Community News

18 local heroes and their family and friends visited Webbs, Wychbold to officially open the garden centre’s Christmas Ice Rink.

The inspiring individuals, who were nominated by members of the community for their selfless actions throughout the year, were the very first to skate at this year’s rink, which is set to welcome thousands of families from now until when it closes on Monday 7th January.

Ed Webb, owner of Webbs Garden Centres, said: “It was a great night and was our pleasure to give a fantastic experience back to the people that are always giving so much to others out in the community areas around the store. We had local heroes of all ages in attendance, with some as young as 8!”

“Now we look forward to December, where the real ice rink will be spreading Christmas joy throughout the Midlands.”

A police ban on Extinction Rebellion protests in London last month was unlawful, following a High Court ruling.

The Metropolitan Police imposed the ban, which prevented two or more people from the group taking part in protests, under the Public Order Act.

The judges ruled that police had no power to do this because the law did not cover "separate assemblies".

Lord Justice Dingemans said: "Separate gatherings, separated both in time and by many miles, even if co-ordinated under the umbrella of one body, are not a public assembly within the meaning of... the Act.

"The Extinction Rebellion autumn uprising intended to be held from October 14 to 19 was not therefore a public assembly.

The decision to impose the condition was unlawful because there was no power to impose it under the Act."

The judges noted that there are powers within that act which may be used lawfully to "control future protests which are deliberately designed to 'take police resources to breaking point"'.

Following the ruling, activists say the police could now face claims for false imprisonment from "potentially hundreds" of protesters.

During a series of climate change protests last month, activists shut down areas around Parliament and the Bank of England, and targeted London City Airport.

Police had previously warned protesters to keep demonstrations in Trafalgar Square, or risk arrest - before issuing a city-wide ban under Section 14 of the Public Order Act. It was issued on the same day as a message posted online by London activists.

The ban was lifted four days later, with officers from the Met saying that it was no longer necessary because demonstrations had ended.

The protests, which led to 1,828 arrests, was said to have cost £24m to police.

165 people were charged with offences, the Met says.

The Met’s Assistant Commissioner, Nick Ephgrave, said the decision to impose the ban had been "reasonable and proportionate" and "was not taken lightly.

He said: “I would not and cannot ban protests.

“That the ruling was made specifically on whether officers could arrest demonstrators for assembling in central London.

"There is no criticism from me of the decision to impose the condition, which was made with good intent and based upon the circumstances confronting the command team at the time.

"It did in fact result in the reduction of the disruption. Nevertheless, this case highlights that policing demonstrations like these, within the existing legal framework, can be challenging."

Having argued that the ban was the only way to tackle widespread disruption, London’s Metropolitan Police said it would "carefully consider" the ruling.

Describing itself as an international "non-violent civil disobedience activist movement", XR wants governments to declare a "climate and ecological emergency" and take immediate action to address climate change.

Due to high demand, more tables and tickets have been released for the Black Country Chamber Awards, due to take place at Wolverhampton Racecourse.

This year’s event is proving particularly popular and the handful of tables which have just been released, are likely to sell out quickly.

The eagerly anticipated Awards will take place on Friday 15 November. The event is headline sponsored by Wolverhampton Grand Theatre and will celebrate Black Country Business and showcase the Black Country’s strong business community.

The event will be hosted by comedian and celebrity impressionist Aaron James, who is starring in Wolverhampton Grand Theatre’s Christmas pantomime, Dick Whittington. After the success of last year’s Awards, and the increase of local business talent, the awards promise to be the business event of the year.

Ticket prices vary depending on the location of the table, but range from £105+VAT - £80+VAT per. The table locations are shown on the website where tickets are also available to purchase. They are on a first come first served basis.

Corin Crane, chief executive of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce said, “It is wonderful to see so many people supporting the Awards and wanting to be part of this event. Not only will those attending have the opportunity to see all the fantastic businesses the Black Country has, but it also gives people the chance to meet like-minded individuals and gain inspiration.

“I am very excited to see the outcome, we have many high-calibre businesses competing against each other, I don’t envy the judges having to choose between them! We are happy to be celebrating the Black Country and the people working here.”

