uttox voice issue 55

Uttoxeter& CheadleUttoxeter

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Issue 55

3Let The Uttoxeter & Cheadle Voice take your business to 13,000 local homes. To advertise, call 01538 751629 or 07733 466 970.

Publisher and Editor: Nigel TittertonThe Uttoxeter & Cheadle Voice is published by

Community Voice Publications Ltd Telephone 01538 751629 [email protected]

The views expressed in this publication are those of our contributors and arenot necessarily those of the publishers, nor indeed their responsibility.

All Rights Reserved. Copyright Community Voice Publications Ltd.Designed and Produced by [email protected]

First of all, may Itake this opportunityto thank all thosefantastic readers whocontacted meregarding my articlein last month’s Voice.I received lots of

comments saying how much they enjoyedreading my words on my family andespecially my father’s ‘masterclass on life’which he passed on to me in The Alton Castlepub! Apparently my article made somereaders laugh out loud (in modern speak Ibelieve this is LOL!!) and some parts mademany readers shed a tear.....

Thank you, it means a lot to me when myreaders get in touch....

As many of you know, my passion in lifeis sport which I have taken part in for most ofmy life. I began my ‘sporting career’ withfootball, playing over two thousand gamesand starting off at Port Vale Football Club asan apprentice.

I also played cricket at a lower level forTean CC 2nd team, always enjoying myselfwith characters who were larger than life andpeople who I really loved. Team-mates suchas Dave Brunt, Kenny Elliott, Basil Lomas,Dennis Rowlinson, Brian Smith, Stuart Cox,the magnificent Collett Brothers John andDave and my unforgettable opening batsmanpartner Trott Brunt!

Trott was a dear friend to me when I wasa rampant teenager who always thought hewas right! He was in his 60’s and I believeworked down the pits all his life which didlittle for his breathing. It usually took us

around 10 minutes to walk to the crease toopen the batting as Trott had to take it‘steady!’ We tried our hardest every matchand although we were no Ian Bothams westuck to our task and usually put onpartnerships which we were proud of – onetime I remember we put on 15 runs!!

Then the sight of Dave Brunt (who hadimbibed around 7 pints in The White Hart inTean prior to the match) snorting down TheWentlows hill against the opposition batsmenwho were shaking in their boots.

Marvellous days and sometimes I bumpinto the aforementioned people around townand I feel privileged to exchange banter aboutour good old cricketing days.

When my legs had cried enough, I took upsnooker and played in the North StaffsSnooker League with my father Frank andmy two brothers John and Mark for aCheadle club. Again my team-mates weremagnificent human beings and great friends.Eric Godwin, Alan Stokes, Johnny Jervis, Ken‘Rocket’ Stevenson, Clem Whitehurst, BertEmery, Ivan ‘Lovejoy’ Cope, Pete Evans andwhen we were desperate for players PhilipCope! All wonderful local people.

I could go on for hours, alas time is shortbut I would like to say a big thank you to allcolleagues who I have played with andagainst in local sport. And of courseapologies for any players I have missed outin this article – my memory is not what itused to be fellas!

I hope you enjoy reading this issue.I’ll speak to you next timeNigel TittertonEditor & Publisher

HOW TO GET IN TOUCHThe Uttoxeter & Cheadle Voice is wholly independentand is published at 3 Spode Close, Cheadle, StaffsST10 1DT.

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NEXT ISSUEThe next Voice will be distributed from July 17th2015.News Deadline: July 7th 2015Advertising Deadline: July 10th 2015

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Painsley Catholic College toreceive UNICEF UK Award

Painsley Catholic CollegeSpecialist Science, Maths and Computing College

Painsley Catholic College inCheadle is to be awarded theprestigious Rights Respecting

School Award by UNICEF, theworld’s leading organisation workingspecifically for children.

UNICEF UK’s Rights RespectingSchool Award recognises schoolswhich show a high commitment topromoting children’s rights andencourage children and young peopleto respect others. We are workingwith over 3000 primary andsecondary schools in the UK whohave reported that the scheme hashad a positive impact on pupilbehaviour, relationships and well-being by enhancing pupils’self-esteem and leading to lesstruancy and bullying, better learningand improved academic standards.

Painsley Catholic College will beawarded with the Level 1* certificate

to mark their achievement.A UNICEF UK Professional

Adviser said “We are delighted thatPainsley has fully embraced theUNCRC and is being accredited withUNICEF UK’s Rights RespectingSchool Award. The school impressedus as it clearly puts children’s rightsand related responsibilities at theheart of the school’s overall vision.”

The school’s Principal, MrStephen Bell, said “I was keen towork with UNICEF UK on theRights Respecting School Initiativeand embed the United NationsConvention on the Rights of theChild into the school culture. Alongwith an understanding of their rights,the children also learn that withrights comes responsibility. Respecthas played a major part of theirlearning and is the main ethos of ourschool.”

Presentation Evening At Painsley

Painsley Catholic College was proud to holdits annual Presentation Evening onWednesday 29th April. Students received

awards that celebrated academic progress andspecial endeavour, as well as sporting colours andmusic awards. The prizes were presented tostudents by Mr Michael Wheatley, Principal of StFilumena’s Catholic Primary School, Caverswall.Special subject awards were presented to Year 11as well as many other awards. Parents packed theschool hall to see their children receive recognitionof their efforts and join in the celebrations. Ofspecial note were the awards to Isabel Wretham,Citizenship Award; Hannah Kilford, GeorgiaPickford and Bryony Whittaker for PTA Award forCharitable Works; Emily Hall for Contribution toLife at Painsley; Jonah Smith, School Spirit Award,and Anna Mansell, Faith in Action Award.

The Work in the Community Award, and theDiana, Princess of Wales Award were bothawarded to Annie Bradbury. The Diana award isa nationally recognised award given to youngpeople under a number of categories. PainsleyCatholic College nominated Annie as a championvolunteer, which was not only acknowledged bythe Diana awards as being appropriate, but theyalso praised the quality of the work Annie has beenundertaking. She was recognised for her

volunteering in and outside of school, which isnever ending. Annie is involved in the Rock(Reaching Out with Care and Kindness) scheme,the Lourdes group and the Year council. She is astudent leader and a member of a variety ofmusical groups and ensembles . She workstirelessly for the 1st Kingsley Holt brownies andwas Pack Leader at the age of 12. She recentlycompleted her Young Leadership Qualificationand is now workingtowards her AdultLeadershipQualification. Anniegives up her time toattend various trainingevents, planningmeetings, brownieholidays and trips. Sheis also a young leaderwith the “Service for AllAges” at St Werburgh’schurch. It was withgreat delight that thesetwo awards werepresented to Annie.

Guests of honour atthe ceremony were: MrN Watson, President of

Cheadle Lions; Councillor Colin Pearce, Chair ofStaffordshire Moorlands District Council and MrsPearce, Consort; Mr J Pennington, Chair of theBoard of Directors of Painsley Catholic Academy;Councillor Andrew Riley, Deputy Mayor ofUttoxeter; Mr Richard Gallagher and Mr Olvezrepresenting Cheadle Rotary Club, Mr A Gadsby,Cheadle Lions and sponsors and directors of theCollege.

Painsley Catholic College • Station Rd, Cheadle, Staffordshire ST10 1LH • 01538 483944 • www.painsley.co.uk


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Uttoxeter Choral Society’sConcert was ‘S WonderfulSt Mary’s Church Uttoxeter was decorated

with tree branches from which teddy bearspeeped. The chairman, Dan Fleet welcomed

an enthusiastic audience who thoroughly enjoyedUttoxeter Choral Society’s Spring Concert “In TheMood”. This was conducted by Anthony Rose withKatie Riddle on piano.

Ain’ t Misbehavin’ and ‘S wonderful openedthe concert to a good start. After Pat Barker’sreading of “On a May Morning” imaginative

renderings by the choir of ‘I do like to be besidethe seaside’ and ‘The Teddy Bears’ Picnic’explained the decorations of the church. MalcolmSykes’ reading ‘And Yet, I don’t know’ had theaudience in stitches. The final fresh and lovelyselection of songs from West Side Story broughtthe evening to an end.

Uttoxeter Choral Society, established morethan 125 years’ ago, has an excellent reputationfor its choral singing including a much-celebrated

Faure’s Requiem in Manchester Cathedralaccompanied by the nationally-acclaimed FodenBrass Band.

On 28th November the Choral Society’sconcert at Denstone College will feature theworks of Mendelssohn.

The Society is keen to welcome new membersparticularly tenors. Rehearsals for the autumnconcert commence on 3rd September at 7.30pmin Uttoxeter Guildhall, Balance Street.

Anthony T Rose and Katie Riddle A couple of members from the audience

The choir Carole Watkin and Judith Crosse

Eileen Smith with raffle winner David Gage and Mrs Gage

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Lank’s LoreBy Steve ‘Lank’ LavinGolden Memories from one of Uttoxeter’s Favourite Characters

Nostalgia time again this month!

Afew weeks ago my wife who is obsessedwith the social media website ‘Facebook’was ferreting about with it (I suppose it

keeps her happy and my phone bill down!) sheshowed me a site called Memories of Uttoxeterwhich is run by and old acquaintance of oursAudrene Meadows of Uttoxeter. This site to me, isabsolutely fascinating and well worth joining forfree with Audrene’s acceptance. It containsnumerous photographs of Uttoxeter’s long gonecharacters and buildings that I can remember frompast times.

After having a perusal I noticed a photographof the old Uttoxeter Engine Sheds. Thisimmediately brought back some fond memories ofwhen I was a lad. I contacted Audrene and wasaccepted as a member of her group and asked herpermission if I could use the picture of the EngineSheds in one of my future columns in the Voicemagazine. Audrene duly obliged and I am verygrateful to her and the person who posted it therefor the use of to share these wonderful days withyou the readers.

In the early 60’s during the school holidays myschool mates and I used to go on daily expeditions.One of our favourites was to go down PinfoldStreet in Uttoxeter and stand on the bridge overthe railway line and revel in the steam emitted fromthe engines that passed below us. We would thenpass along the railway line through the Bamfords& Railway Goods Yard where there was a hive ofactivity going on. Bamfords were loading theirmachines onto wagons for delivery to variouscustomers and British Rail had a parcel depot therewhere they collected and delivered parcels in thearea. A lot of goods in those days were transportedby rail unlike today where the roads have takenover this task with huge juggernauts thundering

about clogging up our motorways and arterialroutes. Driving on the roads today to me is a totalnightmare even though the infrastructure of theroad system has improved tremendously over theyears.

After passing through the goods yard we wouldalight into Brookside Road and then along on tothe Railway Sheds. Of course these days we were inthe days of ‘Steam’.

The engine sheds were a fascinating place tovisit with numerous steam engines bombing abouteverywhere and an assortment of railway workersundergoing various tasks. On some occasions thefriendlier one’s of the railway workers would let uswatch them fill these huge engines (marvellousfeats of engineering) with water from a massivetower at the side of the sheds and them shunt theminto position for their daily treck to variouslocations in the area.

On seeing this old photo I decided to contactan ex-employee of mine namely Richard Gosnellof Uttoxeter for some info on the sheds. You donot bother about these things when they are part ofeveryday life at the time but later on when they aregone you miss them and want to find out moreabout them.

Richard had been employed there by BritishRail until they were closed in 1964 before he wentinto the print trade, first working for E. G. Finney& Son the printers in Bridge Street, Uttoxeter andthen coming to me when Finney’s closed in 1993remaining with me until he retired in 2005.

On showing Richard the photo he immediatelyflew into his reminiscing mode, those days heinformed me were some of the best days of his life.

He continued to fill me in on his time heworked for British Rail as a fireman, stoking upthese huge beasts of engineering excellence evennaming their intriguing sounding makes, Stanier264 & Hughes Crab 260 types rolled of his tongue

and I could see that he was tremendously excitedby even the mention of these steam engines.

The Railway sheds in Uttoxeter were the railhub for the town and district. From here hetravelled to destinations as far as Manchesterpulling freight and passengers alike also travellingalong long gone routes on the Churnet Valley line.He mentioned the names of some of the workforcewho also worked there at that time, some of themI can remember well, according to him in theregion of 40 mainly local people were employedthere in it’s heyday, drivers, firemen, fitters, guards,cleaners were just some of the tasks that they usedto undertake.

Unfortunately Doctor Richard Beeching thegovernment adviser put an end to these services inthe mid 60’s with his savage cuts and coupled withthe advent of the diesel and electric trains the steamera was about over in this area along with the restof the UK.

When I was a young apprentice I travelled toStoke everyday by train, not by steam but by thenew diesels and can remember the train stopping atthe Leigh, Cresswell and Meir stations fromUttoxeter on the Derby - Crewe line to pick uppassengers en-route. Sadly now all gone along witha lot of the passengers who tend now to travel intheir cars by road, sad really but you cannot stopso called progress.

The age of the steam train though is not entirelydead, it still continues to this day with manydedicated enthusiasts throughout the countryrunning there own steam services on private trackalong with specialist railway tour operatorsoffering rail trips by steam train.

The Severn Valley Railway, The Foxfield LightRailway and of course The North Yorkshire SteamRailway featured in the popular TV series‘Hearbeat’ being typical examples.Till next time, LANK

The signal box at the bottom of Pinfold Street along with the bridge inUttoxeter pictured before it was closed in 1981 and sold to the FoxfieldLight Railway at Dilhorne where it remains to this day.

