Tamworth Blog

Mark Beaumont on his bike

The Man Who Cycled the World is Mark Beaumonts remarkable story detailing his 2008 world record when he cycled the world on his own.  The 18,000 mile epic journey saw him riding some 100 miles per day for half of the year.

In 2009, Mark set out on his second ultra-endurance solo challenge; to cycle the length of the American Cordillera.  On this 13000 mile expedition, Mark will not only be cycling down the longest mountain range on the planet, but will also be climbing the continents two highest peaks, Mt McKinley in Alaska and Aconcagua in Argentina, making his second self-filmed documentary for BBC1 – Cycling the Americas. Come to Tamworth Assembly Rooms on Thursday 25th March and listen to the extraordinary stories mark has to tell.

Some of the national press have hailed this extraordinary story as “Truly inspiring, the sort of thing that makes you want to get off the couch, out of the house and on the road.”  (THE SCOTSMAN) and Mark as “A true man of the world” (DAILY MAIL).

Tickets for this story are priced £13 each and are available from Tamworth Information Centre or by calling 01827 709618.  The event will start at 7.30pm with the doors opening at 7pm.

Kingsbury Lake - Pic: Paulette Sedgwick

Tamworth sailing club on the Kingsbury water park are holding an open day Saturday 13th March between 10am – 3pm.

A FREE sail around the lake is on offer when you attend the open day as you also find out if joining the club is for you.

Tamworth Sailing Club is situated on the banks of a 45 acre lake within the picturesque Kingsbury Water Park. The club offers leisure activity for all ages there’s something for everyone. Sailing experience is not essential as there are courses for those that want active participation and comfortable clubhouse facilities for those happy to sit and watch. Whilst the main focus is small boat sailing and racing, there is a variety of ‘on shore’ social events, ideal for family group participation. For the keen dinghy helmsman there are the regular weekly races, competing for a variety of trophies throughout the summer season. For the even more dedicated and hardy there are other trophies to win during the cold and sometimes icy conditions of winter. Tamworth Sailing Club is an all year, all weather club. For the spectators the large brick built clubhouse offers a range of refreshments during sailing days and on special occasions.

All sailing club members can obtain a pass from the Waterpark Office, giving them free access to the Water Park at all times. This large nature reserve controlled by Warwickshire County Council is now a popular leisure park often crowded on summer weekends and holidays. Nature trails provide walks through a profusion of wild flowers and shrubbery, which provides protection for an interesting variety of birds and wildfowl. There are numerous other areas of water surrounding the main sailing venue, one caters for model boaters and another accommodates Jet Skis, it adds to the volume of activities found throughout the park at weekends and provides interesting diversions away from the sailing.

A FULL MEMBER shall be entitled to full club privileges including boat ownership, sailing a club boat and the right to vote at Committee meetings. Full membership shall extend to the member’s spouse and children under 18 years (unless in full time education when it extends up to the age of 21 years) but shall only carry one vote.

A LIMITED MEMBER (intended for crews of Full Members only) shall be entitled to full club privileges but may not bring a boat to the Club or sail a club boat. Limited membership shall extend to the member’s spouse and children under 18 years (unless in full time education when it extends up to the age of 21 years). Limited members are not entitled to vote.

A CONCESSIONARY MEMBER will include all Full members having attained the statuary age of retirement (or retired early and in receipt of invalidity benefit), or a student between 18 and 21 and in receipt of a Student Union Card.

A LONGSHORE MEMBER being an adult (over 18) who does not wish to participate in any sailing activity, either helming or crewing, but who wishes to retain contact with Tamworth Sailing Club on a social basis, shall be entitled to all club privileges except that he / she may not bring a boat to the club and is not entitled to vote. Longshore Membership shall also extend to the member’s spouse. A longshore members will not be required to participate in Duty Teams. A Longshore Member can upgrade to Full membership at any time during a membership year by paying to the Club the difference between the Full subscription and the Long shore subscription.

