match, kick off 3pm
at Thorley Drive Football Pitches
Money raised will go to the Dove Services charity, which
arranges bereavement counselling for adults and children in
Staffordshire.
Also helping that cause and in memory of Lew, on August 20
there will be an all day festival - Lewfest - with music, food and
entertainment, at Rue Hill Caravan Site, Cauldon Low.
For more details, search Lewfest on Facebook.
B
ishop Rawle C.E. Primary School are celebrating
after being awarded a ‘Good’ judgement from
schools’ inspectors Ofsted during their most
recent visit – marking a notable improvement in all
areas.
In addition to inspecting the quality of the
education provided by Bishop Rawle C.E. Primary
School on Royal Walk, Cheadle - inspectors also
gathered the thoughts of pupils, staff and parents
during the two-day visit and inspectors concluded that
the school is ‘Good’ in all areas.
The judgement marks a real improvement from the
previous inspection in 2015, when the school was
classed as ‘Inadequate’. The first step of this process was
the joining of the local-based Multi-Academy Trust,
The Moorlands Primary Federation (TMPF).
The Ofsted report noted many positives, and states
that, “Bishop Rawle Church of England Primary School
is a warm and welcoming place. Pupils love school.
They say that they are happy and feel safe.”
It continued, “All leaders and staff have a clear
vision for the school. They want pupils to achieve the
best that they can. Leaders have created a purposeful
environment where pupils are keen to learn.”
Some members of the School Council shared their
thoughts on their school:
• Amelia (7), “This is a brilliant school! We had some
visitors in school and they said we are Good!”
• Sophie (10), “The teachers make us feel
comfortable and safe. We always have someone to
talk to.”
• Olivia (6), “We are all well behaved in our school.
• Emmett (5), “We care about people.”
• William (11), “Playtimes are fun because we have
equipment to play with.”
School Leader, Averil Kirk (who took up the post
in 2019), said, “We are absolutely thrilled that Ofsted
were able to see of the hard work which has gone into
the school on its journey over the past few years and
thanks go to all of the staff - past and present - who
have played a part in this. We also offer huge thanks to
the parents/carers, grandparents, aunties, uncles,
siblings, friends and wider family members for the role
which they have played. Of course, we also thank the
amazing children whom we are honoured to have in
the Bishop Rawle C.E. family – they bring such joy to
their school and deserve such a positive judgement.”
Chair of TMPF’s Trust Board, Nick Chesters,
added, “We are delighted with Ofsted’s judgement.
Within The Moorlands Primary Federation, we enjoy
working together and supporting one another across
the family of schools. We have staff who, although
based in one of the schools, have roles which allow
them to share their expertise across five different sites;
and to support colleagues and therefore benefit the
children and enhance learning. Our whole Trust are
very proud of the team, the parents, the carers and, of
course, the children.”
Chief Executive Officer and Executive Principal of
The Moorlands Primary Federation, Jared Eccles,
concluded, “We are so proud to see all of the hard work
over a number of years from the team within the
school, and also across TMPF - including our Trustees
- being recognised in this way. The school is a happy
place, and has shown real care for its family, especially
during the challenges of the last few years. The team
have worked tirelessly to provide a wonderful
environment for the children and we are thrilled that
Ofsted have seen the bubbly, positive, friendly school
which we enjoy seeing every day.
“For the staff and children to proudly say that their
school is ‘Good’ means a great deal to us and we know
that it will continue to go from strength-to-strength
over the years ahead.”
Bishop Rawle C.E. Primary celebrate
a‘Good’Ofsted judgement
A
retired farmer from Derbyshire is
embarking on a nation-wide solo bike ride
from Land’s End to John O’Groats to raise
awareness and funds for The Farming
Community Network (FCN). Retired dairy and
sheep farmer Will Appleby, 67 – who describes
himself as a ‘pensioner with knackered knees on a
bike’ - took to cycling three years ago and has since
biked the Lon Las Cymru trail (Cardiff to
Holyhead) and the North Coast 500 route - a 560-
mile ride around the North Coast of Scotland over
some of the steepest roads in the UK.
Will’s latest excursion will start on 25th April
and he hopes to complete it within three weeks,
weather permitting. With him on his journey
he’ll be carrying full camping gear weighing
about 30 kilos, which is no mean feat.
Will said: “Farming is often a solitary and
lonely occupation and I have had my share of
dark days and before the onset of the Internet,
there seemed no one to turn to for help or much
needed support. Charities like The Farming
Community Network may well offer a
lifeline.particularly to the small farmers, some of
whom who are now getting on in age.
“Unless the older farmer is supported and
enabled to thrive, how on earth can we expect the
youth of today to learn from their experience and
take on this wonderful yet highly challenging
life?”
Will left school at 15 and joined the army as
a musician. He studied at the Royal School of
Music at Kneller Hall and spent just under 10
years as a military musician.