The engine sheds at Uttoxeter showing 3 of the 8 steam engines that werebased there along with the huge water tower which was used to fill themprior to it closing in 1964.

St Thomas’ Catholic Primary School, Tean, areholding their 125th Year Anniversary Celebrationswhich will take place on Friday, 19th June.

There will be a Victorian Day where thechildren and staff will dress in Victorian Costume.They will have a taste of what life was like inschool in the Victorian times, including drills on

the playground and writing on slates and a walkaround Tean village.

The popular school are in the process ofcompiling a timeline showing important eventsacross the county and how these were marked inschool. If any Voice readers are ex-pupils of StThomas’ and they have any photographs or

memories they would like to share, please contactthe school - it will be much appreciated.

The day plans to be an enjoyable andmemorable day including Maypole dancing, aPunch and Judy Show, traditional ice cream sellerand will end with a ‘Victorian Fair’.

St Thomas’ Catholic Primary School’s Victorian Day


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The music loversfestivalThe delightful Acoustic Festival of Britain returns to Staffordshire this June on a later

date, the summer solstice weekend on 19th -21st June. Uttoxeter racecourse will behosting the 10th anniversary of this prestigious festival of un-plugged music. On their

very first ‘ unplugged show Friday headliners, Big Country , the Scottish roots rockersperformance will be filmed for a future video. Early evening also has The Beautiful Sound ofthe music and songs from 90’s popular band The Beautiful South plus American guitar geniusRodney Branigan among the 20 acts with day ticket only £30 on the opening day.

A real delight for the classic roots n folk music lovers as this year sees a very full line upon all 3 stages headed by the man with the ‘ golden voice, Paul Carrack and his band onSaturday. The former Mike and The Mechanics, Squeeze front man has now eclipsed his formerbands as a sell out artist and the day tickets for his Saturday’s performance are limited andare now on sale at www.acousticfestival.co.uk

Local Staffordshire musos, Honey Rider, a country roots band that play main stage onSunday afternoon just before BBC radio 2’s Mark Radcliffe and his sea shanty Galleon Blastband with Litchfield based Quill with a full line up including Bev Bevan on drums brings thefestival to a close on Sunday evening, following main stage performances from Bruce Foxtonand co from The Jam and Show of Hands who receive this year’s lifetime achievement award.

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ACheadle woman has scoopeda top award in a nationalcompetition which attracted

over 15,000 nominees!Marcia Titterton, of Blue House

Veterinary Centre in Biddulph, hasbeen awarded the prestigious title ofPetplan Insurance Advisor of theYear 2015 at the Petplan VeterinaryAwards.

The awards, which were hostedby BBC TV star of ‘Pointless’Alexander Armstrong, and held atthe iconic Birmingham Town Hall,seek to shine a light on the UK’soutstanding vets, vet nurses,practices, practice managers and vetsupport staff who are instrumentalin keeping the nation’s pets happyand healthy.

Having worked at Blue Housefor the past five years, Marcia originally joinedthe team as maternity cover, but she fit in so wellthat she became a long-term fixture. Marcia hasthe well-earned title of ‘insurance guru’ at thesurgery, and handles all of the surgery’s insuranceclaims with confidence and ease, ensuring clientsfeel comfortable and well looked-after.

On receiving her award, Marcia stated that: “Ican’t even put into words how amazing it is tohave won this Petplan award! It’s so unexpected;I’m only doing my job, so to receive this accoladefeels incredible. Having won this istestament to my colleagues – they’re agreat team!

Blue House Veterinary Centrealso made history on the night bybeing the first double winner atthe Petplan Veterinary Awardsevening as Victoria Smithscooped the Veterinary SupportWorker of the Year 2015 prize.On receiving her awardVictoria said: “I’m soproud, amazed andhonoured to have wonthis award. I’m hugelygrateful to the peopleI’ve worked with, bothpast and present, formaking my job anabsolute joy. I wish Icould thank all those whonominated me – I’ve neverbeen in a position like this

before, and it means everything to me.”Petplan’s Head of Marketing, Isabella Von

Mesterhazy, comments: “The Veterinary Awardsare Petplan’s way of saying a huge ‘thank you’ tothose members of the veterinary profession whocare for the nation’s pets with such dedication.Whether it’s for a routine check-up, or to treat amore unexpected illness, these committedindividuals and teams really are irreplaceable,and it’s wonderful to be able to thank them insuch a public way through these awards. We’reelated to be able to announce our deservingwinners, and congratulate them on their fantasticachievement!” Understandably, the owners of theBlue House Veterinary Centre Kay Abbott andNeil Brogan were over the moon at winning

two out of the six categories atthe awards night.

Kay commented: “We werehappy to be nominated in all sixcategories this year, but to alsobe shortlisted in two categorieswas really exciting. It’s lovelyto know that so many of ourclients appreciate the workdone by our practice teamhere at Blue House. BothMarcia and Victoria trulydeserved to be pickedout of the 15,000nominations madenationwide this year. Wewere so proud of them onthe evening of the awardceremony, and they were

so shocked when they found out theyhad both won. I certainly had morethan a few tears in my eyes! For BlueHouse to win not just one but twoout of six categories from thethousands of veterinary practicesacross the UK was one of the bestmoments of my veterinary career. Theawards are in pride of place at thepractice.

Neil said: “I would certainly echothe comments made by Kay. All ourstaff are passionate about caring forpets and making Blue House clientsto feel welcome, relaxed and welllooked after. Victoria and Marciacertainly take this ideal to heart. Theydo such a wonderful job and it isgreat that it has been recognised.”

Watch Marcia and Victoria’sPetplan Awards Presentations via

Blue House Veterinary Centre's facebook page.

Top: BBC TV Star Alexander Armstrong presentsMarcia Titterton (left photograph) and VictoriaSmith (right photograph) with their 2015 PetplanVeterinary Awards.

Centre: Blue House Veterinary Centre ownersKay Abbott (left) and Neil Brogan (right) arepictured with winners Marcia Titterton andVictoria Smith.

Left: Marcia pictured with a patient, ‘Bagpuss.’

Below: Victoria cuddles Bee.

Historic double success fortop class veterinary centre


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Mum’s name: Jessica Rose Bell of Uttoxeter

Dad’s name: Benjamin Arthur Sunderlandof Uttoxeter

Baby’s name: Isabella Rose Sunderland

Grandparents:Wendy and Darren Bell, Timand Nicki Sunderland

Aunty’s & Uncles: Daniel Bell, Scott Bell andKyle Bell

Birth weight: 6lb 12oz

Baby’s age now: 10 ½ months

Baby’s weight now: 21lbs

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What made you decide the time was right to have a baby?

We had been together for 5 years. We were engaged and had been living together for 4 years.We didn’t plan her as such but we were ready nevertheless.

How was your pregnancy mum?

My pregnancy went really well actually we didn’t have any problems at all. The feeling isMagical nothing can quite describe the joy it brings knowing there was a little baby growinginside of me, her constant kicks as she grew reminded me that she was always there and likeany expectant parents we couldn’t wait to meet her.

Did you find out the sex of the baby in advance?

Yes we did we were both quite impatient and wanted to know as soon as possible. To help withnames and decorating the nursery. Ben wanted to call the baby Harold if it was a boy. I hated the name Harold I don’t know whyhe was so insistent on it. For that reason I was so happy when the sonographer said we wereexpecting a girl.

Did you have a birthing plan, and were you able to stick to it?

I did have a birthing plan we stuck to it as well as we could, but at the time I wasn’t thatbothered what they did as long as she came out ok. We had to be monitored throughout mylabour, so I wasn’t allowed a water birth like originally requested so I had to lie flat on my backwhich isn’t very good as I just wanted to stand and walk about a bit and take my mind off thecontractions. I stuck to the pain relief I originally chose though I only had gas and air and ashot off pethadine. Although I think at one point I did ask for an epidural it was too late!

What’s the craziest ‘old wives tale’ you’ve been told during your pregnancy?

I had a lot of heartburn during my pregnancy it was so painful and I got told by so manypeople that she would be born with a lot of hair. Some days I was convinced I was going togive birth to mini Chewbacca due to the amount of pain heartburn was causing me. As youcan still tell by looking at her 10 months later she wasn’t born with any hair!

Any weird cravings during the pregnancy?

Not really. The main things I craved were salad sticks (cucumber/carrot) and ice pops.

For the dad: Tell us all about your experience as an expectant dad?

It was exciting but scary, I wasn’t sure what to expect as I’d never even held a baby before.Now me and Jess were about to have one of our own. Jess involved me as much as she couldin her pregnancy, shouting me if she kicked or wriggled so I could feel or by getting me up at2am to go get her carrot sticks from Tesco!


Tell us all about your time so far with your baby.

Exciting, every day is different especially now as she’s getting bigger she’s learning new thingseveryday. She really does make us both so happy and proud everyday. I really don’t knowwhat we’d do without her.

How has having a baby changed your life?

Yes it has, more than I could ever imagined really. I often think what did we do before we hadher because now our whole life revolves around her. Even if I’m not with her she’s on my mindconstantly and I know she’s always on her daddies too! She is by far the best thing ever, she’smy best friend!

Would you have another baby?

Yes, we will in the future. I think we shall probably wait until Isabella is in school. She’s ourfirst and I don’t want to miss anything with her. I feel that could happen having a newbornand a toddler.

Any advice for expectant parents of couples planning a family?

Treasure every single second! They grow so quick. I got 9 months maternity and that felt likea lifetime before she was here. It soon went as Christmas approached, I knew I only had 2months left yet she was only 6 months old. At 10 months she’s all ready crawling, standing,attempting to walk, feeding herself. What happened to my teeny tiny baby?

Finding out we were pregnant:

We were living in Scotland when we found out that we were going to have a baby. We hadmoved there with our jobs to open a pub in Glasgow. It was a Saturday when we found outI’d been off sick with a ‘sickness bug’ for a week until Ben had suggested doing a test. I senthim off to the shop to get me one whilst I got ready for work that morning, brushing off anyidea that we could be. When he bought it back I did it straight away nervously waiting whatthe reading was going to say. It was POSITIVE!! I instantly cried I don’t know why. I think Iwas quite overwhelmed more than anything.

We hugged, kissed and then rang our parents to break the news! We had just moved 300miles away but they were all so happy and excited that a little baby was on the way. There area few babies on my side of the family but for Ben’s side it was the first grandchild for hisparents and first great grandchild for his grandparents.

We booked in to see the dr in Scotland before telling our work and they confirmed wewere 6 weeks. We decided to stay in Scotland for 2 more months before moving back toUttoxeter to be near our family again. In this time Ben went back to view our new house andtransfer our jobs back to our old pub.



Studio Location: Doveridge • Web: www.lifebybenandhannah.co.uk • Contact: [email protected]

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Our Precious GiftBaby Isabella

Tell us about her arrival:

Isabella Rose Sunderland arrived at5.04am on the 29th May 2014,weighing 6lbs 12oz. I was 38+4weeks had only left work a week orso before, id spent all the day beforecleaning and shopping preparing forour little one knowing it wouldn’t belong until we met her. At 7.30pmthat evening my brother Kylepopped in to see how I was (familyoften popped in whilst Ben wasworking so I wasn’t by myself and tosee how I was going on). I made adrink and we both sat down towatch Britain’s Got Talent.

15 minutes in to it I had a horrible pain in my belly. I thought id just pulledmyself cleaning earlier that afternoon but as I looked down I was soaked andI realised my waters had just broken. I went and cleaned myself up and rangthe hospital, who asked me to go straight in. Isabella had poo’d when mywaters had broke and they needed to monitor us throughout to check shedidn’t swallow any of it and to prevent infection. I rang Ben and he left workstraight away to come and collect us. Kyle was a little scared I think keptasking if I needed anything and was running around putting the last things inmy hospital bag for me. He came with us to the hospital but he wasn’t allowedin the labour ward with us, only my mum and Ben were allowed in. He satoutside all evening and morning waiting to see his baby niece.

After we were seen to our room it all became a bit of a blur and seemed togo really quick, for me anyway (I kept falling asleep!). I had gas and airthroughout and a few shots of pethidine to help with the pain, because I wasbeing monitored. I wasn’t allowed a water birth as originally planned I had tostay lay down on the bed so the monitors would stay in place. This was purehell - I had back contractions throughout, so all I wanted to do was stand upand walk about but I wasn’t allowed. At 4:30am they told me I was fullydilated and that we could start pushing. It took 34 minutes of pushing andbreathing till we finally met our little one. It was amazing to have her putstraight on me when she came out we all cried. The smiles on her daddies andnannies face were unbelievable you could see already how much they lovedher. They took her to get weighed then passed her to her daddy. That was thebest moment of my life watching the two of them together. It still is wheneverBen gets in from work or gets up in the morning Isabella wants him not mehe gets all the hugs and cheesy smiles. She’s such a daddy’s girl.


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Have I got news for youby Uttoxeter’s Gary Hudson, Former BBC Chief News Reporter

Gary Hudson is a member of Uttoxeter LionsClub, a former BBC Chief News Reporter and asenior lecturer in Broadcast Journalism atStaffordshire University.

Two days of beer, cider, music - andsaving lives

The tenth annual Uttoxeter Beer and Ciderfestival promises to be the best yet. We have awinning formula and I urge you to come along toOldfields Sports and Social Club on June 5th and6th to enjoy yourself.

I have delivered many shameless plugs throughthese pages for Uttoxeter Lions Club events. Butthis one goes further and for reasons I’ll explain.