The awards will feature a night of entertainment, three-course meal and an opportunity to network with other business professionals. In addition to the 13 award categories, an overall ‘Business of the Year’, sponsored by DY5, Dudley’s Business & Innovation Enterprise Zone, will also be selected and announced on the night.

A new multi-disciplinary team is being launched to help prevent at-risk young people in Wolverhampton from having to come into care.

Power2 will work with young people with different levels of need and support, helping them to exert more positive control over their lives and to live safely as they progress towards adulthood.

It will focus on 11 to 16-year-olds where there are concerns around exploitation, instability in the home environment or who demonstrate high risk-taking behaviours.

The launch of Power2 follows the success of a pilot project which enabled two social workers to work exclusively with young people aged 13 to 16 who were subject to Child in Need or Child Protection plans. The social workers helped 28 of the 31 teenagers they worked with – all at risk of a range of issues from drugs and alcohol to gangs and child sexual exploitation – remain with their families.

Overall, there was a significant reduction in the number of young people coming into care during the course of the pilot, which concluded that by dedicating all of their time in this way, social workers were able to build effective relationships with the young people and their families, and with other agencies such as the police.

The pilot also identified a number of areas for further development, and these have been incorporated into the design of Power2. The team will work with young people at risk of gang exploitation or child sexual exploitation, substance misuse or criminal or antisocial behaviour, those who have been excluded from school or violent towards other people in the home, or those who have been subject to missing episodes.

Councillor John Reynolds, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: "We are committed to doing all we can to ensure that children are able to grow up safely and happily with their families, and keep to a minimum the number of children who ultimately have to be taken into care.

"The Power2 team will have a very important role in supporting some of our most vulnerable young people, and I look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have.”

The team will be part of Children Service’s Specialist Support Service and will consist of social workers, an educational psychologist, a speech and language therapist, counselling psychologist and five keyworkers from Barnardo’s, Gazebo Theatre and St Giles Trust.

With November 5th on the horizon, people across the UK will start planning where they will be celebrating this year’s bonfire night.  For most, the booms, bangs and colourful fireworks are a pure delight however, for many pets they can be terrifying.

Simon Bandy, Managing Director at Health Plus, offers his tips on keeping pets safe and relaxed this Guy Fawkes night:

Cats

• If you can, keep your cat in as night starts to fall.  Frightened cats outside won’t have their usual wits about them.  If they are in the house they can find a place they feel safe to curl up
• Keep windows and curtains closed to prevent them escaping, and to keep light leaks from the explosions to a minimum
• Where possible stay at home with your feline friend.  Your presence and hands on stroking will help calm them

Dogs

• Plan to walk your dog while it’s still light.  Getting them out for exercise before nightfall reduces the risk of fireworks being set off while you are on your walk
• When at home in the evening, turn the television or radio on a little louder than you would normally have it.  This way the heightened noise can act as a screen for the outside bangs
• Build a den as a safe area for them to retreat to.  If they usually have a crate in the house, drape a large blanket over it to create an extra layer of safety

Simon commented, “If you know your pet suffers from anxiety there are many things you can start planning and putting into place for when firework season begins.  If you haven’t done so already it is a good idea to get your pet microchipped, or if they already are, check your contact details are up to date.  Another thing you could try is Pet Vit’s range of calming formulas, for cats and small and large dogs, which soothe emotions during periods of high anxiety or fear.”

Next month will mark the launch of Art.quarter, a new concept for Birmingham’s arty, hip Digbeth area.

A pioneering new halal complex that promises to reflect and celebrate the culturally diverse nature of our city, Art.quarter is the perfect blank canvas for a completely new scene.

Founded by Jordan Patel, a Birmingham-based Muslim revert with Indian heritage, Art.quarter has been over a year in the making, and will provide employment and development opportunities in the local area, as well as injecting new life into the Digbeth scene.

The complex is set over 20,000 square feet and three floors, and will be an explosion of culture and creativity, with talent from around the city contributing to create a space that caters for every aspect of modern life. Launching in late November with a food court, gallery and boutique barbershop, Art.quarter will quickly develop to include a ladies-only hair salon, patisserie, kids’ dessert parlour, fitness studio, multimedia centre, retail and more. With the full complex planned for completion by March 2020, Art.quarter promises to quickly become the beating heart of the city.

