Uttoxeter Voice Issue 101

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3Let The Uttoxeter & Cheadle Voice take your business to 13,000 local homes. To advertise, call 01538 751629 or 07733 466 970.
A
s we
prepare
to go
into the Winter months, it appears to me
that we are all in for a very bumpy ride with
Coronavirus infection rates rising again
within our communities...
Now is the time for all of us to come
together like we did at the end of March
during the ‘first wave’ and help and support
each other in the British way.
Our children, grandchildren and elderly
family members are looking for leadership
from all of us and we must strive to protect
them from not only this virus but also from
mental health issues.
My grandchildren have asked me in
their own innocent way if there will still be
Halloween, Bonfire Night and Christmas
this year – it just breaks my heart when I
hear their questions, but it is best to remain
positive with my answers...
But we must carry on as normal as we
possibly can be and take each and every day
in our stride. I am sure scientists from
around the World will find a vaccine for
Covid-19 by Spring 2021 and I know our
British scientists will be at the forefront of
the research – I have every faith in them.
I have noticed that people are shopping
at our local businesses with renewed
optimism and we must continue to spend
our hard-earned money with our
community businesses, shops, restaurants,
etc...
Please take a look at all of our
advertisers in this issue of The Voice and
perhaps you could do business with them –
they are trading within our community to
serve our massive readership so make sure
you visit their premises, pick up a phone or
send an email to contact them.
We are all in this together so let’s stay
strong, keep upbeat and shop locally.
I hope you enjoy reading this issue of
The Voice colour magazine
Speak to you soon
Nigel Titterton Editor & Publisher
Dear Reader,
Publisher and Editor: Nigel Titterton
The Uttoxeter & Cheadle Voice is published by Community Voice
Publications Ltd
Telephone 01538 751629 e-mail uttoxetervoice@hotmail.co.uk
The views expressed in this publication are those of our contributors and are not
necessarily those of the publishers, nor indeed their responsibility.
All Rights Reserved.
Copyright Community Voice Publications Ltd.
Designed and Produced by noel@sergeantdesign.com
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4 If you are responding to an advertisement in The Uttoxeter & Cheadle Voice, please let the advertiser know. Thank you for your support.
Cheadle & District Animal Welfare Society • Reg Charity 1039350
Chesney needs a
new family
H
ello. My name is Chesney
and I have been taken into
care as no one was looking
after me. I once had a home, but they
got rid of me as they couldn’t be
bothered to look after me. They gave
me to someone who said they would
give me a good home, but they didn’t
care about me either. I was just left
to wander the streets, getting food
from any where I could. I was a very
sad and lonely little cat. I had
nowhere comfy to sleep at night and
no one to love me. I kept getting into
fights with other cats so even they
didn’t like me.
My luck changed in July 2020 when a very kind person realised that I had no one
to look after me and I was taken to Lime Trees Veterinary Hospital and they
contacted Cheadle Animal Welfare Society who now look after me. The first thing
they did at the vets was to check me over and because I’d been fighting they checked
that I hadn’t caught Feline AIDS or Feline Leukaemia. Fortunately I hadn’t. Then I
had a little operation which has stopped me feeling that I had to fight other cats and
means that I can never be a Dad, but I think that’s a good thing. I was also vaccinated
so that I’m protected against some pretty nasty diseases. I had a tablet to get rid of
the worms which I probably had and I also had a flea treatment, although I’m pretty
sure I didn’t have any of those nasty things.
I’m now hoping to find a kind family who will love me to bits. I think I’m about
2 years old, mainly black with a bit of white and I really am a handsome chap, even
if I do say it myself. I would love a home with a garden and one which is away from
busy traffic. Whoever adopts me will have a friend for life. I will love them to bits.
If you would like to come to meet me please ring me on 01335 390369 or
01889 564045. I look forward to your call.
Other cats in the care of Cheadle Animal Welfare Society can be found on our
website: www.cheadleanimalwelfare.org.uk

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Lavella Beauty & Aesthetics, 7 Cross Street, Cheadle ST10 1NP
01538 754681 • www.lavella.co.uk
‘We are high believers
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We are now booking appointments for our new
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Introductory offers are available please check out our
social media pages for more information lavella.beautysalon
or call the salon directly.
Uttoxeter’s MP, Kate
Griffiths, listens to
Councillors’and
Residents’concerns
over speeding on New
Road...
U
ttoxeter’s MP, Kate Griffiths, is listening to local residents who have raised
issues over speeding in New Road, Uttoxeter despite the 30 mile an hour
limit. Kate met with concerned residents as well as East Staffordshire
Borough and Town Councillor Sue McGarry and County Councillor David Brookes
to discuss the matter.
Local resident Caroline Carr, who is campaigning to raise awareness of this issue,
has set up a Facebook group called ‘New Road, Uttoxeter Acting Now’ and
encourages other residents to join. Caroline also invited Kate to New Road to see
for herself the problem and what can be done to ensure drivers are deterred from
speeding and enforcement is improved.
Kate Griffiths MP said, “I was pleased to recently visit New Road in Uttoxeter to
discuss the matter of traffic speeds. I will be working alongside local councillors and
residents as well as enforcement authorities to ensure this issue is resolved.”
“Speeding of course isn’t just an issue exclusive to New Road so if residents have
any other streets they would like to raise with me then please do get in touch with
my office.”
Caroline Carr said, “On behalf of myself and the residents of New Road we would
like to thank MP Kate Griffiths for taking time out of her busy schedule to witness
for herself and listen to some of the residents about our concerns on the issues of
the speeding along the New Road.
“County Cllr. David Brookes has also been working hard with ourselves and
together we are campaigning for urgent long-term speeding calm measures to be
put in place.” Kate on New Road with Uttoxeter’s County Councillor, David Brookes.

Daniel Johnson
BSc (Hons) Podiatry HCPC
Registered SRch
Daniel is available on Fridays for
the following treatments:
Nail Cutting, Callus and Corn
Removal, Heal and Forefoot
Pain, Verrucae Treatments,
Fungal and Thick Nail
Reduction and Treatment,
Ingrown Toenails Treated and
Permanently Removed,
Diabetic Assessments
and Treatments,
Biomechanical
Assessments,
Orthotics/Insoles,
Sports Injury
Rehabilitation.
Routine treatments
are £27.00
Peak Podiatry
Telephone 07853041478
Uttoxeter Physiotherapy
Centre, Short Street,
Uttoxeter
M
y name is Insa Addison and I am a mobile hairdresser living in Rocester.
My three children are grown up now and I felt I needed to do something
for myself. Lockdown earlier this year gave me the time to get back into
doing something more creative - the problem was I didn’t know what type of art I
wanted to get into.
I didn’t want to spend a lot of money on materials and it also needed to be
something that didn’t take up a lot of space.
Just by chance I saw a video about alcohol ink pictures on YouTube and was
instantly captivated. This seemed like the perfect medium for me! After ordering
some products online I was ready to have a go and found that it was a lot harder to
do than it had looked on the videos! There were moments when things were getting
really frustrating but I wasn’t willing to give up.
For some reason, after a while, something clicked and I started to get the hang
of it a bit more. And yes, some paintings still end up in the bin but I am learning
and really enjoy doing something more creative!
A few weeks ago I plucked up the courage to start a business page on Facebook
(INSyncArt) to try and sell my paintings.
Although I have no intention of giving up the day job, I found it very uplifting
to get positive feedback and have started getting some sales... so as obvious as it
sounds, you should follow your heart and don’t give up when you hit any roadblocks
along the way.
“Follow your heart - and don’t give up”says Insa