At the age of 25 he returned to his farming
background as a dairy and sheep farmer in
Derbyshire, where he still lives today. He also ran
a peripatetic teaching service in many schools in
Derbyshire and Staffordshire and plays
saxophone at weddings throughout the country.
Alex Phillimore, Head of Communications
and Development at The Farming Community
Network, said: “Will’s enthusiasm for cycling and
his support for FCN is inspiring. His many
adventures over the last few years have shown
that there’s no age limit to when someone can
don their cycling gear and set an ambitious goal
that would have many shaking in their boots.
People like Will really show the strength of
community in farming and by giving something
back, he hopes to help other farmers through
their challenges we thank everyone who supports
FCN and wish Will luck on his journey.
The Just Giving link to Will’s fundraiser is
www.justgiving.com/fundraising/will-appleby
Derbyshire farmer embarks
on nation-wide bike ride in
support of farming charity
Book your Advert Now for the next
Voice colour magazine - out 29th June!
Give us a call on 01538 751629 or
07733 466 970
or Email: uttoxetervoice@ hotmail.co.uk
Advert prices start at only £25 and can hit over
13,000 homes

33
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T
he Gordon Banks 72 Wembley Walk. They did it! Duncan Cowans and his team, plus the back
up team, covered 19.72 miles from Hemel Hempstead to Wembley via Watford and Bushey.
What a great achievement!
What a great cause! A huge thank you to everyone who supported them. .. Stantons of Stoke
Stoddards of Cheadle, Conor and Kieran of The Huntsman, Cheadle; Cheadle SCOBA; Cheadle
Rotary; The Bread Basket, Cheadle; Woolliscrofts Butchers, Cheadle. Also to the generous people of
Cheadle (the sponsor form is still in the Dougie Mac shop) To you all, far and wide, who sponsored
us on justgiving.com/DCowans
The Gordon Banks 72 Wembley Walk

35
Gillian 07928 556552
Tuesday 9.30am, 11am, 5pm and 6.30pm
Renew Church, High Street, Uttoxeter ST14 7JQ
Jackie 07896 214458
Wednesday 5pm and 6.30pm
Greatwood Hall, Hollington Road, Tean ST10 4JY
Thursday 9.30 am
Cheadle New Life Church, 37 Tape Street,
Cheadle ST10 1BG
Jayne 07939 987829
Saturday 8.30am and 10 am
Renew Church, High Street,
Uttoxeter ST14 7JQ
‘Spring into a
slimmer you this
summer’
F
or many of us, this summer will be the first time in three long years that we’ve
had a proper sunshine holiday. And a lot of us are dreading the moment when
we dig out our holiday clothes and find they don’t fit quite as well as they used
to! If you’d like to lose weight and hit the beach feeling fitter and healthier, local
weight-loss experts Gillian, Jayne and Jackie, from Slimming World, share their top
tips on how making small changes now can get you on track for a slimmer summer:
1. Set a goal
Research shows that if you set yourself a goal you’re more likely to achieve it –
and the more ambitious the better. A study of 24,000 slimmers by Slimming World
found that slimmers who set an ambitious dream target weight lost almost twice as
much weight as those who aimed for a more modest amount. “Setting an ambitious
target can help you visualise what you’re capable of,” says Slimming World’s Head of
Research and Scientific Affairs, Dr Jacquie Lavin. She also recommends setting ‘mini
targets’ which Slimming World members are encouraged to do each week, whether
it’s to lose a couple of pounds, go for a lunchtime walk or cook with new ingredients.
“Your big goal is your destination; mini targets are milestones along the way. Every
time you achieve one it will give you a sense of achievement and motivate you on to
the next step.”
2. Spring into action
Make the most of longer days and warmer weather and head out for some fresh-
air fitness. A study from the University of Exeter shows that compared with indoor
workouts, exercising in a natural environment is associated with greater feelings of
happiness and well-being, as well as increased energy levels. Outdoor exercisers also
report greater enjoyment and satisfaction from their workouts and feel more inclined
to keep it up, plus you’ll be boosting your immune system and topping up your
vitamin D levels. Whether you’re a complete exercise beginner or already a keep fit
fan, there are a whole range of activities you can enjoy outdoors this spring from
walking the dog to family bike rides and Park runs.
3. Get creative in the kitchen
Discover your inner Jamie and cook meals from scratch with healthy seasonal
ingredients like asparagus, spring greens and new potatoes, or dig out the barbecue
and get grilling lean meat, fish and veg. And remember, losing weight doesn’t have
to mean going hungry. A study by the University of Leeds , found that eating a diet
based around low energy dense foods – foods that contain fewer calories per gram
such as fresh fruit and veg, lean meat and poultry, pasta, rice and grains – is more
effective for weight loss than traditional calorie counting. In fact, a group of women
who followed Slimming World’s low energy dense eating plan for 14 weeks lost over
12lbs compared to just over 7lbs in a group using a calorie-counting diet plan. You
can find deliciously filling recipe ideas based on foods low in energy density at
slimmingworld.co.uk.
