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A voice on the internet for the residents of Aldridge
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Putting Aldridge residents first |
November 2008 |
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 Sunday, November 16, 2008 |
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A black tie event was held at a Premiership football club to raise funds to send a paralysed former Aldridge school pupil to America for treatment.
Aston Villa F.C played hosts to a black tie and tiara ball last month to bolster funds for the Ryan Cockbill campaignto send him to a rehabilitation centre in California.
Eighteen year old Ryan was just 16 when he broke his neck in a swimming accident in July 2006.He sustained a compression fracture to his fifth and sixth cervical vertebrae causing tetraplegia,meanng he is paralysed from the chest down.
Now his parents Karen and Andy have launched a campaign to raise funds to send Ryan to the Project Walk rehabilitation centre in Sam Diego,which provides exercised based treatment for spinal cord injury recovery.
Karen and Andy's ultimate hope is to see their son walk again.
# - Dusan Popratnjak - 11/16/08; 9:16:02 PM -
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The mother of a traumatised Aldridge teenager who was robbed at knifepoint was incensed to discover her local police station was unmanned because officers were "out to tea".
Kim Stanton's 16 year old son,who did not want to be named,was playing football with six other friends at 19.30pm on Monday when two elder teenagers robbed them of their mobile phones,threatening them with a knife.After the victims returned home from the Croft in Aldridge,Mrs Stanton and other parents went to Aldridge Police station in Anchor Road,only to discover it was locked and un manned.
"It is scandalous and worrying that no one was there,my son was very distressed and so were the other boys involved "she said
In desparation I dialled 999 and some 30 minutes later a police car arrived,the station door was then opened and it was explained that due to having a tea break,they had to lock up and go.Mrs Stanton and her family moved to Aldridge from Tipton because of the expected lower crime levels.
She added "This is scandolous,by the time the car arrived the attackers had cleared the area by a large distance.
Its hard to believe that nobody was manning the station.Inspector Stephen Blake of the Community Safety Team at Walsall said the matter will be investigated.He said "If this was the case then it is appalling,as we do our best to provide the best quality of service to residents.However ,there is a free phone outside the police station which is directly linked to Walsall Police Station.
Aldridge station is not fully manned and often has only one police officer,and if that officer is in the toilet r taking a refreshment break,this kind of incident can occur,but we try to avoid this when ever possible.
We take this kind of crime very seriously and I will be speaking to the boys mother concerned and looking in to the incident.
By Bobby Bridge
# - Dusan Popratnjak - 11/16/08; 8:53:48 PM -
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A moment of pure chance saw the widow of a local man pick the perfect charity to donate funds raised from a memorial event in his honour.More than 100 people packed into the Kajal Restaurant in Liskard Road last week to celebrate the life of Colin Birch,who died from a brain tumour.The event raised more than £ 1,900 for the Ben Sambrook Trust Fund - a charity created after a seven year old Aldridge boy.Ben fought off a brain tumour and the fund was set up to fund research in to tumours among young people.
# - Dusan Popratnjak - 11/16/08; 8:35:30 PM -
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Children in Aldridge have raised hundreds of pounds to help child refugees forced to leave their homes in Burma.
Pupils from St Mary of the Angels Catholic Primary School in Aldridge were so moved by the plight of children from Burma they collected enough money to stretch around their school twice.
The pupils have been busy fund raising for the Hsa Thoo Lei Learning Centre in Mae Sot in Thailand,close to the border with Burma.
The centre provides free education for 700 children and is home to about 200 many of whom are orphans.St Mary of the Angels head teacher Breda Helm said "we are very proud of the pupils who have raised £360 by bringing in loose change and having a mufti day.
This money will provide 50 children with two school lunches a week for a year.
The coins measured more than 700 metres- more than twice the circumferance of the school field.
# - Dusan Popratnjak - 11/16/08; 8:26:47 PM -
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An action group has beenset up to stop gay men having sex in broad day light at a local popular nature reserve .
Campaigners are demanding that Walsall Council which owns the land,step in and install CCTV at Hay Head Wood car park and work with police to prosecute men caught having sex.
Nearby resident and business man Ivor Jones said there had long been problems with heterosexual couples having sex at night at the spot adjecent to Aldridge Airport.
Over the last few months,the number of men driving to the car park and then going in to the woods for sex has increased enormously.This is happening in broad day light and every day of the week.One elderly woman walking her dog saw two men having sex in the wood and was very upset.The police are aware of the problem because lots of people have complained and they do send a car out when they have people available,but these men still keep coming here.
We want the area to be a place where families and walkers can use and walk through without stumbling on men having sex with each other.Saying that residents were frightened of possible violence if they challenged the me,Mr Jones added if you do say something to them they usually give you a mouth ful of abuse but you never know if it could turn in to a physical assualt.
