10 - 2021 | Chalmers News PR

Full house adds up to funds for Warwickshire charity

Posted on October 8, 2021October 8, 2021 by admin

BINGO numbers added up to a successful evening of fundraising for a Warwickshire charity thanks to local law firm Alsters Kelley.

Britanie Jeffrey, Legal secretary and event organiser.

More than £3,400 was raised for The Friendship Project, thanks to match funding by Four Acres Trust.

It was a ‘full house’ for the bingo event, at The Bulldog in Whitnash last month, which provided a much-needed boost for another charity impacted by the pandemic.

Supported by the Social Services of Warwickshire, the charity matches children who are in need, for a variety of reasons, with volunteers for friendship and fun.

Established in 1986, it has helped around 1,000 children in the Stratford, Alcester, Atherstone, Leamington Spa, Kenilworth, Nuneaton, Rugby, Shipston, Southam and Warwick areas.

Alsters Kelley, bingo, The Friendship Project — Friendship Project Den building.

Angela Truman, from The Friendship Project said: “Lockdown has been extremely difficult for everyone; however, we received a lot of interest from people during this time to help and support as volunteers which is fantastic. But the requirement is constant and growing.

“The children we support may be caring for a sick parent or be limited to where they can go on holiday because of a disabled sibling or other family member. For some children, even playing in the park or going to the cinema are a rare treat. Having some time out from often difficult home situations really does improve the child’s self-esteem and self-worth. Our volunteers report that they too enjoy spending time with their Younger Friend knowing that they are really making a difference to a child’s life.”

Angela added: “Our focus is now very much on raising money so that we can provide the opportunities for the carers to take the children and young people away from their normal environment to have some fun. So we are very grateful to the team at Alsters Kelley for their ongoing support this year and for all the funds raised by the bingo night and raffle – it was great night and we enjoyed taking part.”

The Friendship Project is just one of the nominated charities being supported by Alsters Kelley, which was established in the 1980s and now has offices in Coventry, Leamington, Southam, Stratford and Nuneaton.

Legal assistant and one of the firm’s charity champions Britanie Jeffery, who organised the event, said: “We had a great evening – the support we had was fantastic and there was so much laughter in the room, everyone was so generous.

“My initial fundraising target was £500 so to have tripled it and then had it matched was way beyond what we had expected.”

Further information on how to volunteer to be a Friend or donate to The Friendship Project can be found here

Portsmouth Review (Pt III)

Posted on October 8, 2021October 8, 2021 by admin

Just a few weeks after waving off my eldest to his new temporary home in Portsmouth (where he is embarking on a work placement), we followed him down for a series of long weekends.

With hugely positive reports reaching us of this previously undiscovered Hampshire island city, it was definitely the perfect excuse to experience it properly as a family for the first time.

On this visit, we decided to get a very different perspective on this historically fascinating area by taking a trip up Spinnaker Tower.

About the Tower: Visible from more than 23 miles away, the striking 170-metre tall Tower stands loud and proud in Portsmouth Harbour and will, more likely than not, be the first familiar landmark you spot on your drive – or sail – into the city.

Opened in 2005, it was built as part of the Renaissance of Portsmouth Harbour Project as a public and educational facility to celebrate the new Millennium.

My Verdict: Visitors can’t help but to start their experience by appreciating the prowess of this stunning structure before then entering the Tower and watching an animated introductory film show. After a quick photo opportunity, the high-speed lift whisks you up to 100 metres above sea level (travelling at four metres per second!) where a unique 350-degree panoramic view of Portsmouth awaits. There’s also the option of learning more about what you’re seeing with the help of interactive touchscreens.

‘Highlight’ for me though (if you’ll excuse the pun) is the glass Sky Walk in the centre of the view deck floor. No better vantage point from which to gain a literal insight into the building’s construction beneath your feet.

If it’s still not high enough for you though, a few stairs will take guests up to the next viewing level at 110 metres above sea level. Standing here, as we did, on a wet and windy day, you really do feel open to the elements. Not a reason however, to not make the journey. In fact, you really get a sense of the remarkable engineering skills that went into building this unique structure.

Views were still breath taking – although a Viewing Guarantee for foggy days is offered if the three Solent Forts aren’t all visible- so no need to wait until that one day in August!

We were pleased we’d visited the Tower on our second visit to Portsmouth rather than our first as it was enjoyable picking out in the distance many of the landmarks and attractions we’d previously experienced.