We – as members of the Lions Club – are proudof the success of events like the beer festival,because not only do people have a good time, butwe raise money for good causes, preferably localones.

But as I said, this time it’s different, because forthe last couple of years we have used profits fromthe beer festival for a specific purpose. For the firsttime, rather than just donating to a cause run byothers, we have run an event ourselves which hashad a dramatic event on the well-being of ourcommunity.

In April we put on the second of our ProstateCancer Screening Events. The folks at UttoxeterRacecourse were brilliant, allowing the use of theHoops Bar free of charge. More than two hundredmen came for a blood test, which was nearlydouble the number the previous year.

And based on the results of those blood tests,and subsequent medical outcomes, we are now ina position to say we have definitely saved asignificant number of lives.

According to David Baxter Smith, theconsultant urological surgeon who helps organisethe event, the number of lives saved is almostcertainly around fifteen.

That’s fifteen men who are surviving the cancerthat affects one in eight of us, and kills more than10,000 men in the UK every year.

A rugby team of cancer survivors

Fifteen is an appropriate number because werun the beer festival with Uttoxeter Rugby Club,who always support the event in good numbers.We now have our own first fifteen out there, madeup not of forwards and backs, hookers, props andwingers, but of survivors.

The rules of medical confidentiality mean thatwe do not know the names on that team sheet. Buta friend of mine, a clinical nurse specialist inurology cancer at the University Hospital of theNorth Midlands, confirms she’s met and dealt withpatients who came for treatment after the tests atthe racecourse.

Karen Moore sums up what’s best about thebeer festival - combining work for a good causewith pleasure. She came along and helped out atthe racecourse, and she’ll also be among theperformers at our Open Mic night – the first eventof the beer festival - on Friday June 5th atOldfields.

She plays saxophone with her husband David,who sings and plays guitar. They play for fun, andhave made a name forthemselves recently witha few pub gigs.

What’s in a name?Anyone for morebeer?

I hope they’ll team upwith another pal,harmonica player JohnBeer, from Mickleover,because it’s fun tointroduce them as‘Moore and MooreBeer’. If it’s just Davidand Karen, then it’sMoore and Moore, or ifit’s David and John, thenI’ll be announcing‘Moore Beer’. That

should pack ‘em in.Of course, I’ll be inviting plenty of people on

the basis of more than just how their name soundsover the PA. If you want to perform a song or two,or can play any instrument, then come along andbring a friend or three.

Admission is free to beer festival ticket holdersand to performers, with a nominal charge toothers. We have to charge for entry on the Fridaybecause of course the full range of beers and cidersfrom the festival are also available to people at theopen mic night. Why not come both days for thebest value?

After Friday’s anything-goes approach, themusic on Saturday will quite simply be top quality.Uttoxeter’s own Jason Callear has againvolunteered his considerable talents to entertainingthe afternoon crowds. A near-perfect setlist – witheverything from the Beatles to current chart hits -means we’re all looking forward to welcoming himback.

And on Saturday evening, the raucous andriotous Upfront return to rock the house till goinghome time. Join us. Have fun. And save a few lives.

Jason Callear and Sean Prior are back to play their popular set of acousticpop and rock at this year’s Uttoxeter Beer and Cider Festival.

Down on the Farmby Angela Sargent

Time flies when you’re busy and although wecould do with a rest after lambing andstarting the spring field work- such as

ploughing and sowing, it’s time to get busy. The constant hum of tractors busily fertilising,

rolling and mowing for silage too, fills the air.Heading into calving, it’s also time to decide

which of our home bred heifers go into the herd asreplacements, instead of heading for market or ourdirect beef sales.

We need to choose ones that are matureenough, have good shape and come from bloodlines that are long lived, easy but prolific calvingand one of the most important factors is a friendlytemperament.

If their mothers have shown unpredictablebehaviour we don’t keep them- there are only thetwo of us working with them generally and wecan’t take the risk of aggressive attitudes.

Our early season lambs will be getting ready for

market now- at about 4-5 months old. Weighingaround the 38kg weight, they have just the rightamount of fat and muscle, hopefully.

If we didn’t rear lambs (and calves) for eating,why would we bother to have sheep (cattle), whenthey require a lot of physical work?

And if we didn’t have sheep (cattle), why wouldwe bother to have grass fields and hedges (we’dneed other foods and hedges are only to keeplivestock in)?

The English landscape is formed on the sheep/wool industry, which has now been superseded byother industries

But there are benefits- other species appreciatethe berries/ habitat in the hedge, insects love themanure left in the grass fields and different flowersseed in different length vegetation

Dandelions in the fields are turning to face thesun, providing food for Bees which may bethinking about swarming.

Moths such as the Tiger Moth, are pupatingand emerging as adults, having hibernated over thewinter. These do not feed, instead relying on foodreserves stored as a caterpillar.

Whenever we walk in the early morning ordusk in May, we get very wet boots as the dew isheavy, weighing on each leaf heavily, glistening inthe sunshine or sparkling in the moonlight, eachdroplet containing a myriad of microbes good andbad, but beautiful nonetheless.

Sheepdog Ted has shown lots of potential withthe ewes, helping us move them around of his ownvolition but he has lots to learn and shake off a fewbad habits.

Angela Sargent www.baldfields-farm.co.uk and follow us ontwitter (@bythebarn)and facebook(baldfieldsfarm) too!

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Ginny’s Community Cornerby Ginny Gibson of Uttoxeter

The railways have always fascinated me, as achild I remember our village railway linebeing closed in a government cost cutting

exercise, so my father would have to drive to thenearest Station in East Grinstead, instead of gettingon the train in Forest Row. The whole villagecampaigned to stop the closure, but to no avail andinstead, all the husbands who worked in London,spent years driving from Forest Row to EG, as itwas fondly named. This meant the A22 roadbecame one long traffic jam. But we children putthe closed line to good use and played many happyhours along the closed track, where dens andcamps were made instead – I am sure thehealth and safety people would behorrified!.

In this area, a group of people arefascinated by the NorthStaffordshire Railway (NSR) andset up a group in 1995 called TheNorth Staffordshire Railway StudyGroup. Their aim is to gathertogether as much survivinginformation as there is about the NSR,to try to ensure that it is not lost and tomake such information is more widelyavailable to those who have an interest in therailway. I spoke to David Moore theMembership Secretary and Publications editorabout the Railway and the history.

The NSR was founded in 1845 with the firstlines being installed in 1846. It was given anickname early on, The Knotty, maybe that iswhere the Staffordshire emblem of the knot comesfrom, but I digress.

The initial lines ran from Norton Bridge toMacclesfield and from Derby to Crewe, then in1862 an Act of Parliament created the Stafford toUttoxeter line and this was bought by the GreatNorthern Railway in 1881. It meant that a railwayran from Uttoxeter to Grindley then to Chartleyon to Ingestre through to Salt, then StaffordCommon and finally Stafford, serving all the ruralcommunity. Of course the other important line forour area was Uttoxeter to Burton, calling atRolleston on Dove, Stretton and Clay Mills,Horninglow then Burton. Apparently the trackfrom Uttoxeter to Burton was nicknamed theJinny. Wouldn’t it be nice to have that track back,and then commuters wouldn’t have to create thelong traffic jam all the way along the A518 eachmorning to Stafford or the A50 or B5017 to get toBurton. My Auntie Angela told me recently, sheknew lots of children who play very happily on theold Jinny line tracks near Rolleston, so as one useof the track ends, another one begins. Isn’t thatevolution?

We take for granted the railwaylines, but to build these 4ft 8 ½ instandard gauge tracks, a share schemewas set up so that everyone could buya part of the next generation of

transport. Apparently 117,500 shareswere sold at £20 each (£2420 in today’s

money) to create the North StaffordshireRailway, it shows the determination of thepioneers to link up communities and spread the

wealth to rural towns. During the 1st World War the tracks were

invaluable for transporting coal and all sorts ofother materials required for the War Effort. Manyof the employees went off to serve in the army,never to return. Two memorial plaques are situated

in Stoke on Trent station with the names of all theNorth Stafford railwaymen who lost their lives.The study group have collected lots of photos ofthese men and would dearly like any photos thatreaders may have, so that they can continue tobuild up the archives. To view a full list of the menwho were employed by the NSR who lost their

lives please visit www.nsrsg.org.uk/remembrance.php

The rolling stock on the lineswere also fabulously designed andeventually came with steam heatingfor the passengers and the NSRpioneered electric lighting whichmeant no longer using oil lighting.The coach colours initially wereclaret, but in 1875 they changed toVictoria Brown, with gold and bluelining, then in 1882 waist panelswere added in white, however in1903 a new Brown, the VictoriaLake Brown was used with yellowand red lining and the first classcarriage door had cream waistpanels. Of course the coat of arms

was displayed on both coach sides, making theoverall look of the trains extremely distinguished.My thanks go to Dave Scragg of the KnottyHeritage Trust who has kindly supplied the photosof the restored carriages for this article. If you wantto make a model of the rolling stock, then theNorth Staffordshire Railway Study group hasinformation about the NSR wagons on its sitewww.nsrsg.org.uk/modelling.php

In this article I can only tell you a very shortamount about the NSRSG, but the Group meetfour times a year at the Gladstone PotteryMuseum. The meetings are a place to be able tolisten to informal discussions on lots of aspects ofthe Railway with regular updates from the mainnational railway archive at Kew in London. Theyalso have an on line discussion group called nsrail,which can be found in Yahoo Groups. However ifyou want to go and see a restored carriage andtravel on a steam or diesel train then a day out atthe Foxfield Station, Blythe Bridge, ST11 9BG iswell worth a visit.

Finally when researching this article I found agreat story about Peter Cheeseman, artistic directorof The Victoria Theatre in Stoke; in 1966 he wrotea play about NSR called The Knotty, named afterthe company nickname and it featured many of thevoices of old NSR staff, if you want to buy thescript then the ISBN is 9780416079708 or if youare digitally minded, it can be downloaded fromTransacord Digital.

Better still why not join the group, formembership details of The North StaffordshireRailway Study Group please visit the web site:www.nsrsg.org.uk and don’t forget if you have anystories or photos of men or women who workedon the railway during the wars, the group wouldlove to hear from you.

31Let The Uttoxeter & Cheadle Voice take your business to 13,000 local homes. To advertise, call 01538 751629 or 07733 466 970.Let The Uttoxeter & Cheadle Voice take your business to 13,000 local homes. To advertise, call 01538 751629 or 07733 466 970.

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Can Yoga Help Me LoseWeight ?

Absolutely! 1 Yoga assists detoxification

When your organs ofdetoxification (such as your liverand kidneys) are not workingeffectively, your body will tendto hold on to excess weight.Yoga tones up these organs,breathing deeply also helps thedetoxification process

2 Yoga relaxes mind and bodyAs you practice yoga, the releaseof tension is tangible. Excessstress is a big contributor toweight gain.Fat collects wherewe least want it - the stomach -in part when levels of stresshormone, cortisol, rise.Yoga hasbeen shown to reduce cortisollevels, presumably making iteasier to shed belly fat.

3 Negative emotions can beaddressedWhen on your mat you may feelable to connect with a personal

power that gives you courage toexpress how you feel. Expressinghow you feel is the key to feelinggood about yourself and animportant aspect of loosingweight.

4 Calories in calories outIf a dynamic form of yoga ischosen, especially those thatmake you sweat. (Try myWednesday evening Ashtangaclass)

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6 Weight will no longer be an issueYoga elongates whilestrengthening the muscles of thebody. Quite simply you’ll lookgreat.

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Bath Male Choir to support Goldies,as numbers grow in Staffordshire!

Goldies, the ‘Sing and Smile’ charity, whichuses the memory evoking popular musicof the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s, to bring together

older people and those with learning disabilitiesor dementia or Alzheimer’s, has announced thatall those who attend their sessions in Uttoxeterwill receive free tickets to a Charity Concert tobe held in Abbots Bromley later this year.

Anne Griffiths, Project Leader for the GoldenOldies Charity in Staffordshire said, “I am verypleased to announce that the Bath Male Choirfrom BBC TV’s ‘Last Choir Standing’ will begiving one of their star performances at a CharityConcert in support our work, and as a specialtreat all the ‘Goldies’ who attend our sessions inUttoxeter will get free tickets, and transport willbe provided too.

Bath Male Choir is one of the UK’s best-lovedmale choirs, they recently gave a memorableperformance at the ceremony in Bath Abbeywhen TV cook Mary Berry received the Freedomof the City of Bath. They also gave concerts lastyear in Malmesbury Abbey and in a packed Bath

Abbey for a joint concert with the famousTreorchy Welsh Male Voice Choir. Add to that atour of Japan in November when the Choirreceiving standing ovations at concerts in Itami,Kyoto and Tokyo.”

She continued, “We are getting more andmore people attending our sessions locally andthis Charity Concert will help boost our funds sothat we can continue to grow our sessions inUttoxeter and the surrounding areas ofStaffordshire. People call us the smile charitybecause we know that for many older people,attending their Goldies session is one of the fewtimes that they are with others. Loneliness and

isolation is a growing concern in society andGoldies reaches out to people through song. Weare NOT a choir but we use the memory-evokingsing-along songs. They encourage people to clapin rhythm to the music, tap their feet, smile.”

