Pub landlords across the region have said that the planned extension of licensing hours for VE Day will not have much impact on their trade Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.comand on Freeview 262 or Freely 565 the Government issued a licensing hours order under section 172 of the Licensing Act 2003 which will extend licensing hours in England and Wales for the 80th anniversary of VE Day The order will apply to premises already licensed for the sale of alcohol and late-night refreshments for consumption on the premises until 11pm and will allow premises to remain open until 1am on May 9 had said: "The Government view VE Day as an event of exceptional national significance and an extension to licensing hours will enable communities to come together at their local licensed premises to celebrate 80 years of peace since the end of world war two which millions paid the ultimate sacrifice to achieve "This will also provide support to the hospitality sector by enabling businesses to extend their trading hours should they wish to do so." despite pubs being given the green light to open for extended hours the feeling among landlords in Wolverhampton and the surrounding area was that they wouldn't see any benefit from the plan said he didn't see much benefit from the plans and said he felt it was an idea that had just been thrown together He said: "I don't think it'll really matter as it's a Thursday night and if we were based in the city centre but I think we and a lot of other pubs will just be closing down at our normal times "Nobody really comes out too late anymore for the pubs and I think the Government just chucked it out there to see what people think I don't see much benefit from it as it's a Thursday night and people have got to go to work on Friday morning so they're not going to stay out all night unless it was on a bank holiday." landlord Mike Westwood said that while he felt it was a good idea in theory he said it would have been better to put the extension on a weekend He said: "It's a good idea as anything that increases trade can be good for us but you need the people to come out and celebrate "It's probably not going to work on a Thursday and it would have been better to give us the extension on a weekend or a Friday because people have work commitments or have to take kids to school so I can't see it making much difference." landlord Stuart Rawlingson also said he didn't see it making much difference due to being in the week He said: "I don't see it making any difference at all "I just don't think that extending the licensing hours on that day is going to make any difference as it's on a weekday." but said it might just cause more problems due to people having longer to drink it doesn't really make any difference because we've done all our business before then so extending the hours for us just creates more problems as people may get more drunk by that time "Extending the hours is ok if you're a city centre pub the extending hours just cause more problems as they drag out the evening." the Posada in Wolverhampton is one of the more popular and unique pubs in Wolverhampton city centre but landlord Chris Millard said the day would just be a normal one for him and he saw no difference coming with the extension it'll just be a normal day for us and we'll end up closing at 11am as normal so I don't think extending the hours for us is going to make much difference anyway." PICTURE FROM THE ARCHIVE: A picture of a frantic search for bargains from May 25 and there are bargains galore at the Codsall Roman Catholic Church jumble sale held at the Crown Hotel The proceeds were for church funds.' The image was taken by Johnnie Johnson In a country where we pride ourselves on decency and fairness it is both troubling and unjust that millions of older citizens continue to face retirement on a state pension worth only around 27 per cent of the national average wage we launched two petitions that call on the Government in taking immediate action to restore dignity financial security and more spending power to all pensioners we urge everyone to support our petition: “Give State Pension to all at 60 and increase it to equal 48hrs at the Living Wage” We believe the State Pension should be a universal right not a means-tested benefit with a constantly rising age of entitlement 48 hours a week at the National Living Wage (£11.44/hour) amounts to £549.12 per week This is a reasonable benchmark for a decent and dignified retirement We propose that the State Pension be made available to all from age 60 including expatriates who have contributed to the system where pensioners only have to be one penny over the means test threshold while eroding the value of the state pension we call for support of our other petition: “Fund free TV licences for all pensioners” The decision to remove free TV licences for all over-75s particularly when pensioners only have to be one penny over the pensions credit threshold and they find they still have to pay the TV licence the television is a lifeline to the outside world food prices and council taxes are rising relentlessly asking pensioners to pay over £159 a year to watch the BBC is both insensitive and unjust many cannot navigate the bureaucratic maze required to access Pension Credit media executives continue to draw six or seven figure salaries a living State Pension at 60 and free TV licences for all pensioners are the minimum a civilised society should offer those who have contributed so much to back these petitions and stand up for pensioner's rights We urge readers to back both petitions and show support for the millions who helped build this country it’s time pensioners received something back Two Codsall well-being organisations have successfully joined forces to create a ground-breaking new project to help local people deal with grief Brightside Psychology and the Codsall Hive Creative Craft Café launched a six-week community grief group which combined psychological support with creative expression Creative Conversations on Grief was about making top quality therapy free Funded by South Staffordshire Council's Community Wellbeing Fund and the Community is the Best Medicine programme gave local people to access high-quality therapeutic support at no cost Clinical Psychologist and Director of Brightside Psychology and welcomed 12 individuals navigating grief Dr Gwinnett said:  “We know from clinical research that group therapy is incredibly powerful for people processing grief but when you add creativity and community into the mix the experience becomes even more supportive  “Community mental health initiatives like this are essential and offer a model of care that is both accessible and impactful We need more opportunities that bring people together like this.”  Dr Gwinnett was delighted with the hometown collaboration which will put Codsall on the therapy map and could lead to similar projects springing up across the country due to its success “We’re so grateful to the Codsall Hive team for their warmth we created something that truly made a difference I am also indebted to our colleagues at South Staffordshire Council who supported us with grant funding for this project”  participants engaged in a blend of psychoeducation all designed to gently support emotional expression and connection A post-project survey revealed 100 per cent of participants said the group positively impacted their grief journey and 90 per cent expressed a desire for it to continue beyond the initial six weeks Anonymous responses in the survey included: “I struggled to access positive memories This group helped me to unlock them” and “the group brought me out when I was exceptionally lonely.” Another added:  “It gave me a safe space to express my grief I found myself laughing and smiling in the group for the first time in over a year Doing something with our hands helped make the talking feel easier,” adding “I didn’t expect to feel so connected to others Brightside Psychology is now exploring ways to offer more community mental health initiatives that can bring people together who might otherwise be struggling alone If you or someone you love is struggling with grief Contact Dr Sophie Gwinnett at Brightside Psychology for confidential support or information: Website: www.brightsidepsychology.com Email: contact@brightsidepsychology.com Instagram: @drsophiegwinnett Come along to our event on June 9 from 1pm to 6pm We invite you to visit and discover the diverse range of support services designed to improve your well-being and foster community connections Participate in 'Live Healthy Live Happy,' which includes interactive sessions Police found a knife after responding to reports of a fight in the street in Codsall Officers were called to Ringhills Road at around 6.30pm yesterday (April 1) when after reports of a group of about seven people fighting The group ran off when they saw the officers but three of them were found in the area and searched The knife was seized and officers made sure no one was injured The teenager carrying the knife was detained and he will be questioned as part of an ongoing investigation PC Thomas Evans from the South Staffordshire local policing team (LPT), said: “Stopping people from carrying knives and taking robust action against those responsible for high-harm offences is a major priority for us in Staffordshire. “Thankfully no one was hurt in this incident but carrying a knife puts lives at risk including the life of the person carrying it “It’s vital we continue encouraging parents and guardians to speak to their children about the dangers of carrying a knife and the impact it can have on them and the people they love “We’re continuing to respond to reports of violence as robustly as possible in Staffordshire and to make sure we do everything possible to protect the communities we serve each day.”  