Jordan’s vision for the complex is simple but ambitious - he wants to create unity through common interests, and create an environment for everyone to thrive, no matter their beliefs or heritage.

“The idea for Art.quarter comes from a deep understanding of the divisions in our city, and our society, and a desire to help to heal those wounds though creativity,

“I want to create a space for people to share experiences and begin to understand one another,

“Muslim, Indian and British values all coexist peacefully inside me; I want Art.quarter to show that they can coexist peacefully in society, too.”

In line with the collaborative nature of the project, the Art.quarter team are looking for local creatives to put their stamp on the space and staff of all levels. They also welcome enquiries from parties who are interested in business partnership opportunities.

Members of the public were invited to the funeral of RAF Veteran Oswald Dixon who died with no known family.

Broughton House Veterans Home in Salford, where Dixon lived, put out a plea for people to attend the funeral of the 100 year old Veteran.

In a hearse decorated with 100 poppies, Mr Dixon's coffin was taken to Agecroft Crematorium where despite the rain, hundreds had turned out to honour him.

Broughton House had posted to Facebook saying “It is with regret that Oswald has no family members in the UK and his funeral will take place at Agecroft Crematorium on Wednesday 9th of October at 2.20pm.

“At his 100th birthday celebration Oswald stated that he ‘always tried to live life as it should be lived, by doing things for other people’ His warm character will be missed by everyone involved at Broughton House.”

Serving members of 34 Squadron RAF Regiment and RAF Cadets formed a guard of honour, as representatives from the Ministry of Defence, Salford Council, Residents and Staff from Broughton House and the Ceremonial Mayor of Salford Council Charlie McIntyre were also in attendance.

Jamaica Honorary Consul, Wade Lyn CBE read a tribute on behalf of His Excellency Seth George Ramocan, Jamaica High Commissioner.

Donald Campbell, a retired RAF Veteran himself and one of the driving forces behind the National Caribbean Monument Charity, said "It was an excellent farewell to Mr Oswald Dixon, people came from far and wide, local, national & international to pay their respects. RIP Sir. Lest We Forget."

The new chair of The Lunar Society has pledged to foster high social impact and inter-generational discussion, engage more with young people, hold constructive debate, grow the Society’s membership and build a global reach - whilst ensuring that the heritage of the Society is promoted and preserved.

Deirdre LaBassiere, Governance and Assurance Manager at Housing21 was elected as Chair of The Lunar Society following the Annual General Meeting, when there was a tie in the voting for Chair between two candidates, Peter Borg-Bartolo and Deirdre LaBassiere.

It was agreed at the meeting that, following the AGM, a meeting of the new Executive Committee would be held to determine how the election process should be pursued. Dr Borg-Bartolo withdrew his nomination as Chair and has been appointed as Vice-Chair.

The Lunar Society’s new Executive Committee comprises:

Frances Anderson and John Rainford have become co-opted members.

Deirdre LaBassiere, who was elected Hon. Secretary in 2017, paid tribute to the work of the outgoing Chair, Vice-Chair and Executive Committee members, saying: “It is a huge privilege to be appointed as Chair of this remarkable and well-respected Society and my intention is to continue the extraordinarily good work of my predecessor, the Rt. Hon. Jacqui Smith, and the Society’s former Vice-Chair, Sir Michael Lyons. I am delighted that both are remaining on the executive. This both ensures continuity and retains their valued counsel and wisdom.

“Peter and I and the rest of the committee are intent on working together to maximise our influence in Birmingham and further afield and serve the needs and interests of our members and many supporters.”

Peter Borg-Bartolo, who has served as an Executive Committee member since 2017, said: “I am looking forward to working with Deirdre and the rest of the Executive Committee. I am grateful to the members for their support and am also pleased that we have resolved what was a close-run election! Our commitment is to the long-term future of the Society, serving our members and upholding our goals of stimulating ideas, broadening debate and catalysing action.”

The committee also includes Olwen Brown who has been appointed Hon. Secretary succeeding Deirdre, and Mark Purcell, who succeeds Nigel Webb as Hon. Treasurer. Also joining the committee is Clive Stone.

Deirdre thanked Frances Anderson and Olwen Brown for their advice on constitutional issues arising from the tied vote.