Goldies hold two ‘Sing & Smile’ sessions inUttoxeter at The Heath Community Centre,Holly Road, Uttoxeter on second Monday of themonth from 3.00-4.00pm, and at the MethodistChurch Meeting Room, High Street, Uttoxeter onlast Tuesday of each month from 11.00-12.00noon. Everyone is welcome, Goldies ‘Sing& Smile’ sessions are attended by elderly peopleas well as those with learning difficulties,

dementia and Alzheimer’s.Anne concluded, “There is

always a friendly welcome and acup of tea afterwards, all we ask isthat everyone who comes alongmakes a minimum £1 donation toour charity. As the numbersattending increase, if there isanyone in the local communitywho would like to becomeinvolved as a volunteer at thesessions then do please get intouch.”

For more information callAnne Griffiths on 01889 562269Email [email protected]

For more information aboutthe charity visit www.golden-oldies.org.uk


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Cheadle Flower Club took partin the recent National Flower

Arranging Day. The theme was toleave flowers, bouquets etc topeople to take home, a thing of joyand friendship.

Diane Lucas left threearrangements in Cheadle. CheadleFlower Club will be visiting thegardens of Anita Wright in June.Anita takes part in the ‘OpenGardens’ scheme. Bloomin’ great!

National Flower Arranging Day


Povey’s PeopleBy Radio Stoke’s Owd Grandad Piggott

Pension day was always a day of stress forOwd Grandad Piggott. It was the only day ofthe week that he was flush with cash and

from the instant that he counted it, his soleobjective was to turn it into ale before anybodyhad chance to lay claim to any of it. He thereforedidn’t aim for any of his usual watering holeswhere any of his creditors would expect to findhim. On pension day, he was in the habit ofspreading his wings and heading off to newpastures. This still needed careful thought as towhich route to take. It was unwise to cover thesame ground two weeks running. He had manydifferent destinations that he could visit. Onpension day, the world was his oyster.

This particular day, he had successfullynegotiated the post office exit unobserved and haddecided to head east, so he proceeded to drink hisway out of Longton heading in the generaldirection of Blythe Bridge. Today it was importantto put some distance between himself and Longton,the reason being that he owed Billy Drummondsixteen shillings. Drummer was a rat faced eviltempered little man who had a thing about people

who owed him money and he harboured a deepsuspicion that Owd Grandad Piggott was trying hisbest to avoid him.

As if!Owd Grandad Piggott had managed to elude

him for several weeks, but Drummer was nowseriously on his case. By lunchtime, he haddoggedly tracked Owd Grandad Piggott via a Meirbookmakers and several pubs to The White Cockat Blythe Bridge and as he had entered thatestablishment by the front door, Owd Grandadhad disappeared out the back and by the timeDrummer realised what had happened, his quarrywas three quarters of the way to The Smithfield.As Owd Grandad Piggott’s pension wasdecreasing, Drummer’s ire was mounting and hewas beginning to realise that unless he got a moveon, his sixteen shillings was liable to disappeardown the gents at the next pub. Owd GrandadPiggott then had a bit of luck. Two trains were dueand Blythe Bridge crossing gates were closed whichallowed him to swallow another pint and throwthe remains of his pension at the landlord.

“Ere master! Stick this in thee till an’ tell me

when its gone!’ he said and as the landlord stoodthere open mouthed, Owd Grandad Piggott satdown and appeared thoroughly involved inwatching a game of darts. The landlord watchedas a rough looking little individual came into hispub and proceeded to manhandle a fellow whohad just put into his trust a quantity of cash.Things happened quickly. The landlord camearound the bar at a fast rate of knots and withinsixty seconds the aggressive little man who haddone the manhandling was sitting on the pavementoutside

‘Yooop!’, carolled Drummer as his coccyxsmote the unyielding paving slab. For the nexthour, Owd Grandad Piggott made more seriousinroads into his already ravaged pension and whenhe was finally ejected from The Smithfield, he wasunable to drink another drop. The police foundhim at Catchems Corner where he’d given out andgone to sleep in a bus shelter. When the police cardelivered him to his house, Drummer was waitingfor him. Owd Grandad Piggott panicked and toldthe policemen that Drummer was a localpsychopath who had threatened to kill him so hewas escorted in and Drummer was threatened witharrest if he didn’t go home immediately.

Drummer did finally get paid. A fortnight later,he got fourteen shillings with a promise to be paidthe rest at sixpence a week – but the finalinstallment wasn’t a sixpence. It was a silverthreepenny bit.

Each month Radio Stoke’s Owd Grandad Piggott (Alan Povey) will write a unique insight into ourlocal life and its many characters.

His infectious, humorous slant on people provides a different and unusual mix which hopefully willbring a warm smile to the faces of our readers.

This month: Pension Day

Paradise Nurseries and Water Garden Centre• Everything for the water garden including fish, pre-formed pools, liners, pumps, filters, waterplants and water features.

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9.00am to 5.00pmOut of hours appointments available if these times

are inconvenientProp. Brian Spencer


Two intrepid JCB employees arelimbering up for a non-stop longdistance charity walk along the 92 mile

Staffordshire Way. Jim Smith, of Uttoxeter, and Ben Murphy,

of Tean – who both work on JCB’s backhoeloader production line at the company’sWorld Headquarters in Rocester – are hopingto complete the marathon trek in just 36hours. In the process they will be raisingmoney for the mental health charity MIND.The fundraising is in memory of Jim’s dad,Bob Smith, who tragically took his own life in2012.

Bob was a highly-respected and popularfigure at JCB where he worked for theBackhoe Loader business unit in themanufacturing department for over 30 years.

Jim said: “It’s a fitting walk because mydad often discussed doing it with me when heretired. We have decided to raise the moneyfor MIND because this is often a first port ofcall for people suffering with mental healthissues. This includes suicide which is nowvery close to my heart since my dad took hisown life.

“To make this walk a more personalchallenge I joked to friends that I wouldundertake this trek with a mullet hairstyle asa tribute to my dad, who, according to someof the lads on the darts team we played for,was trying to bring this hairstyle back intofashion! Therefore, for the last 2 years I havebeen growing my hair to make this possible.”

The Staffordshire Way spans the length ofthe county, wending it’s way from Mow Copon the Cheshire border and finishing atKinver Edge on the border withWorcestershire. Along the way it takes innumerous public rights of way, canaltowpaths and stunning scenery.

Jim, 32, and Ben, 31, will start the trek atMow Cop at midday on May 28 and if allgoes to plan should be arriving at KinverEdge in the early hours on May 30. Neitherare strangers to long distance walking havingcompleted the 192-mile Coast to Coast routeacross Cumbria and North Yorkshire threeyears ago for Ben’s charity of choice, QueenElizabeth Hospital, in Birmingham. However,this is the first time they have tried tocomplete a long distance path in one go.

Jim added: “Doing the walk non-stop isgoing to be challenging and tough. It meanspart of the trek will be in the dark, but wehope it will capture people’s imagination andhelp us raise a lot of money for a good cause.We have been doing training walks on partsof the Staffordshire Way that we are notfamiliar with, so we will be as prepared aspossible. But until you actually get into awalk like this you never know quite what isaround the corner.”

To make a donation visit their just givingwebsite atwww.justgiving.com/marchofthemullet

U13 GirlsNational Finals

After being crowned the Staffordshire Champions andthen the Regional Champions, Oldfields Hall U13 girlsrugby team travelled to London on Saturday 9th May

for the National Finals. This was a fantastic achievement already and one the

school was proud of. There were 12 teams in total from the different areas of

England and in the morning they were split into 2 groups of6. The girls unfortunately lost their first game 1-0, howeverpicked themselves up from the defeat and went on to win thenext 2 games. They then fought hard for a draw and weredetermined to go out and win their final game, which theydid, 2-0.

This meant they finished 2nd in the pool and they got thechance to play on the pitch at Twickenham for the bronzemedal. This was an exciting time and the girls couldn’t waitto get on the pitch.

They unfortunately conceded two tries in the first 5minutes but with sheer grit and determination they pulled itback to 2-2. In the dying seconds they scored the winning try.

Through hard work, commitment and determination thegirls had managed to finish 3rd in England. What anoutstanding achievement and one which teachers, parents andthe girls will never forget.

Left to right back row: Aelfthryth Cant, Sian Rendell, Sophie Howe, Freya Bussell, IndiaEdwards, Ellie Wilson.

Left to right on front row: Kim Burgess, Hannah Clarke, Carys Barker, Jasmine Sutton,Gemma Tomlinson

JCB duo’s non-stop 92-mile charitytrek charity trek in memory of Bob

Ben Murphy (left) and Jim Smith limber up for their walk

Jim Smith pictured with his dad Bob whodied in 2012


Remembering Days gone by... by Owd Ern

The Market Place

Oh dear, what can I say! Whatever hashappened to it? A market place to be proudof! “Unbelievable” where ever do I start. It

all came home to me as I came down through it inmy Austin Seven, with my cousin from Australiaand she said “Oh dear, have you had a forest fire allthem black stumps” I said oh no, they are bollards.I think someone on the council has shares in abollard factory (Ashbourne has traffic lights,Uttoxeter has Bollards) in my far distant youth, ona Wednesday, market day, both the upper andlower market places would be packed with stallsof every description. There were that many peopleyou had a job to get around, especially on PottersBank Holiday. If King Henry III were to comeback,he would scratch his head in wonder as to why hegranted a market charter to the town in 1251. Butthen I suppose he would be able to tie up his horseto a bollard. Anyway enough of desolation andmisery, I must press on.

Before the cattle market was built, the marketplace was used for the sale of cattle and fowl, thelower, smaller market place for pigs and sheepconfined to Market Street. What a stinking lot itmust have been. There used to be a greatassortment of business there until they have allbeen pushed out by the mighty Supermarkets(Progress?!) often 3 or 4 of the same trade tochoose from, like J Cope & Son, Tommy Stewart,British Argentine, all butchers and no doubt I havemissed some out. Wonderful groceries, likePaceman’s, Hardy’s, plus Maypole and Hunters.Old established saddlers like Carters, going since1840 and finally having a shop selling high classleather goods and toys. But I remember seeingsome fine riding saddles that they had made in theworkshop at the back.

Fellow writer Steve Lank Lavin recently wroteabout H Woolley & Son, remarkable Saddlers. Iremember as a youth (I was a youth once) luggingbig heavy Cart Horse Saddles in, they had a metalbridge for the chain to go in to hold up all theshafts, these wore away and had to be relined so

the big horse collars all came out looking like new.Mrs Woolley ran the shop along with doing herhouse work next door. A very pleasant lady, and avery good sale’s person, usually reminding me thatI needed some leather boot laces or a tin of dubbinto waterproof my boots. She was most proud if shepersuaded you to buy a tin of Everett’s polish,always reminding me that it was by appointmentto His Majesty the King! Next door was Pratt’s Artshop, now the Chinese takeaway. Whieldon’sGreen Bus depot complete with waiting room andcafé was a bit lower down, now derelict, possiblywaiting for the “old cobbler” to come and cobbleit. I am sure the bollard man would find room forsome more bollards! (“Our Herbert” says, “stopmoaning and get on with it!”) Shoe shops Gallor,Wyles, Trufit, Public Benefit, what a funny namethat was a posh shoe shop where John German hasset up office.

The mighty Ormes empire started in that era,Furniture, baby wear, wool, clothes and the bigladies fashion shop and even Undertakers... theirmotto, from cradle to grave, their big men’s clothesshop in the High Street has just closed down as oflate run by Buxton And Bonnet. BrisbernsWadhams plus a few more ladies clothes shops andof course the Wylke ladies fashion house. But tome, the most interesting was Mr Shaw’s “tat tar”Shaun men’s clothes shop about where theMidland Bank rebuilt. It should have been takenover by English Heritage as a tourist attraction. Itwas one of the first ports of call for people fromThe Potteries, his window display being betterentertainment than present day T.V. but then thatdoesn’t take a lot of doing. A Mrs Shaw kept a verysmall music shop, selling records, mouth organsetc. so small and yet so full of musicalentertainment, now swallowed up by the bigderelict pub. Mellor’s Chemist, Allport jeweller, alllovely private businesses, Phillips paint & plumbershop, now housing the Co Op Bank. Mrs Phillipwas another fine sales lady; she referred to herhusband as ‘father’. “Father has cut your glass” butthen she would advise you that you needed some

putty and paint. In the back yard she kept a greataviary of birds, budgies & canary’s all singing andchattering. I seem to be going on for ever, and havenot even started on the pubs. The White Horse isstill there now The Steeplechase renamed after itburnt down it was used on market days by posherfarmers, business men, corn merchants etc.Whereas riff raff like me used the Wheatsheaf justdown Bridge Street. The Swan and Black Swan stillgoing, but a lot have gone. The Lion Hotel , theCrown was next to NatWest Bank and my oldfavourite, The Vine, you could go in the front door,have a drink or two and then go out the back andcross Queen St straight into the Old Star, a very oldpub, but not as ancient as the Old Talbot. The oldpub in the lower Market Place now demolishedalong with a group of houses, to make way for theWar Memorial was the venue for Bear baiting andBull Baiting, both very cruel ‘sports’ banned in1824, but cock fighting carried on up to the startof the second world war. It was held behind closeddoors in the pub yards at the Lion’s head andWheatsheaf in particular.

