A fascinating talk from local historian John Sparry about the Gunpowder plot

John Sparry brings the story of the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 vividly to life in his own inimitable style. John lives close to Holbeache House, which features in the story and his local insights are bound to be of great interest.

John Sparry describes himself as a raconteur, historian and jazz musician. He also owns a second-hand bookshop in Wall Heath. He has lived most of his life in the house of which the shop occupies the small front room. His house is like stepping back in time to 1910; his back kitchen still features a black iron range, a stoneware sink and a washing boiler. There is even a wall-mounted forties-style telephone, now sadly non-functional.

He plays vibraphone “Something like a xylophone, but even heavier” with his band, the Heath Coldfield Quintet.

John has written for the Blackcountryman and he has written jazz reviews for The Listener and has broadcast talks on Radio 3 and 4, remembered for his unmistakeable Black Country accent.

This is sure to be a memorable evening with one of the areas real characters!

Wombourne Library

Thursday 7^th November

Arrive by 7:15pm for a 7:30pm start

£3.00 per person (Booking essential)

John will be selling copies of his books after the event.

Please contact Wombourne Library via the County Council Call Centre on 0300 111 8000 or 01902 506055

On Monday 4^th November Perton Library will be hosting the Perton ‘Star’ Café to provide a friendly and welcoming environment for parents affected by bereavement.

The ‘Star’ Café is a new partnership between Staffordshire Library and Arts Service, Compton Care and Stafford based charity, A Child of Mine. A Child of Mine supports families across Staffordshire and works alongside healthcare professionals when a child has died. They provide confidential emotional support, practical information and guidance to families, and provide training and education for professionals. A Child of Mine already provide several groups for parents and both younger and older children who have lost a sibling. These groups provide a safe, friendly environment where they can meet others who understand and are also useful for helping people access information, advice and signposting to local services and support.

Gayle Routledge, from A Child of Mine, said: “We are passionate about making a difference to bereaved families and providing them with as much support as possible during the dark days that lie ahead. We are delighted that Compton Care and Perton Library will be supporting us as we reach out to bereaved families in South Staffordshire; the library is already a welcoming, safe place to come for families and we hope this partnership will encourage more parents and families to seek us out.”

Maz Kull, from Compton Care, said: “We work really closely with Staffordshire Libraries, they support three of our bereavement hubs already in South Staffordshire and so this seemed like a natural progression of our partnership.”

Scott Whitehouse, from Staffordshire Library and Arts Service, said: “We are delighted to be working with ‘A Child of Mine’ as part of our continued partnership with Compton Care. The Library at Perton is a great community hub and so the perfect place to establish an important group of this kind, which can hopefully provide much needed support for people in our communities in South Staffordshire.”

The Perton ‘Star’ Café, which launches on Monday 4^th November, will take place on every first Monday of the month from 9:30am – 11:30am at Perton Library, Severn Drive, Perton, WV6 7QU.

For more information please contact Perton Library via the Contact Centre on 0300 111 8000, A Child of Mine on 01785 283 434 or hello@achildofmine.org.uk or visit www.achildofmine.org.uk/ or Compton Care on 0300 323 0250 or visit www.comptoncare.org.uk

Tunnelling Warfare in World War 1 talk on 11th November

An illustrated talk from Dennis Jackson and Peter Sidgwick from The Staffordshire Tunnellers Group on the 101^st anniversary of the end of The Great War.

Hear the story of an army of men who fought in World War One, not from the trenches with guns and bayonets, but from tunnels dug from their own lines under No-Man’s Land and below the enemy lines along the Western Front where lay their final objective – to blow them up.

Many of these tunnellers were Staffordshire men, born and bred, who had enlisted at the beginning of the war. They were later joined by colliers and other miners from the county who voluntarily left their protected jobs to use their mining skills to drive those tunnels at a time when the German Army had superior advantage. Without them, would the Germans have won the war?

This presentation complements the Tunnellers exhibition that will be at Perton Library throughout November.

Perton Library

Monday 11^th November

7:00pm – 8:00pm with Q&A afterwards

£2.50 (At the request of Dennis Jackson all proceeds from this talk will be donated to charity)

Copies of the book ‘Staffordshire Tunnellers of World War One’ by Dennis Jackson will be available for sale at £3 during the evening.

Please contact Perton Library to book a place via the County Council Call Centre on 0300 111 8000 or 01902 506050 or e-mail perton.library@staffordshire.gov.uk

Acclaimed author A G Smith has been entertaining audiences at Staffordshire libraries since 2009 with dramatic readings of his terrifying ghost stories.

‘It all began at Brewood Library back in 2009 on an unseasonably bright October afternoon.’ A G Smith recalls, ‘That very first performance was daunting for me but the audience was very appreciative and a few weeks later I was at Cannock Library for a repeat performance.’