According to a statement from Clarence House, Prince Charles will be attending the Canonization of Cardinal John Henry Newman at the Vatican on Sunday, October. 13.

He will be attending a reception at the Pontifical Urban College following the Mass. Newman studied at the college while preparing to become a Catholic priest.

Cardinal Newman was a leading proponent of the Oxford Movement in the Anglican church, which advocated reintroducing older practices into worship. He eventually converted to Catholicism in 1845, becoming a priest soon thereafter. He was created a cardinal by Leo XIII in 1879. He died in 1890. Newman was beatified by Pope Benedict XVI in Birmingham during the pope’s 2010 visit to the United Kingdom.

A patron of Newman University, which he founded, in Birmingham, he will be the first English saint since the Forty Martyrs were canonized in 1970, and the first British saint since Scottish St. John Ogilvie in 1976.

Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the Archbishop of Westminster and president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, said he was “delighted” about the announcement.

“Cardinal Newman’s exploration of faith, depth of personal courage, intellectual clarity and cultural sensitivity make him a deeply admired follower of Christ. His ministry, especially among the poor, is a permanent sign of the Church’s pastoral compassion and a challenge to us all today,” the cardinal said.

Nichols concluded: “As one who has been a lifelong champion of the spiritual in everyday life, to promote understanding between faiths, and who has sought to alleviate poverty and disadvantage through his charitable work, The Prince of Wales is particularly qualified to mark the canonization, which will be such a significant and joyful moment for this country.”

The Vatican is preparing to receive a delegation of thirteen MPs and peers from the All-Party Parliamentary Group on the Holy See for events surrounding the canonisation of Cardinal John Henry Newman.

The Archbishop of Canterbury is sending the Rt Rev Christopher Foster, Bishop of Portsmouth, as his representative, while Newman’s old university of Oxford will be represented by Neil Mendoza, the Provost of Oriel College where Newman was a Fellow, and Dame Hilary Boulding, the President of Trinity College where Newman studied as an undergraduate.

Birmingham, where the soon-to-be saint founded the first English Oratory, will be represented by the Lord Mayor, Councillor Mohammed Azim.

Despite more than 15,000 objections, Birmingham City Council seem set to go ahead with plans to tear down a major flyover close to the site of the 2022 Commonwealth Games’ athletes village.

The £27.1 million project to remove the flyover on the A34 - takes motorists from Walsall and Great Barr into Birmingham city centre - in Perry Barr, in the city, in favour of putting all traffic onto a dual carriageway at ground level, will be voted on by the Council’s cabinet members in the next few days.

With no alternative yet to be found, Councillor Waseem Zaffar MBE, Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment, has admitted the scheme is now likely to go ahead.

This follows months of controversy after a 15,273-signature petition was handed in to the Council opposing the removal of the flyover.

Cllr Zaffar said that no suitable alternative proposals had been suggested to the council and, as such, they would be going ahead with plans to remove the flyover.

He said: “With the changes that are coming, with 5,000 new homes being built, half a billion pounds being invested into Perry Barr, it’s going to see major changes.

“One of the biggest changes it will see is the Aldridge old connection from the A453 onto the A34 dual carriageway is being taken away because of the new homes that are being built on that particular site.

“And in line with that closure, also connecting people across Perry Barr with the One Stop shopping centre.

“It’s clearly not feasible to do this, and there isn’t the amount of space to do this, without removing the flyover and capping the Birchfield island.

“We have considered a range of other proposals but, in order to keep people moving efficiently through Perry Barr, in particular on public transport and having that cycling offer that we will have, we will not be able to offer all these real alternatives for sustainable forms of transport through the north of the city without removing this flyover.

“We are very confident that we will achieve this with minimal disruption, we will achieve this within the time allocated that we need to achieve it for the big event in 2022, and we will achieve it to benefit the residents in the short, medium and long term.”

As part of the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity’s CPR Training Challenge, Critical care paramedics trained over 100 adults and children during the Charity’s Strensham Airbase Open Day at the Northbound Strensham Service Area, in Worcestershire

Last year, the service attended 3,861 missions by air and critical care cars, of which nearly quarter were related to cardiac arrests. Visitors who attended the free event were given the opportunity to learn the lifesaving skill, alongside learning more about the emergency service, which is funded entirely by donations.