4. Spritz up your spring!
There’s nothing nicer than sitting outdoors on a sunny spring afternoon enjoying
a drink with friends, yet alcohol can be a real obstacle if you’re trying to lose weight.
As well as the calories in alcohol, which are often higher than we realise (one large
glass of wine has as many calories as a jam doughnut!), Slimming World’s research
into the impact of alcohol on weight revealed that having just slightly too much to
drink and reaching our ‘tipping point’ can lead us into drinking and eating far more
than we intended and as a result can impact hugely on our weight. The good news
is that by making small changes to your drinking habits, you can still enjoy alcohol
in moderation and manage your ‘tipping point’ and your weight loss. Carolyn
Pallister, Nutrition and Health Policy Manager at Slimming World, says,
“Interspersing alcoholic drinks with soft drinks, adding soda water to wine to make
a spritzer, switching to slimline mixers, or choosing a low-calorie lager, can all make
a big difference.”
5. Spring clean your habits
We’re all creatures of habit and having a routine can be a lifesaver when you’re
busy – you’re more likely to exercise regularly if you do it at the same time every
week and having a set day for batch cooking can really help you plan for the week
ahead. However, research from the University of Hertfordshire has found that when
routines get overly rigid, they can act like webs, making it hard to change a habit
even if we know it’s not helpful. Having a spring clean of your habits can help you
go after your weight loss goals with renewed focus. Carolyn says: “At Slimming World
we’ve got a deep understanding of the psychology behind successful weight loss, and
our groups are all about getting support to build healthy new habits around food
and activity. It’s so much easier to achieve when you have the support of a group of
like-minded people who care about your success.”
To find out more about your local Slimming World groups and how to join,
visit slimmingworld.co.uk, or call 0344 897 8000

If you are looking for somewhere to enjoy a
drink and meal and also admire the views, then
The Raddle Inn is the place for you!
If it’s a hearty meal our homemade cooking can
either be enjoyed in the bar area, conservatory or
our new Pods in the Beer Garden area.
Specials board changes daily
Quarry Bank, Hollington, near Alton Towers
Telephone: 01889 507278
raddleinn.com
Pensioners Menu
Available 12-2pm
Monday To Saturday
3 Courses For £11.00
Or available separately
Starter £2.95,
Main Meal £5.95,
Dessert £2.95
Cheadle District Animal Welfare Society • Reg Charity 1039350
How could anybody be so
callous and neglectful?
G
oing for a gentle ride on a horse along an idyllic
country lane in Church Leigh is usually fairly
uneventful. Not so for Terri and Amy a few
weeks ago when they spotted a young cat in the hedgerow
and then another and then another. In all there were 7
of them. All were scared and very thin. There were no
houses or farms in the near vicinity so they must have
been dumped earlier in the day.
Terri and Amy went back a little while later and
managed to grab 2 of the cats. A ginger female who we
called Rosie and a male tabby and white, Smudge, both
are only about 4 – 6 months old. Cheadle Animal Welfare
Society was contacted and a visit to the Lime Trees Cat
Clinic in Cheadle was arranged for the following day.
Rosie, was found to be badly infested with fleas, you could see them crawling through
her fur as she sat patiently on the vet’s table. She also had a nasty skin infection.
Smudge was emaciated and he too had a huge infestation of fleas and a skin infection.
Both cats immediately received treatment for the fleas and worms. Bloods were taken
and Smudge was found to be dangerously anaemic, but thankfully negative for Feline
AIDS and Feline Leukaemia. His condition was so serious he had to be admitted to
Lime Trees Veterinary Hospital, Meir Park and put on a drip.
Over the next couple of days the remaining 5 cats were caught and taken to Lime
Trees Cat Clinic. All were heavily infested with fleas, were anaemic and had skin
infections. Literally thousands of fleas fell off these cats.
Smudge remained in hospital for 6 days and recovered well so that he was able
to go into a foster home. The remaining 6 cats, Charles, Camilla, Rosie, Felix, Tom
and Tinker have been cared for by Terri and Amy who so kindly rescued them. Once
fit enough, all of them will be neutered, vaccinated and microchipped before finding
their forever homes.
Who on earth could be so callous and neglectful to have let these cats get into
such a terrible state, do nothing about it and then dump them in the middle of
nowhere? Words fail me. It is all so shocking and upsetting. We can only imagine
the torment these cats suffered and how ill they must have felt. It is all so shocking
and upsetting.
Anyone wishing to make a donation to help with the veterinary costs and care
for these adorable cats can do so via GoFundMe gofund.me/0c75df3c, via Paypal
or by sending a cheque to the address on the website: cheadleanimalwelfare.org.uk
A huge Thank You to all of those kind people who have sent or who are about to
send a donation to help Smudge, Charles, Camilla, Rosie, Felix, Tom and Tinker.