R
epresentatives from seven schools within The
Painsley Catholic Academy (North) cycled 35
miles on Friday 9th October to raise money for
the global charity, ‘Mary’s Meals’. The two groups of five
cyclists began their journey at St Mary’s Catholic
Academy in Leek and then stopped off at each member
school on the route to the final destination, St Joseph’s
Catholic Primary school in Uttoxeter. Funds are still
coming in, but the total raised so far for the event is just
over £6,000.
The Painsley Catholic Academy has undertaken the
ambitious task of fundraising £100,000 for Mary’s
Meals throughout 2020. A donation of this size will
enable the charity to feed the children of Kafumphe
Primary School, Dowa, Malawi for the next seven
years, ensuring that every child currently at the school
will complete their primary education.
“The concept of Mary’s Meals is so very simple and
yet effective, it really appeals to our students,”
commented Mr. Steve Bell, CEO of The Painsley
Catholic Academy. “Mary’s Meals is about providing
children with a daily meal at a place of education;
something that our students of all ages can really relate
to.”
The two teams of five cyclists, at least one adult
representing each school as a staff member, local
governor or parent, included: Mr Stephen Briggs
(parent) and Mr Krzysztof Chrachol (parent)
representing St Mary’s Academy Leek; Mrs Lucy Ball
(parent and local governor) and Mr Peter Lucas (local
governor) representing St Giles Catholic Primary
School in Cheadle; Mrs Anna Howard, Primary
Schools’ Lay Chaplain and representative of The Faber
Catholic Academy in Cotton; Mr David Reed, a
teacher from Painsley Catholic College; Mr Jack Huson
a teacher from St Filumena’s Catholic Primary School
in Caverswall; Mr Matthew Jones a teacher and from
St Thomas’s Catholic Primary School in Tean. St
Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Uttoxeter, was
represented also by a teacher, Mrs Rachel Davis and
cycle group leadership and assistance was provided by
Mr Mark Swinnerton. Bike maintenance and back-up
support for the riders was kindly donated by
Velorunner in Stone.
Passing and pausing at each school, the cyclists
were encouraged by staff and pupils as they rode
throughout the school day. Some were seasoned riders,
but for others this was a new and daunting challenge
as they peddled the steep hills and quiet lanes to
Cotton; and then on to Cheadle, Caverswall, Tean and
Uttoxeter.
Mrs Anna Howard, Lay Chaplain of the Painsley
(North) Primary Schools commented, “Children and
staff have already been incredibly creative and
resourceful in raising money, drawing on their skills,
gifts, talents and passion to help others in need. Bake
sales, fashion shows, raffles, Christmas gifts and craft
sales, art shows and sponsored sports events have all
helped to build towards the grand total. The ‘Miles for
Mary’ cycle challenge has brought us together in
solidarity with one another. Our school communities
have come together to create the teams of riders.
Children and staff at each school were united in
welcoming us as we arrived and cheering us off again
on our next stage of the route. Thanks also to
Velorunner in Stone, who gave their professional skills,
time and support to the riders throughout the cycle
challenge.”
Donations are welcomed to help towards the grand
£100,000 target and can be made through The Painsley
Catholic Adacemy’s JustGiving page: www.justgiving.
com/p-c-a
Multi-Academy Schools unite for
Charity Bike Ride
Lucy Ball and Peter Lucas of St Giles Primary School, Cheadle
This amazing sight started the day. St Joseph's Primary School, Uttoxeter, teacher Rachel
Davis and the cycle group.

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Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 5:30pm.
We offer a variety of sessions for all
children aged 2 - 4 years.
These include a full day (10 hours), half
days both AM and PM (5 hours) and
also school days (6 hours).
We do have Government funded places
available on a first come first served
basis. This includes the 15 hour and 30
hour funding for 3 and 4 year olds.
97 Mill Road, Cheadle,
Staffordshire ST10 1ND
01538 754755
cedartreepreschool@mail.com
@cedartree.preschool
Cedar Tree Pre-School
D.A.C. Timber Services
David Chilton
Forestry services and Tree surgery
Hardwood logs sold from £60
T. 07971 891628
E. dactimber@gmail.com
www.dactimberservices.co.uk
Staffordshire
Come and enjoy our Sunday Luncheon!
Main Course from £9.50, Starters from £4, Desserts £4.50
Starters:
Soup of the Day, Onion Bhajis with Mint Yoghurt, Pate with Toast &
Red Ion Relish • Black Pudding Stack - Slices of Black Pudding,
Bacon & Pepper Sauce • Whitebait with Tartare Sauce.
Mains:
Choice of Roast Meats with Roast Potatoes, Vegetables & Homemade
Yorkshire Pudding, • Lamb Shank with Mint & Rosemary Gravy,
Fillet of Salmon with Hollandaise Sauce, Baby Potatoes & Vegetables,
Traditional Fish, Chips & Mushy Peas,
Staffordshire Burger - 6oz BeefBurger served in a Brioche Bun with
Bacon, Cheese, Handcut Chips & Coleslaw
Desserts:
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Served on white and brown bread, Gluten Free Available.
Mince Pies, Stollen, Iced Christmas Cake.
Tea/Coffee/Hot Chocolate/Glass of Mulled Wine
£12.50 per person
See how
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and
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Uttoxeter
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Everyone
lovesTheVoice

Oakamoor
raises £355
for Macmillan
in fun Coffee
Morning
L
ocal Oakamoor residents enjoyed a morning of coffee, cakes,
raffles and quizzes in aid of the annual MacMillan Coffee
Mornings.
Even in these times of Covid restrictions a group of local
Oakamoor residents clubbed together to put on a ‘Covid Safe’
Coffee Morning. The princely sum of £355 was raised owing to the
generosity of all of those who came.
The Macmillan Coffee Morning has always been run by a local
resident; Margery Mitchell who sadly passed away this year. In
honour of Margery’s tireless work, the village wanted to continue
this very popular annual event.
There was a mixture of sumptuous cakes, magnificent raffle
prices and the verdict from local residents was summed up as ‘a
grand morning’.
Pictured: cake selection, organisers, raffle and a table of local people

Former Royal Marines Commando goes from
rolling in the muck to driving out the muck
A former Royal Marines Commando has changed his uniform and now drives
out dirt and grime as opposed to rolling in it. Ian North, 55 years old, a local lad
from Barlaston, has seen a niche in the market and is plugging it with Zero Dry
Time Ltd, a carpet and upholstery cleaning system that leaves no residue, does
not need water and no soggy‘dog’smell.
“The lessons I learnt whilst serving in the Royal Marines have stood me in good
stead” said Ian. “Never leaving an area until the job is done and done right has
proved invaluable in completing a task. If there is a stain on your sofa or carpet
that can be removed, I’ll continue to remove it until it’s been completely
eliminated, something I learnt years ago in training. I can remove stains that no
one else can.”
Domestic &
Commercial
All Zero Dry
Time work is
sanitised and
Covid secure
Mob: 07943 201954 • Email: ian.north@zerodrytime.com

At Tynsel Parkes C.E Primary
Academy our vision is for
everyone to feel valued and
be all they can be whilst
embracing Christian values.
We provide:-
• High quality teaching and learning in a nurturing setting.
• Excellent care, support and guidance for children aged
3-9yrs.
• Exciting, creative and fun, ﬂexible hours
Nursery.
• Onsite wrap around care from 7.30am.
• Happy family team who are constantly
striving for excellence.
• Thriving, stimulating and welcoming
environment.
Principal: Mrs Rachel Chandler
www.tynselparkesacademy.co.uk Tel: 01889 221920
Email: oﬃce@tynselparkesacademy.co.uk
School Road, Uttoxeter ST14 7HE
Pupils at Tynsel
Parkes Primary
Academy love to
learn. They are
inquisitive and
curious. They get
excited when they
learn new things.
Ofsted, Oct 2019
Story edited and prepared for ‘The Voice’ by
Bill Woodier 2020.
Part 4
I
n the 1930s I became a Cub Mistress and ran my own
Cub group. We met in an old wooden building at the
back of the Lion Buildings near the War Memorial.
My cubs took part in the annual scout concert. We had
to stop our meetings during the Second World War as we
were not allowed to meet at night. I was also a Sunday
School Teacher and continued until I married in 1948. I
joined St John Ambulance and eventually became
secretary and officer-in-charge.
During the war we manned the First Aid Post day and
night at the stables at Hawthornden Manor on Stone
Road. Because I was working during the day I did three
nights a week. I also helped on the ambulance. The British
Legion building was the base for the America Doughnut
Dig-out. Volunteers served doughnuts and drinks to
American soldiers and airmen billeted in Uttoxeter and
the surrounding area.
After the war one of our duties was to attend race
meetings at Uttoxeter Racecourse. We were paid 10/- for
the day which was a lot of money in those days. That was
the only duty for which we received remuneration. I went
with one of the other St. John Ambulance officers to see
a Comforts Depot in the Potteries. As a result, we opened
one in Balance Street where people could borrow items
like wheelchairs, crutches, commodes etc. There is still a
Comforts Depot at the St John Ambulance H.Q. in Carter
Street.
In 1927 when I was fifteen I left school and started
work for Mrs Harris at the Beehive Drapery Shop where
Titleys used to trade, nearly opposite the Methodist
Chapel on the High Street. In those days work started at
8.30 a.m. with one hour for dinner, half an hour for tea
and you then worked through until 6 p.m. on two nights,
7 p.m. on two nights, I p.m. on Thursdays and 8.30 p.m.
on Saturdays.
The wages were 2/6d per week. The equivalent in
today’s money would be 15 pence but you could buy a lot
more with 2/6d in those days than you could with 15
pence today.
No seats were provided which meant you were on
your feet all day and there was no morning coffee. When
the Second World War started so did early closing as it
was impossible with wartime shortages to black out the
shops.
I stayed with Mrs Harris at the Beehive for 25 years.
When Mrs Harris died the shop was bought by Fred &
Ruby Fowles. I stayed on and worked for them. They had
one son Morris who spent thirty years at sea and was a
captain for B.P. on their oil tankers. When Mrs Fowles
died I continued to work for Fred and eventually we
married at Bramshall Church on 21 June 1948. Fred had
multiple sclerosis but was a wonderful happy person.
Fred bought the shop on the corner of Bradley Street
and High Street which previously had been a grocer’s. We
ran The Beehive and the corner shop and had ten happy
years together before Fred died on Christmas Eve 1958. I
stayed on at The Beehive for six months after Fred died
and then sold it to Titleys the electrical goods retailers.
I continued to run the Art, Needlework and Wool
shop until I retired in 1972 aged 60. The building was
reputed to be very old & had deep cellars and a big attic.
There were narrow staircases to a big attic which had a
concrete floor. It was said that there was a tunnel from
the cellars to the old Manor House nearby. For years I was
a member of the W.R.V.S. and did Meals on Wheels. I
have been a member of the Old Peoples’ Welfare
Committee for many years.
We gave a party for the housebound and a £5 voucher
to the needy for Christmas. We raised the money through
coffee mornings at Wilfred House where the committee
holds its meetings. I go each month to the Blind Peoples’
Day Centre and have attended this for twenty years. The
Blind Group are self-supporting and come to the
meetings from quite far away. It is a lovely afternoon for
them at Wilfred House. When Wilfred House first
opened, I helped serve refreshments every day.
As the older folk stopped coming the scheme
eventually finished. I used to belong to the W.I., the
Flower Club and the Widows Club but had to give them
up. I still go to church every Wednesday to help at a stall
at our coffee mornings. I usually do all the sewing for that.
I’ve lived in Hawthornden Close for 37 years.
Memories of Uttoxeter (1919-1990)
As told to Jim Foley
Titleys took over the original Beehive premisesDora outside the Bradley Street shop 1962