Emma Gray, fundraising and marketing director for the charity says: “Every September we open the doors of our Strensham Airbase so our supporters can see behind the scenes, meeting our aircrew and having a close look at our aircraft.

“This year the event raised enough funds to ensure we can undertake five future air ambulance missions, and we’re delighted that our aircrew with support from West Midlands Ambulance Service, were able to train 100 people in the lifesaving skill of CPR.”

Visitors were also treated to live incident demonstrations, classic vehicle displays and children’s entertainment including character mascots, face painting and fairground rides.

Taking place at NEC Birmingham, Grand Designs Live (GDL) will be back 9th-13th October 2019. Proud headline sponsor will be Love Your Postcode, the Midland’s leading performance property brand which is giving away 100 pairs of weekday tickets, usually worth up to £40 each, it’s the must-visit event for anyone looking to learn about renovations, self-builds, interior designs and expert advice.

Bobby Singh’s brand image is powerful, the “Sikh Business Man” award of the year recipient – graces the much sought after premium advertising spaces and personifies the success of his group with a personal iconic image which shows him twisting his raised moustache and is nothing short of extremely dynamic and clever successful brand strategic marketing, which has seen Love Your Postcode group expand internationally this year and secure the Channel 4 contract for the second year running with Grand Designs Live, the TV stations successful home renovating lifestyle event; which takes place at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre and makes Love Your Post Code the only British estate agent to engage as official partner and sponsor in the shows 20 year event history.

It’s an exciting partnership for the Birmingham brand which has rapidly built an enviable reputation as strong as it’s address book and specialises in off market property sales under the mantle Performance&™. Bobby Singh’s innovative strategy has increased the extensive private client list due to it’s “out of home reach”, and the award winning model works both on the sell and buy side without any conflict of interest. Unlike other agencies, it firstly works with a fully vetted client list and as a last resort property portals. The brand loyalty culminates to the overall performance aspect which is measured on time, from instruction to completion, with required prices being achieved 99% of the time. The exclusivity and correct brand partnerships create premium outcomes that other agencies find difficult to match and the 28 day asking price guarantee proposition sets it apart from the competition.

“The exclusive property partnership, with a leading international brand for the second year running leverages Love Your Postcodes position something Catalina Lopez group co-founder is proud of as the group celebrate their tenth year anniversary. “We are excited for our staff, clients, friends to join in this momentous occasion and explore the world of property design, interiors, gardens, eco project builds all under one roof. We will be providing personal 30-minute appointment slots with Bobby Singh who will also be interviewed by Kevin McCloud on his successful journey into property.”

For more information, personal appointment slots with Love Your Postcode in the Premium Lounge and to claim your free pairs of weekday tickets to Grand Designs Live – hurry, there are only 100! – head to www.loveyourpostcode.com/grand-designs-live and use the code bemorelion before the 9th October 2019.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson recognised Jay Singh-Sohal for his exceptional service commemorating Sikh contributions to the British Armed Forces.

Jay, from Sutton Coldfield in the West Midlands, led the successful campaign to create the UK’s only memorial to the more than 120,000 Sikh soldiers who fought during the First World War.

The Conservative candidate for West Midlands Police & Crime Commissioner, Jay is an Army Reserve Captain, also working with the British Army to commemorate Sikh contributions to the British Armed Forces on Saragarhi Day, every September.

The Battle of Saragarhi saw 21 Sikh soldiers fight for the British Indian Army and defend the North-West Frontier with Afghanistan against 10,000 enemy forces in 1897. While the battle has long been commemorated in India by the Indian Army, Jay was inspired to bring commemorations to the UK to serve as an opportunity to engage British Sikhs with their heritage and celebrate continued Sikh contributions to the British military today.

He is the latest recipient of the Points of Light award, which recognises outstanding volunteers who are making a change in their community and inspiring others. Each day, someone, somewhere in the country is selected to receive the award to celebrate their remarkable achievements.

In a personal letter to Jay PM Johnson said: “I know you do this with no thought of praise or reward, but allow me to offer my own recognition of how you have created our country’s first memorial to the 120,000 brave Sikh soldiers who fought during the First World War. It is fitting that we honour their enormous courage and sacrifice in ensuring the freedoms we all enjoy today.”