I know our editor Nigel is hovering with his bigpair of scissors, so I have left out mentioning a lotmore important shops, Williamsons Bakers for one.Me and my mates going in to get one of theirmassive cream buns 1 Penny. What was in themwe’ll never know, as food was rationed…possiblythe cream was Brillcream left over by the Royal AirForce. I have not taken any harm from themthough. Two big Iron mongers G&A. Harrisaffectionately known as Gandie Harris and ofcourse the magnificent Bamfords, the stone frontstill intact, good enough for a Cathedral. But theonly ‘Ray’ of hope is Sargy’s - T.G. SargeantsButchers just visible in the corner. As for the restof the Market Place, the only solution is to build itall over with bungalows, because the tops of theold shops are still as they were, before the vandalson the council stepped in!I’d better goo afore I’m put in the stocks.So Bay good an Teck CareOwd Ern

Although local author Dave Cooper hasworked in construction management andestimation for many years, he has had a life-

long interest in history, particularly in relation tothe English Civil War and the military history ofhis home county of Staffordshire.

Dave has extensively researched these subjectsbefore, during and since his studies at KeeleUniversity, with a number of books to his credit asa result. Not only are his interests academic, butpractical as well, with memberships of several localmilitary history interest groups, a leading light inthe raising of several commemorative monumentsin Staffordshire, regular stalling out at militaryinterest collectors fairs in the Midlands and anactive membership of Sir John Gell’s Regiment ofthe Sealed Knot English Civil War re-enactmentSociety.

He is therefore ideally situated to write his newbook that will be of interest not only to the localresidents of Uttoxeter past and present, but also toall those intrigued by what it would have been liketo have been a resident in a Midland’s market townsuch as Uttoxeter during the turbulent EnglishCivil War years.

About the book

Initially conceivedas a Master’s Degreeresearch topic at KeeleUniversity, DaveCooper’s interestingand fact filled book isthe culmination ofmany years ofresearch, entailing theinterpretation,correlation andcoordination of

manuscripts, archival records, letters, pamphlets,maps, photographs and other artefacts.

This is the first detailed book to be writtencovering the impact of the traumatic and oftenbewildering events of the English Civil War on thepopulation of a quiet rural market town such asUttoxeter, in Staffordshire.

On 22nd August 2015 it will be 368 years sincethe Duke of Hamilton’s Scottish Royalist forcessurrendered to the Parliamentary forcessurrounding Uttoxeter, with the prisoners beingtemporarily incarcerated in Uttoxeter and

Bramshall churches. With the approach of the370th anniversary it seems fitting that such a studyshould pave the way to a befitting annualcommemoration of this long overlooked event.

The author as a musketeer of Sir John Gell’sRegiment of the Sealed Knot (Civil Warreenactment society)

Uttoxeter in the Civil War book is being published

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Let The Voice Be With Youby Les Humphries of Rocester

My column this issue ismainly about memorialsand memories. The first

being the memorial rugby matchplayed at Oldfields on May the 2ndin honour of my old chum GeorgeHarper (see photo), whose death justbefore Christmas after battlingagainst Parkinsons for many years, Icovered in an earlier edition of thisfine magazine. The Voice also kindlysponsored the memorial matchwhich featured an assembly line ofplayers old and new, with formerclub captain Dave (Crockett)Hodgkinson awarded man of the match, whilst Ithink the oldest player to take the field was 61 yearold Howard Gould. Although Whitchurch providedthe official opposition, replacements came and went,playing first for one side and then the other in a funafternoon.

It was a wonderful turn out by the rugbyfraternity on the day and a wonderful tribute toGeorge’s memory, the picture was typical of the manhimself in Oldfields club on a Saturday evening.George would have loved the day himselfreminiscing with all the other old f**ts like myselfwho have been proudly associated with the club formany years and I include in that number Editor ofthe Voice Nigel Titterton. Many thanks Nigel for thesupport and help you give not only to the RugbyClub, but to Oldfields also.

George’s memorial was followed a week later bythe Anniversary of VE Day, with Church Services,Concerts, and Parades taking place around theCountry in memory of the end of hostilities withGermany 70 years ago (Japan took a little longer), sovictory in Europe was not quite the end ofproceedings. George, like myself, lived through theworst of the conflict, he in the North, and me in theSouth.

A Cardiff boy through and through, my Dadwho in his own words, was one of the lucky ones,having been a pre-war Regular Soldier, following

Dunkirk where he was wounded,once patched up had been sent toNorth Africa with the 8th Army. MyMother and I lived with my Nan inBagshot Surrey, which was close toLondon and where Mum and Dadhad met whilst my Dad was stationedat Blackdown Camp up the road. Wewere on the flight path for theGerman bombers on their way to theCaptital and quite often the fieldsaround us were bombed as theGerries off loaded any surplus bombsthey had on board on their wayhome. Our Village was even hit by a

stray ‘Doodle Bug’ or V1, which blew all thewindows out in the high street. When it exploded,my Grandfather, an old 1st World War Veteran wasdragged around a field where he was working by apair of bolting cart horses, and I’ll bet he belted outall kinds of expletives as to the parentage of theGerman invaders!

My other Grandparents who lived inGrangetown Cardiff, were close to the docks.Thankfully some of the worst bombing there wasnullified by the mud banks in Cardiff Bay so theydidn’t explode. Cardiff Bay has since been re-developed and is now unrecognisable from the daysof my childhood.

Although I was only 3 1/2 years old on VE DayI can remember it pretty well as we had a big bonfireon the pub car park at night, with an effigy of Hitlersitting on the top, and when the Fuhrer tumbled intothe flames, everyone cheered at the top of theirvoices. People were dancing around to swing musicwhich I have loved ever since(I lost interest in popmusic when Bing Crosby died!), and one girl said tomy Mum ‘Can I have a dance with your littlebrother’ which I am sure bucked her up no end.

Later that same year 1945, my Mum and I (thanksto the War I am much older than my brother andsister who had yet to come into the world), were totravel to Germany in the first batch of MarriedFamilies to travel out to join Husbands and Fathers

,and I well remember my Nan crying as she waved usoff in the back of a TCV which was taking us to theship due to sail for the Hook of Holland. A trip I wasto make again in 1960 as a Regular Soldier myself, asthere was not so much air travel in those days.

You know, when you put your mind to it you canremember lots of childhood experiences which arelocked away in the old memory banks. But try andremember something that happened last week it aintso easy folks! They were bleak years in my youngchildhood with rationing, and bomb damageeverywhere still being the order of the day after wereturned home from Germany in 1948. Clearing upwas hard work, Joe Bamford did not introducebackhoe loaders until 1953! But although those daysare now long gone, but we should never forget them.

Back to present, and the rehearsals for theDenstone Players next production ‘Beyond a joke’are well underway, and will be performed in theVillage Hall Denstone on the 25th , 26th and 27th ofJune. Tickets will be priced at £7:00 for all classes.The Churnet Valley Male Voice Choir, havingentertained the pensioners at Cheadle Guildhall onthe 26th of May will next be singing in Wetley RocksChurch on the 30th of June. St. Michaels ChurchRocester’s next event is the Garden Fete on Saturday4th of July, and this will be followed on the 18th and19th of July with our first ever Scarecrow Festival.

These are just a few events to put a bit ofsunshine into peoples lives who have five more yearsof Tory misery to look forward to, more cuts, moreHospitals closing down as more of our NationalHealth is sold off, cuts in the Armed Forces leavingus defenceless, Police, Councils and Schools allstruggling to survive, and zero contracts for workersso they can be laid off at a minutes notice, as the fatcats get richer, all stemming from a chancellor whohas no idea how ordinary people live and has nocompassion, but will keep blaming Labour when hispolicies don’t work, and the Scots now the tail thatwags the dog. Do you know, I think those bleakyears are still with us, but in a different form, as NeilBaldwin would say ‘Marvellous’

TTFN Les...

Kate’s KitchenBy Kate Cornes

Kate once worked as a professional chef for manyyears, but following a career change, is nowemployed as a Veterinary Nurse. She still,however, continues to cook home cooked mealsfor herself, her husband and two young children.Kate is always on the lookout for wholesome butsimple recipes that can be prepared in advancefor busy working families.

This has to be one the easiest but tastiestrecipes I have cooked. It is a slight cheat aspart of it uses fresh ingredients and part of it

is packaged but I think that this is allowedsometimes when time is against us. Personally Ithink that it is better to eat this way sometimesthan go for a 100% packaged meal when in a rush.Also what I like about this is you can slightlychange the ingredients depending on what you mayhave in the fridge and even add a little chilli for abit more spice if you’re feeling hot!

Spicy Ricy! Serves 4

2 packs (240g ish) savoury rice1 spicy chorizo sausage (approx packsize 250g) sliced1 red onion sliced1 x 400g tin chick peas drained andrinsed250g pack of baby plum tomatoes,halved

Method1. Cook rice in a pan with 700ml

boiling water (slightly more than itsays on the pack) for around 20minutes.

2. Whilst the rice is cooking, in a fryingpan, heat a little olive oil and cookthe chorizo and red onion for around 5 minutes

3. Add the drained chick peas and halvedtomatoes and cook for a further 3-4 minutes.

4. Stir in with the cooked rice and serve!

If you do fancy it a little more spice, I wouldsuggest adding a chopped chilli or 2 at the sametime as the chick peas.

There you go, I told you it was easy!

Karen’s Cake Cornerby Karen Hill

Red Velvet Cake

One of my daughter’s favourite cakes is myTriple Layer Red Velvet Cake. I have lost count asto how many times this cake has been made, andseems to disappear very fast. My family managedto save me one slice so I could take a photographfor my cake article. Delicious eaten as a desert, orwith a cup of tea or coffee.

You will need - 400g golden caster sugar 160g unsalted butter 3 large free range eggs 30g good quality cocoa powder 60ml red food colouring (I find that thecolouring paste is better than the liquid) 2 tsp vanilla essence 400g plain flour 1 tsp salt 320ml buttermilk 1 ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda 1 ½ tbsp white wine vinegar

For the Cream Cheese Frosting - 600g Icing sugar 100g unsalted butter 250g full fat Cream Cheese

First, preheat your oven to 175˚C. Grease andline three 8” sandwich tins. Beat together the

caster sugar and butter until light andfluffy. Slowly add the beaten eggs andvanilla essence. In another bowl mixtogether the food colouring paste withthe buttermilk. Buttermilk makes a cakehave a lovely moist texture. Mix theflour, cocoa powder, salt together andthen add to the sugar and butter mixturegradually, alternating with thebuttermilk, beginning and ending withthe flour mixture. In a small cup mixtogether the bicarbonate of soda with thewhite wine vinegar and fold into the cakebatter. Divide the mixture evenlybetween the three sandwich tins. Bake inthe preheated oven for approximately25-30 minutes or until a skewer comesout clean. Cool the cake layers in theirtins for about 10 minutes then turn outonto a wire rack to cool completely.

To make the frosting, blend the butterwith the icing sugar. Next add the creamcheese and blend until light and fluffyand completely smooth.

When the cake is cool, sandwich thethree layers together with the frosting,and then completely cover the sides andtop. I usually sprinkle a little cocoa powder on thetop of the cake for decoration

I love this cake as it is such a delight to cut into

the white frosting to reveal the lovely bright colourinside. I hope you enjoy this cake as much as myfamily.


Let’s Get Cookingby Simon Smith, top local chef

Salmon en Croute

It’s all very well sitting at a screen looking outof the window at a rain drenched garden andtrying to imagine sun drenched days and gloriousSummer food until you have to write a recipe for it.

The time of long lazy evenings will soon beupon us when we will be sitting in the gardenrelaxing with a glass of something nicelychilled...or am I dreaming?

At this time of year a lot of events I am asked toquote for are buffets or Vintage afternoon teas,very popular at the moment.

Therefore I am going to suggest this lovely‘salmon en croute’ recipe this month as it is easyto prepare, looks lovely, and can be prepared inadvance. It can either be served hot or cold and willfeed approximately 6-8 people.

4lbs Salmon fillet6ozs Butter3ozs Finely chopped fresh ginger

4tbsp Sultanas4tbsp Chopped almonds2 Limes, zested1 Bunch fresh dill16 Asparagus spears2lbs Shortcrust pastry1 EggSeasoning

Method• Soften the butter and add to it the chopped

ginger, sultanas, chopped almonds, chopped dilland zested lime, mix together

• Lightly fry the asparagus spears in some oliveoil until still firm to the touch and slightlygolden

• Trim the salmon fillets of any bones or whitefat

• Roll the pastry out into two rectangles, oneslightly larger than the other

• Place one salmon fillet on one sheet of pastry• Spread the butter and sultana mixture evenly

over this• Lay the asparagus spears on top so they evenly

cover the butter• Lay the other salmon fillet on top and season• Eggwash round the sides of the pastry on the

bottom• Lay the next sheet of pastry over the top and

press down round the sides and trim to a niceshape

• Eggwash the top of the pastry and if you likemark some scales and head onto the pastry

• Cook the salmon on a silicone baking mat for

30 minutes in a preheated oven at 180 or gasmark8

• When the pastry is cooked so is the salmon• If you have a thermometer check the thickest

part of the salmon and if it has reached 60degrees all is well

For those of you who are interested in cookingI have a series of cookery shows at The GarrickTheatre in Lichfield this year.

The first shows are on June the 18th at 2.30and 7.30 when I shall be doing Mediterranean andEuropean cookery with some ‘cheffy’ tips andshortcuts.

A lighthearted demonstration with canapés,starters, fish dishes, main courses and, of course,some puds.

It would be lovely to see you all so come andjoin in the fun.

