Community News

With innovative thinking, leadership and continued public-private sector collaboration, the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) has a good opportunity to further develop its cruise tourism sector, reports Commissioner of Tourism Beverly Nicholson-Doty.

However, Commissioner Nicholson-Doty - who held bilateral talks with a number of cruise line executives during last week's Seatrade Cruise Global cruise industry convention - warned that the landscape of the tourism industry continues to be challenging as lines reposition itineraries to the Western Caribbean and passengers demand a greater diversity of experiences.

She noted that during a meeting with the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association's (FCCA) top brass, the Ports of the U.S. Virgin Islands was commended for the progress made to implement harbor transportation in the Charlotte Amalie Harbor, which they described as "the single most important thing we can do for cruise tourism on St. Thomas."

The Commissioner reported that the U.S. Virgin Islands was preparing to respond to the trend of purpose-driven travel and voluntourism by rolling out a number of projects that will be available for both cruise ship passengers and stayover visitors.

The Territory will also continue to prioritize providing authentic Virgin Islands experiences for visitors, such as food tours, historical site visits, educational rum distillery tours and the ability to purchase locally made art and products.

A new free exhibition revealing the hidden story of how civil engineers transform lives and help safeguard our future is on show at the award-winning Institution of Civil Engineers Infrastructure Learning Hub in London this Easter.

Unveiled to celebrate the ICE's 200th anniversary, 'Invisible Superheroes' uses cutting edge technology to highlight the unsung heroes behind some of the world's most amazing engineering projects.

Designed to appeal especially to young people, the exhibition features real-life engineers as cartoon superheroes on their mission to save the planet from dangers such as climate change, flooding and the spread of disease.

Films, animations, interviews, quizzes and games help bring the untold stories behind incredible feats of civil engineering to life.

There's also the chance to experience a virtual reality dive into world of engineering and visitors can put their own skills to the test by building a bridge or tunnel boring machine.

Earlier this year the Infrastructure Learning Hub (ILH) was recognised as a 'Hidden Gem' visitor attraction by VisitEngland in recognition of the quality visitor experience on offer.

Open to the public at the ICE's One Great George Street headquarters in central London, the ILH is the UK's first learning centre to focus on engineering achievements and its role in tackling global challenges.

“We're proud to bring civil engineering to life at the ILH, not only providing a rich educational experience but a fun and memorable one for visitors of all ages,” said Nathan Baker, Director of Engineering Knowledge at the ICE.

The year-long exhibition is part of ICE's bicentenary celebrations - ICE 200 - with events planned around the UK to showcase and explain civil engineering to the public.

The wait is almost over! Group travel expert Red7 has come one step closer to crowning Britain’s Best Bridesmaid and the competition is fiercer than ever, with nearly 500 nominations received in total.

Brides from across the country nominated the top team players from their #wedsquad and the judges carefully examined every entry. Now, Red7 reveals its seven regional winners in the race for the title.

Not only will the ultimate winning bridesmaid receive the prestigious title of Britain’s Best Bridesmaid (and major bragging rights!), she will also be whisked away on her very own ‘BridesmaidMoon’, a fantastic Red7 cruise to Bruges and Amsterdam.

Introducing Jamie Leigh Branston, the winner for the Midlands. Jamie, from Leicester, earned her place in the final seven by stepping in to save little sister Rachel’s wedding day from disaster.

“Honestly, the day would never have happened without her,” says Rachel, whose wedding day had not one, not two, but three disasters. Jamie, a mum of five who knows how to run a tight ship, was there for her sister every time fate threatened to ruin the special day.

First, the bridal party were left confused when no photographer arrived. Realising that it had been overlooked, Jamie kept her cool and quickly paid for a professional to arrive at the last minute.

Next, Rachel faced every bride’s worst nightmare when her dress tore right before the ceremony. “I was in full scale meltdown mode!” she confesses. It took some time to calm Rachel down, but Jamie was the perfect bridesmaid for the job. After the (understandable) bridezilla moment had passed, Jamie came up with a way of repairing the dress.

With the bridal gown in tact and the photographer booked, Rachel and her bridesmaids set off to the late wedding at speed, hoping that the drama was over for the day. Unluckily, they were so late that the venue tried to refuse to marry the couple.