An award-winning butcher shop which served up speciality pies and sausages is closing its doors Codsall's Allan Bennett butchers based in Station Road is due to shut on Saturday(5) with staff telling the Express & Star they were too upset to discuss the reason for the closure Former employee Anthony Holt posted on Facebook: "It's a shame that another shop is going from Codsall A former Codsall teacher says he's loving every minute after quitting a 25-year teaching career to start his own gardening business Grant funding from South Staffordshire District Council helped him get going  using the money to buy equipment such as a chainsaw lawn edger and sprayer for his new 'Adam’s Acre' venture I love every minute of my new career - rain hail or sunshine - and all my work is carried out with care passion and an understanding of the client’s needs and wants “I offer services including garden maintenance and improvement green waste disposal and general cleaning and also offer tips and useful information to help people to enjoy and get the most out of their garden “The biggest challenge was to change career and take a risk stepping into an unknown world of running my own business The training and mentoring that I have received through Good2Great helped me to develop the self-confidence skills and knowledge to be able to run my own successful business that is developing and growing on a daily basis.” It seems an unlikely place for a pub to be found but step through the doors of the station at Codsall and you'll find a pub with personality Many train commuters will have experienced the feeling of being on a long journey and thinking about having a cold drink at the end of it A lot of train stations are within easy walk of a pub or bar, but Codsall Station is among the few across the country which has a pub purpose built into the existing building allowing it to co-exist as both a travel hub and ale house The pub was sensitively converted in 1997 by Holden's Brewery from the waiting room offices and stationmaster’s house at Codsall Station having laid dormant and unused for about 20 years and after a cellar was dug into the foundations The Grade II listed building comprises a bar all displaying worldwide railway memorabilia while steps lead from the conservatory up to the outside drinking terrace with tables and benches overlooking the working station platforms The pub is the sister pub under the Holden's Brewery name to the Great Western and shares a lot of the same characteristics with landlord Toby Lardner saying that he had been working in pubs for years and jumped at the opportunity to run one of his own Officers discovered a knife after responding to a fight between seven people in a street in Codsall Staffordshire Police rushed to the scene of Ringhills Road, Wolverhampton at around 6.30pm on Tuesday after a resident spotted a group of seven people fighting quickly finding three youths from the group in the area Officers detained the youth carrying the knife and will be dealing with him as part of their ongoing investigation PC Thomas Evans, from the South Staffordshire local policing team said: "Stopping people from carrying knives and taking robust action against those responsible for high-harm offences is a major priority for us in Staffordshire "It’s vital that we continue encouraging parents and guardians to speak to their children about the dangers of carrying a knife and the impact it can have on them and the people they love." The couple first met over 30 years ago when working on the buses at the Park Lane depot when a quick coffee together blossomed into a a happily-ever-after for the pair who are now retiring to travel the world before they're 'too old' Originally from Codsall, Gail Heer, 57, started her career on the buses in 1985 as a temporary data collector for West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive (WMPTE) but shuffled through several different roles before joining the Park Lane depot and meeting her now husband The pair immediately felt a spark between them amongst their group of friends and quickly started dating keeping it a secret from work for a while before making the bubbling romance public amongst colleagues and bosses Narinder started as a trainee mechanic in 1976, and worked as an engineer throughout his time with the former WMPTE before it was dissolved and continued at Transport for West Midlands often 'called to the rescue' by Gail when there were issues with the buses Gail went on to pass her Passenger Carrying Vehicle (PCV) license, and from 1997 hit the road on the number one service between Dudley and Tettenhall before moving in together in 1998 Three months ago Narinder decided he had worked long enough so they both announced their retirement and their last day was on December 15 After a combined 87 years of service to the local people the loved-up pair now plan to travel the world together - starting in Alaska - wanting to enjoy their lives together before they get 'too old' to take trips Speaking exclusively to the Express & Star said: "We first met in the garage when I went back to work at the Park Lane depot when it reopped in 1993 A Codsall social club famed for serving its own homebrewed beer has been celebrating after being named as the nation's best place for real ale The club was crowned champion above three other finalists to be named the best in the UK which follows on from the Bailey Head in Oswestry being named Pub of the Year by CAMRA in 2024 The Club of the Year competition is run in conjunction with Club Mirror magazine with the aim of finding the best clubs with the greatest commitment to quality real ale as well as those which offer a fantastic atmosphere welcoming surroundings and top quality real ale served in great condition After being named West Midlands Regional Club of the Year three years in a row this is the first time the Firs Club has won the top award in the Club of the Year competition The multi-award-winning social club is a must visit for cask beer fans with an onsite microbrewery opened in 2017 which features in its November festival an event described as a real highlight in the local beer calendar the bar offers five locally sourced ever-changing cask beers play pool and darts in the separate sports lounge or play snooker upstairs The club said it prides itself on being the “number one place in Codsall to watch football” hosts live football outside on the large decking area The Firs Club hosts plenty of events for the local community and provides a welcoming space for private events parties and functions as a meeting space for local groups Club of the Year Coordinator Phil Gregg said: “The 2024 Club of the Year competition was extremely close fought Each of our finalists were of an extremely high standard "We’re delighted to be announcing a first-time winner and the Firs Club epitomises what’s great about UK venues like these and how important they are to their local communities.” Firs Club manager Anna Reynolds said: “Well what can I say it's a great surprise and honour to win CAMRA’s Club of the Year award it's something we thought was out of our reach "We couldn't have done it without the support of our club members CAMRA members and of course the staff who work hard to make the club a great place to visit and hopefully stay for a while.” said: “This is a fantastic achievement for the Firs Club and Anna and the team work incredibly hard to create a communal atmosphere and provide a stellar line up of beers for locals to enjoy "I hope this is the first of many successes for the club and its community "2024 has been a fantastic year for the West Midlands, this award for the Firs Club is truly deserved and comes just a couple of weeks after the Bailey Head in Oswestry was named Pub of the Year 2024.”   welcoming and a place for a great pint has been given an award recognising it as the best in the West Midlands The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has named the Firs Club in Codsall as one of the four best member clubs in the UK as part of the Club of the Year 2024 competition giving it the award of the super-regional winner for the West Midlands It means that the Firs will now go up against Merseyside and Cheshire winner Haydock Reading Room East Central Kettering Midland Band Club and South East Marden Village Club at the beginning of 2025 for the chance to win the overall Club of the Year title CAMRA said the Firs Club is a comfortably furnished private club with its own onsite microbrewery with the club's highlight of the year being its November beer festival The bar at the Firs also has five locally sourced changing cask beers usually including one mild and guests can enjoy a pint in the bar area ITV's My Mum Your Dad last night brought in a new contestant who was born in Wolverhampton The reality show sees a group of eight single parents sent away to a countryside retreat to get to know each other and see if romance is on the cards Their children are watching the adults' every move and pairing them up based on how well they get along with each other and how attracted they are to one another In a new twist last night's episode saw a new mum Steph join the fray and maybe sparks will fly with our Andy Pearce from nearby Codsall She and Andy hit it off straight away and had a bit of a chat resulting in his daughter Issy saying: "Dad's eyes lit up when he saw Steph he's into people that are intellectual and sophisticated." But Andy has admitted to the other guys that he actually wanted to get closer to Maria whom he went on a date with earlier in the series Andy was asked by presenter Davina McCall who he would like to go on a date with that day The contestants have quickly become like a group of good friends with some admitting feelings for another the group is taking it slowly and getting to know each other at deeper levels who is normally up and out for a run first thing started the day off with a bit of a lie in He got up and saw the others getting ready for a run and crawled back into bed he had some banter with Maria over having milk in her Earl Grey tea which Andy thought was "weird" – and he let her know it The pair went on their first date together in the first episode and are still enjoying having a laugh with one another The South Staffordshire dad has also become close with the other dad's in the house – he was supportive to David who was getting ready to go on a date with Vicky "You look really good mate," Andy said to David The show is aired at 9pm on itv.com/ We are such a talented bunch here in the West Midlands   From soul diva Beverley Knight to actors Frances Barber and Jason Watkins we have a host of entertainment stars from our city and twenty-one year old Solomon Davy from Codsall is set to be the next high flyer When the smash hit musical “Hairspray” arrives at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre next week Solomon will be on home ground playing the role of teen heartthrob “Link Larkin” and is ecstatic to be in the show Solomon started his theatrical career at a very young age when he and his sister went to dancing lessons at the Suttie School of Dance in Codsall; then he progressed to do street dance and breaking at Newhampton Arts Centre and eventually he made the journey into musical theatre at the RSM Stage Academy at Fordhouses where he fell in love with the genre and knew he had found his future career “It was the only thing I was ever really drawn to and because I had performed my whole life and I never stopped enjoying it I knew I would always regret it,” said Solomon “My parents were really on board with it too  I think they thought if he wants to do it we will send him head first into the deep end and see what happens,” he laughed An ex-pupil from Codsall High School Solomon told me “At the age of 16 I went to The Wilkes Academy  I was so amazed that I was performing all day every day in a professional institution filled with so many people I looked up to  I remember thinking I needed to step my game up though because the other kids were so talented.” “In my fourth year I auditioned through a college agent who put me forward for West End shows and tours and then the casting director David Grimrod spotted me at the audition for the Take That and he put me forward for auditions for roles in  “Back to the Future" and “Grease” in the West End  Then after four or five rounds of auditions I got the part of Kenickie in “Grease” at the Dominion Theatre so I was certainly thrown in the deep end!” Solomon laughed What a way to start your professional career Solomon is clearly thrilled to be playing the role of Link in Hairspray  In the beginning he is a little self centred,” he told me I guess you would describe Link Larkin as the handsome hero of the show who is the high school stud and also a local TV star on the “Corney Collins Show” which all the kids watch and want to appear on His love life is dominated by domineering girlfriend Amber but when plus size teen Tracy Turnblad joins the show Link begins to see how different things could be as he slowly falls in love centred around acceptance and that no matter what race  It is set in the sixties when people were segregated and were treated differently,” Solomon explained “ and there isn’t another show like it and that is why it has been around for so many years  There have been so many amazing productions of it because it is so relatable and unique.” “The show has so much heart and every night we get to just pour our hearts out on stage.”   