The rise of women in the European Parliament

Voting for the European Parliament takes place this Thursday in the UK, and on Friday, Saturday and Sunday for most other European countries.
Since 1979, the percentage of women MEPs (members of the European Parliament) has grown slightly with each five-year election. In 1979, 16% of MEPs were women. In 1984, the figure increased to 18%; [...]

Matthew Boulton, the face of a £50 note

Matthew Boulton, (1728-1809), one of Birmingham’s most famous ’sons’, will be the face of the new £50 note when its redesign is launched in 18 months’ time. Alongside the face of Boulton will be the engineer James Watt. Both men were part of the Lunar Society, a group of 18th Century forward thinkers, inventors [...]

Two new ‘fitness’ classes for June

A keep fit class for ‘mid-range’ exercisers is is to run on Tuesday mornings at the Sanctuary from 10-11 am starting on 23rd June. Sessions will cost £2 per person.
A new Line Dancing class will run on Thursdays, also at The Sanctuary, from 12.30-2pm, starting on 25th June.

Swimming the Channel

Vale’s annual Health, Environment and Democracy Day will be at Centre Park on Saturday 6th June from 11-3pm. It will be preceded by a sponsored walk ( a 2km and a 5km version, both starting at 9am) around Castle Vale, the proceeds of which will go to the fundraising group ‘Target’ who are hoping to [...]

Victoria Square ‘World Food Fair’

Birmingham is to host an outdoor ‘International Food Fair’ in Victoria Square between 20th-28th June. 60 stalls will be set up for visitors to sample foods from various countries and cultures. The event, which is free, is being described as a ’summer sister’ to the Christmas outdoor Frankfurt Market.

Red light for speed merchants

A digital speed sign that tells drivers how fast they are going has been installed on Tangmere Drive outside Chivenor House. The installation follows a concerted campaign by residents’ groups and councillors who have been concerned for the safety of children attending the nearby primary school and playgroup. Many parents have complained that cars parking [...]

Deep clean for Birmingham school hit by swine flu

Welford Primary School, seven miles away from Castle Vale, now has 50 reported cases of ’swine flu’. 44 of those cases have been reported today. The school closed early for half-term as a precaution following a high absence rate, and is being ‘deep cleaned’ during half-term.
Welford Primary School, in the Handsworth area of Birmingham, has [...]

Half-term sports and games

The ‘Multi active’ sports team are running a ’sports camp’ this half-term for children aged 4-11 at Topcliffe School in Hawkinge Drive, Castle Vale, from 9am-4pm, daily from Monday to Friday. Children from any local primary school are eligible.
The website is: www.multi-active.co.uk

Living longer

In the poorest areas of the country, life expectancy has increased for men from 72.6 years to 75.3, and for women from 78.2 years to 80.1 years during the past ten years, according to figures released by the Office for National Statistics. The statistics have been released to cover the ‘Spearhead areas’ – geographical areas [...]

Brum accent “consistently voted England’s least attractive”

Councillor Martin Mullaney, the Council’s ‘new’cabinet leader for Leisure, Sport and Culture , has been quick to show that he’s also a master of spin. He’s claiming that the traveller’s guide ‘The Lonely Planet’ has updated its view of Birmingham in a ‘new’ review. Mr Mullaney says: ” The Lonely Planet has got it spot [...]