Your help is greatly appreciated.
Rosie
Smudge
Rosie, Camilla, Charles and Tinker
Trees planted at Uttoxeter’s Pennycroft
Park to mark Queen’s Jubilee
O
n Monday 14th February, Officers from East Staffordshire Borough
Council’s Horticultural team planted an avenue of hornbeam trees at
Pennycroft Park in Uttoxeter. They were joined by local schools including
St Mary’s Primary School,, Tynsel Parks Primary School and St Joseph’s Primary
School. Also in attendance were Councillors from Uttoxeter Town Council and
staff from McDonald’s Uttoxeter.
This is the second avenue of Hornbeam trees to be planted in East
Staffordshire to commemorate the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen
Elizabeth 2nd, after a similar project was completed with volunteers and
councillors at Shobnall Fields earlier in February.
As well as celebrating the Queens Jubilee, the project also supports the
Council’s drive to plant more trees in open spaces across the Borough.
Councillor Bev Ashcroft, Deputy Leader for Leisure, Amenities and Tourism,
said: “This project is great for the environment and a fantastic way to pay our
respects to our monarch.
“The open spaces team is looking for a range of volunteers who are passionate
and enthusiastic about their local area. If you are interested you can apply by
visiting www.eaststaffsbc.gov.uk/parks-and-open-spaces/volunteer

37
Let’s upcycle
Help the planet one project at a time
by Allison Maryon
In this article we will be making a bag from
a (Drumroll…) a BAG !
N
o I’m not losing my marbles. We are looking
at exceptionally sturdy ‘single use’ bags that are
ready to be reused time and time again, after a
little snipping and stitching. I have used a Dog Food
bag but you can also use other pet/animal feed bags,
anything that is designed to protect it’s contents in
transit and during storage.
You will need:
Heavy duty bag that is destined for landfill
Something for handles – I’ve used a rescued long
zip that lost its puller after being removed from an old
jacket but ribbon, webbing, plaited string/rope will all
work. Use your creativity to choose.
Needle and thread
Flatten the sack/bag and cut away the bottom,
above the heat bonded section that gives the sack its
shape.
Turn inside out and wash down to remove any dust
and odours. Fold flat.
Sew along the bottom of the bag with a back stitch
or a long machine stitch. A hand backstitch is where
you bring your needle up to the top of the bag form the
underside. To make your stitch take your needle back,
down half way between your two previous stitches then
back up in front of the last stitch.
Fold the bottom seam you have just sewn out flat,
meeting the seam with the fold in the side of the bag.
Sew across the point, about 3” down from the point
of the fold. This is creating a boxed bottom to your bag.
Trim a strip away from around the top of the bag
so that it’s length, is short enough not to drag on the
floor when handles have been added.
Take whatever you are using for handles and cut
into approximately 18” lengths (you can adjust this
measurement up or down).
Turn down approx. 1-1.5” to the inside all around
the top of the bag.
Place the handles approximately 5” in from both
outside edges, tuck under the fold. Fold the handle
back on itself so that it comes above the top of the bag.
Clip the handles in place.
Back stitch all the way around the top of the bag,
holding the turning down a sewing the handles in
place.
Stitch the top of the handles down, close to the top
of the bag.
Turn your bag the right way round.
You have saved another plastic product from
ending up in landfill. Use your bag with pride and
enjoy explaining it’s history.
Sew along the bottom of the bag with a back stitch Cut handles and cut into approximately 18” lengths
Back stitch all the way around the top of the bag Stitch the top of the handles down
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Uttoxeter
Cheadle
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Cheadle

The Inner Wheel Quiz
Held on Friday 25th March 2022 at
Kingstone Village Hall
A
fter setting the scene with tables and chairs, and a table
laden with excellent Raffle prizes,the ladies of the Inner
Wheel Club of Uttoxeter were arriving with delicious
smelling dishes of food.
The Quiz has become an annual event, and thanks go to Elspeth
and Philip Knight who set the questions and were Quiz Masters
for the evening.
First of all, the home cooked meals of Cottage Pie or Lasagne
were served followed with homemade puddings in the interval.
The evening was a great success and although competitive, it was
great fun. Everyone had a really good time and enjoyed being
amongst friends and aquaintances again.
The profit of over £700 from the Quiz evening will be divided
between the charity, HOPE AND HOMES FOR CHILDREN in
orphanages in Ukraine. Right now, 100,000 are warehoused in
Ukraine’s 700 state run orphanages. That’s more orphanages than
England has hospitals. The children are being stranded without
staff, food and water whilst under attack from bombs and bullets.