romantic and will soften even the hardest heart  Not only that but you will dance your way home from the theatre with the songs still in your head “Link sings a song called “Without Love” which I really enjoy performing and I used to sing ages before I even got the role so to get to sing that song every night is pretty cool Another favourite is “I Know Where I’ve Been” the huge showstopper sung by the character Motormouth,”  he said Solomon has learnt a lot from working with experienced professionals “You cannot quite explain just how much you learn from being surrounded by experienced performers,” he told me “Rather than a teacher and student relationship where you are learning by listening and being told you absorb information from professionals just being around you and working with you  It has been the most educational two years of my life since I started in professional theatre.” So Solomon is just two years into what looks to be a promising career  He is on tour with Hairspray now until mid-April and then who knows what the future brings “I am going to shoot for the stars and work on things that I feel proud of and enjoy If I can bring pleasure to people and make them think a little through my work then that will be the biggest blessing,” he concluded “Hairspray” begins at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre next week visit grandtheatre.co.uk or call 01902 429212 Hundreds turned out to sip beers and enjoy the talents of musicians as as annual festival made its return Codsall Beer Festival has proven popular time and time again since it was first held in 2015 – and this year was no exception Around 1,800 people packed out the Codsall Village Hall, near Wolverhampton on Friday and Saturday evening to join in the fun attendees were invited to enjoy the sounds of musicians who took to the stage at the event while youngsters could also join in on the fun on an inflatable slide who organises the festival with the help of his wife said the turnout was just as good as in 2023 which was the most popular year in the event's almost decade-long history it was supposed to rain Saturday but it didn't which helped "Nearly all the ale went and we got through a lot of cider We had musicians come and travel some distance but some have started contacting us who are not from the area to play as well We get people travel from quite far to come to the festival because of the wide selection of ales "I try to avoid [selling] any beers that I see locally – I try and make the selection as weird and wonderful as possible if i can." The event organiser added that he already has some ideas for next year which will mark the 10th Codsall Beer Festival He said: "A lot of people asked me [on Saturday] 'what are you doing for the ten years' I was thinking about getting some of the bands who played the first one and maybe going through and picking some of the beers from each year Andy said some of the money made from the event will be gifted to Codsall Cricket Club and he will choose a local charity to donate the leftover cash A new 49.9MW solar farm given the green light for an historic estate in South Staffordshire could help provide income for the maintenance of listed buildings and parkland Chillington Hall has been owned by the same family for more than 800 years and the Grade I Listed hall building is set in a Grade II* Listed park On Tuesday, South Staffordshire Council’s planning committee approved plans for ground-mounted solar panels and a battery energy storage system to be installed on around 65 hectares (160.6 acres) of farmland on the estate The application had been recommended for approval by planning officers and a member of the public wrote to the council to support the proposals for sustainable electricity generation Brewood and Coven Parish Council objected “most strongly” to the development however a report to the district council’s planning committee said describing it as inappropriate industrial development on Green Belt land.] Concerns were also raised about the development’s impact on ancient woodland known as the Big Wood and the Capability Brown-designed estate and park as well as the Staffordshire Way and Monarch Trail Councillors heard on Tuesday the development would connect to the nearby Bushbury substation via underground cabling and be in place for around 40 years A committee report said: “At the end of this period the site could be restored to agricultural land “The application will provide financial benefits to Chillington Hall and the wider estate The hall is significant for being in the same family ownership since the 1180s – an extensive tenure matched by few estates “The solar farm is not a permanent feature within the landscape and can be removed at the end of its lifespan returning the fields to their current state The income generated by this scheme for the estate will allow essential maintenance to be carried out on the significant Grade I listed Hall and associated listed buildings as well as maintaining elements of the Grade II* registered park.” Councillor Christopher Steel raised concerns about lack of detail of fire safety measures submitted for a different battery energy storage site in Featherstone approved by the committee at its meeting last month He also questioned the proposed distance between battery units in relation to fire service guidance The report to this month’s meeting said the submitted information for the Chillington Hall application “demonstrates that the proposals would meet the necessary guidance in relation to fire safety and BESS” who abstained from voting on the application on Tuesday said: “I do feel I’m banging my head against a brick wall.” Committee chair Councillor Mark Evans added: “The points you raise are valued It’s just with the application we have this evening we have no alternative but to go ahead with the recommendation of the fire service and they have raised no objection.” A soft play centre is set to close its doors for good this winter although no reason was given for the decision The statement read: "Over the he past week there have been some talks regarding Jungle Boogie So it is with great sadness to say that after many years of fun and loyal customers Jungle Boogie will be closing its doors on Sunday 15th December forever "Everyone here at Jungle Boogie would like to say a massive thank you to all our customers and continued support over the years "As Sunday 15th December will be our last day please feel free to join us for a jungle celebration to celebrate the many years of fun that everyone has had here." The statement was signed: "The Jungle Boogie team." Customers and friends of the business expressed their sorrow at the news Jemma Jane Bullock saying: " Sorry to hear this Great memories with my daughter xx thank you Amy Jane Hughes posted: "This place saved me many days when I had a toddler and a new born and no tribe around me Thanks so much for being that haven for so many of us best cappuccino and toasty around ,all the very best x" Ownership of the business changed hands in July this year although many of the staff were retained A teacher turned author from Codsall has written a children’s book about coping with grief after the devastating loss of her younger sister from cancer Natalie Pritchard, a teacher, author and mum from Codsall, South Staffordshire, has written The Mermaids and the Rainbow Tide as a tribute to her sister, Jade Challenger, who died on January 26 last year after a brave battle with bowel cancer The book aims to give hope to young people who are experiencing grief or loss of a loved one and has been released to mark the one-year anniversary of Jade’s death All of the profits from the first print run are being donated to a bowel cancer charity which offers help and support to people with bowel cancer Natalie will be splitting a percentage of the profits between Cancer research charities and charities which help children cope with grief Jade, who was a mum-of-two boys and a much-loved teacher at Brewood Middle School for over 20 years died aged just 41 years old from an aggressive form of bowel cancer The book aims to open up discussions with young ones about grief in a gentle and reassuring way The main characters are two mermaid best friends who are based on Natalie and Jade and their extraordinary sister bond I felt so incredibly lucky to have her by my side my heart shattered into a million pieces but I am getting through it with the love of our family and friends “Jade was an inspirational school teacher and so this book aims to continue her legacy by offering a ray of hope for any young person going through grief or are missing a loved one clinical psychologist and director of Brightside Psychology this book will help to open up conversations about loss and the range of feelings that follow.” grief therapist and integrative psychotherapist said: “The Mermaids and the Rainbow Tide is a beautiful and poignant story which gently explores themes of loss and grief.” Natalie, who also works as a primary school teacher in Codsall has written three other children’s books in a series called Sea School Stories which aims to support children’s social and emotional learning through magical ocean adventures A signed copy of the Mermaid and the Rainbow Tide costs £10 and all profits will be donated to the bowel cancer charity To order a copy, email natalie@seaschoolstories.co.uk