A
s the leaves are starting to change colour and the
nights begin to draw in, we are once more
reminded of how lucky we are to live in such a
beautiful, fruitful place and our minds turn to Harvest
Festival.
Thanks to the goodwill of Waitrose, each year group
has a ‘bubble trolley’ to fill. Food products should be
brought in by the pupils and taken to their bubble
classroom, where it will be collected by a member of
their Worship Team. I can’t wait to see our trolleys
overflowing with generous donations! These will then
be delivered to the ‘Helping Hands’ foodbank at The
Heath Community Centre for distribution to those who
need it the most.
We appreciate that these are very difficult times and
thank you in advance for your continued generosity.
Davina Clowes
Windsor Park Middle School, Uttoxeter
No shortage of generosity at
Uttoxeter’s Waitrose Supermarket...

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The Flu
season
is upon
us!
Book your flu vaccine
Balance Street
01889 562145
In light of this year’s risk of Flu and COVID-19 it is
essential to protect our vulnerable people and
support the resilience of the health and care system.
Balance Street Practice would like to invite ALL 50-
64 years of age to receive their year’s flu
vaccinations.
PRE BOOKED APPOINTMENTS ONLY!!!
Face Masks MUST be worn. We ask that you
PLEASE wear short sleeves.
Flu Saturdays are available:
Flu Saturdays are available from the 7th November
2020 8.30am- 11.30noon
Balance Street Pharmacy will be offering
flu vaccination with no appointment
needed from October 2020 ‘At risk’
patients can get a flu vaccine at the
pharmacy free of charge, private flu
vaccines are available for £12.00
Clinics are
r
Offer of
warmer homes
this winter for
Moorlands
residents
W
ith Autumn now
upon us, and many
of us spending
increased time indoors as a
result of Covid, keeping our
homes warm and cosy has
never been as important – and
help is available to Moorlands
residents who currently don’t
have central heating.
The Staffordshire Warmer
Homes Scheme has been set up
to install fully-funded gas
central heating systems – and
so far 12 homes in the
Moorlands have benefitted
with a further six set to have
heating installed before
Christmas.
You’re eligible for help if:
• You’re elderly
• You’re disabled
• You have young children
• You claim benefits or tax
credits
• You have low, or no, income
The initiative is being
delivered by Staffordshire
Moorlands District Council,
Staffordshire County Council,
Beat the Cold and EON.
Councillor Mike Bowen,
Cabinet Member for
Communities, said: “Being
warm at home is something
that everyone should be able to
enjoy but, for many people,
finding the money to install
central heating alongside all
other household expenses can
be a challenge.
“This scheme can help with
that, and other energy
efficiency measures, to heat
your home and keep you
healthy this winter.
“Almost 20 homes across
the Moorlands will have had
new systems installed before
Christmas and I would urge
anyone without central heating
who thinks they meet the
criteria for this scheme to make
an application as soon as
possible.”
As with so many aspects of
life, the Covid lockdown meant
some surveys didn’t take place
and limited the contact EON
could have with applicants.
They will be reviewing
applications already received to
pick them back up now
restrictions have eased.
The scheme is open to
everyone whether you own or
rent your home. It covers the
cost of installation of a gas
heating system – fuel bills will
be the responsibility of the
recipient.
Councillor Bowen added:
“The good news is that gas
central heating is much more
cost effective than many other
forms of heating with figures
showing that switching can
save households up to £350 a
year on their annual fuel bills.”

Operating from a fully functional photo studio offering offering:
Family photoshoots • Portraits • Maternity photoshoots • Model portfolios
School sibling photos due to the restrictions within schools
Now taking bookings for christmas photoshoots
Full printing service available
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We pride ourselves in providing unique and stylish
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provide a stress free shopping experience without
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Christmas shop is now available online
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All Covid guidelines met
Christmas shopping fayre Sunday 8th, 22nd November.
Sunday 6th December - come and browse our
christmas decorations and gifts as well as being able to
order your very own bespoke wreaths and garlands
Unit 1, Bridge Street Industrial Estate, Uttoxeter
A P Photography
Unit F3, Daisybank House
Business Centre
17-19 Leek Road, Cheadle,
Staffordshire ST10 1JE
01538 764009 /
07918 021608
www.ap-photography.co.uk
Family run online homewares business
helping to make your house a home
www.2kinteriors.co.uk

A complete professional service
designed to your requirements
Free Quotations
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GRANITE &
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WORKTOPS
N E T T L E BA N KTake a drive out to one of the area’s most beautiful
‘olde worlde’ country inns and restaurants -
and savour a truly delicious experience!
Enjoy wonderful views overlooking Croxden Abbey
and the surrounding countryside.
Open every day, 12-10pm
Pensioners Specials - Monday to Saturday 12-2pm
Main Meal £5.95, 3 Courses £11.00
Sunday Lunches served all day - take your pick
from Beef,Turkey, Lamb or Chicken
Traditional Cask Ales - Marstons Pedigree,
Reverend James, Hobgoblin and Lancaster Bomber.
Heated smoking area
Accommodation in superb Log Cabins available,
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See website for further details.
Quarry Bank, Hollington, near Alton Towers
Telephone: 01889 507278
www.logcabin.co.uk
Enjoy a great meal atThe Raddle -
The Perfect Country Inn & Restaurant
Book now
for Christmas!Christmas Fayre Menu available throughout
November and December
(Exc. Christmas Day & Boxing Day).
Entertainment licence until 2.00am.
Book a table now to celebrate the festivities
at The Raddle Inn.
Tables are decorated to add to the party atmosphere and we
also offer a minibus service to parties of 8 or more.
Christmas Fayre Menu
4 Courses:Adults £21.95, Childs £13.95
3 Courses:Adults £17.95, Childs £10.95
(Children Under 10 years of age)
3 Course Menu includes either:
Starter, Main and Coffee & Mince Pies
or Main, Dessert and Coffee & Mince Pies
(Pensioners Christmas Fayre - £13.95,
4 courses served Mon-Sat 12-2pm throughout Nov-Dec)
Call The Raddle now to reserve a
table on 01889 507 278
Visit our website www.logcabin.co.uk or
email peter@logcabin.co.uk

F
inance specialists RBA Wealth Management are
celebrating 20 years on the High Street and are
thanking the people of Uttoxeter and the
surrounding area for their support.
The company was established in 1994 and
expansion plans saw a move to historic Charles House
in 2000. RBA Wealth Management, a Partner Practice
of St. James’s Place Wealth Management, now have a
20-strong team in Uttoxeter and also runs another
office in Stamford.
RBA has continued to expand and has developed a
modern office space within the former High Street
bank premises.
“We’re fully committed to serving the local
community and see our presence on the High Street as
a big part of that,” said Director Angela Fountain.
“We’ve seen many comings and goings in the town
centre over 20 year, such as the demise of the High
Street banks, but we’re committed to Uttoxeter and
believe there are many benefits from having a presence
in the heart of our town.
“A programme of improvements to Charles House
has created modern office spaces, sympathetically
developed inside a wonderful, historic building. We
have created a welcoming space where people can come
in and talk about their financial health and that’s
important to our ethos at RBA Wealth Management.
“We also see the benefits to our team in being in the
town centre, at the heart of our community, and close
to shops and places to eat – supporting local
businesses.”
Coronavirus, of course, saw RBA swapping office
life for home working in March, but since lockdown
began to ease, the company has gradually returned to
Charles House and are now back in the office, while
observing social-distancing and health and hygiene
procedures.
Angela and fellow Director Andrew Hackney
bought the company in 2008, together with David
Booth, who stepped down as a Director in 2017 but
remains a key part of the team as a senior adviser. At
that time there were twelve members of staff, including
the Directors, and the company has steadily grown
since.
Added Angela: “Our staff are knowledgeable and
have more than 100 years of financial management
experience in the team. We advise on all aspects of
financial planning, such as investments, estate
planning, retirement planning, long term care planning
and mortgages. We are backed by St. James’s Place, a
FTSE 100 listed UK company which gives us access to
their team of international fund managers. St.
James’s Place was recently announced as the winner of
the 2020 City of London Wealth Management
Company of the Year Award.”
Andrew said: “We’ve largely on word of mouth
recommendation, built a positive reputation with
families in Uttoxeter and the surrounding villages. We’d
like to thank our clients for their support and we see
them all as part of the RBA Wealth Management
community.
To find out more about RBA Wealth Management,
please go online to www.rbawealthmanagement.com
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep
up repayments on your mortgage
The value of an investment with St. James’s Place
will be directly linked to the performance of the funds
you select and the value can therefore go down as well
as up. You may get back less than you invested.
RBA Wealth Management Ltd is an Appointed
Representative of and represents only St. James’s Place
Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and
regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the
purpose of advising solely on the Group’s wealth
management products and services, more details of
which are set out on the Group’s website
www.sjp.co.uk/products.
A D V E R T O R I A L
RBA Wealth Management celebrate
20 years on Uttoxeter’s High Street