Rachel thought that her dreams of a happy wedding day were forever dashed, but her big sister was not about to let that happen. Jamie used her gift of the gab to talk the venue into allowing the wedding to go ahead, performing her third miracle of the day. “Not only is she a fantastic sister but she was my absolute outright lifesaver,” says Rachel.

Red7 founder Ian Lucas commented: “Congratulations to our magnificent seven! 

“We are confident that we have selected a dream team that represents the best of British bridesmaids. 

“Jamie’s bridesmaid story stood out for her quick thinking and ability to make the impossible happen – she reminded us of ourselves!”

Almost 17,000 people across the UK have followed in the gravity-free footsteps of Major Tim Peake thanks to the ground-breaking Space Descent VR experience. Samsung provided its technology and created a fully immersive VR lounge that transports visitors into space before the VR experience has even begun. The VR technology allows users to take the magnificent 400km descent from the International Space Station (ISS) to Earth, aboard the legendary Soyuz TMA-19M module.

To date, two-thirds of the 549 intrepid souls to have travelled beyond the Earth’s atmosphere are American, but Samsung and the Science Museum Group continue their task to make space travel in the UK accessible to all through Tim Peake’s spacecraft national tour.

Tim Peake’s iconic Soyuz capsule is on a two-year UK tour that is presented by Samsung & the Science Museum Group, which has to date attracted almost 200,000 visitors to see the spacecraft alone, experiencing space travel for themselves.

Having previously landed in Bradford, Shildon and York, the tour continues from Saturday 10th March at Manchester’s Museum of Science and Industry. As part of this ‘first of its kind’ tour, Samsung is also working closely with the Science Museum Group on a national schools outreach programme, aimed at engaging young people in STEM subjects. Over the coming six weeks, surrounding Manchester schools will be visited by the Space Descent with Tim Peake VR experience tour bus, designed to look like the ISS. Students will undergo a space training programme and have the opportunity to experience Space Descent VR, inspiring a new generation of burgeoning space explorers.

Sam Grant, Chief Marketing Officer at Samsung Electronics UK and Ireland, says, “It’s incredible that we’ve brought the Soyuz capsule to its fourth UK city now. There’s clearly an appetite for using technology in ways that transform how we learn, given that so many people are engaging with our Space Descent VR experience. This truly is an unforgettable experience for museum visitors, one that we hope sparks curiosity beyond the day-to-day.”

Astrophysicist and TV presenter Danielle George MBE supports the Manchester leg of the campaign. “I’m thrilled to be part of such an exciting exhibition. It’s crucial that children have access to these kinds of resources – it expands their education and interest in STEM subjects, and is key to defining the career choices that children go on to make. Samsung and the Science Museum Group will no doubt continue to inspire young people as they take the Soyuz spacecraft around the nation.”

The Soyuz TMA-19M spacecraft will be on-site at Manchester’s Museum of Space and Industry until 13 May 2018.

Dayna Landsborough, from Plymstock, in Devon, has won The Cinnamon Trust’s Young Volunteer of the Year Award for 2018.

Dayna, aged 21, was given the award – supported by Fish4Dogs and in association with the Young Kennel Club – on the penultimate day of Crufts (Saturday 10 March) at the NEC, Birmingham.

The Plymouth University sociology undergraduate has been walking 12-year-old, black Labrador, Jet, for four years now having volunteered her services to the Cinnamon Trust at the age of 17.

Her love of dogs prompted her to apply but over the years she struck-up a deep and meaningful relationship with Jet’s owner Meg Gray and late husband Charlie.

For the first two years, she walked Jet three-times a week and not even the pressures of starting university, and studying for exams could deter her commitment. Dayna and Meg, who is now 87 and battling cancer, have become such good friends that Meg considers her “family”.

Dayna helped Meg when she lost Charlie in 2016, visiting her regularly and taking her small gifts to cheer her up.

Meg was unable to attend Dayna’s presentation but said: “Dayna spreads sunshine wherever she goes.  She is a real treasure to me and Jet and we are so lucky to have her in our lives.

“I have cancer now but I have had a good innings and do not intend to have chemo, I have had curly hair all my life and I do not intend to lose it! Knowing that Dayna is there for Jet means a great deal to me.”

