DZG trainee keeper Hannah Follows with Senior Keeper, and mentor, Laura Robbins and African spurred tortoises.
Animal crazy teenager Hannah Follows has scooped her dream job at Dudley Zoological Gardens (DZG).
The 16-year-old, from Gornal, who adopted her favourite species at DZG when she was still at primary school, completed both Little Keeper and Adult Keeper for a Day experiences and also did work experience two years ago, is now the site’s youngest apprentice keeper.
Hannah said: “My job is really amazing, I love it. The best bit is when animals start to trust you, and learning to trust them so you can get nearer for cleaning and feeding.”
It’s a well-trodden apprentice route as former Ellowes Hall School pupil Hannah follows in the footsteps of fellow keeper, 23-year-old Laura Robbins, whose career path is almost identical.
Mentoring
Laura started working at the zoo on her sixteenth birthday after several years of adopting and volunteering on site and is now using her seven years’ experience to mentor Hannah.
Laura said: “Hannah is doing really well; when I first saw her she looked familiar, but I couldn’t think why – then I remembered she had helped me with the alpacas during her first adult Keeper For a Day experience when she was just 14.
“She’s really enthusiastic about the job and we wish her well and will all be on hand to help her throughout her training.”
For more information, check out the daily updates in the Latest ZooNooz at www.dudleyzoo.org.uk
New senior stylist at HeadRUSH and former Dormston School pupil Kim Southall
A former Sedgley school pupil has proved she can cut it by joining the team at a successful independent Dudley hair salon which is approaching its 10th birthday in style.
Kim Southall, who attended Dormston School, has joined the six-strong team as a senior stylist at HeadRUSH in Wolverhampton Street, after the salon’s commitment to cutting-edge styling helped it beat off the challenge of national hairdressing chains.
The salon has enjoyed a great start to 2012 after a concerted social media drive through Facebook and Twitter helped it attract more than 50 new customers.
Founded by Samantha Bradley, the unisex hair salon is also looking to mark its 10th year in business by raising money for Acorns Children Charity through special promotional days and a range of hairdressing challenges.
Visit the HeadRUSH Facebook page or call 01384 232 432 to book an appointment.
Detectives are appealing for witnesses after a robbery at a busy Sedgley petrol station yesterday morning, Monday February 20.
Two men, travelling on a scrambler motorbike, pulled up at the Total garage on Sedgley Road, Woodsetton at around 9.30am and demanded a cash box from the cash in transit delivery driver.
They tried to force open the door of the van and caused an injury to the staff member’s foot as he tried to secure the vehicle.
The offender then smashed the side window of the van with a hammer before grabbing hold of the cash box. The robbers then left the scene on the motorbike.
They headed away from the scene, along Bramford Drive.
Determined
Detective sergeant Mick Greenland, from Force CID, said: “This was a determined and nasty attack on the cash delivery driver as he made his morning call at the Total Garage.
“Sedgley Road is usually fairly busy with commuters and school traffic and we are sure people will have been in the area and seen these men either arriving at the petrol station before the robbery, or making their getaway. Some witnesses have described seeing red smoke coming from the cash box as the offenders drove off.
“We urge anyone with information to come forward and speak to us at their earliest convenience.”
Both offenders were described as white men, wearing balaclavas and dark clothing. They escaped on a black scrambler motorbike.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Force CID at Smethwick police station on 101 or speak to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111
As the nation looks forward to the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations from Saturday, June 2 until Tuesday, June 5, Sedgley residents are being invited to share their memories as part of the Jubilee Time Capsule (JTC), a unique project organised by the Royal Commonwealth Society.
As part of the initiative, people are invited to upload their pictures and memories from any day in the last 60 years. Although the capsule will contain high-profile events and images that helped shape history, the organisers of the project also want people to come forward with their personal stories too.
It is hoped the JTC will give a fascinating insight into the lives of people all across the globe during the Queen’s reign and provide an invaluable resource for future generations.
Sedgley residents can now become a part of history as they upload their own memorable events, such as birthdays, weddings, previous Jubilee street parties and many more.
Watch the video to find out how to participate, or visit the Jubilee Time Capsule website to read all about this groundbreaking project.
Following on from a recent article highlighting the unpopular parking charges introduced at Townsend Avenue, Sedgleyscene – in conjunction with Sedgley Traders’ Association – has launched an online petition so local residents can have their say.
Not only have shoppers in Sedgley abandoned the once full car park in their droves, the pay and display machines and camera towers have also been the target for repeated vandalism, creating an eyesore for anyone walking through the village.
