Lichfield & Tamworth Lichfield & Tamworth Chamber Patrons
Contact: Marilyn Castree T: 0845 603 6650
In Brief
A Tamworth electrical firm has won a major contract to help install a ground-breaking new smart home automation system. Mr Electric Birmingham North is among
those installing the smart systems and software for ‘O2 Home’ in homes across the region, before the technology is rolled out across the rest of the country. The company, based at the Lichfield Road
Industrial Estate, is one of only two firms in the West Midlands which will be able to supply and install the all-digital, fully integrated, wireless home automation system. O2 Home will allow people to control their
heating, lighting, locks and a number of other smart home devices through a single app on their smart phone, tablet or computer, accessed wirelessly from anywhere. Jeff Longley, owner of the Tamworth Mr
Electric franchise, said: “This is quite a feather in our cap and is a testament to our reputation for providing a high-quality service.” Katy Liddell, O2’s director of digital
development, said “As a customer-focused organisation, O2 understands the limitations that an analogue home poses to customers. “O2 Home uses real, usable digital
innovation to empower customers, giving them flexible control over their homes and giving them the peace of mind which comes from knowing everything is fine at home, even when they can’t be there in person.”
Kind-hearted staff from Midland Expressway Ltd (MEL) have stepped in to help a local charity by funding its room hire costs. MEL, which runs the M6 toll road, has
agreed to help Uniquely Me & U, which supports adults with learning disabilities in Tamworth. The group gathers once a week to socialise, sing and enjoy music, which helps boost their self-esteem and confidence skills. Yvonne Sanderson, from Uniquely Me &
U, said: “We have been funding the group ourselves for over 18 months on a fortnightly basis and witnessed how our service users were enjoying the social interaction through music and were building friendships and confidence. “We could see that there was a need for
a weekly meeting, but we could not afford to hold it. The funding from the M6 toll has paid for the room hire and allowed us to meet weekly and has taken away the uncertainty of keeping our group going.” MEL social committee member Sheena
Hawkins said: “These musical sessions really do bring out the best in everyone that attends, it was so uplifting to see people of all abilities coming together and bonding through music.”
42 CHAMBERLINK March 2017
Damien takes over Lichfield Festival
Lichfield Festival has named Damian Thantrey as guest artistic director for its 2018 event. He will take over the reins from Sonia
Stevenson, currently in her third year as artistic director, during her maternity break. Born in Burton-on-Trent, Damian trained first
as a lawyer before becoming a professional singer, appearing on stages around the world. More recently, he has also moved into producing, and runs his own festival in the Northamptonshire village of Hargrave. Damian has produced several shows for Lichfield,
including the Mozart opera The Magic Flute in 2015 and last year’s Così Fan Tutte in which he also sang the role of Guglielmo. This year, he will produce a celebration of Broadway legend Richard Rodgers with a cast of West End soloists and talented musicians from Chethams Music School, co- commissioned with Cheltenham Festival. Damian Thantrey said: “I’m delighted to be
appointed guest artistic director and am very much looking forward to planning next year's Festival. Being involved in a small way over the last three years has shown me the huge commitment, hard work and support that goes on behind the scenes and enables the Lichfield Festival to thrive – I will endeavour to match that with my own efforts for 2018.”
Mike Castree as one of Sir Robert Peel’s ‘Peelers’
New director: Damian Thantrey This year’s Lichfield Festival runs from 7-15 July
and is known as one of the most eclectic multi- arts festivals in the UK. Among the first artists to be announced are: The Hallé Orchestra, percussionist Evelyn Glennie, comedian Rich Hall, world-famous gospel ensemble Black Voices, and The Sixteen.
Bid for museum is a-peel-ing
An organisation dedicated to creating a museum in honour of the founder of the modern police force, Sir Robert Peel, has launched a £500,000 appeal to fulfil its aims. The Peel Society is hoping to establish the museum in
Tamworth to Sir Robert, who was the town’s MP from 1930. The appeal has the backing of Drayton Manor theme park
boss Colin Bryan – while he was MP for Tamworth, Sir Robert lived in a mansion built at Drayton Manor. The Peel Society was founded in 1979 to celebrate the
150th anniversary of the establishment of the Metropolitan Police Force, the forerunner of today’s national police force. Its major objective is to establish a Peel and Police Museum
in Tamworth town centre. The society has acquired a collection of items of historical importance to Peel, and some of this has will be on display in the town’s library from next month. Society member Mike Castree, a local accountant, is
helping raise the museum’s status and gain full accreditation status, with the support of Colin Bryan. He said: “The museum is currently working towards becoming
a fully accredited museum. I am fully on board with anything that would contribute to creating further awareness as it acts as another educational/tourist attraction for Tamworth.” As good as his word, Mike is to dress up as a Peeler (see
picture) at the opening of the display at Tamworth library on 3 March.
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