For those who have an ‘appetite’ for more, there’s a delicious-looking High Tea offering available in The Clouds restaurant on the middle viewing level. The perfect vino and vista combination for a special celebration perhaps. (Yes, they’ll even host your wedding reception here!) Or, back on the ground, the Spinnaker Kitchen and Bar, is a handy sustenance stop-off before or after your visit.

More adventurous types might be tempted by the ultimate Spinnaker Tower abseil experience, available on selected dates. Undoubtedly views to rival anywhere else in the city, but not one for me – at least not until the winds die down!

Spinnaker Tower, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard,

Coming Soon: The return of the Tower’s VR game (suspended throughout the pandemic), an update of the Sky Garden and facelift for the kitchen and bar area.

Whatever the time of year, a trip up Spinnaker Tower is definitely worthy of your itinerary. In fact I look forward to also returning on a drier and sunnier day to compare the view and check out the updates.

I am relishing my journey of discovery around this beautiful island city of which the landmark Spinnaker Tower is most definitely a ‘high’ point!

Fun Facts:

The concrete used to build the Tower would fill five and a half Olympic-sized swimming pools.
The 1,200 tonnes of structural steel used to form the Tower’s distinctive bows is roughly the same weight as 12 blue whales.
In high winds the Tower can flex approximately 150mm – that’s about the length of a standard pencil.
There are 587 steps from ground level up to View Deck 3.
The total weight of the Tower exceeds 30,000 tonnes.

For more information visit here

Read Portsmouth Reviews Part 1 here

Read Portsmouth Review Part 2 here

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard Review (Pt II)

Posted on October 7, 2021October 8, 2021 by admin

Just a few weeks after waving off my eldest to his new temporary home in Portsmouth (where he is embarking on a work placement), we followed him down for a series of long weekends.

With hugely positive reports reaching us of this previously undiscovered Hampshire island city, it was definitely the perfect excuse to explore it properly as a family for the first time.

It was time to appreciate Portsmouth at its most authentic – through its rich maritime history. No better place to do that than The Historic Dockyard area. Where the history of the British Navy dates back 1,200 years to its earliest days under King Alfred the Great in the 860s.

All of the Dockyard’s 12 museums and attractions can be enjoyed throughout the year with a great value Ultimate Explorer Ticket.

National Museum of The Royal Navy

The Museum: The National Museum of the Royal Navy Portsmouth brings history to life. It showcases treasures from the past 350 years and examines the common threads which link the sailor of England’s ‘Wooden Walls’ to the professional crews of today.

The museum’s major gallery Hear My Story opened in 2014 and tells the undiscovered stories from the ordinary men and women of the ships which have shaped the Navy’s amazing history over the last 100 years, the century of greatest change.

The Sailing Gallery shows the realities of fighting at sea in the age of sail, the Nelson Gallery examines Nelson’s colourful, crowded and short life and the Sir Donald Gosling Victory Gallery explores the history of Britain’s most famous warship from the laying of her keel to her significant battles.

My verdict: This museum is a fitting tribute to The Royal Navy which has helped shape today’s world and made Britain a dominant sea power. Well presented and engaging for visitors of all ages, it also includes some clever interactives. It’s very easy to spend a couple of hours in here, emerging at the end with a true education and appreciation of this proud institution.

Visit here

Royal Navy Submarine Museum, Gosport

The Museum: The centrepiece of this museum is a dry dock tour of HMS Alliance (pictured above) – Britain’s only remaining WWII submarine. There’s also chance to see HMS Holland and X24 plus thousands of photographs, documents, ship plans and artefacts.

A tour of Alliance begins in the forward torpedo store, through the accommodation space to the control room, where the navigation systems, including the working periscopes, are on display. The tour continues through the galley and onto the heart of the submarine, the engine room, before culminating in the aft torpedo compartment, where you can see how submariners would escape in an emergency.

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, National Museum of The Royal Navy, HMS Alliance — Periscope up!

What’s New: A permanent exhibition exploring the history of the British nuclear at-sea deterrent is now open, marking the 50th anniversary of HMS Resolution launching. It reveals the challenging nature of working in these submarines and help promote discussion about why the nuclear deterrent was adopted.

Life under the sea poses challenges that go unseen and unheard. The exhibition presents an insight into life on board the ‘Silent & Secret’ Polaris submarines, using personal accounts and key displays drawn from a number of National Museum of the Royal Navy sites, private lenders and other museums. Visitors will be able to hear stories and see documents and personal possessions of those who served in the Polaris submarine fleet.