Dayna was presented with ceremonial plate, silver brooch pin and a goody bag, plus a hamper of pet food and treats provided by Fish4Dogs.

Cinnamon Trust founder, Averil Jarvis MBE, said that all the shortlisted candidates demonstrated a heart-warming commitment to looking after the companion animals of those in need but that the bond between Dayna and Meg shone through.

“Despite the age difference, they are genuine friends and say such lovely things about each other. It is clear to see that there is a very real affection that has grown through Dayna’s desire to give something back and help in Jet’s care.”

Following the presentation, Dayna paid tribute to her friend Meg: “I never imagined that, when I started walking a dog in the community, I would not only gain a furry companion but a genuine friend in Meg. She is a woman who has done it all, and that is no exaggeration. A former WREN and mother – a strong woman who is a force to be reckoned with.

There are signs of positive local wildlife conservation efforts to protect the natural resources in Tanzania through community involvement, mostly in wildlife protection.

Wildlife is the leading source of tourism and the biggest attraction, pulling about one million tourists as the past year numbers show. Wildlife populations have suffered in recent decades from poaching and clashes with people involved in other economic activities, such as farming and mining.

A new study had found that community-based wildlife conservation can quickly result in clear ecological success, with the largest and smallest species being among the winners.

A paper published recently by the scientists from the Wild Nature Institute, documented significantly higher densities of giraffes and dik-diks, and lower densities of cattle in a community Wildlife Management Area (WMA) relative to an unprotected control site in Tanzania.

The positive ecological effects were clearly the result of the WMA, because the study found similar wildlife and livestock densities in the WMA and control sites before WMA establishment, when both were managed by the same authority.

Dr. Derek Lee, lead author of the study and Principal Scientist at Wild Nature Institute said: “There have been social and economic critiques of WMAs, but the ecological value or success of WMAs for wildlife conservation had never been quantified.

“Our data demonstrated that WMA establishment and management had positive ecological outcomes in the form of higher wildlife densities and lower livestock densities. This met our definition of ecological success, and hopefully these results will encourage more community-based conservation efforts.”

Community-based natural resource management, established on the transference of resource management and user rights from central government agencies to local communities, is promoted as a conservation tool and has become the dominant paradigm of natural resource conservation worldwide.

Unfortunately, the ecological success or failure of these projects is rarely rigorously assessed.

In Tanzania, efforts to decentralize wildlife management to local communities occur through the creation of WMAs, whereby several villages set aside land for wildlife conservation in return for the majority of tourism revenues from these areas.

Nineteen WMAs are currently operating, encompassing 6.2 million hectares of Tanzania’s land area, with 19 more WMAs planned.

The Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) has been supporting community projects for villages neighboring the national parks and the public at large through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program known in Tanzania’s lingua franca Kiswahili as “Ujirani Mwema” or “Good Neighborliness.”

The “Ujirani Mwema” initiative had shown a positive trend, bringing reconciliation between the humans and their natural enemies – the wild animals. Now, people in villages realize the importance of wildlife and tourism to their lives, keeping away the old notion that wild creatures had no value to humans.

Under this program, the National Parks management release a big amount of funds accrued from tourism for community projects, mostly schools, health facilities, clean water supply and support to poor children in designated areas.

At the national level, the national parks have successfully maintained a competitive advantage over other tourist destinations. They stand as the leading tourist attractions, while adding a value to other attractive sites outside the parks including the Indian Ocean beaches, historical sites, cultural tourist sites and other such tourist attractive places.

As a result, the parks have become tourist selling points for Tanzania. The National Parks had raised tourism to an important sector of the economy for Tanzania’s development.

The University of Wolverhampton has launched a new Centre for Sikh and Panjabi Studies which will be the first of its kind in the UK.

The new Centre was officially launched by Dr Satinder Sartaaj, renowned Punjabi singer and poet, in the Chancellor’s Hall at the University’s City Campus at a celebratory ceremony attended by members of the local community, University staff and students as well as local dignitaries.

Dr Opinderjit Kaur Takhar, Course Leader in Religious Studies in the School of Humanities and an internationally-recognised researcher in Sikhism who has published extensively on the Sikh and Panjabi community, has been appointed Director of the Centre.