A school in South Staffordshire has shared some sad news today following its closure on Monday The headteacher of Codsall Community High School today confirmed that a member of staff was found dead unexpectedly on Saturday morning (November 16) They have asked for privacy for the family The full statement read: "On the morning of Saturday staff at Codsall Community High School were made aware that a much-loved colleague and teacher had been found dead unexpectedly our community are coming to terms with deep feelings of grief and we are working to ensure appropriate support is in place for all that need it we would ask that the privacy for the family which has around 1000 pupils and more than 100 staff members An announcement released on social media on Sunday read: "Due to unexpected regrettably Codsall High School will be closed to all students on Monday Established in 2022 by entrepreneur Naomi Price Codsall Healthcare has quickly become a trusted provider of podiatry With a passion for healthcare and a background in marketing Naomi transitioned into podiatry to offer high-quality with support from South Staffordshire Council’s Strive for Success programme Codsall Healthcare is set to expand its services and clinic capabilities Naomi Price joined Strive for Success in September 2024 to further develop Codsall Healthcare The programme has provided vital business support to help drive expansion enabling Naomi to implement strategic investments that will enhance patient care Key growth initiatives include acquiring state-of-the-art equipment expanding clinic capacity with an additional treatment room and hiring a new healthcare professional to meet increasing demand “Grant funding is crucial for our efforts,” Naomi explained and deliver even better patient outcomes while remaining competitive in the healthcare industry.” Codsall Healthcare was founded with the goal of providing local residents with comprehensive medical services without the need to travel long distances The clinic’s multidisciplinary team of experienced medical professionals ensures holistic and high-quality care across its two modern locations The clinic offers a range of specialist services obtained her degree in Podiatric Medicine from the University of Wolverhampton and trained extensively within the NHS She is HCPC-registered and committed to a patient-centered approach that ensures optimal mobility and comfort Naomi’s expertise in gait analysis and foot orthoses allows her to help patients of all ages maintain an active and pain-free lifestyle Bridging Healthcare and Business Expertise Naomi had a successful 15-year career in management This experience has equipped her with the skills to run a professional healthcare practice that combines exceptional clinical care with effective business strategy “My goal is to provide high-quality treatment at an affordable price in a welcoming and modern environment,” Naomi stated “By expanding our services and investing in the latest healthcare advancements we can continue to meet the growing needs of our community.” Commitment to Ongoing Learning & Innovation Naomi is currently pursuing a Master’s in Biomechanical Sciences of the Lower Limb and aspires to complete a PhD in Foot Orthoses Her dedication to continued learning ensures that Codsall Healthcare remains at the forefront of podiatric medicine With the support of Strive for Success and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund Codsall Healthcare is well-positioned for growth Through investment in advanced medical technology the clinic is set to become a key healthcare provider in the region These cookies are required for the operation of the site and cannot be managed We use Google Analytics to track page visits through the site the route someone took through the site and an approximate location for the user This cookie helps us to understand a user's route through the site This does not record any personal details or monitor anything you type in our forms A major highways improvement scheme in Codsall will start on Monday 20 May The £200,000 scheme is being carried out by Staffordshire County Council and is part of a wider £50 million investment in the county’s roads over the next three years The work will take place on Elliotts Lane from Yew Tree Gardens to the roundabout on Watery Lane and at the junction of Bilbrook Road.  It will include reconstruction and resurfacing of the lane along with repairs to the tactile crossings kerbs and ironworks as required.  Crews will also be clearing away vegetation from the footpaths To ensure the work can be carried out safely and to minimise disruption a combination of temporary traffic lights and road closures will be in operation.  From Monday 20 May until Friday 24 May initial works will be carried out and temporary traffic lights will be in place from 9am to 3pm the road will be closed between 7.30am to 7.30pm for reconstruction works.  On Sunday 2 June the road will also be closed between 7.30am and 10pm for resurfacing.  Between Monday 3 June and Tuesday 4 June temporary traffic lights will continue to be in use between the hours of 9am to 3pm A signed diversion will be in place during the closures along with highways workers at either end of the closure to offer assistance and help with access to residential properties and businesses Cabinet Member for Strategic Highways at Staffordshire County Council said: “We know that good roads are essential for people and for our local economy which is why we are investing more than £50 million in highways over the next three years “Elliotts Lane is a busy road that links Watery Lane and Wolverhampton Road that are heavily trafficked “Crews will be doing their best to keep disruption to a minimum which will include carrying out some of the works during the May half term holiday when less traffic is expected.  “I’m sure people will notice a real difference and I would like to thank people in advance for their patience while this vital work takes place.” Further details are available on the C0260 Elliots Lane, Codsall improvements webpage. These contact details are for journalists and members of the media only: Email: pressoffice@staffordshire.gov.ukCall: 01785 895050 If you are not a journalist or member of the media and have a general enquiry please: Email: contactus@staffordshire.gov.ukCall: 0300 111 8000 you can wonder where the beer served at a pub came from which is brewed just six yards away from where it's served The Black Country has a long-standing tradition of brewing and beer making Breweries have been a part of the region for centuries, providing the welcoming aroma of hops and yeast in the air across Dudley Walsall and Wolverhampton and many different types of beer loved by thousands In the wake of the news of the planned closure of Banks's Brewery in Wolverhampton the Express & Star wants to support our local breweries and show that there are still many out there producing quality beers to be enjoyed in pubs from Aldridge down to Smethwick As part of our Backing Our Breweries campaign we are going to look at what different breweries do how they grew and built up their reputation how they continue to run in what are difficult financial times and what makes them special It's not often that a pub can actually tell people directly where the beer came from with most bringing in kegs of beer from across the local area and further afield it has beer which is very much home-brewed coming from its own micro-brewery fresh and ready to be drunk since the Brewery at the Firs was established in 2017 The best and worst train stations in the Black Country Staffordshire and Wyre Forest according to the number of cancellations have been named Rail passengers in England are being shown how often trains are cancelled and delayed at individual stations for the first time Data revealing how often trains are cancelled and delayed at individual stations, produced and released by regulator the Office of Rail and Road is now available for more than 1,700 stations across the country digital screens at major stations are now displaying the statistics The screens also provide information on work operators and Network Rail are doing in their area to improve performance with train reliability across Britain at a record low and the equivalent of more than one in 25 services cancelled in the year to February 1 Transport secretary Heidi Alexander said the policy heralds “a new era of rail accountability” She said: “These displays are a step towards rebuilding trust with passengers using our railways as we continue to tackle the root causes of frustrating delays and cancellations we’re sweeping away decades of dysfunctionality – putting passengers first driving growth through connectivity as part of this Government’s Plan for Change.” Here is a list of train stations in the Black Country according to the percentages of train services cancelled in the latest four-week period The data has been published by the Office for Rail and Road and covers the period January 5 to February 1 5,480 services were scheduled to call at Stourbridge Town station This is the lowest percentage of cancellations at any train station in the region 3,500 services were scheduled to call at Walsall station 0.46 per cent of these services were cancelled 1,792 services were scheduled to call at Bloxwich 0.56 per cent of these services at all four stations respectively were cancelled 1,899 services were scheduled to call at Bescot Stadium station 0.63 per cent of these services were cancelled 1,748 services were scheduled to call at Dudley Port Smethwick Rolfe Street and Tipton stations 0.74 per cent of these services at all four stations respectively were cancelled 4,308 services were scheduled to call at Tame Bridge Parkway station 0.93 per cent of these services were cancelled 8,837 services were scheduled to call at Stourbridge Junction station 0.97 per cent of these services were cancelled 1,792 services were scheduled to call at Hednesford station One per cent of these services were cancelled 1,788 services were scheduled to call at Rugeley Town station 1.34 per cent of these services were cancelled 2,269 services were scheduled to call at Coseley station 1.94 per cent of these services were cancelled 1,716 services were scheduled to call at Blakedown and 2,692 services at Rugeley Trent Valley 2.04 per cent of these services at all four stations respectively were cancelled 1,988 services were scheduled to call at Hagley station 2.11 per cent of these services were cancelled 6,768 services were scheduled to call at Smethwick Galton Bridge station 2.30 per cent of these services were cancelled 994 services were scheduled to call at Bilbrook station 2.31 per cent of these services were cancelled 976 services were scheduled to call at Hartlebury station 2.36 per cent of these services were cancelled 1,034 services were scheduled to call at Codsall