My verdict: A trip onboard HMS Alliance is one you’ll never forget, not least because of the rarity of the opportunity. As Britain’s ONLY remaining WWII submarine, one is instantly immersed in the harsh realities of life onboard a Navy submarine which last saw action as recently as the 1970s.

A walk around the accompanying museum adds fascinating context to the vessel’s story, including cinematic footage of Alliance submariners at work, rest and ‘play’ and all about how the role of the submarine has changed over time.

The adjacent Memorial Garden stands as a fitting tribute to the 5,300 British submariners who lost their lives in service and is perfect for a moment of reflection after learning about the sacrifices endured.

The Royal Navy Submarine Museum and most specifically Alliance, was one of my Historic Dockyard highlights. It can be accessed via waterbus from the Dockyard or, as we did, enjoyed as part of a day exploring both Gosport’s naval museums.

Fun Facts:

In service: Between 1947-1973

Length: 281ft (85.5m)

Displacement: 1,385 tons on surface, 1,620 tons submerged

Armament: 10 torpedo tubes, 1 4-in forward gun, 22mm aft gun, 1 0.303-in machine gun

Top Speed: 18.5 knots on surface, 8 knots submerged

Visit here

Explosion Museum of Naval Firepower, Gosport

The Museum: The story of naval warfare, this interactive museum housed in the Royal Navy’s former Ordnance Depot at Priddy’s Hard, centred around the powder magazine designed in 1771.

Priddy’s Hard was far enough from the main dockyard for the safe storage of up to 6,500 barrels of gunpowder. In the Napoleonic Wars, this was where all Royal Navy warships including HMS Victory came to load up their guns and ammunition, collecting them from small boats called ‘powder hoys’ which had in turn collected barrels of gunpowder carried in barrows down the Rolling Way to the harbour edge.

The site has adapted as times have changed. With the introduction of breech loading guns in the late 1850s, it was no longer necessary to make barrels or test gunpowder here and a series of large magazines were built to fill and store shells. In the 1880s, the substitution of highly explosive cordite for gunpowder as a propellant required the building of a narrow-gauge railway to transport ordnance between filling and storage buildings. Change continued through the 20th century with the development of torpedoes, depth charges and small arms up to the arrival of guided missiles in the 1960s.

What’s New: A major new permanent gallery has just opened. The Night Hunters: The Royal Navy’s Coastal Forces at War, pays tribute to the high risk, high-octane operations of the coastal forces in both world wars.

Two remarkable historic boats that made such an extraordinary contribution to naval warfare, take centre stage – The Coastal Motor Boat CMB331 and Motor Torpedo Boat MTB71.  Immortalised as “Spitfires of the Seas” they were often deployed in the dark, at incredibly high speeds as small but fast attack craft travelling at speeds up to 35 knots.

Rare photographs capture the intensity of serving in the coastal forces and the off-duty antics of the crews. Because of the stealthy nature of their operations, few photographs exist of them in action. Sketches, note books and some of the more personal ephemera gives a fascinating insight into the lives of these everyday heroes.

Larger objects on display include a Holman Projector, a relatively crude anti-aircraft weapon operated by compressed air that was an effective stop-gap measure to deter German aircraft; a Mark 11 Oerlikon anti-aircraft gun and a buoyant acoustic mine, representative of the many thousands laid by the boats.

And a  gripping audio-visual display vividly recreates the drama and adrenaline of a motor torpedo boat (MTB) night attack on a convoy.

My Verdict: Although visiting before the opening of the new exhibition, this is an explosive museum that packs a punch. Cleverly laid out and home to more weaponry, small arms and torpedoes than you can shake a stick at!

Historians- especially naval and military historians – will easily while away a few hours in here. But it’s also an interesting stop-off for anyone who wants to learn more about the story behind Priddy’s Yard which was purchased to build earth ramparts as part of the defences for Portsmouth Harbour and the Dockyard. The last time Priddy’s Hard supplied weapons to the Royal Navy was during the Falklands War in 1982. In fact, I am convinced I could still smell gunpowder in parts of the building, which by the way, is beautiful in itself. It makes the perfect home for this museum. There’s more ‘big guns’ to see outside too – and I mean big – so no shortage of selfies to be had here!