A G Smith is keen to mark the 10^th anniversary of his live readings in Staffordshire with a series of dates at public and community libraries this autumn. The evenings promise to be a terrifying mix of old and new stories. ‘I’d like to dust off the original ghost stories I first performed 10 years ago, but I’ll also be giving the audience the chance to hear an exclusive extract from my brand new play.’

Wombourne Library – Wednesday 20^th November

Codsall Library – Tuesday 3^rd December

A G Smith’s readings start at 7.15pm (doors open at 7:00pm) and includes an interval with refreshments. 

Tickets (priced at £4.00 or £3.50 for Library members) are now available.

Booking is ESSENTIAL because the event is expected to sell out quickly.

Please contact the library via the County Council Call Centre on 0300 111 8000 or contact Wombourne Library on 01902 506055 or Codsall Library on 01902 506060 to book a place or e-mail wombourne.library@staffordshire.gov.uk or codsall.library@staffordshire.gov.uk

Find out more about A G Smith at www.weepingbankproductions.co.uk

Join Forest of Mercia at Perton Library in November for a fantastic course, guaranteed to get you in the mood for Christmas. They shall be making simple milking stools and some natural Christmas Decorations on this course.

The stools are made using traditional craft techniques and you will make a strong and functional stool for use in the house and garden.

The Christmas decorations are made using natural materials and we will be extending what we have done in previous years, as well as some old favourites.

Dates:

Monday 11/11/19

Monday 25/11/19

Monday 2/12/19

Monday 9/12/19

Monday 16/12/19

Time 12:30pm-3.30pm

Cost £20 for all 5 sessions.

We may need to work outside at times, so please wrap up if you need to!

Please book at the Library or call 0300 111 8000 or 01902 506050.

Calling all Family History sleuths!

Codsall Library and Perton Library will be offering FREE 5 week Family History Courses in association with Midland Ancestors, starting in November. Get help and advice to begin your journey into your family’s story.

Codsall Library

Monday 4th November – 2nd December

2:00pm-4:00pm for 5 weeks

Perton Library

Tuesday 5th November - 3rd December

2:15pm-4:15pm for 5 weeks

The courses are absolutely FREE, but please call 0300 111 8000 or Codsall on 01902 506060 or Perton Library on 01902 506050 to book as places are limited.

Bereavement Information Hubs in South Staffordshire

Perton Library & Wombourne will be hosting Compton Care Bereavement Information Hubs to provide a friendly and welcoming environment for people affected by bereavement. The hubs are a great place to meet others in a similar position whilst enjoying a drink and a chat in your local community.

Community Bereavement Volunteers from Compton Care and Cruse Bereavement will be on hand to help people access information, advice and signposting to local services and support.

One visitor explained how she was benefitting from the hub:

“It has helped me feel a connection with others who have been through similar situations and it has helped me to realise what I am feeling is normal”.

Monday 4^th November at Wombourne Library 1:30pm -3:30pm (and every first Monday thereafter)

Friday 8^th November (2pm-4pm) and Thursday 21^st November (6pm-8pm) at Perton Library (and on every second Friday of the month from 2pm – 4pm and every third Thursday of the month 6pm – 8pm thereafter)

Please contact Perton or Wombourne Library via the Contact Centre on 0300 111 8000 or Compton Care on 0300 323 0250 for more information or visit www.comptoncare.org.uk

Come and meet Beacon Centre for the Blind

We have invited Beacon Centre to promote their services for the blind and partially sighted and we will be hosting The Beacon Bus every month.

Perton Library – Tuesday 7th November 10:00 – 12:30 (and then every 1^st Thursday of the month)

Penkridge Library – Wednesday 13^th November - 10:30-13:00 (and then 2^nd Wednesday of every month)

Wombourne Library Wednesday 20^th November - 10:00 – 12:30 (and then every third Wednesday of every month)

Codsall Library – Friday 29^th November - 9:30 – 12:00 (and then every last Friday of the month)   

IT Buddies available to help you!

We have more IT Buddies available than ever before so you can get the help you need!

Codsall Library

Every Thursday

2:00pm—4:00pm

Penkridge Library

Drop-in and get some help from our IT Buddy

Every Wednesday

10:00am – 12:00

Perton Library

Every Tuesday

11:00am-1:00pm

Wombourne Library

Every Wednesday

1:00pm – 4:00pm

Every other Friday (from 8^th November) 9:30am – 10:50am

Please contact Your Library for more information or to pre-book a FREE 1-2-1 via the Staffordshire County Council Contact Centre, on 0300 111 8000 or contact Codsall on 01902 506060, Penkridge on 01785 854100, Perton on 01902 506050, Wombourne on 01902 506055 outside of 9-5 Mon-Fri