St Giles Hospice Light up a Life Christmas services return to Sutton Coldfield

Sutton Coldfield people will be able to come together once more next month (November) to remember their loved ones at St Giles Hospice’s Light up a Life services.

The special services, which traditionally take place across the St Giles Hospice region each year before Christmas, are returning as normal for 2021 after they had to be cancelled in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Light up a Life offers families the opportunity to remember loved ones they have lost and to celebrate their lives. The events will include a service at Four Oaks Methodist Church, Sutton Coldfield, on Sunday 28th November, at 6.30pm.

Everyone is welcome at the Light up a Life services, where the community and those that have made a dedication for a loved one are invited to join in a moment of reflection as our Christmas trees are illuminated and to view the messages in the Book of Memories. Dedications can also be viewed online on the Light up a Life virtual Christmas tree.

Jennie Davies, from Lichfield, and her family support Light up a Life each year after her mum Christine Harrison, from Fisherwick, died of lung cancer at the hospice in 2010 and her Auntie Pam died there in 2018 after being diagnosed with liver cancer.

Jennie said: “When Auntie Pam knew the end was coming it was her last wish to go to St Giles because she remembered how well Mum had been looked after. Her care was just the same – absolutely wonderful. We are so fortunate that she ended up at St Giles and had the best care you could possibly get. Our family is so grateful.”

Jennie, her sister Jackie Harrison and niece Jade Allen now support Light up a Life every year. 

“Light up a Life feels like a part of Christmas that we can still celebrate with Mum and Auntie Pam; we’re still sharing it with them,” she said. “Christmas is such a hectic time but Light up a Life is perfect – it’s so personal and very touching. It’s like a little moment of calm in the middle of all the running around.

“Jade’s just had a little daughter and when she gets a little older she will be coming with us – it’s a family tradition.”

Director of Income Generation for St Giles Hospice, Elinor (corr) Eustace said: “Although Christmas is a time to celebrate, we understand that it can be a difficult time of year for some as we remember the family, friends or colleagues who can’t be with us. 

“Our Light Up a Life services give families like Jennie’s the opportunity to come together to remember the lives of their loved ones and support the work of the hospice so that we can continue caring for those people in the local community who need us, when they need us most.

“We are delighted that Light up a Life services can return this Christmas because we know that they mean so much to people in our local community, and the services are open to anyone, not just those people who have been supported by St Giles.

“Last year’s services had to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic so this year’s services will be particularly poignant for everyone. We will be following the latest Government guidelines to ensure that they can go ahead safely.”

Dedications can be made online at www.stgileshospice.com/lightupalife and will feature on the hospice’s virtual Light up a Life Christmas tree, which is filled with shining stars and sparkling lights. Dedications made before Thursday, 11th November will also be included in the Book of Memories.

The Book of Memories will be available to view at all Light up a Life services and on the hospice website from 1st December. It will also be available to view in St Giles Hospice and some service locations throughout December.

Everyone who dedicates a light will receive a special Light up a Life keepsake card to display at Christmas time featuring the name of their loved one, their personal message and a bookmark along with a poignant poem of remembrance.

For more information about Light up a Life services or to make a dedication, please visit www.stgileshospice.com/lightupalife

Light up a Life services 2021

• Four Oaks Methodist Church, Sutton Coldfield
• Thursday 2nd December, 6.30pm
• Saturday 27th November, 4pm
• Aldridge Methodist Church
• Sunday 28th November, 6pm
• St Modwen’s Church, Burton upon Trent
• Sunday 28th November, 3pm
• St Mary the Virgin Church, Uttoxeter
• Sunday 28th November, 6.30pm
• Outdoor service at St Giles Hospice, Whittington
• Saturday 4th December, 6pm
• St Editha’s Church, Tamworth
• Sunday 5th December, 6pm
• St Luke’s Church, Cannock
• Sunday 5th December, 8pm
• Lichfield Cathedral

For further information or for any media enquiries please contact gary.young@stgileshospice.com or Gary Young on 07855 926123.

St Giles Hospice is a registered charity offering high-quality specialist care free of charge for people living with diseases which are terminal or incurable as well as providing support for their families and carers.Patients come from across the hospice’s catchment area, which ranges from Ashby-de-la-Zouch and Atherstone in the east, to Cannock in the west – and from Burton and Uttoxeter in the north, to Sutton Coldfield and Coleshill in the south. Care is offered at the hospice’s centres in Whittington and Sutton Coldfield and in patients’ own homes across the region.St Giles spends over £10 million a year providing its specialist services and with little more than a third of this funded by the Government, the registered charity relies heavily on donations and income generation from the local community.

