Tamworth Blog

Tamworth Library - Pic: Paulette Francessca Sedgwick

Saturday October 17th – Tamworth Library is hosting a fun day with Origami.  Betwen1-15pm and 3-15pm.

It’s FREE for Children 5 years and over but they must be accompanied by an adult.  It’s part of family Learning group the library’s holding.

For more information call Tamworth Library 01827 – 475645 or drop in  to put your name down.  The Tamworth Library will be found back of St Edithas Church on Corporation Street.

Origami is the Japanese word for paper folding. ORI means to fold and KAMI means paper. Together, they form the word, “origami.” It is an art form that has been handed down from parent to child through many generations.

Victoria Mckenzi, Tamworth Library’s District Supervisor said:

”Origami involves the creation of paper forms usually entirely by folding. Animals, birds, fish, geometric shapes, puppets, toys and masks are among the models that even very young children can learn to make in just one sitting. It’s lots of fun for all ages, and everyone will have a fun day. It’s also FREE”.

High Schools across the Tamworth area have been holding heats running up to the Tamworth Teen Talent show, with the finals being held at the Assembly Rooms tomorrow (Thursday 23 April).

Teenagers from all the high schools have taken part in the heats held at their schools.  The top two going through the finals which this year are being judged by Atomic Kitten star, Natasha Hamilton, who will also be performing during the show.  Natasha will be joined on the judging panel by last years winner Charlie Styles, David Weatherly (Chief Executive of Tamworth Borough Council) and Chief Superintendent Mike Harrison of Staffordshire Police.

The event is used to encourage respect through the youngsters and this year competition has been feirce with prizes available for 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions.  The night promises to be entertaining with Natasha performing and Barbados and Bangra dancers dancing during the intervals.

Faz Ahmed, Anti Social Behaviour officer said of the event;

“Things are hotting up because there is fierce competition between the acts with prizes on hand for the winners of 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. Natasha will be performing live on the night and we also have Barbados and Bangra dancers as the interval acts. Last year was a great success and we hope to build on that this year and make it even bigger and better.”

The show starts at 7pm with the doors at the Assembly Rooms opening at 6pm.  Tickets are priced at £5 each and are available on a first come basis.

Clearing work on Tamworth Golf Course

The much anticipated development of Tamworth Golf Course has begun with the first signs of the development of the driving range which is looking to go alongside the 18th Hole and just off Eagle Drive.

Jack Barker, who took over the running of Tamworth Golf Course on a long term lease have spoke of redeveloping the course, and the transformation is now beginning on the Back 9 of the course. It is hoped that the Driving range, the first in the Tamworth town area (nearest facility being the Belfry or Lea Marston) will be the first of many developments at the municipal golf course.

Today, celebrity chef, Richard Fox of BBC2’s Food Poker and Channel 4’s Risky Business will be cooking up a storm as part if the Love Food Hate Waste campaign. Richard will be showing how everyday left hours can be turned into culinary delights, reducing wastage, that is estimated to cost us £10billion per year.

The exhibition begun at 10.30am (sorry for the late notice) in St Editha’s Square.  Richard is being supported b 2008 Staffordshire Young Chef of the Year, Jody Rushton.

Councillor Garner, protfolio holder of Waster Management in Tamworth said, “This is a great opportunity to find out how to turn those leftovers into a fantastic family meal. In the UK around a third of the food we buy gets thrown away, and people just can’t afford that in these tough economic times.”

This year marks the SnowDome’s 15th Birthday and to celebrate they are holding a “Freestyle Birthday Jam”, inspired by the 90’s.

Tuesday 28th April from 8.30pm till midnight, the SnowDome will be transformed to a mid 90’s jam with a special discounted entry price of, you guessed it £15.  Throughout the night there will be prized (15 of them), 15 old skool tricks from the 90’s and of course birthday cake.

Full details on the birthday Jam can be found here.

Courtesy of Russell Davies

Easter at Drayton Manor Theme Park is always fun for the whole family and this Easter looks to be no exception with a new family exhibition going on show at the parks ever popular Thomas Land.

Visitors to Thomas Land this Easter will be able to watch as the new Discover Thomas and Friends exhibit is built.  Being built within the barn on Farmer McColl’s farm, visitors will be able to see the construction of the original model set used to film the highly popular Thomas and Friends television series. Once completed visitors will be able to watch Thomas the Tank Engine and friends steam around the model railway set, the ultimate experience for all Thomas the Tank Engine fans, young and old alike.

That’s not all though, visitors to Drayton Manor this Easter will also be one of the first to experience the parks new 4D Cinema attraction.  This £1 million attraction takes visitors on a  multi-sensory trip, taking the cinema and taking it to the next dimension, immersing you deeply in the award-winning feature Curse of Skull Rock.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ek6lFIprAk]

Tamworth FC travelled to Harrogate Town on Saturday (4th April), hoping to build on the win mid week to cement their 1st position.  Glorious sunshine bathed Wetherby Road and the 1st half was even honors with Tamworths Wright cancelling out Smiths headed opener for Harrogate.  The Lambs took the lead in 63rd minute through Wylde but on 69 minutes Harrogate were on level terms again through substitute James Dean.  It all finished honours even.  Tamworth though remain 4 points clear with a game in hand over 2nd placed Gateshead.

The Lambs next match is at home to Stafford Rangers on the 11th April.

Tamworth shoppers are in for a taste of Europe in the coming weeks as Tamworth plays host to it’s first ever European Market this Thursday 16th and 17th April.

Market Traders from all over Europe will hold stalls on George Street and Market Street, with traders selling products from  “the terrior” (the land), with man being small organisations such as family run businesses.  Some examples of the produce available include Brittany Biscuits, Olives, Swedish Cider, pungent cheeses and much, much more.

All of the market traders will be in full local, traditional dress from 100 years ago and the market stalls will be dressed to represent the local area the traders live in.

So for a taste of Europe this spring, without the hastle of dusting of your passport and booking a flight, make your way to the town centre to sample some ture European gems.

This Easter, Arriva Buses are cutting the cost of their Midlands Family Saver day ticket from £8 to £7 during the Easter Holiday period (4th April through 19th April).  As well as cutting the cost of a family day out, Arriva have also teamed up with local attractions across the midlands, including the local Snowdome and Tamworth Castle as well as further afield attractions like the Iron Bridge Gorge Museum.

Keith Myatt, Communications Manager for Arriva Midlands, says ““We are committed to making public transport as efficient, reliable and cost effective as possible and with a super low price of just £7 the Family Day Saver offers a real incentive to leave the car at home.”

A full list of attractions offering discounts can be found at the Local Linx website.

Battle Re-enactment

All to often St Georges Day passes without celebration and neglecting our own patron saint.  Last year St Georges Days at the Castle Grounds was one of the more successful events arranged by the events team at Tamworth Borough Council and it’s back this year.

On Saturday 25th April and Sunday 26th April the Castle Grounds will become home to the 17th century extravaganza, presented by Sealed Knot with a parade through the town on Sunday 26th January.

The weekend will include extended opening hours at Tamworth Castle and many events around the Castle Grounds including:

Tamworth Castle

- Living History at the Castle

- Stall Holders

- Extended opening hours (10am – 5.15pm)

Castle Grounds

- Battle re-enactment

- Children’s Pike Drill

- Family Activity Trail

- Street Entertainers

-  Morris Dancing and so much more

Admission to Tamworth Castle is £1 and the activities on the Castle Grounds are free of charge.