The charity HOPE AND HOMES for children is there right
now, providing emergency aid and trying to get the children away
from the firing line and into recognised humanitarian safe spaces.It
is trying to evacuate the orphans whilst keeping siblings together
and accounting for every child.
SCHOOL IN A BAG – a charity who send Schoolbags filled
with educational resources to poor, orphan, vulnerable,
disadvantaged and disaster affected children.
Children often find it very hard to communicate their feelings
verbally in the same way adults can. However, the contents of a
SchoolBag presents the opportunity for them to draw and write
about their feelings. This outlet of expression plays such an
important part of the rehabilitation process for the children, both
during and following a disaster.
Each bag costs £30 and information can be accessed on
schoolinabag.org. The Inner Wheel Club of Uttoxeter has already
bought numerous bags which have gone to various countries, and
each bag purchased is given a number so that it can be tracked to
see where it has gone to.
The Inner Wheel Club of Uttoxeter’s recent Quiz was a very
successful event, raising over £700, which has been sent to 2
Charities - £350 to Hope Homes for children in the orphanages
in Ukraine and £350 to School in a Bag.
The next fundraiser is a Fashion Show on Wednesday, 18th
May at Kingstone Village Hall - Don’t miss it!!!
The profit made on the evening will go to The Children’s Air
Ambulance Inner Wheel Charities.
Award-winning reasons
to visit the Moorlands
W
hat do the winners of Hotel of the Year, Large and Small Visitor Attraction, Tea Room and
Coffee Shop and Casual Dining Restaurant have in common? They’re all in the Moorlands
of course! There are already so many reasons to visit the Staffordshire Moorlands – and
award winning local businesses and attractions only add to the district’s appeal for people planning
days out and holidays in the UK.
So it’s great news that Moorlands businesses featured highly at this year’s Enjoy Staffordshire
Tourism and Good Food Awards with several bringing home gold, silver and bronze winners awards.
Councillor Andrew Hart, Cabinet Member for Tourism at Staffordshire Moorlands District
Council, said: “We’ve always known we have some first rate hospitality businesses and visitor
attractions in the Moorlands but it’s great to see some of them officially recognised with these awards.
“I congratulate all those businesses that were shortlisted and, of course, those that were named
amongst the winners.
“I hope these awards help to raise the profile of all our leisure businesses and that people will make
the Moorlands their destination of choice when planning holidays and days out this spring and
summer and beyond.”
It’s the eighth time the awards, which are open to any Staffordshire tourism business, have been
held with winners named in 16 different categories.
Local winners in the Moorlands were:
• Alton Towers Resort – which won Golds in the Accessible and Inclusive and Ethical, Responsible
and Sustainable categories and Silver for Large Visitor Attraction.
• CBeebies Land Hotel at Alton Towers also won top prize in the Hotel of the Year award.
• Black Lion Inn, Butterton – Bronze winner of the Pub of the Year and also highly commended
in the Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable category.
• Gelato and Cakes, Cheadle was highly commended in the Food and Drink Retailer and Farm
Shop of the Year category.
• Foxfield Railway was named overall winner of the county’s Small Visitor Attraction.
• Walk with the Animals at Peak Wildlife Park near Leek took the Bronze award for Experience
of the Year and the Park was highly commended in the Large Visitor Attraction category.
• Ramblers Retreat Country Tea Room, Alton – took Gold for Tea Room and Coffee Shop of the
Year and will go forward to represent Staffordshire in the Taste of England awards. The business
also won Silver in the Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable category and was highly commended
for Resilience and Innovation.
• The Three Horseshoes Country Inn, Leek was named Gold winner in the Casual Dining
Restaurant category.
The winners of 14 categories will now go forward to represent Staffordshire at the national
VisitEngland Awards for Excellence to be held in June.
Good luck to all our Moorlands winners!
New headteacher appointed to
Uttoxeter middle school
A
nne Grattage has started in post at
Ryecroft C.E. Middle School,
Ashbourne Road, Rocester. The
school is Ofsted graded ‘good’, has
approximately 200 pupils aged nine to 13-
years-old and is part of Uttoxeter Learning
Trust.
Annie will join Uttoxeter Learning Trust
from Kingsland C.E. Academy in Stoke-on-
Trent where she is currently Vice Principal
and has spent most of her teaching career.
Initially starting her career as a
classroom teacher, Annie has since held a
number of roles including being an English
and Maths Leader and a Special Educational
Needs Coordinator.
She was designated as a Specialist Leader
of Education in 2015 and has supported
colleagues in schools across Stoke-on-Trent.
Prior to that, Annie taught English to
elementary, junior and senior high school
pupils in Osaka, Japan, after graduating
from university. She also worked as an
English teacher in Barcelona, Spain.
Annie said: “I am delighted and proud to
be appointed Headteacher of Ryecroft C.E. Middle School. I am very much looking forward to meeting
parents and carers and working with the local community and church as well as colleagues across
Uttoxeter Learning Trust.”