Fun Facts:

Gunpowder is made up of around 15 parts charcoal (to burn fiercely); 75 parts saltpetre (to provide oxygen); 10 parts sulphur (gives out great heat and ignites easily)
Priddy’s Hard supplied the ordnance for Operation Neptune, the naval support for the biggest amphibious landing in history – the D-Day landings. (1944)
The first torpedoes were made from elm wood and detonated by electric wire. They had a copper-lined core of explosive but no propulsion of their own.
There could be ghosts at Priddy’s Hard. The strain of a munitions worker who was killed in a blast in 1922, is said to reappear on the wall of the room that stood directly over the site of the explosion.

Visit: here

HMS M.33, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard

HMS M.33

The Museum: HMS M.33 is not only the sole remaining British veteran of the bloody Dardanelles Campaign of 1915-1916, but also of the Russian Civil War which followed. The ship is one of just three British warships from World War I still in existence.

Built in 1915 on the orders of the First Lord of the Admiralty, Winston Churchill,she was a floating gun platform designed to bombard coastal positions from the sea.

Her first active operation was the support of the British landings at Suvla during the Battle of Gallipoli in August 1915. She remained stationed at Gallipoli until the evacuation in January 1916 and served in the Mediterranean for the remainder of the War, involved in the seizure of the Greek fleet at Salamis Bay in 1916.

My Verdict: A little gem of a museum that more than warrants your visit. Despite having already frequented the bigger and more historically famous ships in the Dockyard, don’t be tempted to overlook M.33. Climb aboard for a fascinating self-guided tour and cinematic re-enactment that will give you goosebumps – and not just because of the weather!

Visit here

Part I of my review of Portsmouth can be found here

Children’s charity golf day raises more than £26k

Posted on October 6, 2021 by admin

A golf day organised in aid of Warwickshire children’s charity Molly Olly’s Wishes, which supports children with terminal or life-threatening illnesses, has raised an incredible £26,252.

Jointly organised and sponsored by Nottingham companies, Oakland International (which also has a site in Redditch) and Avanti Print and Packaging, 17-teams from across England, Scotland and Wales took part despite the challenging weather to compete for golf titles including Beat the Pro, Longest Drive and Nearest the Pin.

Molly Olly's Wishes, Oakland International, golf — One of the teams made up of, *from left,* Jacob Fenwick, Ben Ollerenshaw, Henry Silk and Will Neal.

The event took place at the Nottinghamshire Golf and Country Club and was followed by an evening auction and raffle of items donated by suppliers and supporters of the charity.

Molly Olly’s grants wishes, helps with emotional support and donates therapeutic toys and books to children directly and through hospitals across the UK. It grants around 40 wishes per month, an increase of 100% during lockdown, and at a time when funding has significantly reduced.

Charity co-founder Rachel Ollerenshaw said; “The golf day and auction were a huge success. We are extremely grateful to Jane, Lee, Paul and Holly at Oakland and Avanti for organising such a great day and helping to widen the reach of the charity with introductions to a new audience. All the golfers were very generous and big thanks to all the sponsors. Molly Olly’s has seen a sharp rise in the number of requests for support and the funds raised are much needed to enable us to fulfil those wishes which help to put a smile on poorly children’s faces.”

Molly Olly's Wishes, Oakland International, golf, charity

Oakland’s Chief Operating Officer Lee Whiting commented: “Molly Olly’s Wishes is an amazing charity which supports so many ill children throughout the UK. We would like to thank everyone who joined us and supported this, our first ever joint event of this nature, which we are now going to make into an annual event, setting our fundraising target even higher next year!”

Like so many other charities Molly Olly’s Wishes has found it difficult to fundraise over the last year due to the pandemic. An average wish costs around £500 and can range from a family day trip to a computer game to supermarket food vouchers.

To find out all the ways you can donate to Molly Olly’s Wishes, please visit here

Molly Olly's Wishes, Oakland International, golf, charity

Rachel and Tim Ollerenshaw with the familiar Molly Olly’s pink van.

ABOUT MOLLY OLLY’S WISHES:

Molly Olly’s Wishes was set up following the experiences of Molly over the five years she received treatment for kidney cancer at Birmingham Children’s Hospital. Throughout the 10 years that the charity has been running, it has:-

granted more than 2,100 wishes
supported more than 15,000 children
distributed more than 12,000 Olly The Brave books to more than 70 hospitals
raised more than £3 million

Between 2017 and 2020, the charity funded Birmingham’s first paediatric palliative consultant as there was no such consultant for the region. That position has now become permanent and is currently funded through the NHS.

