Tamworth Blog

As many of us who frequent Tamworth and more so, Ventura Park know, the traffic in the area is a nightmare, especially at the weekend.

It is hoped that the changes which have now begun at Sainsbury’s will help.  Many readers have been asking about the appearance of builders at the supermarket.  Speaking to a member of staff  we have learnt that the builders are at the start of a 6 month project to improve the store as well as traffic flow through the car park.

The Supermarket will remain open throughout the updates and changes, as will the petrol station which currently appears to be at the centre of the building work.

Speaking to my source they said:

“Everything that is being done is to improve the customer experience, not only in the shop, but also in the car park.  We hope we might be able to improve the traffic flow in the car park.  We are exploring all opportunities.”

Final Destination 2D

FINAL DESTINATION 2D

Who´s in it?
Shantel VanSanten, Bobby Campo, Haley Webb, Nick Zano

What´s the plot?
Directed by David R.Ellis  Nick O’Bannon has a horrific premonition of an impending disaster at the racetrack, he persuades his friends to leave. Soon afterwards, the nightmare becomes reality, and his friends escape death by seconds.

However, Nick’s premonitions continue and the crash survivors begin to die in increasingly gruesome ways. Now he must find a way to cheat death once more, before reaching his own final destination.

If you liked ‘Scream’ and ‘Jeepers Creepers’, you’ll love ‘The Final Destination 2D’.

‘The Final Destination 2D’ – showing at ODEON Tamworth (check times here)

To win a pair of ODEON Guest passes

Who Directed Final Destination 2D?

Send your answers via email to blog@tamworthblog.com, the competition closes on Wednesday September 2nd.  Winners will be contacted on Thursday September 3rd.

Terms & Conditions Apply

As soon as you sign up for ODEON Première Club you’ll get points towards your first rewards. You can also start earning ODEON points on every transaction in cinema or at http://www.odeon.co.uk and use these to get great stuff like film tickets, popcorn and soft drinks. Joining the club also means you can get regular film updates, and be the first to know about exclusive promotions only for ODEON Première Club members.

Just three steps to becoming a member:

Step 1 – Choose your package

1. It’s so easy to join ODEON Première Club, you can do it right now at odeon.co.uk. Just fill in your details and tell us which package you’d like – there are three to choose from, each with points towards your first reward.£1.99 Get 100 Introductory ODEON Points
   Classic Film Fan Package

   £4.99 Get 500 Introductory ODEON Points
   DELUXE FILM FAN package

   £9.99 Get 1000 Introductory ODEON Points
   PLUS double points for one month
   ULTIMATE FILM FAN package

Check out Odeon’s website for further details

ODEON TAMWORTH

FRIDAY 28      AUGUST TO THURSDAY 03 SEPT

(500) Days Of Summer  (12A)

2hr 00m Contains one use of strong language and moderate sex references.

Advanced Screenings

Wed-Thu           12:40    15:10    18:10    21:00

Aliens In The Attic          (PG)

1hr50m

Fri-Thu  11:00    13:00    15:00    17:40

A Perfect Getaway        (15)

2hr05m

Fri-Tue  13:20    18:20

Bandslam         (PG)

2hr15m

Fri-Thu  12:20

Dance Flick       (15)

1hr50m

Fri-Thu  15:30    18:00    20:10

Subtitled Screenings

Sun      15:30

Mon      18:00

Funny People    (15)

2hr50m

Fri-Thu  14:00    17:10    20:20

G.I Joe – The Rise Of The Cobra            (12A)

2hr25m             Contains moderate violence.

Fri-Thu  12:50    15:25    18:00    20:50

Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince  (12A)

3hr00m             Contains moderate threat

Fri-Thu  12:00    15:40    18:50

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The Lambs continued their unbeaten start to the season on Tuesday evening beating Wrexham who were relegated from the Football league only this year.

The Lambs who had home advantage found themselves evenly matched with Dean Saunders side from Wales, it was Wrexham though who took the lead on the 26 minutes through Taylor who slotted the ball through Alcocks legs.

Tamworth were only behind though for 11 minutes through Smith who rose the highest to head home, raising the roof on the Lamb.  Half Time came with both teams on an even level.

It took The Lambs till the 72nd minute to take the lead when Sheridan slotted home after the home fans thought that he had lost it.

The win lifted The Lambs to 7th in the Blue Square Premier and takes them into the Bank Holiday weekend unbeaten.

You can read the full match report on the Official Tamworth FC website.

Dosthill Pools (Allen Cook, RSPB)

The team at Middleton Lakes are looking for volunteers to help spread the word about the RSPB reserve which is hoped will open to the public in 2010.

In February 2007 the RSPB acquired just under 400 acres of former gravel quarry from Hanson Aggregates and land gifted to us by Staffordshire County Council. With this came a vision to create a wonderful haven for wildlife and a place to inspire people.

Over the next few years we intend to create new habitats and improve the site for wildlife and visitors. We expect the reserve to open for general visitors during 2010 and for access and habitat improvements to continue in stages over the next several years.

The team are now looking for volunteers to help at events and activities at events around the area, spreading the word.  They also require someone who has the ability to distribute news letters to local venues (travel expenses get paid).

If this is of interest to you then please contact Garry at Middleton Lakes for an information pack on 01827 259454 or middletonlakes@rspb.org.uk.

Baby Shaking awarness lessons

A new partnership between South Staffordshire Primary Care Trust and Torc Vocational Centre in Glascote, Tamworth aims provide support and advice to new parents about the dangers of rough handling and shaking of babies to help prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome.