Next month I shall be doing some BBQ recipesand ‘sexy salads’

The good old daysCan you identify the facesand locations?See Page 49 for some of the namesto the faces.

URGENTLY REQUIREDIf you have any photos that youthink may be of interest to ourreaders of this page please feel freeto drop them into Lavins Printers,High Street, Uttoxeter who will scanthem while you wait and let youhave them straight back. They willthen pass them on to us forpublication.

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Photo Credits - 1: Madge Whitworth, Uttoxeter. 2: Frank Hill, Uttoxeter. 3: Marilyn Betts, Uttoxeter. 4: Janet Crutchley, Uttoxeter. 5: Marcia Titterton, Cheadle. 6: Tony Elliott, Tean.


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Talking Pets by Shoshannah McCarthy BVetMed (Hons) MRCVS

Shosh qualified from the Royal VeterinaryCollege in London, and has been working as asmall animal vet at Blue House Veterinary Centrein Biddulph since 2009. She has a rescue catnamed Bagpuss.

Do you find taking your cat to the vetstressful?

Get the carrier out, and the cat scarpers. Cuehunting under the bed or behind the fridge,poking them with a broom handle, hauling

more furniture around than you do when you’reactually moving house... cue finally dragging aterrified cat from the depths of whatever refugethey’ve chosen... cue sustaining enough injuries tokeep Boots in business for a month through plastersales as you wrestle trying to get the cat into thecarrier... possibly repeat... cue driving to the vet’swith hands scratched to ribbons and a very unhappycat screaming in your ears... cue opening the carrierin the consulting room to reveal your poor baby,feet covered in wee and very, very upset...

Sound familiar?

Sometimes it’s difficult to know who gets themost stressed during a visit to the vet: us, or the cat.Research has shown time and again that, sadly,many cat owners put off taking their cats to see thevet because it is such an upsetting experience.Obviously, this can have an impact on the healthand welfare of the cat if they don’t receive regularhealth checks or prompt attention to illness andinjury.

Fortunately, there are some things you can do totry and make it a little easier on you both.

The cat carrier: no big deal!

The type of carrier you use can make a bigdifference. When selecting a carrier, choosesomething secure and easy to clean. Many cats willpee, poo or vomit in the carrier due to stress or carsickness, and the last thing you want is somethingawkward to keep clean. It is recommended tochoose a carrier that can open at the top, or with atop half that can be easily unclipped and removed;this means that in many cases the vet can examinethe cat while they sit in the bottom part of thecarrier, and this can make them feel more securethan being pulled out onto the table.

Whatever type of carrier you have, it’s vital todesensitise your cat to it. DON’T just bring it outwhen it’s time to go to the vet - keep it out. I realisethat they are bulky and get in the way, but makingbaskets and carriers a ‘normal’ part of your cat’sfurniture will avoid building negative associations,which lead them to take flight as soon as they see it.If you have the space, keep the carrier out all thetime and encourage your cat to sleep, eat or play init. If this isn’t possible, bring it out for playtime

when no vet visit is planned, then put it away again.If you have a planned vet visit coming up, bring thecarrier out days in advance so your cat gets used toit. Leave the door open, pop some treats or toysinside, and just leave the cat to it. With time, yourcat will see the presence of the carrier as no big deal.

Time to go!

When it’s time to go to the vet, prepare thecarrier by placing something soft and familiar insidefor your cat; this could be a blanket or an item ofyour clothing - but remember that some cats can getcar sickness so make sure it’s something easilycleaned and not too precious!

Look into getting some Feliway Spray. This is asynthetic version of feline facial pheromone - thesubstance cats use to mark when they rub their faceson things. This pheromone can help incite feelings ofcomfort and safety, and a few squirts inside thecarrier can help cats feel more secure. It is VERYimportant to spray Feliway a good 15 minutesbefore placing the cat in the carrier, to let the alcoholcarrier in the spray evaporate!

If your cat is used to the carrier by now, theymay well go in themselves for a treat. If not, it canbe a potential battle to persuade an unwilling cat toenter a carrier. Try to remain calm. Wear a long-sleeved top to reduce the chances of being scratched.Enlist a second pair of hands to help if necessary. Ifind that many cats can be placed into carriers muchmore easily when they are gently pushed inbackwards, because they cannot see where they aregoing. Alternatively, you can try placing the carrieronto its end and ‘dropping’ the cat into it gentlyfrom above. Baskets that open at the top can bemuch easier to use if you are really struggling.

Hitting the road

Always place the carrier securely in the car; afootwell can work well. You don’t want the carriermoving around with the motion of the car, so wedgeit in place with something if necessary. Keep noiseand music to a very low volume, and try to drive asslowly and smoothly as possible.

Arriving at the vet’s

Many cats get worked up in the waiting room,especially if it is busy or there are noisy dogspresent. To avoid this, you may want to leave yourcat in the car until you are called in, or ask thereceptionist if there is a spare consulting room youcan be shown straight into. Some practices haveCat-Only waiting areas or run Cat-Only surgeries,so it’s worth checking with the practice before youbook if these are available. If a short stay in thewaiting room is unavoidable, try to keep your cat’scarrier elevated off the floor: put it on a table,another chair if there is space, or on your lap. Try todissuade nosy dogs from sniffing at the carrier.

Covering the carrier with a large towel or blanketcan be very helpful, and if you forget to bring onefrom home it’s okay to ask at reception; there’sbound to be one you can borrow.

Cats all behave very differently when they are inthe consulting room. Some are very timid and preferto hide in their carrier throughout the appointment;others are quite bold and enjoy exploring the room.Whatever your cat is like, tell the vet if you have anyworries or concerns about your cat’s reactions - Ipromise you, they’ve seen it all before. Never feelembarrassed or upset about your cat’s behaviour; itis natural for them to feel worried or defensive innew and scary situations.

Home sweet home!

When you arrive home, it’s important not to losefocus. If possible, leave the carrier out for a few daysbefore stowing it away so that your cat has theopportunity to get used to it (see the first part of thiscolumn above).

If you have other cats, they may well be upset bythe ‘vetty’ smell when a cat returns from the vet’s,and this can lead to aggression. Obviously, this initself is upsetting for all the cats involved, as it is forus as owners to witness. Remember that it isnormal. Pre-empt it if you can. When you bringyour cat back from the vet, it’s a good idea to keepthem separate in another room for a few hourswhile the ‘vetty’ smell disperses from their coat.‘Scent-swapping’ is an easy technique that can helpas well: simply take a clean cloth and rub it on thecheeks of one cat, then rub the cloth over the coatof the other cat. This can be done between all catsin the household and can help redistribute the scentand pheromones they feel comfortable with.

If all else fails...

Most vets will be able to visit your cat at home.This often requires a bit more forward planning,and it’s important to recognise that home visits arenot suitable in every case - for example, very ill catsand urgent cases are much better off seen at thepractice, where the vet has access to more diagnosticequipment and medications. But for non-urgentsituations and routine visits, some cats cope betterwith a home visit than a trip to the vet’s. Speak toyour vet if you think this might be a good optionfor your cat.

Vets and nurses realise how stressed some catscan get at the vets, and how stressful it can be fortheir owners too! Please, don’t put off an importantvisit if you’re worried about transporting your cator getting them into the carrier. Speak to your vetor nurse as they may be able to help you.

More information about vet visits with your catcan be found on International Cat Care’s site:http://www.icatcare.org/advice/keeping-your-cat-healthy/bringing-your-cat-vet

You can now read The Voice at www.uttoxeterandcheadlevoice.co.uk

You can now view recent issues of The Voice online, as well as being able todownload them.

Make comments and send us images - be a part of the community.

Place your advert via our new website - it’s so easy - just [email protected]


The Raddle sponsor CheadleCricket Club 1st team kit

For the fourth year running, Peter Wilkinson of TheRaddle, Quarry Bank, Hollington has agreed to sponsorCheadle Cricket Club's first team kit.

Peter, who recently was elected as a StaffordshireMoorlands District Councillor and a Cheadle Town Councillor,sponsors many sports teams in our area, showing support forthe local community in a superb way.

Cheadle Cricket Club Chairman Nigel Tittertoncommented: "I would like to sincerely thank Peter for hiscontinued sponsorship. He shows great community spirit byhelping local sports clubs and I am sure he will make asplendid councillor for our area and I wish him well in thissphere.

"I would, of course, like to thank all our other sponsors,especially our ground sponsorship from JCB. Without allthese local companies supporting Cheadle Cricket Clubthrough boards and matchballs sponsorship it would be agreat struggle. I was so pleased recently to welcome NPKitchens as a new kit sponsor. Sincere thanks to you all."

If you would like to place a sponsorship board or sponsora matchday, please contact Nigel Titterton on 01538 751629or on 07733 466 970. It will be great to hear from you andyour support will be much appreciated by the committee,players and all involved with Cheadle CC.

Alan’s Football Autobiography by Alan Beaman, a local sporting legend

New Zealand and the Aussies on our shoresshould set up for exciting cricket thissummer, a challenge for England to prove

they can compete at the highest level, with Strausstaking on a very important role for English cricket.

He and England need some top performanceswith bat and ball, with the Kevin Pietersen sagabehind England let’s hope they can compete.Whether Pietersen was promised a chance if hescored runs I don’t know, to move back into theunhappy dressing room days would have beenimpossible for Strauss, Cook and co.

With Barcelona and Juventus in the ChampionsLeague Final the cream always comes to the top,Messi, Neymar and Suarez up front - canBarcelona be beaten? I doubt it, but you neverknow. Bayern, without the threat of Ribery andRobben, could not overcome the forward threat ofBarcelona, they defended poorly but who wouldn’tagainst the very best forward line we have seen fora long time.

Chelsea, Arsenal, Man Utd, Liverpool, ManCity have all a lot of work to do to break throughinto later stages of the Champions League - thePremier League is behind in terms of quality.

One player who would have survived in thiscompany would be the great Jimmy Greaves, Ihave said before the best English striker I have everseen. I was so proud to be at Stoke against Spurswhen the whole ground applauded Jimmy, wishinghim a speedy recovery after his recent stroke, andto also see a lot of the crowd including me stand inadmiration of a very talented player who scored atevery level with every club he played for a truelegend. I feel privileged to have watched him manytimes live especially when Spurs were Stoke’s firstopponents after promotion in the early sixtieswhen they had an excellent team.

I had a lot of feedback from readers about theold Tean days which I remember so fondly so let’sreminisce some more. School days at Greatwood, astone’s throw away from where I was born inVicarage Crescent, playing football and cricket inthe top yard.

Now the aim if you were batting was trying tohit a small window in the top of the gable of the

school - we hit it but never broke it - a tennis ballat the time stopped the damage.

Then to Mackenzie School at Cheadle, gettingducked when you arrived in the first few days.Freda Parker was my first form teacher in 1A, alovely lady who I have met several times since.Bernard Tootall was a favourite of mine, I had apassion for technical drawing and loved workingwith him a great teacher. Mr Kelsall, science, wasanother super teacher who was very much on ourwave length - more a friend than a teacher, a manI had a lot of respect for.

Now the cane was a regular punishment foranyone who challenged the establishment and I fellinto that category. The weaker teachers had atough time in those days and sometimes resortedto the cane as a last ditch effort to regain respectbut it didn’t work with me, I was far better withteachers who were firm but treated me with respectand I soon repaid their trust with friendship whichhas lasted ever since I was a prefect in my fourthyear to the amazement of some teachers.

Mr Lovatt for one a great music teacher but notime for anyone without music talent which Itotally understood. He would let me off music inthe summer to train for athletics.

Now part of being a prefect was to keep yourqueue for our Tean bus in a line whilst waiting upThe Avenue, something I had no chance ofachieving. Certain teachers would blame me for mylack of control, it was a joke - again punishmentcame my way.

Lymers double decker was also a lively placemorning and night pushing and shoving, throwingsatchels about and even worse the occasional fight,but we all got on with it no complaints. Then downTean Rec to play. I look at some of the trees weclimbed in those day amazing! Pinching applesplaying conkers, banned I hear now, doing paperrounds Nellie Horibin’s, we were always on ourcycles around Tean and going bike rides around thearea. Bike scramble tracks were made in HuntleyWoods, in those days we were always working onour bikes, respraying, repairing brakes, gears etc -the bike was our transport and we looked afterthem. Bostocks cycle shop was an Aladdin’s cave

of equipment and the late Bert Bostock was asmashing man, always helping with morecomplicated bike problems.

Catapults were very popular and air rifles goingup Martha Ford Lane to the Blythe river. Fishing,making dams, collecting mushrooms,blackberrying, a carefree young life with lots offreedom. Treats in your life were the chip shop ona Friday night, first at Baileys at the bottom of OldRoad then at Rowley’s in New Road, doing someshopping for my mum at Dawson’s Grocery,Johnson’s Butchers, Johnson’s Bonmarche, WillMcGarry’s Pat McGarry’s and Parnell’s, calling into see Ken and Nellie Sims who were close friendsat Vicarage Crescent until they opened their shoeshop.

My mum and dad, Ken and Nellie would takeus to the seaside, I was lucky my dad had a smallcar, lovely days out, stopping to light the calor gasstove, make a brew, have a picnic.

Going scrambling to Hawkstone Park Sandonwas also a hobby we all enjoyed. Hoildays incaravans and flats in Rhyl, Towyn, Aberdovey andBarmouth are fantastic memories and as cars gotbetter we went Torquay, Newquay a 12 hour tripbut beautiful holidays, playing football and cricketon the beach all day long.