Police give description of Sutton Coldfield park attacker

Police believe a rapist who attacked a woman in a Sutton Coldfield park may been stalking the area for weeks, according to local people.

They have released more details about the rapist who attacked the woman in Princess Alice park on Sunday 3 October.

West Midlands Police said they now know that the attack happened between 8pm and 9pm.They had originally thought it happened later in the vening, based on the information from the victim distraught after a vicious crime.

The man is described as white, aged 20-35, of medium to stocky and “extra broad” around the shoulders. He spoke with a Birmingham accent and was wearing a grey tracksuit and black trainers. 

From information gathered from local people, police now believe that he has been seen in park in days and possibly weeks leading up to the attack.

Senior officers have appealed to people who live, work or travel near to the park, please check your CCTV, dashcam and doorbell footage. 

If you notice anything suspicious or a man matching the survivor’s description, get in touch right away or upload it to this dedicated major crimes site. 

West Midlands police has dedicate more officers to patrol the area and park until this man is arrested. This will include officers in plain clothes in an effort to help women to feel safe and be safe.

If you can help, message us now via Live Chat on the right of your screen. Quote investigation number 20/1595275/21.

If news of this rape has affected you, The Survivors Trust is there for you. Call them on 08088 010818.

Police are still hunting a callous rapist who attacked a woman at a Sutton Coldfield park.

A major investigation is underway to find the rapist who attacked the woman on Sunday 3 October.

Specialist detectives from West Midlands Police Public Protection unit had sealed off an area of parkland behind Princess Alice Retail Park as they searched for evidence.

The crime happened around 10pm. It is thought the man was wearing a grey tracksuit.

Forensic evidence is urgently being analysed and a review of CCTV footage is being carried out.

The woman was treated in hospital for her injuries. Specialist charities are standing by ready to help her.

Detective inspector Andy McHugh is leading the investigation. He said: “We’ll be working around the clock to find this man but you can help by checking your CCTV, dashcam and doorbell footage. Look for anything that doesn’t seem right. Tell us right away if you see anything.

“Our thoughts are with the woman who is understandably extremely traumatised.”

We’ll have more officers than usual patrolling the area over the next few days.

If you can help Det Insp McHugh message us now via Live Chat on our website west-midlands.police.uk. Quote investigation number 20/1595275/21.

If news of this rape has affected you, The Survivors Trust is there for you. Call them on 08088 010818.
kind regards

A Sutton Coldfield student has showed she is blooming marvellous when it comes to design and creativity.

Ella Middleton, a student at Sutton Coldfield BMeT College, came up with a winning sculpture design to support Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council’s entry into the RHS Britain in Bloom competition and it will have pride of place in the town.

Earlier this year, the council worked with level 3 Art and Design students as part of their course industry placement. 

The brief for students was set out in the context of the council’s entry to ‘Britain in Bloom’ with students creating designs and proposals encompassing themes of community, environment and horticulture.

Students were tasked with creating a sculpture that would be placed at a prominent location within the town.

Twenty-five students delivered excellent presentations and pitched their designs to the town mayor, Councillor Terry Wood.

After much deliberation, it was decided that student Ella’s design most closely met with the brief.

The council says it is committed to improving the Royal Town as a great place for residents, visitors and businesses and part of that commitment involves celebrating cultural and environmental heritage through art.

Ella’s design will now be used as the basis for a sculpture, to be produced and located within the Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield for residents to enjoy.

Speaking of the news, Ella said: “I feel honoured that you have chosen my design out of all the other brilliant alternatives.

“This news has made my week and I can’t wait to start the process of working with the Town Council to see my design come to life. I told my family the news and they were screaming with joy as they also can’t wait to see my design within our beautiful town.”

Mayor, Councilor Terry Wood said: “It has been a privilege to work with Ella and the other BMet Level 3 Art and Design college students on this project and to see, first hand, the creativity that our young people possess. I am also really pleased that we are going to collaborate with Ella on producing her sculpture and installing this in a location that can be enjoyed by all in our royal town.”

The Town Council will continue to work in partnership with the college and its students into the next academic year.

Town solicitors’ offer can support St Giles Hospice in ‘Make Your Will Fortnight’

Sutton Coldfield people will be able to get their Wills expertly written in return for a donation to St Giles Hospice in a campaign supported by local solicitors this month (October).

Enoch Evans and Woollastons Solicitors in the town are taking part in ‘Make Your Will Fortnight’, which is being run by the hospice between 18th-31st October, 2021.

During those two weeks, the solicitors will donate their time and expertise for free to help clients make a new Will or update their existing Will. All clients have to do is make a suggested minimum donation to St Giles Hospice of £100 for a Simple Will or £150 for a Mirror Will (a pair of Wills for couples who want to mirror each other’s wishes).