She added: “My priorities will be to support and provide the children with opportunities to help
them achieve the highest academic standards and develop their individual talents to the full. I believe
this can be achieved through a strong partnership between the school, pupils, and parents and carers.”
Sarah Clark, Chief Executive Officer, Uttoxeter Learning Trust, said: “I am delighted to welcome
Annie to our family of schools which are committed to inspiring learning and inspired children. Annie
has a strong track record of expertise.”
Annie Grattage has been appointed Headteacher of
Ryecroft C.E. Middle School in Rocester, Uttoxeter, and
starts her new role in April.

39
F
or many years Cheadle Animal Welfare
Society had accepted into its care any stray
dog who had been found in the
Staffordshire Moorlands and who had not been
claimed by their owners after the statutory period
of time. This was because the Society had an
agreement with Tenford Kennels at Tean who had
the contract for the care of the stray dogs.
However at the end of February 2018 the owner
of Tenford Kennels retired and the contract for
the Staffordshire Moorlands dogs was taken over
by the City Dogs Home. This meant that Cheadle
Animal Welfare Society could no longer have any
involvement with the strays. It was a sad time as
the Society had been involved with helping the
stray dogs for 50 years.
The Society was set up in March 1968 under
the watchful eyes of the late Lucy Bolton and the
late Dorothy Wood, as they were deeply
saddened and upset when they saw unclaimed
stray dogs being taken from the Police Station in
the High Street and walked along to the vets to
be put to sleep. Young or old. It didn’t matter. If
they were not claimed they had to die. There was
nowhere else for them to go. The one which
broke Dorothy’s heart was a young golden
Labrador who was so happy to be going for a
walk after being cooped up in the kennel at the
back of the Police Station for 7 days. Half an hour
later the man who had taken the dog came back
with an empty lead.
Something had to be done and that was when
Lucy and Dorothy held a meeting in the Guild
Hall, Cheadle for like-minded people resulting in
the establishment of Cheadle District Animal
Welfare Society. Over the years the Society went
through good times and bad. There were times
when it wasn’t known if there was enough money
in the bank to pay the bills at the end of the
month, but with the support of many generous
and like-minded people in Cheadle, the Society
has thrived and became a registered Charity in
December 1993.
Since 2018 the Society has helped far fewer
dogs than it ever did in the past, but would like
to be able to help more. These days help can be
given to people who can no longer care for their
dogs for a variety of reasons eg they have to go
into hospital or permanent care, move to
accommodation where a pet is not welcome or
perhaps there has been a change in family
circumstances. Having no premises of its own
the Society is hoping to find foster homes for any
dogs who they are asked to help and is hoping
that people will come forward to help.
Have you always wanted a dog, but can’t
afford or maybe you are not able to make a long
term commitment? Can you open your heart to
a dog who is down on its luck and in need of a
friend? If so Cheadle Animal Welfare Society
needs you. They are looking for people who have
the time and the patience to help care for dogs
while they are waiting to find new homes.
Support will be provided with the provision
of food and any veterinary care that may be
necessary. The foster carer will need to have the
time and patience to care for the dog and to make
it feel welcome in their home. The dog will need
daily walks and must be able to socialize
If you are interested in fostering a dog please
contact Cheadle Animal Welfare Society to
discuss how you can help, either by ringing 07731
616 025 or 01335 390369 or via email at
cheadleanimalwelfare@ hotmail.co.uk
Cheadle Animal Welfare
Society Needs You
B
ritish Olympian Adam
Burgess has set a unique
challenge to JCB
apprentices and graduates – designing the look of his
new canoe.
The 29-year-old Staffordshire athlete missed out on
a medal by a whisker in canoe slalom at the Tokyo
Games last year – he was just 0.16 seconds off securing
bronze. Now with his sights firmly set on upcoming
World Championships and the 2024 Olympics in Paris
he is turning the attention to the design of his new
canoe.
He launched a design competition for the new boat
during a talk about his Olympic experience to more
than 100 apprentices and graduates at JCB’s World HQ
in Rocester – and promised a selection of items from
his Team GB kit to the winning entrant.
Adam said: “I am excited to see what the JCB team
of graduates and apprentices come up with for my next
boat design. It will be used at all my international
competitions over the next two years so there is a real
opportunity for someone to show off their design
talent!”
Adam - who has been sponsored by JCB since 2020
- has stipulated that black and yellow need to play a
major role in his new boat’s vinyl wrap and that it can
draw design cues from the Union Jack.
JCB Apprentice Scheme Leader Holly Broadhurst
added: “Everyone is thrilled to be involved in the
competition. While our employees are more used to
designing the way JCB diggers look, this is a great
opportunity to showcase their skills on an international
platform and be creative in a very different way.”