Stop that Shake – Babies Break! is an innovative project that will see the production of a DVD to educate future parents on the dangers associated with the rough handling of babies.

The project, which has received £7,500 of funding from the Queens Nursing Institute (QNI) and NHS West Midlands Innovation Fund, will see the DVD that covers all aspects of the syndrome, from cause, consequences, risks and prevention factors for Shaken Baby Syndrome.

During the production of the DVD the team consisting of project leaders will be working with multiple agencies Janine McKnight, Specialist Community Public Health Practitioner for South Staffordshire PCT and Alison Mennell, Health Tech Project Co-ordinator, of Torc, will also be working with safeguarding teams, police, paediatricians and students from Torc Vocational Centre.

Speaking of the new project Janine McKnight said:

“Shaken Baby Syndrome is the most common cause of traumatic death in children under one year and too often parents and carers are not aware that rough handling and shaking babies can be very dangerous.

“Our multi-agency approach will consider a life skill teaching method by involving students in the production of a DVD as an earlier pre-pregnancy educational intervention. This is based on the theory of tell me and I will forget, show me and I might remember, involve me and I will understand.”

This 12-month project will result in a DVD and will initially be piloted in five Tamworth senior schools.  It is hoped that all who see the DVD will benefit with the knowledge on how to prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome.

Alison Menell added:

“We expect students, parents, clients, professionals and teachers who will see the DVD to benefit from the project.”

In addition to funding Janine and Alison, who is also a nurse and midwife, will be given professional leadership support and enjoy project management training from QNI and West Midlands Innovation Fund team to develop their unique project.

Performer at the Summer Festival

This Bank Holiday Sunday sees the return of Tamworth’s Summer Festival with a day of events scheduled in the Castle Grounds.

This years Summer Festival which runs between 12 and 5pm promises to be the biggest ever with several individual areas, over 40 stalls, animal zone and stage, as well as discounted admission to the Castle, this Sunday(August 30) is the day to visit the Castle Grounds.

The Summer Festival includes a Sports Development zone where you can try your hands at different sporting activities including:

• Tamworth Football Club Supporters will be down hosting a penalty shoot out

• ICE Trampoline Club will be there doing there displays and you can have a go too

• Stryker’s will also be there for you to test out your bowling skills and win some prizes,

• The sports development team will be on hand to provide a range of activities.

One of the other zones is the Animal Corner where you will be able to meet a range of creatures and enter your pooch in the Tamworth Dog Show, entries for which take place in Animal Corner from 12pm.  Other things happening in Animal corner include:

• Dunton Stables will be providing pony rides

• Go and meet Ash End House Farm’s celebrities.

• Staffordshire Wildlife Activities and learn more about the natural environment.

• RSPB and get some information on local efforts to support our bird life.

• Pets as Therapy will be there showing how pets can help your health and mental well being in a host of ways.

• Animal Mask Making.

• Meet the Sandyback Pigs named after Tamworth.

Dog Show

The Schedule for the dog show and competitions is:

12.30pm Scruffy Mutts – Beauty in the eyes of the owner
1.00pm Must Have Mongrels -”designer dogs” welcome as long as they don’t have a pedigree
1.30pm Tamworth’s Got Talent – Any dancing dogs or tricks to show off!
2.00pm Prettiest Pedigree – girls only please
2.30pm Handsomest Pedigree – this one’s for the boys
3.00pm Junior Handler – Will your dog obey any basic commands from your child?
3.30pm Cutey Pups – Up to 18 months dogs & bitches
4.00pm Golden Oldies – 7 years & over
4.30pm Second Chances – Have you given a rescue a home, we’d love to meet them

Entries to the dog show costs £1 per class.

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Colin Grazer Statue and St Editha's Church - Pic: TBC

Sunday September 13 sees the return of Tamworth’s Free heritage tours. Tamworth residents can take advantage of a free day out as part of the national heritage open day event.

A heritage bus tour will go from Tamworth to Middleton Hall and there will also be 2 guided tours taking place.
You must book your places in advance at the Tamworth Information centre.

Also on this heritage day you can pop to Tamworth Castle free for this one day only as well as the towns Town Hall, or climb the 160 steep steps to the top of St Editha’s Church in the market square to see amazing views of Tamworth for miles around.

It’s a fun day and as well as being free gives you the opportunity to find out about Tamworth history.

Kylie and chums in the Castle Grounds - Pic: Miss Fit Creations

You would be forgiven for thinking you had seen Britney, Elvis and a host of other pop icons in Tamworth this weekend as a photoshoot took place to promote the forthcoming new website for Missfit Creations.

The Skate Park and the Castle Grounds were the locations chosen by local Designer and Director of Missfit, Debbie Murphy, to promote the Tribute2 range of clothing soon to appear on the website. Tamworth based design consultants, Saraundo have been working on the new website after producing the Missfit logo earlier this year. Together with another local businessman, Don Hardy of Swan Photography who captured all the images, they directed the photoshoot using Tamworth landmarks as a backdrop.

Keeping it local, all the models who gave their time came from the area and did a fabulous job posing as pop icons ranging from Abba to Adam Ant and Sid Vicious to Kylie.

Previously only available to purchase on commission, the outfits are usually purchased by entertainers and tribute artists. The new Tribute2 range will be available to purchase directly from the new site www.missfitcreations.com along with a selection of vintage and retro items, as well as the Recreate range of sustainable clothing.

The new website is set to be launched in September and future plans for Missfit include a fashion show to be held in Tamworth plus additions to the Tribute2 range.  So don’t be surprised if you see Bowie and Lady Gaga in the town!