Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Aldridge Muscian

Aldridge's Scott one song from destiny An Aldridge musician has fought off more than 10,000 competitors from across the country to put himself one show-stopping song away from bagging a £20,000 recording contract. Scott Dean, aged 26, has fought his way through to the national grand final of Live and Unsigned - where he will compete against 20 others to become the UK's Best Unsigned Act 2009. The former Aldridge High School pupil, now a guitar teacher in London, has been playing the guitar and singing for 13 years – but his dreams rest on the final on Saturday, June 27.   "I've got one chance to get it right and try and win that recording contract, it would be absolutely massive for me," he said. "A lot of acts are thrust straight into recording deals these days but everyone in this competition has to work so hard to get through, and I'm looking forward to the final. The pressure will be on." Scott moved to London six months ago to pursue his dream of gaining a recording contract.      For the past five years he has worked as a private guitar and vocal teacher.   The final, held at Portsmouth Guildhall, will see Scott play before a capacity crowd and a judging panel that includes former Sex Pistols manager Malcom McLaren, Radio One's Annie Nightingale and former Another Level singer Dane Bowers. Chris Grayston, events director of Live and Unsigned said: "This year's standard has been higher than ever. We have seen some really serious acts that are demonstrating a real wealth of talent, experience and determination. "However, this does mean grand finalists will now have to work harder than ever to impress and take away the contract."   To listen to examples of Scott's music online, log on to www.myspace.com/scottdeanproject # - Dusan Popratnjak - 7/29/09; 2:49:40 PM - Comment [0] Trackback [0]

Aldridge Lions Club summer fair

Aldridge Lions   All the fun of the fair is headed to Aldridge next week with a variety of entertainment on offer for all the family. The 15th annual Aldridge Fayre is being held at Anchor Meadow next Saturday and promises to be the biggest yet. Mayor of Walsall, councillor John O'Hare will be opening the Aldridge & District Lions Club event at 11am and visitor attractions will include 40 charity stalls, 15 trade stalls and a large fun fair.     A full afternoon of arena events ranging from the 31st Sutton Coldfield Scout Band to a Tai Chi demonstration and Khalgani belly dancers will also be on show. Exhibits at the event will include the Streetly School Greenpower electric cars, an ex-military communications Land Rover and an articulated safety truck.    Running alongside the fayre will be a bumper car boot sale with bargains galore to keep shoppers happy. The major beneficiary from the Lions Presidents Project is the Walsall branch of the Parkinson's Disease Society who will receive a donation on the day. Lions Club President, Clyde Redfern, said, "The Aldridge Fayre is the major community event for the area and this year it will be the largest event we have organised so far. "We rely on trade stalls and sponsorship to raise the funds we need to run the event and this year we have been very fortunate in receiving sponsorship from two local businesses, Bullock Construction and Trophy Distributors UK Ltd. "We are very grateful to these companies for their support." Aldridge Residents Association support the "Lions" and have included a page on their site specially to advertise the events they under - take   # - Dusan Popratnjak - 7/29/09; 2:43:37 PM - Comment [0] Trackback [0]

Fire at Aldridge Rugby Club

An Arson attack which completely gutted a rugby clubhouse in Little Hardwick Road,Aldridge has been slammed as 'despicable' by police chiefs. Fire engines arrived at Aldridge Rugby Club on Little Hardwick Road at around 2.30am on Wednesday to tackle a blaze which destroyed the entire clubhouse interior. Hours later, players woke up to distressing calls and texts informing them that their club had little more than the outer walls left – erasing decades of memories in the process. "I'm gutted," said Aldridge RFC player Nick Jones. "I've been playing there for 11 years and it's just devastating."  West Midlands Police are working with fire investigators, who have confirmed the fire was started deliberately. "This was a despicable attack on a building that is regularly used by the local community," said Inspector Jan Legget, sector Inspector at Aldridge. Sandra Large, cook and bar manager at the club, believes everything can be put right with a little help from the community. She said: "Any support or contribution from the members of the community would be really appreciated at this time." Aldridge RFC officials believe the Bourne Vale-based clubhouse will need to be bulldozed and rebuilt from scratch. Mrs Large, who has worked for the club for 25 years, said that despite the destruction of the blaze, club life will go on. She added: "Of course the club will continue with the games and will still be training, but unfortunately without the facilities of the club for the foreseeable future." The fire also claimed bags of rugby kit and equipment such as tackle bags and balls. Aldridge RFC regularly fielded three teams last season – with their first team playing in the Midlands 6 West North division. Police are appealing for anyone with any information about        (The former club house in Bourne Vale)        (Police investigate the scence)       # - Dusan Popratnjak - 7/29/09; 2:32:15 PM - Comment [0] Trackback [0]