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Council adopts Local
Plan for the Moorlands
The Local Plan – the District’s key planning document which will shape development in the
Staffordshire Moorlands up to 2033 – has been formally adopted by the Council.
The Plan allocates land for new housing, employment and other uses and protects important assets
such as green belts and conservation areas as well as setting the policies which will be used to
determine planning applications.
Council Leader, Councillor Sybil Ralphs, said: “The adoption of the Local Plan for the Staffordshire
Moorlands is great news for all those that live, work and visit here – it means we are in charge of our
own destiny in relation to how the District is developed in the coming years.
“This has been one of the most significant projects we have undertaken in recent years and one
which affects every area of the District so this is a great achievement. I would like to thank everyone
who has been involved in helping us reach this point – not least our staff who have worked so hard to
complete this major piece of work.”
The full Plan and the accompanying policies map will be published on the Council’s website.
Councillor Edwin Wain, Cabinet Member for Planning, Development and Property, said: “This is
a milestone moment and the culmination of an enormous effort over the last six years which has
included several periods of public consultation and many redrafts to take account of the comments
we received from residents and businesses as well as public examination of the Plan by a Government
Inspector.
“People can now be assured that planning applications from house extensions to major residential
developments will be determined in line with the policies and principles set out in the Plan which has
been widely consulted on before being agreed.”
Four of Uttoxeter’s
Windsor Park School
students have gone
that extra mile and
fundraised for the
Young Minds charity
M
rs White had a lovely surprise when four
students had been busy fundraising and
decided they wanted the money to go to
Young Minds, following the school’s Hello Yellow
awareness day. It makes me so proud that they had the
initiative and generosity to do so independently.
Well done girls.
Davina Clowes
Windsor Park Middle School, Uttoxeter

A
ssistant Financial
Controller
Matthew Wroe
has conquered his dyslexia and swapped
numbers for words by writing a book in aid of
his favourite charities.
The intrepid accountant and father-of-two
has raised more than £25,000 for good causes
over the last decade by taking part in
endurance events – even climbing Mount
Kilimanjaro.
Now he’s turning over a new page in his
fundraising exploits by writing a children’s
book based on the iconic JCB backhoe loader
– with all the proceeds going to children’s
charities to support vulnerable youngsters.
The illustrated book called The Little
Yellow Digger That Saved Christmas is now
available - just in time for Christmas. Matthew
has also produced an interactive colouring
book with puzzles and activities which is out
soon. Both are priced at £6.99 and available
through Amazon.
Matthew, who works at JCB’s World
Headquarters in Rocester, said: “In the past I
have raised money by competing in ultra-
marathons, Ironman challenges, climbing
Mount Kilimanjaro and cycling from Alton
Towers to the Eiffel Tower and back. I now have
two young sons so taking part in endurance
events is proving more difficult. Being dyslexic I
decided to do something where I could involve my
children while challenging myself.”
The book is written in a rhyming style, follows the
adventures of a backhoe loader and is illustrated
throughout. Money raised is being split between the
NSPCC, Ronald McDonald House Charity,
Birmingham Children’s Hospital and UNICEF.
Matthew said: “I am really pleased with the
outcome and it is getting a great reaction including
some celebrity endorsements. My sons Caius, six, and
Roman, three, have asked me to read to their classmates
at school – they are my biggest fans.”
More details can be found on the website Matthew’s
set up: www.littleyellowdigger.com
Accountant Matthew conquers
dyslexia to pen children’s book

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L
ocal football stalwart George Byatt
has passed away at the age of 72 after
a long illness
George played for many clubs in our
area over several decades including
Woodhead Albion, Oakamoor, Kingsley
Youth Club, Kingsley United and in the
twilight years of his career, Cheadle United.
A prolific goalscorer, he was a
tremendous Centre Forward who led the
line to cause chaos to opposing defences.
Vin Ryder, Dave Collier and Jean
Dotzauer remembered George’s early
footballing days: “George was the only son
of Stan and Vera Byatt and they lived in
Starwood Terrace, Oakamoor during
George’s childhood years, later moving to
Cheadle.
“In the early 60’s, the Oakamoor lads
used to shoot-in and play amongst
themselves at the old playing fields off
Farley Lane. George really enjoyed this and
it led to the group arranging games with
lads from surrounding villages such as
Moneystone and Alton. George’s Dad, Stan,
was always a very supportive figure to
George in his sporting life.
“George was a talented Centre Forward
for Oakamoor in the Leek & Moorlands
League in the late 60’s/early 70’s with
Oakamoor reaching the Uttoxeter Cup
Final.
“The family moved to Cheadle which meant
George left the Oakamoor club to play for other local
sides.”
“He later returned to Oakamoor where he was a
great clubman and he was instrumental in coaxing
Cheadle’s top players down to Oakamoor including
Mick Kierney, Ronnie Whieldon, Ivan Plant
and Alan Beaman to name a few.”
After a long and successful footballing
career, George’s final club was Cheadle United
where he stayed heavily involved with the
club behind the scenes for many years. His
businesses sponsored United and George
remained a loyal member of the United
group.
Over recent years George ran many local
pubs and his warm and sociable personality
always shone through to his friends, family
and customers.
George was a devoted husband to Glenys
and he was a loving dad to Maxine and Lee,
granddad of Benjamin and a dear brother-in-
law, uncle and friend to many.
George Byatt was a generous, warm-
hearted man who loved to have a chat and a
laugh with the many people he came into
contact with...
I was fortunate to have known him all my
life as we grew up together in Masefield Close,
Cheadle, where his parents lived opposite my
parents.
I am sure that everyone who met George
Byatt will say he was a very special person
who always had the time of day for you –
along with his customary beaming smile...
RIP George.
By Nigel Titterton
With many thanks to: Tony Webster, Mick Sale,
Clive Oakden, Pete Booth, Glyn Brindley,Vin Ryder,
Dave Collier and Jean Dotzauer.
Sad death of warm-hearted
George Byatt
George Byatt is pictured with Sheila Woodard holding the Leek & District
Division 1 Championship Trophy in the late 1970’s at Bank Street Club,
Cheadle.

Misted units replaced, lock
and general repairs to doors,
patios and windows
Mark Capewell
Tel: 01889 578654
Mobile: 07802 277935
Email: mark.capewell@talktalk.net
Double Glazing
Services To enter our competition and feature on our map
please register your pumpkin or spooky display
at The Olive Tree before Thursday 22nd October
See how
The Voice
can
publicise
your
business
Give us a call on
01538 751629
or 07733 466 970
or Email:
uttoxetervoice@
hotmail.co.uk
Advert prices start
at only £25 and
can hit over
13,000 homes
In these desperate times we
are with you
Many of us have had loved ones who have passed away this year but for
Coronavirus regulations the funerals meant no one could attend and pay
their respects.
If you would like to email to us a photo and a few words about the sad death
of your loved one we will do our best to give them a fitting tribute in our
next issue.
The Voice is your community magazine - email a photograph and words to
us now (free of charge) so we can remember with love those special people
who have passed away during this dreadful Coronavirus this year...
Email: uttoxetervoice@ hotmail.co.uk