Adam’s rise to the top of his sport in the UK stems
from a visit to his school by Stafford and Stone Canoe
Club which was on the lookout for new recruits. Adam
raised his hand in class to join the club and hasn’t looked
back since. He canoed from the age of 10 on the River
Trent in Stone, Staffordshire, practising most days before
school. He has been competing internationally for Great
Britain and winning medals since the age of 14.
Athlete Adam gives JCB employees
olympic-sized design challenge
Adam Burgess pictured with JCB employees, left to right, Georgia Pedley-Mackenzie, Matt Pickard, Alex Salisbury
and Lewis Rowley.
D
ove Valley swimmers, which consisted of 7 boys and 5
girls, competed in the 2022 Staffordshire County
Championship recently. All swimmers swam their very
best which resulted to many personal bests and lots of medals won
by 4 of our swimmers.
• Tom Kirkman in the boys Age 11 group won Gold in 50m
backstroke
• Dan Simister in the boys Age 12 group won Bronze in 50m
back
• Oliver Edwards in the boys Age 16 group won 1 silver and 3
bronze medals
• Isabelle Edwards in the girls Age 12 group wibt 1 gold , 3 silver
and 2 Bronze medals.
• Two swimmers Amy-Lee Jones and Isabelle Edwards qualified
to swim the 800m which was the first in history of the club of
which Isabelle won a Bronze medal.
• Lucy Oldham earnt a place in the Championship final for the
50m Backstroke.
• 3 swimmers also achieved West Midlands times of which are
due to take place the end of April.
Another successful county Championship for Dove Valley…
Staffordshire County
Championships 2022

Midlands Grand National at
Uttoxeter Racecourse
Photos by Kevin Upton

41
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Personal Service and Advice

John’s Jottings
by John Smith of Tean
H
aving started writing late in life, I have
published three novels – a fictional trilogy
based on my grandfather’s life (‘The
Prendergast Novels’ John D Smith on Amazon). I’m
now trying my hand at short stories – some fictional,
some life-based. I hope you enjoy.
My Friend Paul
There were four of us originally – friends from school
at sixteen.
We roamed the estate experiencing – stupidly – our
first cigarettes and recognising the growing attraction of
the local ladies. All innocence and naivety.
Eventually Mike joined the army and disappeared
from our lives. Ron found himself a girl who would later
become his wife and also drifted into the ether.
That left Paul and I.
To be frank we were very different characters and
from very different backgrounds. His Dad a miner, my
old man an ex-copper – more of that in a later story.
However both our families had the same morality and
principles – call it old fashioned but such a good
grounding for us both.
Paul was a sportsman – I wasn’t. He was a team
footballer and cricketer at school. He was smarter than
I was academically – worked hard at his studies. I didn’t.
He was made a prefect. I wasn’t…
Nevertheless we formed a bond that would last a
lifetime.
We had our first illicit beer together. A pub some two
villages away as our father’s rules prohibited drinking
before eighteen – how times have changed!
Normally it was a couple of halves of bitter. On the
one occasion – when in extra funds we ordered further
beers.
‘No lads. You’ve had your drinks. Off you go.’
We left suitably chastened, convinced that we had
fooled him.
Our outings continued, joining with more good
friends in the Wakefield Tetley houses. I was a
lightweight and regularly Paul was the one who escorted
and occasionally carried me home.
We had a silly Boxing Day just before we both were
of age. I had no money but regardless his parents and
family funded our drinking. We arrived at a local Club
and – worse for wear – entered the talent competition.
Our rendition of ‘Build Me Up Buttercup’ resulted in
seventh place- out of seven.
Eventually we completed our schooling and left for
college – Paul to East Yorkshire, me to Manchester. We
kept in contact throughout and at the conclusion of our
courses I convinced Paul that he should leave the bright
lights of Hull and join me in Salford.
I found Patricia – still together some 45 years later.
There was only one choice as my best man and Paul
suitably embarrassed me with his speech – I will not
relate the detail but let it be said that he left few stones
unturned!
Having hauled the lad to Lancashire, I then found a
position back in Yorkshire and felt I’d abandoned Paul.
I shouldn’t have doubted him. His good nature and dry
humour soon resulted in him finding a new group of
housemates and he found employment in Manchester
where he thrived.
He contacted me one day to tell me there was ‘a lass
who’s chasing me’. He clearly didn’t run very quickly and
he and Margaret married a few years later. Inevitably –
it seemed – I was asked to be his best man and was able
to reciprocate with an equally robust speech.
Ultimately Patricia and I moved with our now young
family to the South of England. Our eldest, Greg had
turned up some years before followed by our daughter
Laura. Automatically Paul was asked to be godfather to
Greg – again later reciprocated when their daughter
Gina arrived. She was followed by Tom – a grand lad
with his father’s sporting capabilities.
Paul eventually also moved south to Essex which
enabled more meets. This seemed to repeatedly result in
our emptying a bottle of good quality whisky after the
ladies had retired. We talked forever about the ‘old days’
until both of us struggled to our beds.