The Centre will offer PhDs and Master’s level courses in Sikh studies, as well as continuing professional development (CPD) courses for teachers and managers of diverse workforces such as national and local government, the NHS and the emergency services.

It will also offer training for Granthis and Gianis, individuals taking the religious lead in Gurdwaras, short courses in religious literacy and language to address the loss of the Panjabi language in younger generations, as well as teaching in English to promote bilingualism and skills for life.

The Centre will be involved with the exchange of knowledge on an international platform using the links it has already established with Sikh Studies scholars across the globe.

Opinderjit said: “The Centre for Sikh and Panjabi Studies will be based around a nationally-leading research hub, with large-scale research projects into Sikh history, art and literature, diaspora, identity, inter-religious dialogue, culture, community and place, all within the context of a 21st century global society.

“To highlight our research we will create an open access peer-reviewed scholarly journal, an annual Sikh Studies research conference, a public lecture series and research-informed exhibitions.

“We aim to be a centre of academic excellence by becoming the national voice for academics active within Sikh and Panjabi Studies and through links with overseas institutions, particularly with universities in Panjab, we will provide opportunities for student exchanges and other collaborative projects to encourage understanding around the world. The focus will be on lifelong learning from both inter-faith and inter-disciplinary perspectives with an aim to increase knowledge and promote dialogue.

“Our aspiration is to create a space for current and future generations in which they can feel comfortable in enquiring about their faith, its principles and ethos. The Centre will be a ‘go-to place’ for any individuals or organisations wanting to know more about the Sikhs and their faith, and it will be the first of its kind in the UK.”

Ninder Johal, Chief Executive Officer of Nachural Group and Independent Governor at the University, said: “The Sikhs are an important part of the United Kingdom and play a substantial role in the global economy. But too often this young religion has not had a voice that represents its views politically, economically and theologically.

“The Centre for Sikh and Panjabi Studies will correct this with both academic and real-world rigour. It will offer everyone an opportunity to work with a leading university so that we all have a better understanding of this fantastic and globally sympathetic religion.”

Anyone interested in getting involved with the new Centre should contact Dr Takhar by emailing: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and if you would like to make a charitable donation to the Centre contact Terry Gibson, Development Manager, by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Three West Midlands apprentices received a special accolade when they attended the House of Commons for an event showcasing the vibrant pub, bar, brewing and casual dining sectors during National Apprenticeship Week.

Over 100 apprentices aged between 16 and 59 were invited to attend the event, but only nine of those were nominated by their employer to receive a Certificate of Outstanding Recognition for making a significant impact during the course of their learning.

Three of those were from the West Midlands:

·      Ben Shaw, apprentice kitchen manager at owned Toby Carvery in Norton Canes was nominated by his employer Mitchells & Butlers

·      Vickie Craig, from JJ's in Coventry, nominated by Deltic

·      Dave Albon, a 59 year old apprentice chef from the Brasshouse in Birmingham, nominated by the Stonegate Pub Company

The apprentices were presented with their certificates by Andrew Griffiths MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Corporate Responsibility.

Delighted to receive his award, Ben said: “I want to do my level four, work my way up in the business and get myself to a place where I can open my own restaurant.

I have real career aims and goals. Every day I wake up with a bit more of a drive to do better in life.

"When I first started my job, I was 21 stone. I worked for a year and I lost 10 and a half stone. It made me feel 100 per cent better and more confident in what I wanted to do with life. It just made me feel like a better person in general. Once I had done all my courses I realised I wanted to do cooking. I am hands on and hospitality was right for me. My mum has worked in the hospitality trade for 10-12 years and she is now in a team leader role at the same place as me. I work with my sister as well.

“The passion of wanting to be better has made me work harder, more efficiently and has made me lose my weight. I just worked harder. Instead of scrubbing the floor in 10 minutes, I’d do it in five; instead of pot washing down in 20 minutes, I’d do it in 10. That intensity of going faster and harder made me lose my weight.”

At 59, Dave was the oldest apprentice at the event. He said: “We're learning about back-of-house leadership and it has definitely improved what I am doing. It brings everything back and hones in on the major things. I would recommend becoming and apprentice to both junior and senior colleagues because it is something you are doing to learn and being paid to do it at the same time.”