A
huge ‘75’ artwork visible
from outer space was
carved into a
Staffordshire stubble field to mark JCB’s impending
75th birthday.
The giant logo was cultivated in a field eight miles
away from the company’s World Headquarters at
Rocester and covered almost eight acres – equivalent
to four football pitches. The birthday tribute was so
distinctive is could be seen by imaging satellites
orbiting high above the earth.
The special artwork was created ahead of JCB’s 75th
anniversary on October 23rd by one of the company’s
most famous products – the Fastrac tractor, which was
equipped with a hi-tech precision guidance system.
A team of JCB employees was behind the larger-
than-life creation which was close to the market town
of Uttoxeter, where the late Joseph Cyril Bamford
founded JCB in a lock-up garage on the same day as his
son Anthony, now Lord Bamford, was born.
The team comprised Fastrac Sales Engineer Peter
Williams, of Acton Trussell, near Stafford; Senior
Fastrac Sales Engineer James Coxon, of Marchington,
near Uttoxeter; JCB Agriculture Product and
Marketing Manager David Timmis, of Haughton,
Stafford and Fastrac Product Specialist Tom Mowforth,
of Stafford.
David Timmis said: “Seventy five years is a big
milestone to reach and we wanted to mark it in a big
way with a product which has played a significant role
in JCB’s success. Using the JCB Fastrac to create a giant
JCB logo in a field which could be seen from space
seemed the perfect idea and the whole team was
delighted with the result.”
The Fastrac was the perfect tractor to undertake
this task; with its all-round suspension, four-wheel
steering, multiple implement mountings and high road
speed. The distinctive tribute was created by uploading
a digital version of the artwork to the Fastrac’s
automatic steering system, which then calculated the
guidance paths. The Fastrac is manufactured at JCB’s
plant in Cheadle, Staffordshire.
Pictured left to right are Fastrac Sales Engineer Peter
Williams, Senior Fastrac Sales Engineer James Coxon,
Product and Marketing Manager JCB Agriculture
David Timmis and Fastrac Product Specialist Tom
Mowforth celebrate the creation of the special 75th
anniversary tribute.
JCB creates out-of-this world 75th
birthday artwork
Down on the Farm
by Angela Sargent
“So purely, so palely, Tinily, surely, Mightily, frailly,
Insculped and embossed,
With his hammer of wind,
And his graver of frost.”
‘To a snowflake’,
Thompson
H
ow much rain will we get this November? Will
it drown the seed and cause problems with
harvest, as it did last year? Questions all
farmers will be asking themselves as they continue to
finish fieldwork and maize harvest if they haven’t
already done so!
Hopefully, the month will be crisp and allow
livestock to remain outside for as long as possible,
without treading up the ground too much and without
needing too much supplementary feed. After last year
we are all maybe cautious as to what we have in store
and may need to tide us over the winter. Dry, crisp,
sunny days help keep bedding to a minimum, whereas
wet, dank days mean the bedding doesn’t last as long.
Water-logged ground also means the growing crops
may suffer through important nutrients and fertilizers
being leached (washed out) out of the soil before they
have had a chance of uptake. This is also a waste of
money and effort.
Problems from run off from agricultural ground
have been largely mitigated by the use of regulation as
to when and how much fert or manure can be applied,
but also by the use of buffer zones- an expanse of
ground between the arable acreage and a watercourse.
Water is obviously a necessity and much is made of
the amounts used in various production methods,
particularly in the meat v vegan debate.
Water footprints can be calculated and use 3
categories - green = rainfall, blue = tap water supply,
grey = fresh water used to dilute pollution. So, for
example english lamb uses 0.1% blue water and 96.6%
green water, English beef equates to 0.4% blue water
and 84.4% green. To produce 1 litre of milk uses 8 litres
of blue (including washing down, cleaning etc) whereas
1litre of almond ‘milk’ requires 158 litres of blue (5,290
litres of blue to produce 1 kg of raw Californian almond
kernels).
Trees are losing their leaves and hedgelaying begins.
The Yew tree, famous for its wood and highly
poisonous, retains its leaves and can live to more than
a thousand years of age. Often found in churchyards, it
provides the drug tamoxifen
Here rams are in with the ewes and we are looking
forward to a good lamb crop and we have to move
them frequently to available grazing. This years lambs
are being sold through Bakewell and Ted is working
well to collect, bring in and pen several times a week.

Readers may recall a request for information re the
whereabouts of Gerald Smith was included in a recent
article in The Voice. This drew a positive response. I
thanked the editor for making this happen and he
replied, “Could be another story for The Voice...”
Part 2
T
he means of getting to school differed for the
Grammar & girls High School pupils & those
attending the two Secondary Schools. Those at
Secondary had a special bus which picked them up in
Rocester & took them to their Schools, we had to catch
a service bus to Uttoxeter & walk from the Market
Place to school, we did however have a “Pass” which
meant we didn’t have to pay a fare. I remember that
initially a group of us boys & girls used to walk
together, going along Church Street, no doubt all
feeling a bit nervous of what lay ahead & feeling a bit
conspicuous in our new school uniforms. For us boys
that consisted of short trousers, blazer, a horrible tie &
a cap. I can’t remember much of that first day at
Alleynes but one thing which was new to us was seeing
all the teachers on the Stage in the Hall for assembly,
wearing black gowns.
Each year group had two classes A & B. Gerald & I
were in the A group & that was to last for 5 years. I
suppose we bonded during our walks & chats, to &
from the bus. It hadn’t taken long for us to walk
separately from the girls especially when the bus had
been on time. We used to walk along the High Street &
cut through the Brewery Yard & down to school,
occasionally stopping to watch the Blacksmith at work
at his forge in Silver Street.
The service bus which took us to school had
travelled from Ashbourne, this meant it had to
negotiate Calwich Bank. Those of you who know the
road will know that Calwich Bank was often impassable
during winter snow. We would wait at the bus stop for
what we considered a reasonable time & if the bus
failed to turn up by then we would discuss plans for the
day, take our satchels home, put on our wellies & go
and enjoy the snow. I think we imagined ourselves in
Scott of the Antarctic, this being one of the few films
we attended as part of our education, another was The
Conquest of Everest, we were particularly proud of that
film & what it stood for, especially as the cameraman’s
brother, Oliver Stobart, was a pupil at Alleynes &
travelled on our bus.
One of our favourite areas for enjoying the winter
snow was around Whytes Bridge & Barrowhill. The
fields close to Whytes bridge often contained flood
water, this not being very deep provided a safer
alternative to the better known & deeper skating spots,
for an improvised game of ice hockey, when frozen.
Barrow Hill, so named as it is thought to be an ancient
burial ground, was ideal for sledging as it was (is)
essentially a series of steps which added a bit of
excitement as our sledges hurled down the hillside. Two
skills essential to those sledging there was to know how
to steer the sledge & to make it stop: if you veered off
too far to the right you would end up in the river
Churnet, and at the bottom of the hill was a ditch
waiting for those who failed to stop. This area was also
popular in better weather with Whytes wood to explore
& “the roots” to test your nerve. The roots were literally
just that, the roots of the trees which grew at the top of
a near vertical bank. One poor lad, Alan Morris, only
joined us once as we clambered across the bankside
with only these roots as support, unfortunately he lost
his grip & ended up in the Churnet. The recent photo
of “the roots” shows numerous small trees on the
bankside where in the 50’s it was almost bare. Alan
Walker recently reminded me that the bankside was
mostly clay. He would gather some of this, take it home,
make model animals & bake them in his Gran’s oven.
I’m delighted to know that the section of the Churnet
Valley, which was one of our favourite childhood
haunts, now forms part of “The Staffordshire Way” a
public footpath running the length of the county.
Although travelling by service bus had some
advantages on winter mornings, it was not so on hot
summer afternoons. Our bus arriving home at 4-30,
about 30mins after our secondary school friends who
by the time we got off the bus, would be on their way
to swimming in the River Dove, often at Sandy Bottom,
situated close to where the Mill “cut” re-joined the
Dove. We would follow them as soon as possible often
meeting farmer Tom Atkins who would be bringing
cows in for milking.
Gerald & I shared many interests during the 50’s.
We were members of various clubs & activities in the
village favourite of which was Rocester Boys Club on
West View. There was another club run by the Church
held in The Welcome on Church Lane. Snooker &
Billiards were enjoyed by most of our group, games
being played on the excellent tables in the ‘Institute’.
This is now a private house.
School friends
Written by Bill Woodier in collaboration with Gerald Smith
The Institute on the left, with the Infant School on the right
Barrowhill sledging run The “Roots” with river below.

T R E E S & L A N D S C A P E S
ALL ASPECTS
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or 07900 995 139
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Gillian 07928 556552 (New Consultant)
Tuesday - Renew Church, High Street,
Uttoxeter ST14 7JQ
Wednesday - Greatwood Hall, Hollington Road,
Tean ST10 4JY
Thursday - Rocester Village Hall, Rocester ST14 5JU
Pam 07983 938240 (New Venue)
Wed afternoon/evenings Thurs mornings -
New Life Church, Tape St, Cheadle ST10 1BG
Jayne 07939 987829 (New Consultant)
Saturday - Renew Church, High Street,
Uttoxeter ST14 7JQ
Times may change, booking is essential.
L
ocal Slimmers from are making a ‘comeback’ as
their Slimming World group reopens, with local
Consultants being glad to be back helping
members to lose weight and improve their health in
person.
Slimming World has been supporting members
virtually in online weekly groups since March, when
lockdown closed all of the organisation’s community
groups. Now, following the current easing of
restrictions in many areas, real-life groups are
beginning to reopen step-by-step.
Slimming World Consultants are puttting measures
in place to ensure groups comply fully with
government and local guidance and that their members
can return safely to their much-loved Slimming World
Local Slimming World consultants Pam, Gillian,
Mandy and Jayne say: “We are delighted to finally be
back together with our members! Our virtual groups
have been a vital lifeline of support and we are so, so
proud of how our members have been there for each
other through these difficult months and continued to
lose weight and get more active. There’s nothing quite
like the magic of our real-life groups, though, and
research of our members during lockdown has shown
that while our members have loved attending their
virtual groups they’ve missed the motivational power
and accountability of meeting in person each week.”
They say the health and safety of members has been
our top priority in planning the return of the
group/Slimming World groups: “Members will find a
few things have changed in our groups to ensure that
everyone feels as safe, confident and comfortable as
they possibly can. This includes appropriate social
distancing, hygiene measures and shorter sessions,
which we’ll be asking members to book in to before
attending. What hasn’t changed is the gorgeous warm
welcome, feeling of togetherness and the joy of being
‘in it together’ week on week.
“As well as looking forward to ‘that feeling’ of being
back together with our existing Slimming World
members, we can’t wait to welcome new members into
our groups too. Obesity is a huge issue in the news at
the moment with evidence showing that carrying extra
weight makes it harder for the body to fight COVID-
19, and the Government announcing brand-new plans
to tackle obesity across the UK – which Slimming
World are very proud be part of. Plus, we know many
people’s routines were turned upside down by
lockdown and lots of us have been feeling more
worried or anxious than usual, all of which can have an
impact on making healthy choices.”
Gillian says: “I want anyone who’s worrying about
their weight or health – especially if they’ve put on a
few extra pounds during lockdown – to know that
there will be absolutely no judgement at a Slimming
World group – just lots of understanding and a very
warm welcome. At Slimming World losing weight isn’t
about going hungry – our eating plan is extra easy, very
delicious and super generous. And moving more
doesn’t mean running marathons – unless you want to,
of course.
“Our groups are hubs of recipe-swapping, idea-
sharing and problem-solving activity. Through our
weekly sessions, you’ll discover how to identify the
stoppers and potential pitfalls that could send you off
track – or that have maybe prevented you from
reaching your weight-loss goals in the past – and learn
to develop strategies to overcome them. The new
healthy habits you’ll discover will soon become habits
of a lifetime, and there really is no better time to start
afresh when it comes to developing new lifelong
healthy habits around food and activity because, as
many of the members of my groups have seen, when
you lose weight you’re already doing one of the very
best things you can to future-proof your health.”
Due to new safety measures, all members are asked
to book into a group before attending and you can
discover what a real-life Slimming World group will
look like with all safety measures in place here:
www.slimmingworld.co.uk/blog/discover-keeping-
you-safe/
Local slimmers come back
together after months of
virtual slimming

