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Fundraiser Fiesta

What a wonderful night on Friday at the Town Hall where a Fundraising Fiesta was held. Dance promoter MANI MUCHASALSA teamed up with Sutton Coldfield Town Hall to create a fundraiser for the people of Ukraine.
An update from Mani at 11.45am 18/04/22
“*** MONEY RAISED UPDATE & A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO EVERYONE ***
Yes, Yes, we made it. We should all be proud of what we raised at the events and from donations via GOFUNDME ( which unfortunately charged 12% for each amount donated).
The total amount raised is £5070.42. The Sutton Coldfield Town Hall gave the venue for free as collaborators. All that they took is £530 to cover for the security and bar staff. Other expenses like ticket printing, flags etc comes to just £72.
The balance of £4400 will be paid to the Disasters Emergency Committee – DEC Ukraine Appeal which will match this a pound for a pound. So we should say an excess of £8800 was raised by us.
Here is a gallery of a number of photographs from the evening there are also  more  but too many to post here .” Photographs are available to purchase a a small cost and will be transferred as a digital file. Please contact Nigel at [email protected] if you are interested.

Easter Travel Information

 

Trains

Avanti West Coast

Between Friday 15 April and Monday 18 April (inclusive), no trains will operate to / from London Euston. Avanti West Coast trains will terminate at Milton Keynes or Rugby, where connections into rail replacement services will be available. Rail replacement services will operate in both directions between:

  • Milton Keynes Central – Bedford (connecting primarily into Thameslink services)
  • Rugby – Kettering (connecting into East Midlands Railway services)

 

FA Cup semi-finals on Saturday 16 April: The major West Coast Mainline work will affect Liverpool and Manchester City football supporters travelling to Wembley on Saturday 16 April for the FA Cup semi-final, and Manchester City fans going to the Vitality Women’s FA Cup semi-final. The FA, Network Rail and Chiltern Railways strongly advise that Liverpool and Manchester City supporters affected should avoid travelling from the North West by train wherever possible and seek alternative travel arrangements – travel advice from The FA can be found here.

Good Friday 15 April

No trains will operate to or from London Euston due to major engineering works. The following service changes will apply:

  • Liverpool Lime Street services will start / terminate at Rugby.
  • Glasgow Central services will run between Milton Keynes Central and Carlisle, a limited service will run via Dumfries between Carlisle and Glasgow Central.
  • Manchester Piccadilly trains will start / terminate at Milton Keynes Central and run via Stoke-on-Trent.
  • Wolverhampton trains will start / terminate at Milton Keynes Central.
  • Holyhead trains will only run between Crewe and Holyhead.

 

Saturday 16 April

No trains will operate to or from London Euston due to major engineering works. The following service changes will apply:

  • Liverpool Lime Street services will start / terminate at Rugby.
  • Glasgow Central services will run between Milton Keynes Central and Carlisle, a limited service will run via Dumfries between Carlisle and Glasgow Central.
  • Manchester Piccadilly trains will start / terminate at Milton Keynes Central and run via Stoke-on-Trent.
  • Wolverhampton trains will start / terminate at Milton Keynes Central.
  • Holyhead trains will only run between Crewe and Holyhead.

 

Engineering work is taking place between Motherwell and Glasgow Central / Edinburgh, closing some lines. Trains to/from Glasgow Central will run between Milton Keynes Central and Carlisle, a limited service will run via Dumfries between Carlisle and Glasgow Central.

Sunday 17 April

​​​​​​​No trains will operate to or from London Euston due to major engineering works. The following service changes will apply:

  • Liverpool Lime Street services will start / terminate at Rugby.
  • Glasgow Central services will run between Milton Keynes Central and Carlisle, a limited service will run via Dumfries between Carlisle and Glasgow Central.
  • Manchester Piccadilly trains will start / terminate at Milton Keynes Central and run via Stoke-on-Trent.
  • Wolverhampton trains will start / terminate at Milton Keynes Central.
  • Holyhead trains will only run between Crewe and Holyhead.

 

Engineering work is taking place between Motherwell and Glasgow Central / Edinburgh, closing some lines. Trains to/from Glasgow Central will run between Milton Keynes Central and Carlisle, a limited service will run via Dumfries between Carlisle and Glasgow Central.