Residents in nearby Townsend Avenue have also complained of a huge increase in the amount of motorists parking in front of their houses, creating misery and inconvenience for everyone who lives there.
Now, Sedgleyscene is encouraging local residents angered by what many feel are excessive parking charges, to sign the petition and/or write to the companies involved expressing their concern.
Click here to sign our petition or write to the companies involved at the addresses below:
KUC Properties Limited 42 St Andrew Square Edinburgh EH2 2YE
Dudley Council is encouraging Sedgley residents to get into the party spirit
Dudley Council is encouraging Sedgley residents to join in the celebrations and host a street party for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee this June.
And, to make sure it’s a day to remember, the council is joining in the spirit and waiving the standard legal fee required to close the road when people host a street party on Sunday 3 or Monday 4 June.
Any street can host a party except those on major traffic or bus routes. The parties are best suited to quieter roads, side streets or cul-de-sacs.
Residents wishing to host a party need to get the agreement of everyone on their street and are recommended to set up their own committee to make the arrangements.
Communities
They must put barriers in place and nominate their own stewards to staff the barriers. These must be stewarded at all times and a rota system in advised to allow everyone to join in the fun. It is also recommended that communities take out public liability insurance.
Councillor Patrick Harley, cabinet member for transportation, says:
“There were 14 street parties held in the borough for the Royal Wedding last year, showing just how keen local people are to join in these special celebrations.
“I’m glad we’ve been able to waive the legal fee for road closures again and I hope that it encourages even more local people to celebrate this summer.”
For more information or to apply for a street party road closure call 01384 815453. You can also apply online at www.dudley.gov.uk and searching under online forms for ‘street party’.
The council will be hosting a range of Diamond Jubilee events and activities and will be confirming these later in the year.
The sign at the High Street entrance of Townsend Avenue car park
For more than 40 years, this large car park has been well used by shoppers in Sedgley and has been an invaluable asset to traders in the village.
But all that changed at the end of November last year, when free parking in Townsend Avenue, behind Monty’s Wine Bar, was abolished almost overnight and replaced with what many residents and traders see as extortionate parking charges.
A recent meeting of Sedgley Traders’ Association was attended by members of the public and traders, who were furious about the unexpected charges and deeply concerned about the impact they say this will have upon trading.
Many residents also brought along demands for payment of parking fines from Chorley-based car park management company, Parking Eye, which some say are extortionate and unexpected.
“Why should every business in Sedgley suffer as a result of this company’s greed?” asked local resident John Spragg, who regularly used to park his car in Townsend Avenue while he visited the village.
His views were echoed by Lee and Helen Seabridge, owners of Beacon Crafts, who say they have already seen a decline in trade as a result of the 60p per hour parking charge.
“Several of our customers are elderly,” said Helen, “and they don’t want to park too far away. This parking charge means they are less likely to come into Sedgley and visit our store, which is obviously bad news for us and many other local traders.”
Inconvenient
The surface of this pay and display car park is littered with pot-holes
As well as damaging trade, many local businesses say the new charges have also made coming to work inconvenient for them. Each premise is now only allocated one parking space, yet many of the businesses nearby employ more than one person.
“It’s made life difficult for all traders in Sedgley,” added Laura-Jayne Porter, a stylist at High Street hairdressers Verve 62, formerly known as Christopher’s. “To my knowledge, nobody was ever consulted about the charges – it all came as a complete surprise.”
Lease
So, which company is behind these charges and why have they suddenly come in effect?
David Caunt, who has been a councillor for Sedgley since 1970, explains: “It all dates back to 1967, when Dudley council was originally offered the lease for half the car park by the developers behind the shops on High Street.
“When the lease came up for renewal last year, the owners of the land (a joint venture between KUC Properties Limited and Birmingham-based Ciel Properties Limited), decided not to lease it again to the council, meaning it is now completely privately owned. Now, Dudley Council only owns the accesses into the car park – one on High Street and the other on Ettymore Road.”
As a result, Dudley Council says there is little that can be done about the situation, although Sedgley residents and traders have already stopped using the once full car park in favour of much cheaper, but less convenient, alternatives elsewhere in the village. Another point raised at the Traders’ Association meeting was that although people now have to pay to park there, the surface of Townsend Avenue car park is still littered with potentially damaging pot-holes.
What do you think about the parking charges in Townsend Avenue?
Have you found yourself having to pay a large parking fine as a result?
Get in touch with us – we’d love to hear your views.