station 2.42 per cent of these services were cancelled 3,349 services were scheduled to call at Rowley Regis station 2.60 per cent of these services were cancelled 3,256 services were scheduled to call at The Hawthorns station 2.61 per cent of these services were cancelled 3,256 services were scheduled to call at Cradley Heath station 2.73 per cent of these services were cancelled 932 services were scheduled to call at Stone station 2.79 per cent of these services were cancelled 3,627 services were scheduled to call at Sandwell and Dudley station 2.87 per cent of these services were cancelled 1,772 services were scheduled to call at Langley Green station 2.93 per cent of these services were cancelled 3,176 services were scheduled to call at Kidderminster station 2.96 per cent of these services were cancelled 1,772 services were scheduled to call at Lye station 3.05 per cent of these services were cancelled 1,772 services were scheduled to call at Old Hill station 3.10 per cent of these services were cancelled 8,695 services were scheduled to call at Wolverhampton station 3.54 per cent of these services were cancelled 7,394 services were scheduled to call at Stafford station 3.58 per cent of these services were cancelled 1,538 services were scheduled to call at Penkridge station 3.97 per cent of these services were cancelled 1,947 services were scheduled to call at Shenstone station 4.52 per cent of these services were cancelled 3,641 services were scheduled to call at Sutton Coldfield station 4.78 per cent of these services were cancelled 1,947 services were scheduled to call at Lichfield City station 4.98 per cent of these services were cancelled 3,136 services were scheduled to call at Lichfield Trent Valley station 5.01 per cent of these services were cancelled Left to right: Deborah Clemson (project manager) Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet member for communities and culture Victoria Wilson Staffordshire County Council’s deputy leader Philip White and Angela Roeton (project manager) A £1.3million refurbishment of Burton Library is almost complete – with the main part of the building newly fitted out and now open to visitors The project has seen the transformation of the library space for people of all ages and various community groups An allocation of £265,000 was secured from the central government Libraries Improvement Fund in 2023 with Staffordshire County Council investing the remainder Following a week’s temporary closure to complete the latest phase Now work is under way on the new children’s library in the former café area This phase is due to be completed in mid-December Improvements to the library building in Burton will provide better space for enjoying books and many other social and learning activities It follows investment at libraries in Codsall the Burton Library team found that people would like to see space for cultural enrichment a place where there are opportunities for creativity learning and socialising and improved digital access The refurbishment has involved repurposing the library into a vibrant The updated library includes a flexible creative area for social activity and community learning which could be used by a range of groups and learning providers offering quiet space for those needing to escape from noise and sensory overload The children’s space will offer interactive elements and sensory equipment The new children’s area will reflect the surroundings of the Washlands on the library doorstep to provide a connection with the local area It is planned to create a bespoke children’s library feature depicting nature with enclosed reading areas and integrated book displays And a flexible space for events and activities will potentially able to seat 30 people in a theatre style Wherever possible sustainable materials have been used together with reused or recycled furniture The improvements also include refurbished toilets and a new ceiling Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet member for communities and culture Victoria Wilson said: It’s fantastic to see the main part of the newly refurbished library open and people enjoying the excellent facilities for the first time this week The final phase of the project – creating the new children’s library space – is now under way We’re confident that this newly created space reflects the wishes of the community and we have made every effort to work these into the overall plans Burton Library will be a welcoming environment for all ages and for people with a wide range of learning and social requirements It’s flexible and multi-use design means we can reach the most people and get the very best out of the space bringing long-term improvements to the library and benefiting the wider community for years to come.” People can see Victoria and county council deputy leader Philip White talking about the newly fitted out library on the opening video. Further information about the project, including frequently asked questions can be found on the Burton Library webpage People can view a generated walk through of the ground floor library area on a video link. A design company, Fg Library & Learning It has worked on numerous library refurbishment projects nationally including Codsall Library in Staffordshire A secondary school in South Staffordshire will not be open today due to 'exceptional and unexpected circumstances' Codsall Community High School on Elliott's Lane in Codsall, South Staffordshire made the announcement on its social media pages on Sunday evening (November 17) alerting parents that the school would be closed to all students on Monday It is not yet not known what prompted the school's closure today although some Facebook users left broken heart emojis beneath the social media post The school has around 1,000 pupils and more than 100 staff we got to know a bit more about everyone's favourite duo from ITV's My Mum Your Dad – Andy and Issy spoke to the Express & Star to tell us what life is like behind the cameras Wolverhampton born Andy is currently on our screens trying to find love while Issy and the other kids are determining their parent's love lives – watching their every move from a separate location We'll have to keep tuning in every night to see if sparks fly for our Andy let's get to know him and his daughter a little better Andy is a father of two, Issy, 19, and Chloe, 16. The family live together in Codsall now, in South Staffordshire, though Andy was born close by in Wolverhampton and lived in Castlecroft attending Warstones Primary School and later Smestow Academy He's always been business-savvy, working all kinds of jobs while he was studying at University of Central England – which is now Birmingham City University "I did loads of things to prevent getting into debt!" said Andy When I graduated I became a surveyor straight away." He did that for just under a year and then set up his own property rental business at just 21-years-old working out of his mom and dad's dining room A house in Codsall which was the marital home of Wolves legend Peter Broadbent is on the market for £450,000 Considering according to sports website 888sport.com the average wage of a Premier League player is £250,000 a month that would be small change to the likes of them Broadbent made 452 appearances in the Old Gold and Black in a career of 651 games between 1950 and 1970 including 69 for Shrewsbury - He also played 69 times for England including in the 1958 World Cup Considering that during his playing career the maximum wage of £20 a week was scrapped after a campaign led by Jimmy Hill and Johnny Haynes became the first £100 a week player in 1961 it is probably fair to say Broadbent played in a different time altogether After his retirement, Broadbent ran a babywear shop in Halesowen but settled in Codsall in the neat four bedroomed detached house in Fairfield Drive which is on the market with agents with Berriman Eaton. It also features  a bathroom and two reception rooms The description on the listing reads: "The property offers well proportioned accommodation over both ground and first floors with four double bedrooms and a shower room to the upper floor and three reception rooms laundry and guest cloakroom to the ground floor Outside it says: " Fairfield Drive sits behind a front lawn with planted beds with a driveway leading to the  tandem garage with double doors to the front electric light and power and a courtesy door and window to the rear "There is gated side access to the rear garden with a paved patio to the rear of the property with external lighting and cold water supply with a shaped lawn beyond with planted shrubs to the borders."  Last week the Express & Star featured a rather more grand and modern £1.35 pad listed by the same agents which was formerly live in by modern day Wolves stars Ruben Neves and Pedro Neto.  cancelled events and flooding across the West Midlands as the weather took a turn for the worse A yellow warning has remained with residents of Wolverhampton Staffordshire and the Black Country being warned of high winds and flooding across the region On Saturday, the Met Office issued a yellow wind warning for the West Midlands but assured that on Sunday the storm is expected to move away though still leaving behind some strong winds which will slowly ease throughout the day The forecast predicts some showers on Sunday but also a chance of bright spells too Two people have died as a result of the storm as winds reached up to 93mph in some areas West Midlands Police were called to Silver Birch Road, Erdington just after 3pm on Saturday following reports that a tree had fallen and hit a car The road was closed with drivers told to avoid the area another man died after a tree fell onto his van in Lancashire was driving his Citroen vehicle on the A59 at Longton In the Black Country and South Staffordshire, a flood alert for River Stour and Smestow Brook was posted on the Government website on Saturday an updated flood warning was issued for the River Worfe It said: "River levels remain high but are falling at the Cosford and Burlington Worfe River gauges following heavy rainfall flooding of roads and farmland is expected today We expect flooding to affect low lying land and Roads adjacent to the River from Crackley Bank to Bridgnorth Other locations that may be affected include Ryton and Burcote "Further showers are forecast over the next 48 hours We expect river levels to remain high for the next few days." it also advises that the risk of flooding in Staffordshire is low today All Saint's church on Ladies Walk in Sedgley had a lucky escape when a large tree fell towards the building and windows but narrowly avoided damaging them a wall came crashing down on top of a car and crushed it A comment on social media suggests there was a family inside but thankfully everyone managed to get out safely Yet more trees fell in Codsall after being blown down by the