Easter Monday 18 April

​​​​​​​No trains will operate to or from London Euston due to major engineering works. The following service changes will apply:

  • Liverpool Lime Street services will start / terminate at Rugby.
  • Glasgow Central services will run between Milton Keynes Central and Carlisle, a limited service will run via Dumfries between Carlisle and Glasgow Central.
  • Manchester Piccadilly trains will start / terminate at Milton Keynes Central and run via Stoke-on-Trent.
  • Wolverhampton trains will start / terminate at Milton Keynes Central.
  • Holyhead trains will only run between Crewe and Holyhead.

West Midlands Railway

Good Friday 15 April

Due to engineering work between Leamington Spa and Nuneaton, buses will replace trains between these stations (via Coventry).

Saturday 16 April

Due to engineering work between Leamington Spa and Nuneaton, buses will replace trains between these stations (via Coventry).

Sunday 17 April

Due to engineering work between Leamington Spa and Nuneaton, buses will replace trains between these stations (via Coventry).

Easter Monday 18 April

Due to engineering work between Leamington Spa and Nuneaton, buses will replace trains between these stations (via Coventry).

Roads

For road users we would recommend using the following websites

https://nationalhighways.co.uk

https://www.theaa.com/roadwatch

 

Media Release form the NHS

Help the NHS this Easter weekend

With the Easter weekend days away, the NHS is encouraging residents to plan ahead and choose the right health services during the holiday period, as emergency care services tackle an unprecedented demand. NHS services and local partners across Birmingham and Solihull are working together to help emergency services reduce delays.

Ahead of the Easter weekend, the NHS is asking residents who require repeat prescriptions to contact their GP practice, visit their practice website or use the NHS app and order only what they need before Friday, ensuring they collect their prescription in good time.

The Easter weekend will see GP practices and some pharmacies either closed or operating with reduced opening hours on Good Friday (15 April), Easter Sunday (17 April) and Easter Monday (18 April). You can find pharmacy opening hours over the Easter weekend here.

Residents can also support the NHS over the Easter weekend by thinking about the most appropriate service for them before they seek help.

For minor health concerns, such as rashes and aches, your local pharmacist can provide expert advice and over-the-counter medicines.

Your pharmacy or local supermarket can also help you prepare for self-care, by providing medicines and supplies, such as paracetamol and antihistamine, for your first-aid kit. A helpful guide to what you should have at home is available on the NHS website.

For urgent health concerns, instead of going to A&E, call 111 or visit 111.nhs.uk. 111 is available 24 hours a day, and will provide the advice you need.

Dr Richard Mendelsohn, Chief Medical Officer at NHS Birmingham and Solihull Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “For healthcare staff across Birmingham and Solihull, our priority remains ensuring our patients get the advice and care they need, especially those facing life-threatening emergencies.

“Ahead of the Easter weekend, our emergency services are experiencing an unprecedented demand and we need our residents to plan ahead to stay well, such as ensuring they have ordered and collected any repeat prescriptions before the holiday.

“If someone is ill over the Easter weekend, the NHS is here for them, but we’re asking the public to think carefully about which service can help them, as A&E and 999 are there for the most serious and life-threatening emergencies.

“Whereas, your local pharmacy can provide support for minor health conditions, and you can turn to 111 for urgent health issues.

“111 advisors can ensure patients receive the right care from the right service, whether that’s an out-of-hours GP or calling an ambulance.”

New Facility At Walmley Golf Club

It was really nice to be invited along to the official opening of this fantastic new facility at Walmley Golf Club in part funded by “Sport England” and the club its self.

The facility includes a driving range fully accessible for wheelchair users and also a state of the art studio fully equipped to help develop all aspects of the players game, including swing analysis, launch data, club fitting and more, using Sky Trak and T.O.M.I. Putting Lab. All very technical from when I learnt to play a very long time ago.

There were plenty of members there to support the official opening including the Gents and Ladies Captains Mike Ball and Gill Ball. The ribbon was cut by Tom Biggs-Hayes 2021 Captain who was also the builder who worked on the construction

The facility will be used by Sam Stuart who is the teaching pro who works with disability children and special needs adults. Steve Carter is the golf pro for the club.

Soul Sisters

This fantastic new soul musical stopped off at Sutton Coldfield Town Hall last night as part of its UK tour. Starring Amelle Berrabah from “Sugababes”, Nicole Faraday “Bad Girls” and Wendy Harriott from “The Voice UK”

The story of three friends who used to be an 80’s chart topping trio known as “The Fabulettes” visiting a classic holiday camp Soul Weekender as they try to that elusive closeness they had as teenagers, they do so by expressing themselves the only way they can through their music.