Uttoxeter Town Hall
The perfect setting for Weddings, Civil Partnerships,
those special occasions and corporate events
Whether you are looking for a venue for a conference, a celebration or the ultimate wedding reception,
our friendly and attentive staff will ensure that your special occasion is memorable.
Contact us on 01889 564085or email: info@uttoxetertowncouncil.org.uk to arrange a viewing or to request a brochure
Visit www.uttoxetertowncouncil.org.uk
Find us on Facebook Uttoxeter Town Council including Town Hall or Instagram Uttoxeter_Town_Council
Uttoxeter Town Council, Town Hall, High Street, Uttoxeter ST14 7HN
U
ttoxeter Town Council gave the green light to
the campaign to renew Uttoxeter’s natural
world at its meeting on 13 October, when it
approved a three-year nature recovery plan. The
campaign to help nature will be led by the Town
Council’s newly established Biodiversity Committee
and the Uttoxeter Nature Recovery Network, which
will work with Uttoxeter residents, stakeholders, and
local partners to deliver the campaign.
The campaign is needed because across Uttoxeter,
the UK and the world there has been a massive decline
in the numbers of plants and animals, and many
species are threatened with extinction. Nature is vital
to the health and welfare of people, so it is in
everybody’s interests to act to stop and reverse this
decline.
Chair of the Committee and Deputy Mayor,
Councillor Carolyn Green said “I am delighted that we
have been able to create this plan and establish our
campaign, despite the impact of the Covid-19
pandemic on everybody’s life. We have involved the
whole community through consultation and that
should ensure that our plans have everybody’s backing.
The commitment of those people involved in
developing the plan has been tremendous and has
meant that we not only have a written plan, but a
campaign that is already bearing fruit on the ground.”
She said “A great many individuals and groups are
already helping to make a difference to wildlife in
Uttoxeter. These groups include the Friends of
Bramshall Park, Uttoxeter Community Garden, Station
Adopters, the Go Garden project at Uttoxeter Leisure
Centre, Thomas Alleyne’s Eco Group and the In-Bloom
Committee. They have delivered an amazing display of
activities which will really help wildlife in Uttoxeter. To
list a few, local groups and individuals have”
• Purchased hedgehog boxes/homes, and held an on-
line competition with a hedgehog home as a prize
to raise public awareness of the threat to one of our
best-loved animals
• Re-homed several hedgehogs to safe quiet areas
across town
• Planted hundreds of spring bulbs which will
naturalise and create a new habitat in the cemetery’s
green area
• Encouraged the use of swift boxes in appropriate
areas of Uttoxeter to help this lovely bird which is
under threat
• Recruited a task force of volunteers to help with
gardening and nature projects such as those led by
the Go Garden project and Friends of Bramshall
Road Park
• Developed a new wildlife area in Uttoxeter Heath
Community Centre Community Garden with the
help and support of a member of Thomas Alleyne’s
Eco- Group; the garden has grown a display of
sunflowers to encourage bees and pollination of our
fruits, vegetables and flowers
• Created homes for helpful insects by providing two
further bug hotels across Uttoxeter
• Created a Wildlife display in the library (prior to
lockdown)
• Planted new wildflowers in an area of Bramshall
Road Park
• Increased the number of bat boxes in the cemetery
and Bramshall Road Park
• Developed mini allotments at the Heath
Community Centre Community Garden for
community groups who want to take up gardening
and help wildlife
• Helped people shielding from Covid-19 by growing
vegetables at the Uttoxeter Community Garden
delivering them to people self-isolating at home
Councillor Green added “Making a difference for
wildlife requires thousands of small initiatives by
gardeners, local groups and organisations and I am
proud that we have made such a great start. In such a
short time Uttoxeter people have delivered a lot. None
of this would have been possible without keen
gardeners and committed supporters of wildlife and
climate change, and we want them all to get behind our
campaign. 2021 will be a really exciting year, as we will
start implementing our action plans in earnest, plant
more trees and use our RHS In Bloom entry to
complement our nature initiative. We want everyone
to be involved!
If you are interested in Uttoxeter’s Biodiversity /
wildlife and promoting climate change across town
please contact me at info@
uttoxetertowncouncil.org.uk”
Green Light for Uttoxeter’s
Campaign to help Nature

A
Uttoxeter grandmother’s dream of
retiring early is set to come true
after she won a £17,000 rollover
jackpot on the St Giles Hospice lottery.
Jane Woolley, aged 64, whose mum
was supported by St Giles in 2003, hit the
jackpot in August when it was won after
rolling over for 17 weeks. Now Jane, who
works in dispensing at a doctor’s surgery,
has notified bosses that she plans to retire
in March next year – a year before her
state retirement age.
She said: “Winning the rollover is
such wonderful news and it means I will
be able to retire a year early, which is a
dream come true. I’m one of the ladies
who expected to retire at 60 but was then
told I’d have to wait until I was 66.
“I’m 65 next February and winning
the rollover means that I can retire a year
earlier without worrying about money.
My husband Ivan took early retirement
two years ago so this means I can finish earlier than
expected and we can enjoy our time at home together,
which is lovely.”
Jane’s mum Vina Swingewood was supported by St
Giles in 2003 when she had breast cancer, and Jane has
supported the hospice ever since.
“Our family looked after my mum at home and we
had the support of the St Giles Hospice at Home service
which was absolutely invaluable – we couldn’t have
done it without them,” she added.
“They didn’t only look after my mum, they
supported my dad and the whole family so that we
could nurse her at home and they were always at the
end of the phone if we needed any advice and support.
She was cared for and was able to die at home where
she wanted to be, which meant such a lot to us all.
“I found St Giles so inspirational – I’d always
worked in banking but after my mum passed away I
went into care work.
“I would urge everybody to support St Giles if they
can and the hospice lottery is such an easy way to do
that. Nobody knows what will happen to us or our
loved ones in the future.
“A friend of mine also passed away at St Giles four
years ago. It is comforting to know that
the wonderful team at St Giles Hospice
will be there for us if and when we need
their care.”
St Giles Lottery Manager, Alison
Jerram, said: “We are delighted for Jane
and Ivan and are so grateful to everyone
who plays our lottery every week. Each
ticket sold helps us to care for people in
the community living with a terminal
illness and the lottery raises over
£100,000 every month to support
hospice services.
“In 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic
has led to the cancellation of many
fundraising events and forced our shops
to close for several months, so the
support of our lottery players has been
absolutely vital in helping us to raise the
money we need to keep our services
going. Unfortunately, our lottery player
numbers have been affected by COVID-
19 too, so we need new players to sign up to ensure we
can continue to be there for local people when they
need us most.”
For just £1 players have the chance to win 200
weekly prizes, including a weekly jackpot of £1,000 and
up to £20,000 in a rollover draw.
To find out more or to join the lottery visit:
www.stgileshospice.com/lottery or call the lottery team
on 01543 434020.
For more information about St Giles Hospice and
the care it provides, please visit
www.stgileshospice.com
Uttoxeter St Giles hospice lottery
player hits the rollover jackpot
Jane and Ivan Woolley celebrate their win with St Giles Hospice Lottery
Development Manager Lesley Holmes.