This was the second Apprenticeship Showcase event organised by the Perceptions hospitality industry group, which saw over 100 MPs in attendance, as well as 30 employers from the hospitality industry and Great British Bake Off star Candice Brown, who challenged MPs to 'have a go' at whipping, whisking, pint pulling and wine tasting.

Chairman of the Perceptions hospitality industry group and CEO of multi-award winning Beds & Bars, Keith Knowles, said: “Showcasing our industry to government and demonstrating the vast opportunities from kitchen and bar roles to those in marketing and finance, highlights the diversity of our vibrant sector.

"It is not unusual for our apprentices to start at grass roots on minimum wage and progress to senior management positions. For young people, career progression can be rapid, with many progressing to a management role within three years.”

The hospitality sector supports 2m jobs, represents 10% of UK employment, 6% of businesses and 5% of GDP. It is the third largest private sector employer - double the size of financial services and bigger than automotive, pharmaceuticals and aerospace combined. The sector is forecast to grow by 4.3% creating 19,000 more jobs by 2020.

A dog breeder from Coventry, West Midlands has won the Kennel Club Breeders’ Competition at Crufts, the world’s greatest dog show.

Margaret Anderson whose team comprised Zentarr Brockman handled by Margaret, Champion Zentarr George handled by Leah Scales, Zentarr Matthew handled by Beverley Manners and Croatian Champion Zentarr Tobias handled by Belinda Yaxley, won the ultimate breeder’s title with their team of Lhasa Apsos in front of a packed Genting Arena at the NEC, Birmingham. The team beat 31 other breeders to win the competition.

Judge Ronnie Irving selected Margaret’s team of Lhasa Apsos for the prize as the breeder with the best overall quality evident in their dogs.

Margaret will be familiar to dog lovers, as her Champion Zentarr Elizabeth was crowned as Crufts Best in Show winner in 2012. All four dogs in this year’s Crufts team are descended from the famous Elizabeth – her son, grandson and two great grandsons, all bred under Margaret’s Zentarr kennel name.

Speaking about her win, Margaret said: “I am always shocked when I win anything. When we were shortlisted among the final ten teams, I said I was more than satisfied with that. However, then the judge walked towards us and I couldn’t believe it. I thought all the ten final teams had some stunning dogs – it was a great honour to win against such beautiful examples of their breed. One of our handlers, Leah, is only 14 years old and it was super to see how much she enjoyed the whole experience.”

Reserve best breeder was awarded to Ruth Gee from Worksop, Nottinghamshire with her team of Norfolk Terriers which she breeds under the Watercroft kennel name.

The competition, sponsored by Agria Pet Insurance, made a welcome comeback at the show last year as a stand-alone competition. Each team comprised three or four dogs of one breed, all bred by the same breeder or breeding partnership.

Gerald King, Crufts Chairman, said: “We are very pleased for Margaret on her excellent achievement. She and Ruth are clearly both very talented breeders. Their dogs are a testament to each of their breeds, and it is fantastic to celebrate the time and effort they put into developing sound breeding practices to produce healthy and happy dogs for the show ring.”

Many tourism stakeholders, both from the private or public sector were disappointed when the new secretary-general of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Zurab Pololikashvili, canceled the annual meeting at ITB of the World Tourism Network on Child Protection. The group had met since 1995 at every ITB.

This disappointment, however, turned into a good day on Friday when it comes to child protection after all. Not only did SKAL International sign THE CODE, but the first meeting of a special interest group on child protection met at ITB Berlin today. This special interest group for child protection was formed under the umbrella of the International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP).

Juergen Steinmetz, chairman of ICTP and publisher of the eTN Group of publications, is a long-time member of this group and responded to UNWTO’s cancellation in forming a special interest group on child protection. This group and those interested in child protection today met in Berlin at ITB. The event was hosted by Deepak R. Joshi, CEO of the Nepal Tourism Board, at their stand.

Steinmetz said: “I am very pleased to see such a great response to our call for a meeting here at ITB. I would like to thank our friends at the Nepal Tourism Board for their support in hosting our meeting today and hope this will be only one of many more.

“We will provide our own stand at the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai and IMEX in Frankfurt for the Special Interest Group on Child Protection to meet.