Jay, the 1244th winner of the Points of Light award, which has been developed in partnership with the hugely successful Points of Light programme in the USA, said: "I’m delighted to be receiving a Points of Light award from the Prime Minister.

“Telling the story of shared British Sikh history through the battle of Saragarhi has been a fantastic journey working with wonderful people with the same enthusiasm for our heritage. It continues to inspire many more to serve our country in whichever way they can.

I’m proud of the part I’ve been able to play in driving grassroots community activity in this way”.

Tributes were paid to "trailblazing" Sikh sheriff's deputy in the US after he was killed on duty.

Sandeep Dhaliwal died after being shot from behind during a traffic stop in Texas, in the USA.

A man was been arrested and charged with murder.

Deputy Dhaliwal made history as the first Sikh to become a sheriff's deputy in Texas's Harris County where he was allowed to wear his turban and beard while on patrol.

Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said: "He wore a turban and represented his community with integrity, respect and pride.

“Deputy Dhaliwal was a hero, he was a respected member of the community and he was a trailblazer".

The brother of a Wolverhampton councillor, a memorial service was organised in West Midlands city in recognition of his family links to the city after it emerged his sister was a member of the council.

Rupinderjit Kaur a Labour representative for the Spring Vale ward was told of her brother’s killing after receiving a call from officials in the US.

She said her family had always feared that his job could put him in danger, especially because of much-publicised problems with gun crime and racism in America’s south.

But she said she was proud of him for following his dream of becoming a police officer, despite the challenges of being a Sikh in Texas.

Cllr Kaur said: “When he said he was joining the police force we were scared but at the same time we were proud of his decision and supported him”.

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said Deputy Dhaliwal was a "bold and ground-breaking law enforcement officer in the eyes of our county, our state, our nation, and around the world, because he sought and received permission to patrol while wearing the outward signs of his Sikh faith, including a turban and beard".

"He was a walking lesson in tolerance and understanding," he added.

2019 marks the 32nd year of Black History Month in the UK, where we observe those who came before us, making a difference to Empower the Youth to pick up the mantle left by previous generations as we move forward into a brighter future.

The global world is shrinking, with advances in communication and technology, as black people now the opportunities are endless and the boundaries removed. This year The Phoenix Newspaper celebrates Black History Month: The Next Generation, as we look towards the leading lights of our communities to inspire the next generation to believe that no dream is impossible.

With this special 12 page supplement, we are highlighting the unsung heroes and role models of all ages, backgrounds and cultures to produce an inspirational publication for our youth.

We want to thank Town Hall Symphony Hall for their unending support of both the newspaper, and the ongoing work sharing our vision of all people under one banner. We would also like to give thanks to the Royal Air Force, who have been staunch supporters of all communities, especially the black community in the region. Black History Month has a special place in many peoples hearts, for a wide variety of reasons.

While we will always look back and remember the feats and sacrifices made by previous generations for the betterment of all, especially those who were ‘Called To Order’ during and after the war, we must also be looking forward to our youth as the next generation in whom we trust.

We have planted the seeds so now it is time for our children to  reap the fruits of our labour.

The Phoenix Newspaper, in collaboration with Town Hall & Symphony Hall Birmingham, celebrated the official launch of Black History Month 2019 in the Director's Suite at Symphony Hall.

Presented by The Phoenix’s Dee Burrowes & Town Hall Symphony Hall's Richard Loftus, specially invited guests; including multi-award winning musician, Apache Indian, Aisha Anifowoshe, Trade Development Officer at Grace Foods UK, filmed by the BBC, McDonald’s Restaurant franchisee, entrepreneur and philanthropist, Paul Ramsey, Phyllis Peters, Branch Manager at Victoria Mutual Finance Ltd in Birmingham, Joy Bailey of HSBC Bank, Town Hall Symphony Hall’s recently appointed Manager of Classical Music, Toks Dada, Birmingham Deputy Lord Mayor Councillor Yvonne Mosquito, Sam Duru of The Wolverhampton Black Business Network, lecturer and music impresario, Mykal Wassifa Brown, Donald Campbell, world record breaking muscleman ‘Big Dave’ Gauder, plus officials from the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy and West Midlands Police Force were just a few who were on hand, in the Director’s Suite which was especially convened for an exquisite afternoon of celebration and notification.