I
t is with great sadness that the family of John
Cresswell, of Stoneydale in Oakamoor, announce
that on Monday 28th September he passed away at
his home following a short illness. He was 85.
Born in 1935 at Moss Hall in Cheshire, John was a
director of two successful engineering firms in Stoke-
on-Trent. After entering the family metalworks at 15
under his grandfather R. D. Cresswell, John set up
Silvers Cresswell Ltd with his son Nick in 1985.
Together they then purchased Glebe Engineering Ltd
in 1987 and Classic Gears Ltd in 1995. In 2015, they
moved their businesses to a new purpose-built factory
in Basford, Stoke-on-Trent, and John enjoyed the last
five years at this location, the fruit of their endeavours.
Both businesses continue to thrive in the Potteries
under Nick and his son Tom, John’s eldest grandson.
It was thanks to John’s vision and leadership that
the family businesses were able to adapt to the changing
manufacturing landscape in Britain, surviving where
so many others didn’t by carving out niches in precision
engineering. This has seen them become trusted small
parts suppliers to clients in a variety of fields, including
Formula One racing.
Together with his wife Elizabeth, John was also a
successful racehorse owner, breeder and trainer. In a
sporting career that spanned more than three decades,
the couple enjoyed over 100 victories on the flat and
over jumps and trained, owned or bred 30 winning
horses. Highlights include breeding Prince Peccadillo,
who won four races and ran in the 1985 Group Two
Gimcrack Stakes at York. Itsagame, another homebred
colt, was the winner of eight races throughout his
career, including the Brocklesby Stakes at Doncaster.
John and Elizabeth also bred the nine-time winner
Balatina and the five-furlong sprinter Stoneydale, who
was named after their farm and won five races. In the
National Hunt sphere, John bred a high-class gelding
called Karinga Dancer, who won seven races over both
hurdles and fences, but his all-time favourite was a little
chestnut mare called Dinky Dora, who he bred and
trained to win two hurdle races and collect four
placings.
To those who knew him, John was a true character
whose charisma made him the natural centre of
attention wherever he went. For all his success, he kept
the common touch, and had the ability to leave
everyone he spoke to with a big smile on their face.
Large in stature and personality, good-natured and an
eternal optimist, he combined decent old-fashioned
values with a rare twinkle and an often-silly sense of
humour. This ensured that all who knew him felt great
affection for him.
He was also a family man who cared deeply about
his children, grandchildren and other relatives, with
whom he loved to spend time during frequent family
gatherings at his home. Other passions included pigeon
racing, doing endless odd jobs around the farm (often
enlisting his grandsons to help), reading the business
pages, and the novels of Dick Francis and P. G.
Wodehouse.
He is survived by Elizabeth (née Dale), his wife of
61 years; brother Richard and sister Ann; son Nick
(Jani) and daughters Suzi (Alastair) and Sarah (Al);
brother-in-law John and sister-in-law Ann (Brian);
grandchildren Felicity, Tom, Paddy, Jack, Maddie,
Tristan, Molly, Annabel, Harriet and Luca; and great-
grandson Freddie.
Charismatic John Cresswell
passes away...

Council to join
countryside
clean energy
network
S
taffordshire Moorlands is set to join a growing list of over 20 countryside
councils working together to tackle climate change by reducing carbon
emissions to net zero.
The District Council has agreed to join the Countryside Climate Network – a
sub-group of the UK:100 network of local government leaders who have pledged to
shift to 100% clean energy by 2050.
The network:
• Enables members to share knowledge with other
• Enables collaboration on developing shared policy objectives to put to the
Government and decision makers
• Supports members in building support and consent for ambitious climate action
The membership of the Countryside Climate Network is predominantly rural
councils ensuring that the voice of rural communities is heard as part of the wider
UK:100 work which brings cities and the countryside together.
Councillor Joe Porter, Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Biodiversity,
said: “Rural communities are at the forefront of both feeling the effects of climate
change and taking action to address it. But it is not something that we can do alone.
“The key to actions which will make a difference is working collaboratively with
others in our District, our region and across the UK which is why our membership
of groups like this is so important.
“We can learn from others and share our successes and, as importantly, speak
collectively to amplify the messages and move faster towards our shared goal of using
clean energy to help meet net zero carbon emissions targets.
“I’m delighted the Council will join other rural communities from across the
country as members of this group and I look forward to the Moorlands reaping the
benefits of being part of this network.”
L
et me introduce you to Grave Secrets by
Alice James, a brand new cosy-crime urban
fantasy novel set in Staffordshire.
Toni Windsor is trying to live a quiet life in
the green and pleasant county of Staffordshire.
She’d love to finally master the rules of croquet,
acquire a decent boyfriend and make some
commission as an estate agent… but first she’s got
to deal with zombies rising from their graves,
vampires sneaking out of their coffins and a
murder to solve. It’s all made rather more
complicated by the fact that she’s the one raising
all the zombies… and she’s dating one of the
vampires. Really, what’s a girl meant to do?
Yes, you read that right! Grave Secrets, the
start of a new series published by Rebellion this
month, is set in Staffordshire! The heroine,
diminutive red-head Toni, is an estate agent by
day and budding necromancer by night. She lives
in the village of Colton, just outside Rugeley, and
even attends her annual work bash at Bingley
Hall! Her office is just a stone’s throw from
Stafford’s Market Square.
Author Alice James, who penned her debut
novel on an old laptop while commuting to
London on the train, explains why:
“I grew up in Colton myself,” she says. “I
was born in Burton on Trent and went to
school in Stone. Novels are always set in New
York or London and I thought, no, I’ll set this
closer to home; much more fun. Oh, and it
meant less research too!”
Alice’s father John James was the deputy
coroner of South Staffordshire for many years
and her first job was answering the dedicated
police phone line in the office. She claims this
has nothing to do with her fascination with
solving murders and the undead! She also
says that those expecting a dark and angst
filled gothic novel will be pleasantly
surprised:
“Urban fantasy is often too dark and
gloomy – there’s too much death and
destruction. This is light hearted and fun, as
well as a little bit sexy. Think Agatha Raisin
meets Buffy but all just a stone’s throw from
Isaac Walton’s cottage.”
The book is available now in paperback,
ebook and (shortly) audiobook format too!
“I’ll be narrating the book myself for the
Audible version,” Alice tells us. “I’m
nervous about that because last time I read
something out loud was the reading in St
Joseph & St Etheldreda’s in Rugeley.”
Find out more about the book here:
rebellionpublishing.com/product/grave-
secrets/
‘Grave Secrets’by Alice James
Book your Advert now for
our hugely popular
Christmas Uttoxeter &
Cheadle Voice magazine!
Out December 2nd!
Take advantage of our massive readership
to attract new customers - and also send
your Christmas Greetings to your valued
regular customers!
or simply email uttoxetervoice@hotmail.co.uk
DON’T MISS OUT
E-MAIL YOUR ADVERT TODAY - NO PRE-PAYMENT
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Uttoxeter
& Cheadle
Uttoxeter
& Cheadle

Rocky Road
I
was recently invited to a friend’s birthday party. She has two
children and really wanted me to bake a cake. I know myself
that I have to be in the mood for baking, or my cakes just do
not seem to be the same. I have to admit that I really did not feel
like making a cake, so I decided on Rocky Road. They are always
so delicious and children absolutely love them, and so quick and
easy to make. Best of all no baking!! I just was not in the mood.
Ingredients: Makes 24 bars
250g dark chocolate
150g milk chocolate
175g butter
4 tbsp golden syrup
200g crushed Rich Tea biscuits
150g red glace cherries
150g brazil nuts
125g mini marshmallows
1 bag maltesers
1 crunchie crushed
Icing sugar to decorate (I also used edible glitter)
Break up the chocolate and put into a heavy based pan along
with the butter and syrup, and melt over a gentle heat. When
melted add the crushed biscuits, broken nuts, cherries , mini
marshmallows, maltesers and crushed crunchie. Mix everything
carefully, coating everything with the chocolate mixture.
Tip into a foil tray (236mm x 296mm), smoothing the top. It
will look quite bumpy.
Refrigerate until firm enough to cut, which will take a couple
of hours. Then turn the block of rocky road out of the foil ready
to be cut. With the long side in front of you, cut into 6 slices down
and 4 across, so you will have 24 squares.
Dust with icing sugar and optional edible glitter, and et voila
just right for a party.
Karen’s Cake Corner
by Karen Hill
D
uring the months of lockdown, I would settle
down, along with my two legged best friend,
and occasionally with my four legged best
friend, to listen to the 5.00 pm broadcast. When our
Prime Minister announced, on Friday, 20th March, that
schools would close on the following Monday for the
foreseeable future, I gasped. Very loudly. I was
incredulous that so little notice had been given. I
gasped even more loudly on that Monday when Mr.
Johnson outlined the strict restrictions that were being
brought in with immediate effect.
Yet this should not have been a shock to me. My
nephew works in ICU in a Midlands hospital and he
had been warning his parents of the imminent threat
of this new virus for many weeks. I had been sharing
his advice with anyone who would listen to me. Day
after day, we listened to Mr. Johnson as well as Messrs.
Hancock, Raab and Sunak, among others, bringing us
up to date with the heartbreaking statistics and future
plans. One of the press conferences that stands out in
my mind was given by a certain D. Cummings who
attempted to explain to the press, and to all of us, why
he seemed to think that he did not need to obey the
laws that the rest of the citizens of the UK were
following to the letter.
My musing on this situation led to the production
of some song lyrics. I apologise to The Kinks. I cannot
imagine that Ray Davies reads ‘The Voice’ so I may be
safe from being sued. I also apologise if this tune stays
in your head all day!
Boris’ Chief Political Advisor
They seek him here,
They seek him there,
In Barnard Castle and Eaton Square,
It won’t make or break him,
It doesn’t matter what he does
‘Cos he is Boris’ Chief Political Advisor.
And when he breaks all of the rules
Of the Lockdown in every town,
It doesn’t seem to matter where he is or what he does,
Oh yes he is!
Oh yes he is!
He thinks that he’s so different to the rest of us.
When he’s driving to the North,
He doesn’t give a fig
Oh yes he is!
Oh yes he is!
He seems to do the opposite to all of us.
One week he’s in Durham and he’s breaking all the
rules.
They seek him here,
They seek him there,
It’s an insult,
It’s so unfair.
He won’t lose a wink of sleep,
He really doesn’t care
Oh yes he is!
Oh yes he is!
He thinks that he’s a cut above the rest of us.
And when he’s driving back down South his
conscience doesn’t prick
Oh yes he is!
Oh yes he is!
We have followed all rules to the letter,
We’ve missed births and deaths and clapped on
Thursdays unlike him,
Oh yes he’s Boris’ Chief Political Advisor.
He should be Boris’ ex Political Advisor...
My Monthly Musings
by Cecily Cowans of Cheadle