“I hope the new UNWTO leadership will cooperate with our effort on this important initiative. I am pleased to hear child protection will be on the agenda set by the UNWTO Secretary-General for the upcoming executive council meeting of the Americas.

“Finally, I am encouraging anyone wanting to add to our initiative or send us statements, best practices, and news on child protection to do so. It’s important for the world to stay informed and allow good initiatives to be repeated.”

Joanna Rubinstein from Childhood USA related: “There is a great momentum after the Solutions Summit to End Violence Against Children in Stockholm last month. Around 60 governments participated in the meeting that was hosted by the Swedish government and the Prime Minister and HM Queen Silvia, the founder of Childhood. Also the DSG of the UN, Amina Mohammed, joined the meeting together with the new heads of UNICEF and WHO.

The first city-wide celebration of oysters will take place in London from Saturday 21 to Sunday 29 April 2018.

London Oyster Week will see venues across the capital joining together to demystify oysters and raise awareness of the benefits of eating them, as well as raise funds for oyster education and restoration.

Over 25 restaurants, bars and pubs – including Bentley's, Wright Brothers, Noble Rot, Northbank, and the Hawksmoor group – will develop featured oyster dishes and serve special oyster-matched drinks and cocktails, designed with event sponsors, to encourage customers to try oysters, and help them understand the environmental and health benefits.

Select venues will also be hosting feature events, including exclusive masterclasses, oyster roasts, film screenings and oyster mixology.

London Oyster Week has been founded by Katy Davidson, an oyster evangelist whose passion has seen her convert thousands of doubters to become oyster-lovers at food festivals and events throughout the UK.

“I'm so excited to be organising London's first oyster week, and I'm ready to incite an oyster revolution by helping people see just how delicious this food can be,” said Katy.

“There are so many incredible ways to eat oysters, be it raw, cooked, or even in cocktails – which is why we're delighted to be partnering with Remy Cointreau and their fantastic spirits brands. I want to make sure everyone has an opportunity to try oysters, and it's a joy to be able to do this while raising important funds for The Oyster Academy International.”

The Oyster Academy International is a community interest company dedicated to formalising and promoting oyster culture around the world, while fundraising to support the oyster industry, education programmes, and restoration efforts.

Katy continued, “Farmed rock oysters are a prolific, sustainable, ethical and delicious foodstuff in the UK, yet wild native oyster populations are close to extinction. They need our help, as they are a keystone species and have a positive impact on the environment.”

Oyster Passports are available to purchase on the London Oyster Week website (londonoysterweek.co.uk/oyster-passports), which will entitle holders to exclusive offers at venues across the city. Noble Rot, for example, is offering two Maldon Rock Oysters with a glass of Muscadet Sèvre et Maine for £10, as well as developing a special Rock Oyster Raveneau dish, which combines oysters with the flavours described in the tasting notes of a vintage Chablis from Domaine Raveneau.

Other venues have tapped into London's historical connection with oysters, such as Three Cheers Pub Co., who will be adding a traditional steak and oyster pie to the menu at its pubs throughout London, including The Bolingbroke in Battersea and The Abbeville in Clapham.

Passport holders will also receive preferential rates on the feature events programme and exclusive offers from event partners and sponsors.

The first confirmed feature event will take place at Northbank on Tuesday 24 April, and is a special opportunity to try as many different oysters as can be sourced, all under one roof. Oyster farmers from the UK and Ireland will be attending with their produce, and ticket holders will be treated to all you can eat oysters, and some very special drinks and cocktails from sponsors Remy Cointreau, Bruichladdich and Mount Gay Rum.

Richard Corrigan, chef patron of Corrigan Restaurants, which operates Bentley's Oyster Bar & Grill, said: “We are passionate about oysters, and we shuck around 1,000 a day from sustainable sources in England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland.

“We're delighted to be working with London Oyster Week – it's wonderful to be part of something that will only increase the popularity of oysters, as well as raise awareness of their incredible health and environmental benefits.”

Further details on the feature events programme will be announced in the coming weeks via the London Oyster Week website: www.londonoysterweek.co.uk.

Birmingham’s first female councillor was honoured by having a room at the Council House dedicated in her name.