Richard Loftus, Director of Sales and Marketing at Town Hall and Symphony Hall Birmingham, whose diligence, hard work and on-going relationship help put the whole thing together, made a point that he was “extremely proud to work with The Phoenix Newspaper”. He also made note of the death of international opera star Jessye Norman, who performed at Symphony Hall in 1991, who died at the age of 74, and whose portait adorns the wall in Symphony Hall's Directors Lounge.

The recently appointment Manager of Classical Music Toks Dada gave a heartwarming speech on the achievements of this great role model, including her Grammy Awards, and being the first black female opera singer to perform at the Symphony Hall.

“Despite your difficulties”, Cllr Mosquito said, “I have to especially thank you.” “When you read The Phoenix Newspaper it is a privilege and a complete honour. I look forward to attend the Gala night and thank you for the work you do”.

Singer/songwriter, producer, radio and TV presenter, Apache Indian, who also runs the A.I.M. (Apache Indian Music) Academy at South & City College Birmingham (Handsworth Campus) was one who praised, wholeheartedly, The Phoenix Newspaper’s previous Anniversary Gala Dinner & Awards Show, highlighting the elevation it has brought to his already-stellar career and was “so looking forward to be performing at this year’s event – on November 16.

“I’ve performed around the world on numerous occasions, had seven Top 30 hits and performed tracks for Hollywood film classics like ‘Dumb and Dumber, but, to be performing at the ICC Birmingham on the night will go down as one of my all-time greatest achievements”.

The Phoenix Newspaper's 9th Anniversary Gala Dinner & Awards Masquerade Ball props were visible in the masks worn by Marcia and her personal assistant Dee Burrowes, with everyone holding the coconuts, representative of the Caribbean and the cocktail red carpet reception at this years gala after party.

In thanking the huge gathering, The Phoenix Newspaper’s Founder/Editor-In-Chief, Marcia McLaughlin emphasized: “It took me 30 years of relentless work to be now able to demonstrate what my – our (The Phoenix Newspaper) aim has always remained to be and I thank all who attended today, and look forward to what promises to be a spectacular evening on November 16”.

Two Friends of Wolverhampton Music Service have got on their bikes and are helping raise funds to ‘Make Wolves Rock’.

Ted and Denise Pearson are riding the length of the United Kingdom by cycling nearly 1,000 miles from Land's End to John o' Groats. The husband and wife team left Penzance and called in to the Music Service, based at Graiseley Primary School. Cycling around 50 miles per day, they hope to reach the far north east of Scotland by 17 September.

They are undertaking the epic challenge in support of Music Service, which is raising funds to purchase new rock instruments and equipment and upgrade the lighting system at the Music School so that it can launch new Make Wolves Rock music classes for local children and young people this autumn.

Ted and Denise hope to raise around £2,000 towards the Music Service's target of £5,855, which will then be match funded by the Arts Council of England.

Denise said: "Our eldest grandchild Ella learnt to play the oboe through the Wolverhampton Music Service, and she's now at Cardiff Welsh Royal College studying the oboe. Our grandson Jack played the guitar here and our other grandson Billy played the cello. All of them have benefited so much from the Music Service that we wanted to give something back.”

Ted joked: "The plan was for it to be 312 miles from Land's End to Wolverhampton, but given the fact we got hopelessly lost when we were in Bristol we have added 10 miles onto the trip already."

Ciaran O'Donnell, Head of Wolverhampton Music Service, said: "Wolverhampton has so much talent and a history of producing world class rock and pop musicians, and we’re looking to provide new, free opportunities for the city to find the stars of the future that we know exist in this talented city.

"Our first step is to raise this money and upgrade our equipment so that we can do this to the best of our ability. To have the support of Ted, Denise and the Friends of the Music Service is invaluable. They are an example to everyone and I hope they will convince Wulfrunians to back the Music Service and donate where they can.”

The Friends Group was formed over 25 years ago to support the work of the music school. They raise funds by raffles, refreshments at events and the school tuck shop, with proceeds used to buy any items requested by the school.

Wolverhampton Music Service provides tuition and musical opportunities for youngsters from schools across the city, including the chance to perform with Wolverhampton Youth Orchestra and Wolverhampton Youth Wind Orchestra.