gale force winds Station Road in Codsall is seen completely blocked by trees which fell at around 3.30pm in the afternoon on Saturday The photos were taken at the stretch between the village and Fairfield Drive cancelling all trains between Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury It has since been removed and the line has reopened Services have also been cancelled between Wolverhampton and Stafford due to a tree being caught in the overhead wires between the two stations Avanti services are currently unable to call at Birmingham International Sandwell and Dudley and Wolverhampton due to a tree falling on the overhead electric wires between Sandwell and Dudley and Wolverhampton Another rail line between Kidderminster and Worcester was also blocked by a fallen tree with all trains cancelled in both directions The Cross City line between Redditch/Bromsgrove and Lichfield will also remain closed today after fallen trees damaged the overhead power lines at Blackwell Also this morning, flooding has closed the A449 southbound in Staffordshire between the A5 Gailey and the M54 J2 with contractors working to clear the water Events and outdoor markets set to take place this weekend have also been cancelled including Kidderminster Street Market and Bilston Market and car boot The fourth Codsall Classic Motorcycle Show was held at Codsall Middle School on Sunday where over 50 enthusiastic owners displayed their machines A very diverse range of classic motorcycles were on display for all to enjoy including British models from the 1940s to the 1960s and later classic European and Japanese machines many of the motorcycles were immaculately presented and of great technical interest the show raised some funds for the school and the exhibitors enjoyed chatting with old and new friends We intend to make the show bigger and better next year with on-site refreshments and other innovations but want to retain the informal and convivial atmosphere Site Manager for their generous help in putting on the show but a Codsall father and fundraiser has said that the memory of his late daughter and the kindness of strangers kept him going over 124 miles of walking Santino Sellick said that the Legacy Walk from Trafalgar Square in London to his home in Codsall had been one of the toughest things he had ever done and he was still feeling the physical and mental effects a day after completing the challenge The 43-year-old set off from Trafalgar Square on January 2 with his friends Wayne Lacy, Dean Turner and Stefan Kolakovic on a walk which was designed to help raise much-needed funds for a number of charities, including CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young) Compton Care and Wightwick Hall High School was also done in memory of Mr Sellick's daughter Maria after she collapsed from a sudden cardiac arrest on her way home from a school placement with the arrival date of January 7 significant as it would have been Maria's 21st birthday Mr Sellick said the group had made an impact instantly at Trafalgar Square with a lot of tourists taking photos and making donations to his GoFundMe page and that support had continued all along the way taking photos and donating to the GoFundMe and just giving us so much praise for what we were doing "After we camped on the first night near Elstree Studios Stefan had gone off to get a hot drink and that led to us being given hospitality by the OCU Group who invited us to use their welfare facilities "That was the kind of love and support that we were getting and it carried on all the way up the country." The walk was not without its challenges and at least two of the team were forced to withdraw early on after picking up injuries with Wayne Lacy picking up a leg injury on Hampstead Heath and Dean Turner straining an abductor muscle and hamstring on the second day and requiring a pick up from a church in Towcester After stopping for a second night in Daventry next to the Lady of Charity Catholic Church Mr Sellick said the team had intended to stop another night on the way the group ended up doing almost 39 hours of straight walking after being inspired by one of the injured walkers turning up with a pair of crutches He said: "We continued to walk and go to a point in the evening where we were going to meet the team members who had been taken away injured as they were bringing us hot drinks and soup to warm us up "I was suffering from mental lethargy at this point but I remember seeing Wayne Lacy all dressed up and asked him what he was doing to which he told me that he wanted to finish this thing and pulled out a pair of crutches to join the final march with me "What we then decided to do was walk through the night and did about 39 hours straight with only a quick power nap for me in a Subway at a petrol station and I think it really started to make me hallucinate Mr Sellick said the mental and physical toll really took a toll on everyone in the group with mental doubts creeping in as they reached Birmingham but said that he saw a sign that inspired him to keep going He said: "In Birmingham irrational self doubt among us that kept saying that we weren't going to make it and how painful it all was I looked in front of me and saw the guy who was leading the way and I could see the sunshine around his feet and that spurred me on as it was leading me closer and closer to home." The group arrived back at Mr Sellick's home around 5.25pm and have been recovering since with Mr Sellick saying that he couldn't feel his thighs his ankles and calves were swollen and his feet were blistered he said it had all been worth it for the support on the way for the generosity of those who had donated with £7,186 raised and surpassing the £5,000 target who he said he had once told her he would walk from London to her if she had asked He said: "We've done it and we've surpassed what we wanted to raise which has been amazing as it's really going to help some worthy charities and to remember my daughter "I'm a big advocate of if you say you're going to do something in life then follow it through and while the gravity of what we did is really hard to take in it's definitely something I would do again from my friends in Coventry who came out to cheer us on to my in-laws in Birmingham who provided us with hot oxo drinks to all those people who donated To make a donation and to find out more about Maria Sellick, go to the GoFundMe page. Police have issued CCTV images as part of an appeal for information following reports of a man exposing himself near to bushes in Codsall Officers were alerted to the incident on Codsall Road at around 4.45pm on May 9 Staffordshire Police has issued a picture of a man it would like to speak to in connection to the indecent exposure The force has also appealed for witnesses to the incident or those with CCTV dashcam or doorbell footage of the area at the time to come forward Anyone who thinks they can help should contact Staffordshire Police via Live Chat on its website or by calling 101 people can speak to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 by | Friday, 31 January, 2025 | Beer and Cider News, Campaigns, Pubs and Bars News The multi-award-winning social club — named West Midlands regional Club of the Year three years in a row — is a must-visit for cask beer fans a real highlight in the local beer calendar the bar offers five locally-sourced ever-changing cask beers play pool and darts in the separate sports lounge The club prides itself on being the “number one place in Codsall to watch football” and in the warm weather hosts live football outside on the large decking area The Firs Club hosts plenty of events for the local community and provides a welcoming space for private events and functions as a meeting space for local groups “The 2024 Club of the Year competition was extremely close fought,” said CAMRA Club of the Year coordinator “Each of our finalists were of an extremely high standard “We’re delighted to be announcing a first-time winner It’s a great surprise and honour to win CAMRA’s Club of the Year award it’s something we thought was out of our reach “We couldn’t have done it without the support of our club members the staff who work hard to make the club a great place to visit and hopefully stay for a while.” Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze how you use this website and provide the content and advertisements that are relevant to you These cookies will only be stored in your browser with your prior consent You can choose to enable or disable some or all of these cookies but disabling some of them may affect your browsing experience Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns A road has been closed due to a crash in Wolverhampton this morning There are delays on bus services in Pendeford this morning after an accident closed Green Lane 6A and 784 which are running via Pendeford Avenue Codsall Road and Lowlands Avenue until further notice A prominent empty building in a prime city centre location could become a new ale bar and live-music venue if new plans are approved The former Mike Lloyd Music store in Queen Square - more recently occupied by KFC - could be brought back to life by the critically acclaimed but short-lived Olde Vicarage Alehouse in Bilbrook who also founded the Codsall Beer Festival has lodged a planning application to turn the building into a bar specialising in cask and craft ales and was immediately recognised with a listing in the Campaign for Real Ale's Good Beer Guide was forced to close in September 2024 - the same month that it was recognised in the beer guide - after Mr Evans failed to secure a long-term lease Mr Evans will be running the new venture with business partners Simon Monk and Nicc Bennett He said: "Our plan is to create a place that has the best choice of cask and craft ale in the area not only by constantly rotating our beers but also having a wide selection "We are aiming to provide a choice of 20 beers including cider we will also supply standard spirits and wines." which has been empty for more than five years was one of business leader Henry Carver's 'dirty dozen' empty sites he said was letting the city down Mr Evans said the pub would be aimed at people over 25 "We would like to make the place more than just another pub/bar  but create a welcoming place where like-minded people can have a drink chat and listen to live music when we host it," he said Mr Evans said he planned to work with community groups and events He said the Olde Vicarage hosted a book club "We would look at exploring opportunities to work with local groups He said he planned to keep alterations to the building to a minimum A school's worth of parents have come together by donning a cracking collection Christmas costumes to raise money for charity - in memory of a lost loved one The event, arranged by Niall O'Connor, a 44-year-old father-of-three from Codsall saw parents don