Ellen Pinsent was elected as a Liberal Unionist councillor for Edgbaston on 1 November 1911, a ward she served for two years, during which she chaired the council’s Special School Sub-Committee.

Honorary Alderman Theresa Stewart, the city’s first female Leader (1993-99), unveiled the Ellen Pinsent Room (formerly Committee Room 1), watched by Dame Ellen’s great-grandson Randal Keynes plus staff and children from Dame Ellen Pinsent School in Kings Heath.

Cllr Ian Ward, Leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “It’s fitting that we are honouring the first female elected councillor in Birmingham on International Women’s Day – and that the ceremony was overseen by her family and the city’s first female Leader.

“The Ellen Pinsent Room will be a place where the city’s notable women – and their achievements – can be rightly recognised.”

Alongside Dame Ellen’s pictures, there are portraits of Suffragist Catherine Osler, President of the Birmingham Women’s Suffrage Society, and Louisa Ryland, who donated much of Birmingham’s parklands to its citizens, alongside photos of female councillors and Lord Mayors taken in February, to mark the centenary of the Representation of the People Act 1918.

Mr Keynes, who is a conservationist and author, said: “I’m so pleased to see this room renamed as the Ellen Pinsent Room, after my great grandmother. She was passionate about her work for the people of Birmingham as a councillor, and from her teens she felt a passion about women taking their part in the management of Government’s social issues and tackling them.

“I think she would’ve been very pleased that it’s part of the celebration of the 100 years since the vote for women. Certainly, she would have been so grateful to be remembered in this way on International Women’s Day."

Penn Library has reopened to the public following recent improvement works.

The £60,000-plus investment by the City of Wolverhampton Council has seen the library redecorated and its back office space reconfigured to create a new community lounge and meeting room.

The layout of the main library area has also been reviewed to make better use of the space, while old shelving has been replaced.

Councillor John Reynolds, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for City Economy, said: "This improvement work at Penn Library is further evidence of our commitment to developing a strong and sustainable library network for the people of Wolverhampton by creating modern and vibrant community assets.

“It has made Penn Library much more community-orientated and will hopefully increase the number of people who are able to make use of this vital facility on a regular basis.

“This work was carried out in response to feedback from local people which we received during the development of our 10-year strategy for Wolverhampton’s libraries, and I would like to thank customers for bearing with us while these improvements were completed.”

Penn Library is at the junction of Penn Road and Coalway Avenue. Its normal opening hours remain the same – these are Tuesdays 9am-1pm and 2pm-5pm, Thursdays 10am-1pm and 2pm-6pm, Fridays 9am-1pm and Saturdays 9am-1pm and 2pm-4pm.

An official reopening event will be held on Tuesday 20 March, 2018, at 3pm.

Fundraisers can stir up support for John Taylor Hospice this April by taking part in Coffee Morning Month.

The annual event encourages families, friends and work colleagues to get together to host or join in with coffee mornings and fun activities.

Last year dedicated hospice supporters served up afternoon tea parties, whipped up delicious cakes for sale and challenged each other to bake-off competitions - raising thousands of pounds to ensure people can access expert care at the end of their lives.

Hospice supporter Sue Nation is planning to invite neighbours, family and friends to a coffee morning at her Streetly home next month. Sue’s husband Dave Nation was cared for by John Taylor teams in 2012 and the family are regular supporters. Sue and her daughters, Emma and Lisa, feel that the hospice was a home from home for Dave and fundraising is their way of saying thank you.

"They did everything for him – and for us," said Sue. "One of us stayed every night and we were all made to feel so welcomed and comfortable. When we needed the hospice it was there for us and we want to make sure it will be there for the next people who need it too.”

Kerry McGrath, Community Fundraising Manager at John Taylor Hospice, said: "We've dedicated the whole of April to our Coffee Morning Month campaign and we'd love as many people as possible to get on board with our fundraising.

"Whether you plan to host your own bake sale or be a guest at a friend’s afternoon tea party - every penny you raise means so much to us. Your money will be used to help patients living with a terminal illness to access compassionate care and support and it will ensure their loved ones are looked after too.

"If you've never fundraised before then don't worry as hosting an event is great fun! We're here to help you and we'd love to hear what you have planned so please do get in touch."