A JUNIOR MEMBER(under 18 years or in full time education and under 21 years) shall be entitled to full club privileges including boat ownership, but is not entitled to vote Junior membership is on an individual basis and shall not extend to the member’s family. A Junior member must be accompanied by another adult member (of minimum Longshore status) be they parent, guardian or sponsor, who will undertake responsibility for that Junior member subject to Bye Law 6 at all times..

Contact for more infomation call 01543268163

Tamworth Police Station - Photo: Paulette Francessca Sedgwick

Staffordshire Police are warning Tamworth residents of a bogus trader after a builder caused damage to a home after not completing his first job.

The rogue builder targetted the same home in Glascote twice. On Saturday Feb 13, he offered to paint the outside of his home for £580. The 37 year old victim handed the builder the £580 in cash. The paintwork was then primed but not actually completed.

The ofender returned to the same house on Tuesday February 23 and offered to complete the work. Whilst completing the work and without the homeowners permission he removed removed roof tiles, damaged wooden beams and a bedroom ceiling.

The rogue builder then demanded over £1,250 deposit to fix the damage, he only left the property when the victim contacted the Police, threatning to cause more damage to the property.

The rogue builder is described as as white, aged in his 50s or 60s, 5ft 6ins tall, chubby with short grey/white hair. He was clean shaven, spoke with an Irish accent and wore a zipped navy blue fleece and jeans. He turned up at the home, with other workmen, in a white van.

PC Alison Pearson, from Tamworth police, said:

“This rogue trader claimed to be from a legitimate roofing company, and handed over leaflets containing these details about it.

“We’d urge anyone who is approached by him not to hand over any money but to contact police straight away.”

Anyone with information should ring PC Pearson on 0300 123 4455 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.  Tamworth Police are working with Staffordshire County Council Trading Standards.

Camera phones are great and have proved to give us a first hand view of the fire at the Jet garage in Fazeley that caused traffic chaos around Tamworth during the rush hour on Friday March 5.  You can see the fire break through the roof of the Jet garage as firefighters fight the blaze.

Videos are thanks to xuseablex on You Tube.

Fire Engine - Photo: SaltGeorge

A fire in Fazeley has caused traffic chaos around Tamworth this evening (Friday March 5) after much of Watling Street and Coleshill Road being closed as the fire raged in the vicinity of the Old Victoria pub and Jet Garage.

Whilst we don’t have all the information yet, we will keep you posted on the blog over the weekend.

Simon Downer

A 33 year old man has today been jailed for life after being found guilty for murdering his wife back in June 2009. (Read the original article here)

Simon Downer was found guilty at Birmingham Crown Court after a two week trial.

Simon Downer stabbed Tracey Downer in the chest on the night of Saturday 20 June 2009.  The single knife wound proved fatal as Tracey Downer died shortly after being admitted to Good Hope Hospital.

The pair who had recently married had an eight year old daughter who alerted the Police after finding her mum injured on the sofa at their home in Wilnecote.

Downer was arrested at the scene but denied the murder, but today was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Tracey, with a minimum of 20 years to be served before being considered for parole.

Detective Chief Inspector Steff Lungrin, who led the investigation, said:

“Despite overwhelming evidence that he killed his wife, Downer refused to own up to this horrific crime. Our thoughts remain with Tracey’s family, including her young daughter, as they continue to mourn her tragic loss.”

Tracey’s mother, speaking on behalf of her family, said:

“Justice has been done.  It won’t bring our daughter back to us, but could hopefully save another family going through what we have since last June. Thank you to all the Staffordshire Police team who have helped our family so much through such a difficult time.”

Odeon Tamworth

The Film times for Odeon Tamworth this week. Films running from Friday March 5 through to Thursday March 11.