I first played in the Uttoxeter League at Leighwhen I was 14 years old. In the new league therewas not much protection but coming off a councilestate playing with all ages toughened you up, andthe with Tean YC playing regular at 15 years old ina strong Staffordshire Moorland League, Biddulph,Kingsley Juniors, Foxt, Stockton Brook, Bolton’s,Brown Edge and lots more had very strong teamsbut physically we could look after ourselves andolder lads would always back you up when it gotout of hand.

My first serious injury came at home for Teanagainst Kingsley where a guy went through myknee causing serious ligament damage etc. 8 weekson crutches and it took me 6 months to recover, Ilearned a lot from that tackle and knew how tolook after myself better.Great memories, Alan

ANewcastle company’s sponsorship deal hasproved an outstanding success for a localfootball team. Teacher supply agency and

education consultancy Focus Education sponsoredChurnet Valley FC, at the beginning of the season,and they have gone on to win the Uttoxeter &District Sunday League Division 2 Cup Final andhave also topped the division.

Managing Director, Vanda Magrowski,commented “I am thrilled that Churnet Valley haveachieved such success in the first season of our

sponsorship deal, their work ethic, enthusiasm andcommitment to succeed is very impressive and I amdelighted that the company was able to offerfunding. This is our sixteenth year in business andthe company has steadily expanded year on yearwhich has enabled Focus Education to undertakethis worthwhile community sports project, all ofthe team at Focus Education are looking forwardto following Churnet Valley next season inDivision 1.”

The Newcastle based company, which this year

celebrates sixteen years of operation, suppliesteachers to schools and colleges from nurserythrough to FE level and across every subjectdiscipline, throughout Staffordshire and theMidlands.

Local company sponsorshipdeal proves a winning formula!



Sport is in my blood...by Jeff Wood of Cheadle, dedicated to local sport for a lifetime...

It seems that not a month goes by when mycolumn is not tinged with sadness. I was verysorry to learn recently of the passing of John

Phillips. I played many times against John, who wasa prolific striker in his younger days. I recall Johnplaying his part for Threapwood in the Leek andDistrict Youth League many years ago, particularlyin a Cup Final against a Kingsley Youth Club sidewhich featured such personalities as Bake forKingsley and Barry Alcock for Threapwood. Johnhad been in poor health for some years and mycondolences go to his family.

On a happier note, I see that Ivor Lucas has beenelected as a District Councillor for Churnet Ward.As readers will know, Ivor was formerly a wellknown coach proprietor and for some years afootballer with the old BIS team and later withKingsley. In those days very few if any playerspossessed cars and travel to away games wasnormally by coach. Ivor used to drive us by firstStoddards bus and later by his own to remote placeslike Earl Sterndale, who I remember had one seasonin the Moorland League, and then actually play inthe game himself. I’m not sure whether that wouldbe allowed now because goodness knows how wewould have got back home had Ivor got injured, but

no one even thought of that possibility. I’m sure thatIvor will be an excellent representative for hisconstituents.

I was watching a game recently in Uttoxeterwhen I dropped on Dave Hammond, who isPresident of the Uttoxeter & District SundayFootball League. It must be forty years since I hadlast seen Dave but he remembered me straight awayand remarked that I used to play for Cotton Albion.That was when I was an eighteen year old teenagerand I’m now in my seventies, therefore Dave is to behighly complimented on his remarkable memory.We went on to recount several incidents whichinvolved us both, one in particular at Cheddletonwhen I was playing for Kingsley. We rememberedthat Willie Beresford squared up to me and I wentdown as if poleaxed. Willie had in fact nevertouched me but Dave sent Willie off despite hisprotests. Some forty years later I confessed to Davethat he had in fact sent the wrong man off and I dulyapologised for my conduct, although perhapssomewhat belatedly.

I saw Dave Hammond again last week when hepresented the Uttoxeter League Division 2 winnerstrophy to Churnet Valley FC, whose home ground isthe old Boltons pitch at Oakamoor. The Valley have

had a highly successful season, having won theLeague Cup also. I must say I have watched everyChurnet Valley game this season as both my stepsonsOlly and Timmy Ley play for them. The manager isJohnny Allen and the coach Paul Harrison, whoseson Scott also plays. I also see Baz Whieldon,an oldplaying colleague of mine, whose son Chris plays. Imust congratulate every single one of the players onsuch a brilliant season and in particular Johnny andPaul for their excellent management skills. I have infact derived as much pleasure from watching theirgames as I ever did when I was a player myself manyyears ago.

Finally it was disappointing that Leek Townfailed at the final hurdle to get promotion into theEvo Stik Premier Division. With just one automaticpromotion place, it is such a very difficult league toget out of, even though they finished second by acountry mile. Hopefully they can make it third timelucky next year.

Even more finally, the cricket season has begunand I’ve braved the cold to start umpiring. I mustconvey my best wishes to Cheadle CC for theforthcoming season. I understand they are under theexpert guidance of our esteemed Editor Nigel and Iknow he will keep them on the straight and narrow.

Bake’s Memoirsby Neil Baker, Crewe Alexandra FC Assistant Manager and local sporting legend

Another football season draws to a close. Apartfrom the premiership, most promotion andrelegation issues are settled except those

teams fortunate, or in some cases unfortunateenough to have to go through the lottery of the playoffs. Whether we think they are fair or not the rulesare set at the start of the season and we have to abideby them. My own take on them? With my supportershat on they keep the season alive, very few deadgames and a possible trip to Wembley. With mymanagers hat on I maybe view them slightlydifferent. Look at the situation in league one, Prestonfinish 20 points above Chesterfield and end upplaying them over two legs in the semi-final, fair ornot, leave you to decide.

Now I’ve been lucky enough to go up throughthe play offs at Wembley twice with Crewe and it’sa fantastic way to get promoted. A great day out thatyou can share with your family, friends, greatmemories and mementoes from the day that staywith you for ever. So whether we think they are rightor not it certainly makes for an exciting end of theseason for all.

The season at Crewe ended up far too excitingfor our liking! It would have taken an extraordinaryset of results to have seen us relegated. Needing apoint to secure our place in league one we lost athome to Bradford. Not a problem on its own butteams that could have caught us started to score andlead in their games. Colchester took the lead againstPreston, still ok, Crawley scored to take the leadagainst Coventry, started to get concerned and whenNott’s County scored at Gillingham we were in thebottom four! These games continued to ebb andflow and looking at the scoring sequences we were inthe relegation places three times in the last fifteenminutes and after 88 minutes of our game we lookeddoomed. Only late goals for Gillingham andCoventry kept us up. Talk about emotions, weexperienced so many on the day and it was only

when we got back to the dressing rooms and all thegames had finished and the league table came up onthe TV that survival was confirmed. It wasn’t a timefor celebration but a time to reflect and breathe amassive sigh of relief.

My home town club Leek Town were not quiteso fortunate in their play-off final game againstSutton Coldfield, losing 0 2 in front of nearly 1300fans. A magnificent turn out on the day in whichLeek didn’t play as well as they would have liked. Itwas a shattering blow to the club who have now lostin the play offs three times in the last few years. Theclub has made great strides in the last four years bothon and off the pitch and must now lift themselvesover the next few months for another tilt at the title.It won’t be easy after the disappointment of defeatbut this must make them stronger and moredetermined to succeed next season. Chairman AndyWain, board members and the management team ofLee Caswell and Matt Beeby alongside coachesJamie Cullerton and my son Darren Baker must allpull together to ensure this happens.

There was good support for them from theCheadle area and at half time I bumped into friendand fellow Voice columnist Jeff Wood. He mentioneda game to me, the Leek and Cheadle youth leaguecup final between Kingsley Youth Club andThreapwood. A game that I played in by the way!He asked me if I could remember who had refereedthe game. I’m afraid not was my reply. He promptlyinformed me it was the infamous Ernie Chadwick.Now Ernie was old school, stood no nonsense andtook charge of the game in his own imitable way.You took no liberties with him and he was asimpartial as they came. He was one of a number ofreferees around at the time that we had great respectfor and in my next column will mention a few morethat fell into this category.

The game was played on a Friday evening downat Bolton’s sports ground. The date, May 14th, 1971.

How do I remember this date? I have saved thenewspaper cuttings from the Cheadle Post and Timesand the Times and Echo! I’m sure our editor willremember these rags and provide some informationand history! I played centre forward for the youthclub, as I was a resident of Kingsley Holt at the time.We won the game 2 1 and I scored the first goal, hitthe bar with a header and should have had a penaltygiven after being bought down in the penalty area.Honest! I have the report to prove it. I have both thecutting and pictures of the teams which I have senton to Nigel. Now you will appreciate the paper is 44years old and maybe difficult to re produce so youwill have to take my word for it!!

The youth club were managed by Jeff and PatKeates, the team, goalkeeper Phil Alcock, TrevorBrown, Paul Lees, Mick Clowes, Glyn Harvey, AlanHannah, captain Ian Mellor, Denis Rushton, KennyRyan, Ray Hulson and myself with Paul Knobbs onthe bench.

The Threapwood team, gk Barry Alcock ( whoended up at Stoke City ), Dave Wilson, John Ward,Barry Shingler, captain Paul Moss, Rob Bevans,Chris Peaty, John Brown, Kev Brunt, Frank Wardand Graham Alcock. Substitute and the only playerout of the twenty four I can’t remember was B Steele.

There are some names for you to chew over!Most still with us but some departed. (RIP). Friendson both sides who I grew up with in Cheadle andKingsley Holt. Mates I played football and cricketalongside and against. Work colleagues at Boltons,schoolmates and fellow Churchill Roaders. Greattimes and very fond memories.

PS. I turned the pages over and the Osborne (thelocal picture house which we named The ‘BugHut’was advertised as a Entertainments Centre!) wasshowing a Marty Feldman film, Every Home ShouldHave One.

All the best.Bake.

All-time local soccerHall of Fame TeamBy Roy ‘Razzer’ Astbury

Each month Uttoxeter’s best known character Roy ‘Razzer’Astbury will compile his very own ‘All-Time Local Football Team’which in his opinion is the very best of players past andpresent.

‘Razzer’ will create a team in each issue of The Uttoxeter &Cheadle Voice which he believes incorporates all theingredients of a football outfit which could be unbeatable!

He will be delving into his thoughts to remember all theterrific players in years gone by whilst selecting those who areexceptional in our present day.

It should be a fantastic talking point in our community andno doubt you all will have your views on ‘Razzer’s Hall of Fameteam.

If you have your own Hall of Fame team then get involvedand just give Nigel a call at The Uttoxeter & Cheadle Voice on01538 751629, 0776 784 6937 to tell him or send your teamto: The Uttoxeter & Cheadle Voice, 3 Spode Close, Cheadle,Staffordshire, ST10 1DT or [email protected]

STUART FORDCheadle Town FC

Excellent goalkeeper who has turned outto be one of the best in Cheadle’s history.

STEVE LIVINGSTONEUttoxeter Town FC

A player who possessedtremendous defensive

talents.

BILL ASTBURYCaptain, Uttoxeter St

Mary’s FCVery strong player who was

great in the air. TerrificCentre Half.

SPORTY SHAWStramshall FCVery methodicalplayer, solid in

defence.

MICK FENTONStramshall FC

Superb ability, strongplayer who never wasted a

pass.

PAUL ADAMSThree Tuns FC

First class clubman whoalways gives 100%.

ANTHONYLIVINGSTONE

Uttoxeter Town FCVery constructive player

who controls the midfieldarea.

STAN STEELEHixon FC

Excellent player who wastop class. Outstanding in

front of goal.

BILL DODDMarston FC

Hard in the tackle butfair. Bill had a great

shot on him and couldget goals.

MATTHEW MEYRICKUttoxeter GS

Great centre forward who couldput the ball into the back of the

net. Brave and strong.

CUTHY CHATFIELDBamfords FC

Full of running, dangerous in thebox. Great goalscorer.

Razzer’s Hall of Fame June Team

Goalkeeper

Andy CooperOutstanding keeper andeven better bloke. Justdon’t try and drink withhim!

Defence

Lyndon BeardmoreTop defender, greatorganiser and a must in anydefence.

Darren HardingThe classiest defender Ihave seen locally; calm,composed and read thegame perfectly.

Mark AlcockMr Cheadle Town,incredibly fit and a greatcompetitor and footballer.

Midfield

Lee Plant, Left MidIn this formation the widemen have to be fit and havea great work ethic. Beanyticks both boxes.

Mark Adams, Right MidFrighteningly quick, scoredmany goals and set up evenmore. Not afraid of hisdefensive duties either.

Steve FrostHad his problems withinjuries but Froggy was agreat player and competitorin the centre of the park;has to be in my team.

Damion SmithGreat Servant to CheadleUnited. Immense skill,wand of a left foot but notafraid of getting stuck ineither.

Darren ColcloughBox to box midfielder, DCwould run himself into theground every game and gotlots of goals.

Strikers

Graham MossNot the biggest, but greatpresence up top, fantasticin the air and scored loadsof goals.

Dave MullingtonFantastic striker, loads ofnatural ability, scorer ofgreat goals and a joy to playwith.

I have picked a bench ofplayers who I have beenlucky enough to coach andare just starting out inSenior Football... stars of thefuture!

Charlie Goldstraw Natural sportsmen andleader. Great player.

Dan HarperIncredibly skillful and a joyto watch.