Local residents will get the opportunity to share their sporting memories this Thursday, January 12, when Sedgley Local History Society kicks off this Olympic year with a series of informative meetings.
Members and visitors are invited to come along to the event at St. Andrew’s Church, Bilston Street, Sedgley and share their memories of sporting events and personalities connected with the Black Country and further afield. The meeting starts at 7.30pm and everyone is invited to bring along artefacts, photographs, posters and memorabilia or just tell stories about the world of sport.
Colourful
George Blackham, PR officer for the society, says: “These open evenings usually turn up rarely seen items from family collections as well as providing a chance to hear colourful tales with a Black Country flavour. Start the New Year by sharing your memories and ‘treasures’ at this friendly gathering. Take the chance to relive local rivalries and recall names and venues – the field is wide open.”
The Dudley borough has produced many sporting heroes, including Dudley’s football legend Duncan Edwards, Netherton’s champion jumper Joe Darby and Kidderminster-born tennis star Dorothy Round. There are also many other sporting legends associated with the rest of the Black Country.
In addition to tales of sporting prowess on the night, there will be notes on London’s three Olympic Games and an opportunity to test your knowledge of obscure local sporting links.
Visitors are invited to come along – the cost of admission is just £1.
George adds: “On behalf of Sedgley Local History Society, we’d live to extend our best wishes to everyone in the borough for 2012 – an exceptional year for sport.
“Pop along to the meeting on Thursday. You can be a ‘spectator’ and watch or take part as a ‘player’.”
Sedgley police are urging people using their phones to be extra vigilant after this nasty incident
It may be the season of goodwill, but police are urging Sedgley residents to be extra vigilant after a 19-year-old man was attacked with a metal bar and threatened with a knife on a busy road last week.
Dudley CID is investigating the robbery, which took place on Wednesday, December 14 at 8:10pm, where the teenager was robbed of his mobile phone.
Detective Constable Louise Porter of Dudley CID says: “This was a particularly nasty robbery, whereby the victim was approached by an unknown offender who demanded he hand over his phone. He was then threatened with a knife. A second offender then struck the victim over the head with a metal bar, which caused left him with a head injury.”
The first offender is described as being a white man with a slim build and approximately 5’10” tall, he was aged between 19 and 21 years of age and had blonde hair. He was wearing a light grey hoodie with the hood up and dark coloured tracksuit bottoms and black trainers.
The second offender is described as also being a white man with a slim build and 6′ tall, he is between the ages of 16 and 20 years of age and was wearing a dark coat with a hoodie underneath, dark tracksuit bottoms and black woollen gloves.
DC Porter adds: “I am asking for people to come forward if they witnessed this nasty robbery take place.
“Dudley Road is a busy through road and at that time of night, I am sure there would have been passers-by that could have seen the incident happen or who saw two men running away from the scene”.
If you can help Dudley police with their enquiries, please do not hesitate to contact Dudley CID on 0345 113 5000. If you would prefer to remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Cotwall End Primary School pupil Eliza Lewis counts down to Christmas at Dudley Zoo
Staff at Dudley Zoological Gardens are coping with a busy festive season this year at the 40-acre site, helped along the way by Eliza Lewis, a pupil at Cotwall End Primary School, Sedgley.
Eliza, from Castle Hill, Dudley, was one of many young visitors to the zoo this festive season, who have all enjoyed a fun-packed day out full of Christmas cheer.
Santa’s Grotto, hosted in the grounds of the 11th century Dudley Castle, started on December 5 and runs through to Christmas Eve.
DZG’s Magical Winter Wonderland package includes zoo admission, a magical train ride, a visit to Santa in his grotto, a surprise gift and a fun-filled Christmas show.
Reindeer
Head of media and communications, Jill Hitchman, says: “We’ve got lots of festive fun planned across the site and Santa’s reindeer have been training in the courtyard for weeks in readiness for their busiest night of the year.”
She adds: “We’ve also taken on seasonal staff to cope with the usual festive rush to buy animal adoptions and Keeper For a Day packages which make fantastic gifts for all ages, and sales of our calendar are going well, too.”
The theme for 2012’s calendar is Baby Love, complete with images of a wide range of rare and endangered species born at DZG in the past 12 months – a bumper year for new arrivals.
Jill adds: “We’re all looking forward to a great Christmas time and exciting 2012. Next year is DZG’s 75th anniversary and we’ve lots of exciting new projects planned to mark our big birthday.”
For full details or to book Santa’s Grotto or a zoo experience visit www.dudleyzoo.or.uk or call 01384 215313.
Sedgleyscene 