Graham Hood,Walsall Council's head og green spaces said "Hayhwad wood and Aldridge Airport are regularly patrolled by a park ranger and the registrations of vehicles recorded - as they are at other Walsall Council countryside sites.
He stated the Council can not lock the gate to the car park each evening as we have a number of legitmate users who would find this arrangement impractical.
# - Dusan Popratnjak - 11/16/08; 8:14:45 PM -
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A dog from Aldridge has charmed judges to win an award at a national competition.Indi,aged 11 was named overall Best Dog in the grand final of the companion Dog Club awards at leading dog event,Discover Dogs.The cross - breed won the award after first triumphing in the Best OAP category of the competition.
Owner Michelle Wood,from Aldridge picked up the trophy and rosettes from behaviourist Carolyn Menteith,who judged the competition.Michelle said "Its just amazing.Indi is a rescue dog that no - one wanted.We first got him when he was 5 years old and he came to us with many issues including separation anxiety.Now he is really such a lovely dog and he has come so far.He really shows what you can do.Dogs of all shapes and sizes took part in the competition which was held at Earls Court Two at the weekend.
The dogs were judged on their condition,relationship with their owner and general behaviour.
# - Dusan Popratnjak - 11/16/08; 7:56:20 PM -
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An Aldridge pet stall is on the move from the towns indoor market after 3 decades trading after a boom in trade.Proprieter Ian Moore said despite the credit crunch he felt the time was right to expand the popular Pets Pantry by moving the business in to a much bigger shop unit almost next door.
Mr Moore,aged 52 and his wife Caroline age 47,took over the stall from the previous owners who retired and put up the lease for sale 15 months ago.From December 1st,the venture will trade from premises around the corner from Aldridge indoor market opposite Home Bargains Mr Moore,also a property developer,said the business has had various owners over the years.Its done very well and we are very keen to expand.Its through the good support we have had from our regular customers,some of whom have told me they have been coming to the stalll for well over 20 years.
The new premises will now be able to sell birds and fish for the first time.
# - Dusan Popratnjak - 11/16/08; 6:15:34 PM -
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Snooker players are to take part in a snook-a - thon in aid of Children in Need.
Aldridge Snooker Club in Rookery Lane is staging the event on November 14th.
The Snook-a-thon is taking place from 19.00pm and will last for 4 hours.
Players have a choice of gaining sponsorship for the event and playing for free on the tables or pay to play,with the money going to Children in Need.
The players can either count the number of frames they play,how long they play for or the number of points they rack up.The club has been running for the last 15 years and has 14 snooker tables and four pool tables.
Jaz Singh,aged 31 who runs the club for his father said "It should be a really fun event and we hope to raise lots of money for the charity in the process.
# - Dusan Popratnjak - 11/16/08; 6:03:59 PM -
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A new Aldridge supermarket will celebrate its official launch on November 6th with a donation to Walsall Hospice.
Amanda Maisey,a trustee for Walsall Hospice,will be guest of honour when the new Tesco Express opens on Paddock Lane.She will be invited to cut the ribbon to declare the new store officially open at 10.30am on Thursday morning.
As part of the opening celebrations,store manager Claire Allan and her staff will present the charity with a cheque for £500.
# - Dusan Popratnjak - 11/16/08; 5:48:21 PM -
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A charity from Aldridge will appear on TV later this month in a bid to win £50,000 from The peoples Millions Big Lottery Fund.
Family Guidance and Community Welfare,who are based on Lancaster Avenue,want the money to transform a disused area of land into the Leighswood Memory Garden.They will compete against Shropshire based Adams Grammar School for the cash and viewers will be given an opportunity to vote for the winner.
If the bid is successful,the memory garden will be landscaped with shrubs and trees and benches will be used to create an idyllic and peaceful setting.The garden would then be used for people on the estate to enjoy.
Jan Coleman,spokesperson for the Aldridge charity said "Its a really exciting project.The volunteers are raring to go have and help do the necessary work to bring the memory garden to life.
The show will be on ITV Central on November 25th.
The People Millions iniative will see more than £5 million given away to good causes across the country.
# - Dusan Popratnjak - 11/16/08; 5:39:55 PM -
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The Aldridge and Disrict Lions club is looking for new members ahead of its busy festive season.
Those interested in getting involved are invited to a drinks and nibbles evening on November 14th,where they can chat with existing members.
Club President ,Clyde Redfern,said "Being a part of the largest worldwide charity organisation,we are very keen to see the work of the Lions in Aldridge and District continue and increase.We have a very keen group of people but we do need more support.When we are able to support some of the needs of people particularly those within our local area,it does give some degree of satisfaction.
For more information contact Mike Barker on 01922-456558 or Harry Fry on 01922-451638
# - Dusan Popratnjak - 11/16/08; 5:24:43 PM -
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