Jack DerbyshireCan play anywhere,phenomenal work ethic.

Macauley RoweHas all the attributes to bea top striker for many years.

Jack HassallLeft footed, greatacceleration with a topattitude. We have inserted one football club each player has performed for.

Obviously, many have played for several clubs in their careers.

Cheadle soccer legend Glyn Pattinson selectsthis month’s readers Hall of Fame Footballteam.

Before taking on his managerial/coaching rolewith Cheadle Town Football Club, Glyn playedSenior Football for well over 20 years,predominantly with Holt Lane FC, Holt JCBand latterly with Cheadle Town.

He has restricted his team to players he hasplayed with and he has gone for a 3-5-2formation.

Check out Glyn’s Hall of Fame team to theright:


All-time local cricketHall of Fame Teamby Shaun Jenkinson

I was lucky enough to make my 1st 11 debut for Stone SP in 1999 atthe age of 16. Ive played with and against many fantastic overseaspros. After much thought this is my best 11 since 1999. Ive neverplayed with or against an overseas wicket keeper in the nsscl so theyllhave to take it in turns!

1 Mark Vermeulen, Betley CC and Former Zim U19 CaptainOnly person I’ve ever played against to get hundreds in both leaguegames in the same season.

2 Raj Kumar, Caverswall and Whitmore CCStill going strong, played here since the late 90’s. Best batsmanever.

3 Sukhwinder Singh, Stone CCClass left hander never got over being hit in the jaw at Sneyd whichleft it badly broken. The most shocking thing I’ve seen in localcricket.

4 Jeff Cook, Caverswall and Kidsgrove CCHard hitting Aussie whos bowling also proved to be more thanusefull in the NSCCL. Went on to play Northants CCC for time.

5 Rizwan Haider, Ashcombe Park and Checkley CCHe kept Ashcombe in div 1 for years with his runs and wickets. Nowmade the move to Checkley where the locals will adore him.

6 Mo Hussain, Stone and Hem Heath CCFirst came over in 1999 after making his test debut for Pakistanonly just stopped coming over. NSSCL legend and top guy.

7 Shahid Afridi, Little Stoke and Leek CCStill playing for Pakistan. He still holds the league record for thefastest hundred for Little Stoke v Stone. I was lucky enough to playin the game 80 of them went over my head into the road.

8 Alfonso Thomas, Audley and Leek ccTop class seam bowler who is quick on his day. Bats 11 for Somersetccc but always got big runs in the NSSCL.

9 Fazel-e-akbar, Porthill CCThe best bowler ive ever played against and the best bowler ever toplay in the NSSCL.

10 Imran Tahir, Moddershall and Meir Heath CCThis Pakistan-born spinner has gone on to play at the highest levelfor South Africa. Top class leg spinner and great fielder.

11 Mushtaq Ahmed, Little Stoke CCPakistan Legend. Played over a half a season in the NSSCL beforesigning for Sussex ccc and played a massive role in themdominating domestic cricket.

I hope all the readers of The Voice enjoy the Summer and I'd like towish all teams at Cheadle Cricket Club the very best.

Schools Galamakes aSPLASH!Dove Valley Swimming

Club hosted theUttoxeter Schools

Gala recently with sixschools fieldingswimmers aged from 6to 9 years old.Picknalls, St. Mary’s, AllSaints, Dove, St. Joseph’sand Doveridge allcompeted in the event.The gala saw swimmerscompete in freestyle andback stroke, finishing with arelay that was the decider for theoverall winner. With only a one secondlead, Doveridge Primary School pipped Picknalls red team tobe crowned champions.

All of the youngsters represented their schools valiantlyand overcame their nerves when performing in front of anextremely exited crowd. All Saints First school won the trophyfor being the most enthusiastic supporters; wearing blue t-shirts and crazy headgear- they certainly made themselvesheard.

Dove Valley’s team of time keepers, starters, judges anddisplay racers were thoroughly organised and the wholeevening went ‘swimmingly’! The new ULC was a fantasticvenue and the renewed schools gala will now go from strengthto strength!

Dove Valley JuniorSwimmers Top the League!

Dove Valley’s junior squad ventured to Tamworth for the 2nd round of the Junior League.Competing for top spot were Bromsgrove, Worcester, Telford, Tamworth,Wolverhampton and Dove Valley Swimming Clubs. Dove Valley were punching above

their weight again in this round and were hoping to match their winning ways from the 1st. Yet again, Dove Valley

swimmers put in atremendous 1st placeperformance, winning 16 outof 50 races with 16 personalbests set too. The youngstersshowed that they are gainingin skill and confidence withno disqualifications in anyrace; scoring 20 more pointsthan in the last round, theswimmers were trulyamazing!

The 9 year old girls squadconsisting of Aimee Lee Jones, Iona Pell, Annabelle Mycock and Lucy Oldham, had a fantasticgala and won almost all of their races. Alex Tsnamis won both of his individual races in theU9 boy’s category. Tom Dunn won the U12 50m butterfly despite being only 10 years old.Olivia Gregory secured two personal bestsin butterfly and breaststroke. Katie Simisterswam a sub-40 second 50m backstroke forthe first time. Maggie Clarke knocked 5seconds off her personal best in backstroke.Team coaches, Ed Simister and Mim Hall,are extremely proud of all the children’seffort and spoke of the ‘physical exhaustion’displayed by the swimmers after their racesand how they ‘could not have asked anymore of them’.

The next step is winning round 3 tosecure a place in the finals in September.Plenty of time to train even harder!

Team Coaches Ed Simister and Mim Hall withthe U12 girl swimmers.


Awards were presented to: Players Player Adam Tortoishell Captains Player Daniel Meads Most Improved Adam Tortoishell Top Try scorer James Gill/Henry Knox

Young Player Lewis Bain Golden Boot James Gill Second Team Player Ben Gallimore

Uttoxeter played the inauguralGeorge Harper memorial matchagainst a Whitchurch 3rds side and

ran out victorious in a 34-10 win. Town welcomed back some old faces

including David Hodgkinson, Stuart Hall,Howard Gould, Gordon Richardson, DaveAtherton, Shane Davis, Richard Shaw,Steve Woolley and Mike Conlon to name afew.

Uttoxeter started the game brightlywith good runs from James Gill and DavidHodkinson well supported by AdamTortoishell and James Williams and it wastown who struck early.

The home team dominated in the scrumwith the second row of Kurt Carr and StephenEdwards flexing their weight and as town pushedforward, Paul Milward picked up from the baseand was brought down short of the line - hepopped off to Jake Cabrera who crashed over forthe 1st try. David Hodgkinson’s conversion left alot to be desired.

Whitchurch hit straight back though with a tryof their own, after several phases the lock forwardthrew a dummy and touched down close to theposts.

Town reacted andscored shortly afterthis with a set pieceplay. Whitchurch werepenalised for hands inthe ruck. MikeConlon took the quicktap to DavidHodgkinson whobounced off 2 tacklersto score. Mike Conlonconverted.

First team captain JamesGill then got his name on thescore sheet with a fantasticindividual finish. The balltravelled through the handsof Stuart Hall and DaveAtherton before he poppedoff to Gill. Gill cut inside andoutpaced 3 tacklers for a tryunder the posts. Dan Meadsconverted superbly.

Uttoxeter then made 13changes and it wasn’t longbefore replacement TomSherratt scored the team try

of the match. Jack Bostock carried the ball intocontact and Jack Conlon rucked out. AshtonHarrison spun the ball to Tom Gallimore whodrew a defender before feeding Sherratt whooutstripped the full back to score in the corner.Gordon Richardson’s conversion fell short.

Whitchurch finished the half with a try. Afterconfusion in the middle of the pitch wherebyseveral Town players thought that play hadstopped, the Whitchurch winger ran throughunopposed to score under the posts. Theconversion was missed.

The second half saw lots of changes and 2 triesto the home team.

Milward scored the first after a superb line out.Palmer took the ball at the front and Milwardgathered to the back of a driving maul. The townforwards drove over the line from the 22 forMilward to touch down.

This was closely followed by a try from MarkWilson. The ball was spun to fly half Joe Woodwho faked the wide pass and popped short toWilson who forced his way over 2 tacklers andunder the posts. Williams shanked the conversion.

Uttoxeter could have added more had HenryKnox not knocked on when already over the tryline. Final Score - 34-10.

A club statement said - the turn out today wasunbelievable and just showed what esteem Georgewas held in at this club. The club came togethertoday and really showed its strength and this canonly bode well going forward.

The day was about George and we hope wehave done him proud. We would like to thank allour sponsors and in particular the Uttoxeter andCheadle Voice who kindly sponsored the game.

Uttoxeter Rugby Club’s George Harper Memorial Match

Uttoxeter Rugby Club Presentation Night


& Cheadle

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The Good Old Days photographs on pages 40-41 have beenidentified as:

1 Picknalls School, Uttoxeter pupils pictured in 1967

2 Uttoxeter Army Cadets pictured in Uttoxeter Market Place 1946

3 Weaver Lodge Hotel, Uttoxeter Darts Team c. 1970’sLeft to Right : Tony Lofts, Gerald Hudson, Mick Lloyd, ColinHale, Yvonne Jones, John Portlock & Les Cooke

4 Girls Secondary School, Uttoxeter (Now the Heath School)Dress Parade 1959Top Row, left to Right: Lavinia Dolman, Yvonne Gilbert, JanetCrutchley, Elaine Faulkener, Ann Kent, Jean Capewell, PamelaBayley, Marlene Sedgewick (Sorry Head Missing)Second Row, Standing: Francess Brown, Pat Hodgkinson, JeanPlant - Sitting on Stage: Margaret Ufton, Angela Bloor, MargorieCapewell

5 The Uttoxeter & Cheadle Voice Boss Nigel Titterton is picturedmany decades ago sporting his new hair perm - which proved tobe hilarious with his fellow Cheadle Town Football Clubcolleagues! Who told him he looked cool!!!

6 A magnificent Uttoxeter team! The great Elkes Football Clubjunior side, managed and coached by Bob Mellor and TonyElliott. The photo, which also includes Uttoxeter soccer legendAlan Parker, was taken more than 40 years ago!

See how The Voice canpublicise your businessBOOK YOUR ADVERT FOR THE NEXT ISSUE NOW!!Email [email protected] or give us a ring 01538 751629 or 07733 466 970


On the OcheBy Dave Jones of UttoxeterLife President of the Uttoxeter and District Darts League.

Recently when having a pint in one of myfavourite watering holes, The Vaults,Uttoxeter, a friend of mine Mr Chris Roebuck

asked me about the word ‘oche.’At the time I could not give him an answer, so

having done some research it turned out to be aSaxon word meaning groove in the floor. The BDOchanged over to officially using the word aroundabout 1978 (previously it was called hockey!).

You can find oche in the Collins Englishdictionary and I quote ‘darts mark on the floor,behind which a player must stand.’ It turned out theCollins experts were really put to task about the1,000 years old explanation, so there you are Chris,thank you for taking an interest, it’s good to knowpeople enjoy reading The Voice.

Anyway my old friend and darting legend EricBristow did a charity night at The New Broom,Checkley, I spoke to Simon Barker, joint owner thatI was unable to attend this time, but would beconsidered if The Voice and myself attend theLegends Event in October – we sincerely hope so.

Of course Eric won his first world Title in 1980,then only 22 years of age, at the Jollees Nightclub inLongton. It was the Embassy World ProfessionalTitle in those days,

The final was a real fitting climax to the eightdays of top class darting which had produced all theshocks, excitement, ecstasy and frustrations expectedof such an event.

Bristow became odds on favourite after reigningchampion John Lowe crashed out to the shock man

of the championship Cliff Lazarenko who wenton to qualify for the semi finals.

Eric stumbled through his first round beatingTony Clark, then convincingly beat JohnThomas Wilson (Jocky to all you darts lovers!)and playing excellent darts to beat the No 3 seedTony Brown in the semi final.

Meeting Cliff Lazarenko in the other semifinal was Bobby George, the reigning News ofthe World Champion. Bobby beat DaveWhitcombe and Leighton Rees on his way.

So the stage was set for the final, which wasto turn out to be the most exciting final in thethree year history of the event.

A young extrovert, Eric, arrogant andbrimming with self confidence which does helpif you want to become a winner, it so happenshe had already won two World Masters beforethe final. Bobby was the No 5 seed and washoping to avenge Eric’s semi final victory over him inthe World Masters.

If my memory is correct Bobby took the first setwith 12 darts and 15, 16 and bull finishers. But Ericwon the second set and after the break and this isone of the reasons he would be called The CraftyCockney was Eric could slow the pace of the gameby methodical chalking of his darts barrels. He alsowalked slowly to the board to recover his darts!

His tactics paid dividends to level the sets to 3-3.Bobby also could play psychologically at times,

straighten the board before he was to take his throw.This folks is gamesmanship!

With the tension reaching fever pitch Bobbyscored in the last leg 123 leaving 11, Eric required120, he slotted his first dart in treble 20, then hittingsingle 20, leaving double top, but his dart hit theoutside of the wire!

Bobby broke his required score by hitting 20instead of 1, putting his darts away in his top pocket!The rest as they say is history with Eric planting hissecond dart in the middle of double 10. That was thefirst of five world titles plus five world masters andstill in his twenties. What a player, there’s an oldDerbyshire saying – top hole, which means brilliant!

Till next time, take care, Dave

The Shant, Roston, darts winners

The good old days

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uttox voice issue 55

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