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Owd Grandad Piggott
Go to the new website
www.owdgrandadpiggott.co.uk
and download tracks from the original
Owd Grandad Piggott LP record which
was recorded live by Alan Povey in
The George and Dragon pub in Long-
ton in 1977 and sold over 6,000 copies
in North Staffordshire inside 6 months.
Povey’s People
by Radio Stoke’s Owd Grandad Piggott
It was Club Paper Jack who
started it all off. He came bowling
into the pub one night full of
excitement with a copy of The
Sentinel gripped tightly in his fist.
‘Look at this!’ he yapped
spreading the paper out on the top
of the bar. Uppermost on the page,
it read ‘Potteries man finds
priceless Constable print in his
attic’, It went on to state that the
lucky fellow was liable to realise
thousands of pounds at auction for
his find and Club Paper Jack was
almost dancing with excitement.
‘Ar many mower on ‘em’re lyin’
undiscovered in folks’s lofts
an’cupboards? He gabbled.
‘Tell thee what way could do’,
grunted Owd Grandad Piggott
‘Way could advertise… put a
notice in th’ paper shop winder…
Owd pictures wanted by antique
collectors…’ specially owd mills an’ churches ‘ cause
that’s what Constable used ter paint ...way conner go
wrong, somebody’s bind ter ‘ave one tucked awee
someweer.’
So that’s what they did. They wrote out a postcard
with Owd Grandad Piggott’s address on it and put it in
the paper shop window and hoped for the best. It was
all of sixpence a week to advertise in the paper shop so
it was not going to break the bank if the ruse didn’t
work.
It didn’t take long to generate interest. Soon, a
steady stream of people were knocking on Owd
Grandad Piggotts door offering all sorts of rubbish and
tat and asking ridiculous money for it. They seemed to
ignore the request for prints of old mills and churches
and rocked up with prints of victorian grandparents,
aunts and other relatives, Club Paper Jack gave a snort
of disgust and hurled a badly painted picture of a dog
into a corner.
‘This is no bloody good!’ he growled. ‘This is ow
rubbish as folks want shut of…’
‘Just be patient’, mumbled Owd Grandad Piggott,
‘Rome wonner built in a day. When theft least expectin’
it, summatt ull come along an’ knock thee ‘at off.’ Three
days later, it did.
A knock came on Owd Grandad Piggott’s door and
he opened it to a smart looking fellow who Jack
described later as ‘looking lark an identikit’. In his
hand, he held a half decent painting of a church. Owd
Grandad Piggott made a grab for it but the fellow was
too quick.
‘Just owd thee foot up a touch owd soul’,
he grunted.
‘Is that a Constable?’ gabbled Club
Paper Jack,
The fellow emitted a snort of derision.
‘Ar dunner deal in Constable trash’, he
sneered. If you knew owt abite fine art-
yerd know as this is an impression of the
eastern trancept of a venetion cathedral by
Brandenberg Vergelsuck’. Jack’s jaw
dropped open. He had never heard of
Brandenberg Vergelsuck. Neither had
anybody else but Jack wasn’t to know that,
the name conjured up an image of some
amazing artist and the description of his
work indicated that he was a very
important person whose work would be of
great value. Club Paper Jack nearly
swallowed his teeth.
‘Ar much dust want fer it?’ he gasped.
‘Well, Sothebys ‘ave said as it’ll fetch a
couple or thray grand but that means
takkin’ it dine ter London an’ ar conner be mithered
with that…
They give me fifty quid an they cost ‘ave it’.
‘Give us till termorrer’, prattled Owd Grandad
Piggot .
‘Ar’ll bay rind termorrer aft’noon’, said the fellow.
‘Ave thee money ready an’ dunner mess me abite!’ With
a curt nod, the swarthy looking fellow took his leave.
‘Bloody ‘ell!’ gasped Owd Grandad Piggott…’ What
dust reckon?’
‘Ar reckon weyve got find fifty quid frum
someweer’, said Club Paper Jack flatly, ‘Wey’ve got
twenty fower ‘ours fer get it!’
So a plan was hatched to obtain fifty pounds by
hook or by crook. Club Paper Jack agreed to sell one of
his whippets and his best ferret in Tummy Dawkins’s
pub, and Owd Grandad Piggott made a plan to rifle his
wife’s purse and the oxo tin where she kept her savings
for a new pair of shoes and they set about their quest.
By the time they had parted company, they had
managed to sell Club Paper Jack’s ferret, the whippet
and Owd Grandad Piggott’s missus’s purse lay empty
on the kitchen table but she had hidden the oxo tin
containing her savings, so after an exhaustive search to
no avail, he had served to empty the gas meter of its
sterling contents and by the following afternoon and
having counted their spoils, it turned out that they had
amassed a grand total of thirty two pounds, two
shillings, fourpence halfpenny and six park drive
cigarettes. Owd Grandad Piggott uttered a vile oath and
regarded Club Paper Jack hollowly.
‘Ay inner gooin’ accept this!’, he ground out, ‘Wey’re
eighteyn quid short…’
‘Wey’ll tell ‘im wey’ll owe ‘im the rest til wey’ve
sowd it on’. At three oclock that afternoon, a knock
came on the door and the smart looking fellow stood
there with the painting held tightly under his arm.
‘Well?’ he ground out ‘Have yer got the money?
‘I-it’s lark this mar mate’ stuttered Club paper Jack,
‘Way couldner raise ow on it... wey’re a few bob short…
but listen!’ he added quickly ‘- give us another couple
o’ dees… ay gets ‘is pension ar get me dole money an’
way’ll settle up with thee then… wey’ve worked it ow
ite... ar’ve got pay a bit off me fine an’ they cost ‘ave
what’s left.’ The smart looking fellow studied him
closely.
‘Ow much ‘ave yer got?’ he grated.
‘Just ower thirty two quid… an’ a couple or thray
woodbines’, gabbled Jack. The fellow emitted a long
sigh but came to the realization that Owd Grandad
Piggott and Club Paper Jack had hit the bottom of the
barrel of their available funds.
‘Fetch it!’ he grunted curtly. Owd Grandad Piggott
dived quickly into the house and came back clutching
their funds and the cigarettes and passed it all over with
trembling hands. The smart fellow gave them a sour
threatening look and handed them the picture.
‘Right - listen. I’ll be back for the balance in one
week from now to collect eighteen pounds… You’ll ‘ave
it ready okay?’
‘Oh ar, definite’ said Owd Grandad Piggot earnestly.
Without another word, the fellow left and the pair
disappeared jnto the house to examine their prize. They
turned it over and there on the back sure enough was
scrawled the name ‘ B.Vergelsuck’ in an untidy script
which Club Paper Jack said was typical of a talented
artist.
‘Just a bloody minute!!’, snarled Owd Grandad
Piggott. ‘What’s this??’ He had turned the picture over
and was looking intently at what appeared to be
another signature. He put his glasses on and squinted
at it and as he did so, a dangerous glint came into his
eye.
‘It says ‘Dilhorne Church by Eric Smith’. Somebody
had tried to erase it but had only made a half hearted
job.
They both charged out of the door. Owd Grandad
Piggott went up the street, Club Paper Jack hared off
down the street but despite half an hour of intensive
searching the fellow was well gone. Like the fabled
Macavity the cat, he simply wasn’t there.
That night, a fight broke out in Tummy Dawkins’s
pub. Despite the fact that neither of them had any
money, they naturally gravitated to the pub and were
quick to blame each other for being taken in by the
scam.
Fortunately for the smart fellow, they never saw him
again and had to be content by beating seven bells out
of each other.
Each month Radio Stoke’s Owd Grandad Piggott (Alan Povey) will write a unique insight into our local life and its
many characters. His infectious, humorous slant on people provides a different and unusual mix which hopefully
will bring a warm smile to the faces of our readers.
This month: Brandenburg Vergelsuck
Well,
Sothebys‘ave
said as it’ll
fetch a couple
or thray
grand

Uttoxeter Voice Issue 101

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Uttoxeter Voice Issue 101