Found Guilty

Kitchen firm boss used business as front for £1 m drugs cash racket. An Aldridge businessman has been found guilty of allowing his kitchen firm to be used as a front for laundering up to a £1 million  made from organised crime. Richard John Williams,who runs Aldridge Interiors at 34,Portland Road,Aldridge, would look after huge sums of cash for a nationwide drugs gang,his five week trial heard. The 45 year old was yesterday convicted at Birmingham Crown Court of two charges of concealing  criminal property relating to money laundering.He was convicted along with four others in a case triggered by the discovery at Heathrow Airport of 6 kg of cocaine hidden in a package of books. Williams was arrested in April 2008 after he was spotted delivering huge sums of cash to an international currency exchange in London to convert in to Euros,which is easier to move around than sterling.He claimed the cash was from cigarette trading,and in court heard he had previously admitted conspiracy to evade duty on 2.3 million cigarettes in a seperate case.But the jury believed the prosecution's case that the money had been made from drug trafficking.The court heard up to £1 million passed through his business in Portland Road. When arrested at his home in Marshall Close,Churn hill,Aldridge he was found to be in possession of 10,000 Euros. The jury found Williams,not guilty of conspiracy to supply cocaine and not guilty of conspiracy to contravene custom and excise through the importation of cocaine.He is believed to have got embroiled in the racket by associate and co-accused Paul Price.   Aldridge Interiors as recently been closed and Les Farrar who owns Farrar Hairdressing in Anchor Road,Aldridge said he used to cut Williams hair but no one really knew him "He seemed extremely pleasant,just a run of the mill type of chap". An application was made at yesterdays hearing under the Proceeds of Crime Act to consider confiscation of assets. Stunned neighbours in Marshall close,the quiet Aldridge cul-de sac where Williams lives with his family,said they were finding it difficult to accept he was involved in smuggling of any kind. Chairman of Aldridge Business Partnership Maria Grazia - Cooke said although Williams was not involved in the traders group,he had once done work at her home,she commented I know him on a professional level,he did a great job fitting my kitchen some years ago.I am really shocked that he has been involved in any thing like this. # - Dusan Popratnjak - 7/29/09; 12:44:03 PM - Comment [0] Trackback [0]

Event hailed a success in wake of big firms redundancies.

Jobs fair flooded by people hit in a slump. Nearly 100 people,many who have recently been made redundant during the economic downturn,attended a special jobs fair in Aldridge aimed at getting people back to work The event was organised by Walsall Council in a bid to help people who have been left out of work after a number of large local firms including Amtrack,GKN and Wagon all shed hundreds of jobs. The event was held at Aldridge Community Cente in Middlemore Lane and was attended by a number of major  including TK Maxx and Homeserve as well as the Job Centre Plus businesses. # - Dusan Popratnjak - 7/29/09; 11:59:40 AM - Comment [0] Trackback [0]

Olan Mills Shuts Down.

Thousands are left out of pocket. Olan Mills photographic studios today became the latest casualty of the recession,closing stores including its branch in Anchor Road,Aldridge,and leaving thosands of customers out of pocket. It shut all its 34 businesses,including its branch in Anchor Parade,as it went into administration today.Many families have paid hundreds of pounds in advance for photos.But they were left unsure as to whether they would ever receive their photos. The company had previously collapsed in 2006,resulting in the closure of the main call centre in Walsall town centre but the Aldridge store survived on that occasion to become part of a management buy out. # - Dusan Popratnjak - 7/29/09; 11:35:08 AM - Comment [0] Trackback [0]

Accused did not import cocaine

Accused "did not import cocaine" An Aldridge man accused of a plot to bring cocaine with an estimated value of £300,000 into the UK was only involved in cigarette importing,it was claimed in court yesterday. Richard John Williams,aged 45 allegedly allowed his kitchen fitting firm Aldridge Interiors based in Portland Road to be used as a front for the trafficking operation. He is accused of allowing it to be used to launder money and was alledgedly at the centre of the conspiracy to import 6kg of cocaine hidden in packages from the Dominican Republic. But Mr Mark Gatley defending,yesterday told Birmingham Crown Court Williams activities had no relevance to drugs at all but cigarettes.He told the  jury a series of phone calls made between him and the co - accusedand the discovery of information on lists in his possession did not mean,as the prosecution alledged that he was involved in conspiracy. Williams of Marshall Close,Churnhill,Aldridge,denies two counts of concealing criminal property,one count of conspiracy to contravene custom and excise and one count to supply class A drugs.He was arrested in April 2008 as part of Operation Barussa which was set up by the Serious and Organised Crime Unit.   # - Dusan Popratnjak - 7/29/09; 11:24:29 AM - Comment [0] Trackback [0]

Vicar stunned at ammount that was collected.

Parishioners raise huge ammount for church during one service.   It was manna from heaven that even he could not have prayed for -and left a Black Country vicar astounded. Rev Richard Cornfield asked worshippers to give to the church rebuild fund,after only one service they had donated £270,000just 110 members of the congregation at St Marys Church in Aldridge pledged the colossal amount during a  single service.   Rev Richard Cornfield Their unbelievable generoisty means the church is almost a quarter of the way to its million target to replace crumbling rooms in the rectory. Rev Richard Cornfield said the collection last Sunday included "several" individual donations of more than £10,000.The 13th century church in the Green has a healthy congregation often attracting more than 350 people. Members were asked last weekend to leave donations anonymously in buckets or via standing orders. Rev Cornfield  said he was  astonished when he added up the total.The fundraising drive had been launched just a week earlier.The pleasing factor was that donations came from every one pensioners to professionals. At such a difficult time for the economywhen most people are struggling. # - Dusan Popratnjak - 7/29/09; 11:09:13 AM - Comment [0] Trackback [0]