Can they pull off a performance of a lifetime do they still have what it takes, can they forgive and forget.

This musical rollercoaster is full of light-hearted fun, totally relatable and full of soul. A great night out if you missed this try and catch it at another stop on its uk tour

Soul Sisters

 

Busy Four Days at The Town Hall

Events have really started arrive at the Town Hall with four amazing ones happening over the last few days.

First off there was Andrew Mitchell MP talking about his new book ‘Beyond A Fringe : Tales from a reformed Establishment lackey’ quite a fascinating and humorous tale of his life in and out of politics. He spoke about his prep school years through his time in the army and at Cambridge and the Palace of Westminster.

That was followed on Friday evening with a fabulous trip down memory lane to the swinging sixties with the “Upbeat Beatles” taking us through the years of the Beatles hits from Love Me Do to Hey Jude. From the depths of The Cavern, through Beatlemania, conquering America, Sergeant Pepper to Abbey Road and finally the Apple roof top, their attention to detail will draw you into the world of the Beatles like no other show. Fantastic harmonies and guitar solos with plenty of humour and audience participation.

Saturday night saw us back to the 80’s “Calling Planet Earth” This was a symphonic journey though an era defining decade featuring the music of Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet Human league and so many more. The songs were performed by a dynamic band with amazing symphonic arrangements and fabulous vocals.

Finally Sunday, and the pace slowed a little but not the attendance or anticipation for the long awaited return of “Sutton Coldfield Vintage and Arts Fair” We were there early but the buzz from the stall holders and the shoppers was palpable. There were over sixty stalls ranging from vintage fashion, arts, crafts and many others. There was also live entertainment brought to us from “Dance with Henry” featuring some amazing dancers and after all that energy time for refreshments with a wonderful selection of cakes on sale.

 

 

Town Hall to host Dance Fundraiser for Ukraine

Popular dance promoter Mani Wotany has teamed up with Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Hall to create a fundraiser to help the devastated people of war-torn Ukraine.

‘Ukraine Fundraising Fiesta’ is the creation of Mani Wotany, who runs a number of Salsa and Kizomba dance nights across the UK.

Mani, known more commonly in the dance community as Mani Muchasalsa, has been holding dance events across the country for 22 years, particularly in the Midlands.

He has run several charity fundraisers in response to international crises, such as a dance event for Haiti which raise £8,000, and one for the Philippines which raised £15,000.

Sutton Coldfield Town Hall, which has been displaying Ukrainian national colours on its clock tower lighting in support of the war-torn country, was a natural choice for the promoter as a partner, as it hosts two large sprung dancefloors across two rooms.

Spaces for the event on Friday, April 15, are limited, and at only £12, tickets are likely to sell out.

Organisers urge people to visit www.suttoncoldfieldtownhall.com for event details.

Royal Town’s Emma Willis to Bake Off

TV presenter Emma Willis will be putting her baking skills to the test after signing-up to star in The Great Celebrity British Bake Off.

Sir Mo Farah, singer Ellie Goulding and Strictly Come Dancing judge Motsi Mabuse are among the other celebrities who will be joining the series in aid of Stand Up To Cancer, with the show’s presenter Matt Lucas also in line to have a go.

Emma Willis, 45, is best known for hosting shows such as The Voice, Big Brother and Delivering Babies, and lives in Hertfordshire with her husband and Busted bassist, Matt Willis.

And this year’s exciting crop of 19 Bake-Off celebrities also includes comedian and creator of Taskmaster Alex Horne, singer-songwriter Example and choirmaster Gareth Malone.

Radio DJ Annie Mac, actor and author Ben Miller, The Inbetweeners star Blake Harrison, and TV and radio presenter Clara Amfo will also feature.

Former Coronation Street actress Katherine Kelly, TV presenter Laura Whitmore, comedian Ed Gamble, writer and comedian Mawaan Rizwan, TV star Ruby Wax, TV presenter Sophie Morgan, Friday Night Dinner’s Tracy-Ann Oberman and musician Yung Filly complete the line-up.

In each episode celebrities will battle it out over three rounds – the Signature, the Technical and the Showstopper challenge – in a bid to be crowned Star Baker and impress judges Paul Hollywood and Dame Prue Leith.

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