festive fancy dress in the 12 days leading up to the kids at St Nicholas CE first school breaking up for Christmas The aim is to raise money for three special causes in memory of Neil's beloved wife, Kirsty, who passed away suddenly in 2022, and this year the money raised will be going to the  Infant Cardiac ward at Birmingham Children's Hospital The British Heart Foundation and St Nicholas First School PTFA The special event is running up until December 19 and parents were out in force when we visited last week which now has an impressive fundraising total of just under £500 so far - but with just under a week of the shenanigans left Niall said the event has a special place with him teachers and children at the school and in Codsall because it keeps smiles on faces and is something to get excited about during the frosty December mornings - and all for a good cause He said: "I started doing it three years ago after my wife passed away in 2022 she passed away suddenly when we were at a wedding in Ireland "We initially raised money for the British Heart Foundation but over the years we have added charities in to help as many people as we can "Every morning is so much fun seeing the happy kids the parents and teachers all getting involved it really makes a difference to our mood each morning Niall went on to say that without the 'incredible' support of the parents and the school and thanked them for the continued support of the annual countdown - which is clearly one that the kids look forward to every year which I'll obviously wear tights with if I opt for it If you want to get involved, or can spare a few coins for the cause, click here As the family and friends of Wolverhampton's Liam Payne begin to come to terms with his passing thoughts will be turning to preparations for the farewell service Father-of-one Liam Payne died after falling from the third floor of his CasaSur hotel balcony in Buenos Aires Tributes from celebrities and fans of the One Direction star have been pouring in His family released a statement saying they were “heartbroken” and he will 'forever live in our hearts and we'll remember him for his kind His devastated parents Karen and Geoff , who live in Codsall, told friends they had lost their "beautiful boy" The Payne family now have to wait for standard procedures such as toxicology reports post-mortem examinations and a death certificate before they can begin the process of bringing his body home so that his family will be able to see him one last time in a chapel of rest There is no date yet set for Liam Payne’s funeral but we can expect the family to decide on a date once his body is back in the UK It will most likely be sometime in November Liam Payne was from Wolverhampton which is where his funeral is likely to be held It’s not clear if the One Direction singer was religious but his older sister Ruth married in a church in Wolverhampton in 2016 The pretty setting of grade II listed St Nicholas’ Church has links to Liam's old high school St Peter's Collegiate Academy but has recently been undergoing renovation work near the family's former home in Wychall Drive Bushbury Crematorium also near the family's former home could be a possible choice Whichever location is chosen we can be sure it will be done appropriately in a dignified manner and in keeping with their memories of their loved one and what he would have wanted Those likely to be joining his parents Karen and Geoff and sisters Nicola and Ruth as they say goodbye will be his former bandmates including Zayn Malik Rita Ora and Nicole Scherzinger are also likely to attend Plus his girlfriend Kate Cassidy and ex-Cheryl Cole It will be up to the Girls Aloud singer whether or not her son Bear - whom she shared with Liam - will attend his father’s funeral as he is only seven-years-old A difficult decision no parent should ever have to go through Laboratory technician at the University of Wolverhampton is celebrating 50 years working in chemistry and science Originally from Codsall, Diane had previously worked at the Ministry of Agriculture before joining Wolverhampton Polytechnic as a technician in September 1974, long before it was granted university status in 1992 and became the University of Wolverhampton Diane has seen plenty of changes at the university and is now working as a senior technician specialising in chemistry and analytical services She has received two Long Service Awards during her time at the university Reflecting on her 50 years at the university and why she has remained there for so many years Diane put it down to the excitement of taking on new challenges and the colleagues past and present she has worked alongside She said: “I’ve been really fortunate to work with lovely and supportive colleagues Seeing the university evolve from a polytechnic to where it is now has been great “Taking on new challenges every day such as keeping up with new technologies has enabled me to keep active and the brain ticking The speed of change has meant learning constantly and developing new techniques from all backgrounds and different countries which has kept me on my toes and at the university “Working in science is a privilege and I’ve been able to meet and work with so many different people from all over the world “I would like to thank colleagues and students for helping to make the journey enjoyable and memorable.” A spokesperson for the University of Wolverhampton said: "Anyone interested in studying for courses in the Faculty of Science and Engineering at the University of Wolverhampton should register for one of our forthcoming Open Days The death of pop star Liam Payne at the age of 31 has left people in his home village the places he was educated and the area his parents now call home with a mixture of shock and sadness at the loss of someone so young who shot to stardom as a member of the boy band in 2010 was pronounced dead in Buenos Aires on Wednesday after having fallen from a third flood balcony A flood of tributes have come in from all areas of the music world as well as from civic leaders and those who knew him and grew up with him He grew up on Wychall Drive in Bushbury before his big break with the X Factor and while the family no longer live on the street residents said they still remembered the Paynes and spoke of their own sadness at the tragic news One resident told the Express & Star: "My wife actually knew the family reasonably well when they lived here and she would always see them out and about when they lived here "I can't begin to imagine how his family are feeling at the moment as it must be so awful to get the news that your son has died "People around here do remember the family and I think there's just a feeling of shock at the moment." Another resident said he could remember seeing Liam and his sister playing in the street near the house He said: "It's just awful to hear about Liam and to hear about a family losing a son "I remember seeing him playing outside the house and while I know they don't live here anymore One woman on the street said she remembered the family being very happy and said she did think that Liam had star quality She said: "I knew the family a bit when they lived here and they always seemed to be a very happy lot and I think we could all see the fire in him to be a star "I'm just really sad to hear about Liam's passing and it's been just awful to hear about." who lived in Bushbury at the same time as Liam said: “When you think of Wolverhampton and artists you think of the likes of Liam Payne – it’s quite sad “He’s got a lot of friends and family here A lot of people love the fact he’s from here “I thought it was fake news when I first saw it especially at the young age of 31 and he has a child that’s seven – he’s got to grow up without his dad “I just hope his family has some peace to grieve.” Liam Payne developed a love of performing as a schoolboy at St Peter's Collegiate School in Compton and had studied music at Wolverhampton College at the Paget Road Campus before auditioning on the X Factor as a teenager A spokeswoman for St Peter's Collegiate Academy said: "We are deeply saddened to learn of the sudden passing of our former student "During his time at St Peter's Collegiate Academy Liam was not only well-liked by his peers and teachers but also recognised for his talents "He made a positive impact on our school community "Our thoughts are with Liam's family and friends during this difficult time "We extend our sincere condolences to all those affected by his passing." remembered attending the school next to St Peter’s while Liam was a pupil there and has “been a fan since” He said: “It’s bizarre because when it’s a famous person you think they are going to live forever “I remember when he did a concert in the town centre – it was a massive thing to have someone from Wolverhampton have that level of fame “People in school would go to the fence between the separate schools to speak to Liam Payne.” principal and chief executive at Wolverhampton College said: "We were sorry to hear the news about former student Liam Payne and wish to extend our sympathies to his family and friends at this very sad time." Liam Payne was able to buy his parents a new house in Codsall the death of the singer was met with sadness for the family as well as memories of One Direction and their music One woman told the Express & Star: "I did listen to the music when I was younger as he was about the same age as me and while I wouldn't call myself an ultra-fan "I know his parents live in Codsall and I can't imagine what they're going through right now It's just so sad to hear about it and the fact that he's got a child makes it even worse news." Another woman said: "I liked his music and I listened to One Direction a lot so news like this is really awful and sad because he's so young "I feel sorry for his friends and his family and while I don't think I've met his parents those around here who do have always called them nice people A health and well being event held in Codsall was attended by well over 200 people over two successful sessions Visitors to Trinity Methodist Church met staff from Seisdon Primary Care Network (PCN) consisting of GP practices and medical centres in the South Staffordshire catchment area information and contacts from voluntary groups as well as national organisations such as Diabetes UK Focus on the event was particularly on cancer as statistically one in two people will develop some form of it during their lifetime The NHS in its long term plan published in 2019 announced a strategy of how to improve cancer awareness and get an earlier diagnosis and treatment to improve survival chances GP Principal and cancer lead at Lakeside Medical Centre in Perton Doctor Katarzyna Greiner said: "Over the last two years we have gradually built a fantastic team around our cancer care co-ordinator Sarah Jadowski and others "We have always believed in a holistic