Alice In Wonderland 3D (PG)
2hr20m
Fri 14:30 17:15 20:00
Sat-Sun 11:45 14:30 17:15 20:00
Mon-Thu 14:30 17:15 20:00

Alice In Wonderland 2D (PG)
2hr20m Contains moderate violence and intense battle scenes
Fri 15:30 16:20 18:20 19:00 21:00
Sat-Sun 11:00 12:40 13:40 15:30 16:20 18:20 19:00 21:00
Mon-Thu 15:30 16:20 18:20 19:00 21:00

Astro Boy (PG)
2hr00m
Sat 11:10

Avatar 2D (12A)
3hrr00m
Fri 15:50 19:10
Sat-Sun 12:00 15:20 19:10
Mon-Thu 15:50 19:10

Alvin and the Chipmunks (U)
1hr30m
Sat-Sun 11:30

Chloe (15)
2hr05m
Fri 15:20 18:10 20:40
Sat-Sun 13:20 15:50 18:30 21:10
Mon-Thu 15:20 18:10 20:40

From Paris with Love (15)
1hr55m
Fri-Mon 20:50

Green Zone (15)
2hr20m
Advanced Screenings
Wed-Thu 15:30 18:10 20:50

Leap Year (PG)
1hr55
Fri 18:50 21:00
Sat-Sun 18:00 20:20
Mon-Thu 18:50 21:00 Read the rest of this entry »

Sport Relief Mile

It’s that time of year again, Sport Relief is just around the corner and the Sainsbury’s sponsored Sport Relief Mile is back at the Castle Grounds.

On Sunday March 21 the Castle Grounds will play host to a 6, 3 and 1 mile run all in aid of the Sport Relief charity.  The 6 mile run will begin at 11am with the 3 mile run starting at 12 noon and the 1 mile runs starting at 1pm and 2pm.  The event is part of the Sport Relief weekend which takes place the weekend of 19 March thru to March 21.

Councillor Jeremy Oates said:

“The Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile in Tamworth is here and it’s your time to shine.  From teeny-tots with their mums and dads, to super sprinters up against the clock there’s something for everyone on the big day – whether you do 1, 3 or 6 miles.  Best of all, the money you raise by getting sponsored will be used to transform lives forever.  So come on Tamworth, rise to the challenge!”

The money raised by the events off the weekend will be used to help those who are poor abnd vulnerable both in the UK and abroad.  To register for the Sport Relief mile simply visit the Sport Relief website and ensure to register for the Tamworth Mile.

Sweets - Pic: Louise Paisley

Go back in time as you step into Mr Simms sweet shop that has opened next to Scoop charity shop in Tamworth.

Your eyes will be wide making you feel a child again. Shelves reaching high of many jars which have chilhood memorys the mouth once enjoyed.

The outside, with its tall and slim black sign in grand victorian letters, tempting you into Mr Simms sweet world.

Sherbet lemons, jelly babys, black jacks, gobstoppers so big takes you weeks to suck them down to a size to put them in mouth.

Walk in and your memorys will came flooding back.  I’ll guarentee you won’t walk out empty handed.

QEMs High School, saved earlier in the year

Tamworth is to play host to the The Great Education Debate on Thursday 11 March 2010, giving the people of Tamworth a platform to ask questions about what is best for the children of Tamworth.

With a general election looming there is a renewed debate about what is best for our schools, with Tamworth being used as a test area for the new academy system the Government are proposing.

Are Free Schools or Academies the way to improve the childrens education in Tamworth?  With Landau Forte set to open a post 16 education centre in Tamworth at Woodhouse School, makes Tamworth a good area for debate.

There are arguments both for and against the proposals in Tamworth, arguments against have led to protests across the Tamworth area about the Landau Forte proposals. 

The debate will take place on Thursday March 11 at 7pm at the Tamworth Assembly Rooms, speakers include:

Ally Bird – Former Tamworth School Pupil
Jenny Pinkett - Lib Dem Candidate for Tamworth
Alasdair Smith – Anti Acadamies Alliance

The debate will be hosted by the Anti-academies Alliance.