The charity works alongside the NHS to support projects within the hospitals and the community. One key project was the creation and refurbishment of Magnolia House at Birmingham Children’s Hospital. This is a safe and non-clinical space where medical teams and families can have important discussions.

Golf day puts Henley Rotary Club on course for £10,000 hospice target

Posted on October 5, 2021October 5, 2021 by admin

HENLEY Rotarians are certainly on ‘course’ to hitting their £10,000 total for local hospices following a recent charity golf day.

Twenty-two men’s ladies and mixed teams took to the tee to compete for prizes – and bragging rights – in a series of long and short-game competitions across 18 holes at Stratford Oaks Golf Club.

Winning team The Scramblers, *from left,* Brian Bailey, Eddie Jones, David Harvey and Jeff Masters.

The event is the latest challenge organised in aid of The Triple80HospiceTrek by The Rotary Cub of Henley-in-Arden, building on more than £4,500 already raised by three of its members for Shakespeare, Myton and Acorn’s Children Hospices in Warwickshire.

The octogenarian trio recently completed an 80-mile sponsored walk between Sharpness near Bristol to Wootton Wawen.

Golf day proceeds, which are still being counted, were collected, came from a raffle and auction, refreshments and local business sponsorship. The day finished off with a meal and prizegiving ceremony in the newly refurbished clubhouse. The winning Men’s Team Prize was presented to members of the oldest team in the competition, ‘The Scramblers’ comprising Brian Bailey, Eddie Jones, David Harvey and Jeff Masters.

Jeff Masters, who is also event organiser, said: “The theme for the event was ‘Help for Hospices’ and all our fundraising this year is dedicated to them following the harrowing year that they have endured.

“Doing the Triple80 Trek and the Rotary Club of Henley in Arden Charity Golf Day was a bit of a stretch, but we are delighted with the response and the day. We aimed to provide a gloriously happy day of friendly competition and judging by responses we achieved that. Already many participants have requested verbally and in writing that we put them down for next year.

“We must thank all the donors and sponsors who generously donated and made such a large contribution, also the hospice staff who were such a help.”

Henley-in-Arden Rotary, golf, Triple80HospiceTrek

Proceeds from the golf day are expected to take the Club’s Triple80HospiceTrek total to more than £9,000, with more donations also set to come in.

Local businesses supporting the event included Bookers, Burman Enterprises, Aspi Specialist Cars, Clarion Chase, Johnsons Coaches, the Navigation Garage, the Cowshed Café., Henley Dental, Aaron the Barber, Abigail the Hairdresser, The Co-op Henley, The Pound Café, Flower Power Henley and The Stratford Oaks Golf Club.

Helping to raise awareness as well as funds, Jeff warned: “Henley Rotary has for over 30 years supported over 40 organisations in the Henley Community and some desperate cases overseas. However, its numbers are dwindling, and the average age is close to 80 years.

“Unless we can get new members our regular contribution to the many organisations in Henley in Arden will cease to the detriment of the wellbeing of the town. Please look at our website and come and see us with a view to participating. If you are interested, please contact us on yewtreecot@gmail.com.”

The donation site is still open here.

Further information about The Rotary Club of Henley-in-Arden can be found here

Henley-in-Arden Rotary Club, Triple80HospiceTrek

More about the hospices. . .

The Myton Hospices

Each year The Myton Hospices support thousands of people and their families, in our three hospices, via patient and family support services and in the community through Myton at Home. The charity needs to raise £7.8 million alone this year to continue providing their services free of charge. Last year, despite the challenges of Covid-19, limiting ability to offer some of the services, Myton were still able to support 1,400 people and their families.

Acorns Children’s Hospice

Acorns Children’s Hospice provides care, support, fun and laughter for life limited and life threatened babies, children and young people and support for their families. In the past year Acorns has cared for over 820 children across the West Midlands from its three hospices in Birmingham, Worcester and Walsall, within the family home and community. When a child’s life is limited, family time is precious, which is why, as well as providing complex medical care, Acorns help families to create lasting memories and make every day count.

The Shakespeare Hospice

An award-winning hospice providing outstanding palliative and end-of-life care for patients, their families and carers across South Warwickshire. Its reach extends beyond the traditional hospice walls, providing expert support within the local community and patients’ own homes. It offers a diverse range of community-based services including Hospice at Home & Day Hospice (Adult Community Care), Adult Counselling, Children’s and Family Support Services and Transitional Care Services. Expert care is available not just to patients but also their families, loved ones and those who matter the most to them.