approach from prevention to supporting those diagnosed with cancer and their relatives and friends looking after them "Having liaised with cancer support groups and reviewing current support available we had the idea of arranging a session to provide information on care available " Sharon Whitchurch the PCN Social Prescriber came up with the idea for this specific event and kindly invited us to join them "We hope the variety of service providers and diverse support groups attending helped everybody to find the information and support they need for themselves or a loved one "As a team we think working together with various NHS organisations will enable us to improve support and long term help by allowing communities to reach out." Mrs Jadowski said: "This is the first of what we hope will be many health and well being events organised by Seisdon PCN with the intention of bringing together community and voluntary groups from the area as well as healthcare professionals under one roof "I would like to thank Asda who donatesd items for the events and all the organisations and volunteers who attended both sessions – they were all very well received by the great number of people who turned out." Road users faced overnight travel issues caused by flooding on a busy commuter route in Wolverhampton The A41 Holyhead Road both ways was marked as "impassable" by the travel group INRIX, due to flooding from the Codsall turn-off to Yew Tree Lane, Wolverhampton The road has since reopened Residents from the area took to social media on Friday morning to alert others of the potential disruptions Facebook user Karen Whittingham said: "Yes absolutely disgusting "Traffic is horrific on Jenny Walkers Way and Codsall." Bertie Booth said the traffic leading to and from the flood is "horrendous." He said: "I came that way at dusk today and the traffic was horrendous INRIX marked the flooding as 'clear' saying "This incident has since been resolved." Drivers in Codsall are facing diversion routes for a month for utility works on two roads The work will be carried out in Suckling Green Lane and Histons Hill Staffordshire County Council said a Temporary Prohibition of Traffic order will come into operation on September 16 and it is hoped the project will be completed by October 11 The order will remain in force for a period of 18 months or until the utility works which will be carried out on or near the road have been completed Details of the diversion route will appear on the website one.network/?tm=139947202 soon hidden among houses and businesses and only visible to those looking for it Other pubs are a bit more open and ready to show themselves off its location or something within the design of the pub The Crown Joules in Codsall is one of those pubs visible from roads passing through the village with its vivid white exterior and large car park making it hard to miss the pub hosted one of the leading jazz clubs in the West Midlands with an international guest list All of the British major jazz bands and performers of the day played the club The pub was taken over and given a full faithful restoration in 2015 by Joule's Brewery having stood on the same spot in the town square and been licensed as a pub for more than 180 years making it one of the oldest pubs in the area The central bar is the hub of the pub with an open fire and wood-panelled flooring visible plus brick effect walls and book shelves which give the interior a unique look while the Admirals room and the Vaults are also places which offer a quiet spot for a drink and a comfortable seat A further refurbishment in spring 2023 saw a bar added to the Library function room and the outside rear of the pub expanded into an improved expanded courtyard with olive trees and an area of covered seating It also saw the running of the pub taken over by Medicine Baker Pub manager Francesca Jones spoke about the extra work done to adapt the outdoor area A number of road closures have been announced affecting motorists in Staffordshire Staffordshire County Council has issued a notice to residents that some roads will be temporarily shut this month as works are carried out across the county Diversion routes will be put in place for each of the road closures which will affect people travelling within the Lower Penn It comes as work continues across Staffordshire to improve its roads, as the county council revealed its crews have repaired nearly 28,000 potholes since last April Upper Sneyd Road and High Hill in Essington will shut from January 6 for gas main replacement works to be carried out The works are expected to be completed by January 31 will shut on January 7 for fibre installation works to be carried out by telecom company Openreach The works are expected to be completed the same day with the road closure in place from 9.30am to 3.30pm will close from 9.30am on January 6 for traffic signal upgrade works The works are anticipated to be completed by 3pm on January 17 will also close on January 6 for gas main replacement works Staffordshire County Council advised the works should be completed by February 21 The road from Great Chatwell to Blymhill Marsh in the hamlet of Brineton will close on January 6 for entrance construction works The county council said it is expected the works will be completed by January 31 Application has been made to close Kinver High Street from January 20 for gas disconnection works The road would reopen after works are completed on the anticipated date of January 22 will shut off to traffic from 8am on January 22 for utility works to be carried out by Severn Trent Water The works are expected to be finished by 4pm on January 24 The memory of a lost daughter is set to drive a devoted father and friends on a 124-mile walk from London's Trafalgar Square back home to the West Midlands Devoted dad Santino Sellick will lead a group of colleagues on a 124-mile walk over five days from Trafalgar Square in central London to his home in Codsall starting on Thursday (January 2) with a planned finish on Tuesday (January 7) -  which would have been his daughter Maria's 21st birthday The walkers are taking a route over as straight a line as possible They will have no support crew on the journey and will camp out wherever they stop each night after she collapsed from a sudden cardiac arrest Mr Sellick said the idea for the walk had come from a chat he had with Maria about how he'd walk any distance to come and see her we used to have a lot of banter and if something like Eastenders was on I'd always tell her that I'd walk from London for her and I wouldn't use any transport to do it as that's how much I love her and there'd be nothing holding me back I was thinking about what I could do to mark it which would be significant and this idea kept banging around in my head so I decided that's what I would do and when I told my wife Mr Sellick said that when he mentioned it to friends he was surprised about the response - with many offering to join him on the walk or help out where they could He discovered that the people joining him had all been through their own traumas and He said: "One of the team is my next door neighbour who had to stand on the side-lines and watch me and my family going through our grief so he came to me straightaway and said he wanted to be there "Other people on the walk have been through their own things with one having a daughter with a hole-in-a-heart which another lost his nephew at 15 from a motorcycle accident so everyone's got their own reasons for being there "There's been some serious bonding and openness about what we've all been through and I've had post-traumatic stress that I suffer from and have suffered from since that day and talking about how it mentally affected me has been really helpful and left me feeling really excited about this adventure we're about to go on." The walk will see the team of Santino Sellick Dean Turner and Stefan Kolakovic start out early morning in Trafalgar Square and aim to cover 10 hours of walking each day all while wearing hoodies and t-shirts with QR codes and details about the memorial walk It will also look to raise much-needed funds for a number of charities, including CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young) where Maria had been at school at the time of her death Mr Sellick said the training had been hard but the team had been building up the miles over the last few weeks and were raring to go for January 2 and prepared for camping in some of the harshest weather of the year and said that Maria would be very proud of what he was doing He said: "She'd probably say that I was mad "It would make her very proud and I think that is worth the pain for me and for my team doing this walk." To find out more about the walk and to donate, go to gofundme.com/f/marias-legacy-a-caring-and-loving-girl-missed-by-us-all Police officers tackling robbery and theft in and around Wolverhampton make two arrests including one after a coat was taken from Frasers in the Mander Centre The arrests were made in Codsall and Wolverhampton city centre on Monday and follow investigations into the theft of tools from a van and coats from Frasers department store in Wolverhampton's Mander Centre The first arrest saw a 28-year-old man arrested in Codsall in connection with the tools theft which saw £2,500-worth of tools stolen from a van on Dilloways Lane in Willenhall in September Mitchell Baker was arrested on suspicion of theft from a motor vehicle and remains in police custody He is set to appear at Walsall Magistrates Court on Thursday A spokesman for Wolverhampton Police said: "A suspected thief has been arrested in Codsall in connection with tools that were stolen from a van in Willenhall "Enquiries were made into the theft of £2500 worth of tools from Dilloways Lane on 23 September which led officers from our Priority Crime Team to visit an address on Cherrytree Lane on Monday afternoon "A 28-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of theft from a motor vehicle and recall to prison Mitchell Baker was charged with theft from a motor vehicle will appear before Walsall Magistrates Court this morning." The other arrest happened in Wolverhampton city centre on Monday and saw Satnam Ramsingh arrested on suspicion of stealing coats worth more than £300 from Frasers on Saturday appeared at Walsall Magistrates Court on Wednesday and pleaded guilty to the charges He was given a suspended sentence of 12 weeks accused of stealing coats worth more than £300 from a Wolverhampton store "Police were called to Frasers in the city centre on Saturday to reports that a man had picked up coats and left without paying "A man matching the description was spotted in the city centre on Monday and was arrested on suspicion of theft "Satnam Ramsingh of no fixed address was later charged with two counts of thefts from a shop "The 26-year-old appeared before Walsall Magistrates Court on Wednesday."