Wills typically cost £150-£250 for a single Will and even more for a Mirror Will, so ‘Make Your Will Fortnight’ offers people the chance to write or update their Wills for less while supporting their local hospice.

Enoch Evans, are based at 5 Emmanuel Court, 2 Mill Street, Sutton Coldfield, B72 1TJ. (Tel: 0121 355 2336).

Woollastons Solicitors, are based at 331 Jockey Road, Boldmere, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, B73 5XE. (Tel: 0121 355 5516) and 64 Walsall Road, Four Oaks, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, B74 4QY. (Tel: 0121 308 4030).

All of the donations from the campaign will help fund care for local people living with a terminal illness and their families.

Elinor Eustace, Income Generation Director at St Giles Hospice, said: “Have you been meaning to write your Will but keep putting it off? We are here to make things easy for you. 

“By having your Will written in return for a donation to St Giles you can save yourself money and have the peace of mind of knowing that you are protecting the future of your loved ones – while protecting the future of your local hospice as well. 

“Writing a Will ensures that your family know what your wishes are, about your plans for your belongings and about funeral arrangements if you choose to include them. It can spare your loved ones from having to make important or complicated decisions at a distressing time.

“We’re immensely grateful to all of the solicitors who take part in ‘Make Your Will Fortnight’ for their support and expertise. Appointments are limited and are on a first come, first served basis, so please get in touch soon to make sure you don’t miss out.”

Anyone wanting to take part in the scheme should call the participating solicitor of their choice and quote ‘St Giles Hospice’ when they make their appointment.

Michael Lillywhite, Director, of Jennings Perks Solicitors, one of the firms taking part in the scheme, said: “When I was approached about participating in St Giles Hospice’s ‘Make Your Will Fortnight’, there was no hesitation on my part to lend my assistance.

“Having witnessed first-hand the brilliant work that they undertake and the services that they provide during horrendous times in people’s lives, I cannot speak highly enough of the charity and would actively encourage anyone thinking about making their Will to use this opportunity to make a donation to the charity to ensure that their work can continue.”

For more information about St Giles Hospice’s ‘Make Your Will Fortnight’, or to take part in the scheme, please visit www.stgileshospice.com/makeyourwill

Fundraisers in abseil challenge for St Giles Hospice

Adventurers with a head for heights can enjoy a bird’s eye view of Birmingham as they raise money for St Giles Hospice on an abseil challenge next month.

Fundraisers will be descending more than 100ft down the seven-story Green Man Wall on the Custard Factory building in Digbeth on Saturday, 9th October.

Next month’s event will be the second St Giles Hospice abseil at the Custard Factory, following the successful launch of the charity challenge in November 2019. 

After a year when the hospice’s fundraising events had to be cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s abseil will go ahead in accordance with current Government guidelines.

Claire Barton, 47, from Lichfield, took part in the 2019 St Giles abseil fundraiser while her father David ‘Chas’ Chandler was receiving end of life care at the hospice.

Musician Chas had been supported at home for six months by the St Giles community nurse team after being diagnosed with a brain tumour, before being admitted to the hospice in his final days.

Claire said: “I’m absolutely terrified of heights but when I was standing there at the top I thought: ‘I’m so scared, but I’m doing this for my Dad.’

“My husband took a photo and we sent it to my Dad, and my Mum sent a photo back of my Dad doing a thumbs-up when she told him I’d done it. Even now, I feel so happy that I did it and could tell my Dad about it, rather than waiting until later when he had passed away. We were able to raise nearly £1,500 for St Giles.

“I never dreamed that our family would need St Giles, but we would never have made it through Dad’s illness without them and I want it to stay there for the people who are going to need it in the future.”

Chloe Herbert, Head of Fundraising at St Giles Hospice, said: “We’re thrilled to be running our abseil challenge again and we’d like to invite intrepid supporters to join us to turn the Green Man Wall orange as we descend one of the tallest buildings in Birmingham. You don’t need any training or special skills – just bring your bravery!

“You’ll enjoy unique views of Selfridges, the Bullring and the Birmingham skyline and your fundraising will make a big difference to local people, and their families, living with a terminal illness.

“Invite your friends and family along to take part or to cheer you on and you can all join in the celebrations afterwards. Not only will this adrenaline-fueled charity challenge take you to new heights for St Giles, but local businesses will be offering a range of different discounts to our brave participants to make your day extra special.”

Entry to the event is £25, with a minimum sponsorship target of £75. The Green Man Wall is a short 13-minute walk from Birmingham New Street train station and 11 minutes from Birmingham Moor Street and there are two car parks nearby.

For further information visit www.stgileshospice.com/abseil contact the fundraising team on 01543 432538, or email fundraising@stgileshospice.com.