It was in 2016 that Paul phoned me with his bad
news. He had been diagnosed with bowel cancer.
Over the following months he undertook the
appropriate treatments and eventually was able to tell
me that he was on the way to recovery.
He and Margaret were able to join Patricia and I in
Chester for our 40th wedding anniversary and he looked
well and fully on the way to recovery.
Sadly the cancer returned before that Christmas. No
treatment seemed to resolve his issue.
It was in March 1917 that he was taken to Romford
Hospital. I was reluctant to visit him – I guess I didn’t
want to face the truth. Patricia convinced me I should
see him and I drove alone with my thoughts for what
was to be the last time we would see each other. We sat
and talked – mostly again about the past. I recall the
consultant asking us to move away. The curtains closed
as he spoke to Paul.
As the curtains were drawn back Paul sat in silence.
I understood he had been given the hardest news of all.
I held his hand but he was remote in his own
thoughts. I kissed him gently on the cheek and left.
It was some two weeks later as I returned from a
meeting. He had gone, shortly after his 64th birthday.
Margaret asked me to speak at his funeral – probably
the hardest speech I’ve ever had to perform. I hope I did
him justice, reflecting on his life and his character and
the good times we enjoyed.
Some fifteen months later I received an email
message from his daughter, Gina. She was to be married
on New Years Eve and asked if I would say a few words
at the ceremony on behalf of Paul. I replied – frankly
tears in my eyes – to tell her that it would be an honour.
As Gina arrived at the altar accompanied by her
brother Tom, I tried to control my emotions but failed
and my name was called within minutes to deliver my
tribute.
My speech was based on reflection but with some
humour. Paul would not have wanted a dull and
downbeat commentary. I ended with a small poem that
Patricia had found.
‘Be good to my girl. That’s all I ask
She now belongs with you
Take care of my lass, be good to her
For I still love her too
A daughter always, now a wife
I knew she’d have to leave someday
I don’t complain – that’s life….
But all that really matters is that she is going to be
Loved and happy
That’s the most important thing to me
So, on this day of days when hearts are in a whirl
I want to say this one more time…
Be good to her my girl’
Life goes on… I think about my friend Paul every
day. My best friend for nearly fifty years. Gone but never
ever forgotten.
Down on the Farm
by Angela Sargent
A
s we move into summer and the weather has
warmed up, we are reaching optimum grass
growth and nutrition. Farmers will be out
fertilising the pasture fields, having shut them off from
being grazed for 6 weeks. Then the grass will be cut and
clamped or baled for keeping until winter. Maybe the
field will have more than one cut taken, but much
depends on the availability and price of fertiliser and
whether, or not, it has been bought in advance. Slurry
can be used but can’t be grazed immediately.
We must decide if we are making silage to sell, or if
we will graze all our grass this year, as we wont need
any for next winter. If we are, then the fields need to be
shut off.
Crop fields will be sprayed to prevent disease, but
the majority of what you see is water- around 97%.
Weather conditions have to be right otherwise a high-
cost treatment is wasted. All in all, there will be large
and relatively slow moving machinery on our narrow
lanes.
Our spring fieldwork is done and now our time is
spent looking after our growing lambs. These will need
worming and vaccinating. Ted has to round every one
up (and they tend to sleep in nooks and crannies, under
hedges etc.) and, keeping a safe distance, move the
whole flock down the field and into the yard, moving
them into a holding pen (which is, hopefully, big
enough). It’s very noisy as lambs get separated
accidently from their mums and both shout to find
each other. But it’s for their own good, as young lambs
are prone to any parasite they pick up, unlike their
mum who may have some resistance. Any lame sheep
will also be treated- sometimes it might just be hard
clay stuck between the cleats or it might need more
medical treatment.
We have a bunch of ewes that are no longer fit for
producing lambs, for various reasons and these will be
separated out at an appropriate time, if they are not
rearing lambs currently and helped to get fit before
going to market.
The hedges will be filling up with blossom as the
hawthorn follows the Blackthorn into flower, along
with many species of tree, such as the Horse Chestnut
and the scent will be glorious on a warm May
afternoon. Our fields will see the Milkmaids blossom
and many insects will be out and about, including the
Orange-tip and Brimstone butterflies.
Rabbits will be seen grazing along the edges of
fields, particularly in the early morning and late
evening, when they are less likely to be disturbed and
maybe rustling along the undergrowth, where the
ground nesting birds will already have made their nests.
The highest point of the farm (80m) is to be found
near a pond and from there we can look across to the
surrounding area and the Derbyshire peaks. Sitting
there in the sun with the birds singing is a little piece
of tranquillity.

Uttoxeter & Cheadle Voice 110.pdf

Uttoxeter & Cheadle Voice 110.pdf

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Uttoxeter & Cheadle Voice 110.pdf