THE Union Flag will be flying high outside Sandwell Council House in Oldbury next week to mark the official Armed Forces Day on Saturday June 26.
The borough’s mayor Councillor Pauline Hinton will raise the flag at 11am on Monday June 21 accompanied by her consort and husband Councillor David Hinton and other civic dignitaries.
Royal British Legions from throughout Sandwell will parade, flying their own standards, along with school children, the Guides and Scouts and Territorial Army centres.
Cllr Hinton said: “I am personally very proud to honour our heroic forces in …

Sandwell Horticultural Show – Call To Gardeners
Black Country gardeners are being urged to plan their growing season so that they will have crops ready for the area’s top flower and vegetable show – the Sandwell Horticultural Show.
The show, which attracts competitors from throughout the Black Country, gives growers of fruit, flowers and vegetables the chance to win much-coveted prizes at the event which is part of the Sandwell Community Show.
It also gives people with a range of hobbies the opportunity to win prizes for homecrafts, wine-making and floral arrangements in …

 
Langley Band were successful at the Midlands Area Championships held at Bedworth Civic Hall on Saturday 13 March.
As well as a handsome trophy, they have earned the right to compete in the National Championships to be held  in Harrogate in September.
Langley Band is the Midlands oldest Brass Band.
The band is self-supporting relying on the members weekly donations, and the profit made from concert fees and recordings. The band membership is made up from a diverse section of people including school pupils and teachers, engineers, police officers, a museum curator, accountants, …

POLICE in Sandwell have netted extra Home Office funding to tackle specific crime and anti-social behaviour issues across the borough.
The month’s Operation Smokesignals has been launched with each of the six towns receiving about £5,000 to support extra patrols and policing activity responding to specific priorities raise by local people.
A further £4,000 has been given to Sandwell Wardens who will work closely with police teams to co-ordinate additional patrols and enforcement.
Oldbury officers are using the funding to increase patrols across all four local neighbourhoods. The teams will be patrolling at …

Hundreds of thousands of the poorest pensioners should benefit from lower fuel bills this winter thanks to a deal announced today between the big six energy suppliers (British Gas, EDF Energy, EON, Npower, Scottish Power and Scottish and Southern Energy) and the Government.
As a result, up to 250,000 of the poorest pensioner households should see an £80 rebate off their electricity bills
As part of the deal, the Government will share data securely with the energy suppliers so that they can identify the most vulnerable pensioners.
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, …

 
Oldbury College of Sport is hosting the national schools Olympic weightlifting championships on Saturday March 13.
The event is expected to attract top young weightlifting stars from across the country and will include competitors from Sandwell and Halesowen.
College spokesman Sam Hayer said: “One of the highlights of the day will be the appearance of Zoe Smith, who is the reigning Commonwealth Youth Games gold medallist.
“Zoe is tipped to be a gold medal winner in this year’s Commonwealth Games in New Delhi in India. She is also the reigning British Olympic Athletics junior …

This is the view that greets drivers following improvements to a major Black Country traffic island.
Oldbury’s Birchley Island at Junction 2 of the M5 has benefited from a £450,000 investment to instal new lighting, trees and shrubbery.
The former eyesore, which is passed by 92,000 drivers every day, has now been transformed into an urban oasis and is on track to be finished by March 31, according to councillor Mahboob Hussain.
“There are 92,000 people who pass through there everyday and it has seen a lot of investment. It is important we …

 
As we all eagerly await early signs of spring, Sandwell Primary Care Trust is asking Sandwell people to take part in a ‘spring clean’ with a twist.
‘Spring Clean for the Soul’ is a special event being held in partnership between Sandwell Primary Care Trust and the borough’s Library and Information Services. It takes place on Saturday March 20th at Smethwick Library, High Street, Smethwick B66 1AA, 10.30am – 3.30pm.
Sasha Gelpi, Senior Mental Health Promotion Officer at Sandwell Primary Care Trust explains the purpose of the day. She said: “The start …

Sandwell Council staff in Oldbury have helped to raise vital cash for research into heart disease.
Staff wore something red and donated £1 each to the British Heart Foundation to raise cash.
Ushma Patel, one of the organisers, said: “We had lots of fun raising money for this very worthwhile cause. Staff were very generous and we collected about £105.
“I was really pleased at the number of people that took part and we raised more than we expected.
And Pam Cross added: “Heart disease has affected many people’s lives and it’s something that …

 
SOLDIERS fresh from risking life and limb in Afghanistan will be marching through Oldbury next Tuesday.
Sandwell Mayor Councillor Geoff Lewis will take the salute as the 2nd Battalion Mercian Regiment (Worcesters and Foresters) marches through the borough next week.
The battalion has carried out three tours of Afghanistan in the last five years, and in last six months tour five members of the battalion were killed and 20 seriously wounded.
The battalion’s commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Colin Marks said: “These events are ideal opportunities for friends and families to welcome home the …