Coventry Telegraph - CV5

Stereoscopic Society Meeting

2009-11-11T10:40:42Z

Meeting 7th November 2009 Coventry :- "Digital advances" (40 attendees)

This well-attended meeting was introduced by the Society's chairman, Dr. Geoff Ogram,
with an announcement of next year's annual convention by its organiser, Brian Padgett.

The meeting was in five parts, mainly due to the rapid advancement of digital technology
in the world of stereo photography and videography. The first half comprised four 'parts' as follows:

1. Phil Palmer gave a "Big Dummies Guide" to stereoscopy on the internet. Using a live connection via a mobile 'dongle', he demonstrated sites covering: UK societies, social networking groups, various software for producing and viewing stereo pairs and video, good sites to shop!, galleries of other works and finally, manufacturers of products relating to three-dimensional images.

2. Brian Temple showed a fraction of his 3D collectibles; these were mostly books on the subjects of world travel, each with stereo photographs and either a built-in or supplied viewer. These may indeed become a rare sight in the not-too-distant future.

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3. Bob Pryce showed us how he manages to get full depth of field from macro photographs. By taking a 'stack' of pictures with focus points in steps of one millimetre, the program CombineZM will identify the sharp points in each photograph merging them into one picture, crisp from front to back - a task virtually impossible to achieve before the advent of modern multi-core computers.

4. Andrew Hurst demonstrated the newly released FujiFilm W1 camera; a twin-lens digital camera which takes either stereo photographs (fully viewable in 3D on the rear camera screen), or two separate photographs with different zoom settings.

Andrew is an approved UK distributor of this camera as well as the eight-inch display on which, like the smaller camera screen, full three-dimensional view is seen without needing glasses.

After the break, the second half was a presentation by Mike Hillyard of digital conversions (by Barry Aldous), of Pat Whitehouse slide shows.

The meeting closed after reminding members that the next meeting will be held on Saturday 12th December.

St Barbara's Barn Dance

2009-10-09T09:59:26Z

IF you have not already purchased you barn dance tickets from me, Hilda or Andrea/Don, please can you let us know if you require tickets...we are still looking for dancers!!!

Call me on 02476 672 642 or 07989 648046 and leave a message if i don't pick up.

The barn dance is this Saturday - 10th Oct at 6-9pm, £5 adults, £3 children.

There's Improved food this year too!!!

Please come along and support us!

Thanks

St Barbara's Website - October 2009

2009-10-08T11:34:27Z

Hi Everyone,

Please find the latest church website updates.

Hopefully I have captured most of the current events for the next few month.

As normal I will add a special page for the Christmas (December!) activities when they are fully confirmed.

Please let me know of any omissions, mistakes ( I do occasionally make them!) or additions that you may wish me to add.

I have added the latest parish newsletter (Sept/Oct) which should be now in a downloadable format and be able to printed off for anyone not receiving one on the via the normal distribution channels.

http://www.stbarbarasearlsdon.org.uk/index.htm

Please distribute this to other parishioners who I have missed off the distribution list and who have a broadband connection!

Many Thanks.

Jim

Jaguar set to pull out of Browns Lane

2009-09-25T10:29:40Z

By Jenny Waddington
Business Reporter

POLITICIANS in Coventry reacted with surprise and sadness at Jaguar's decision to close its Browns Lane plant within the next two years.

An announcement was made yesterday about Jaguar Land Rover's future plans, which included steps to wind down the veneer manufacturing centre at the Allesley site.

]]> About 500 workers will be offered jobs at alternative plants across the Midlands, if a buyer cannot be found in that time.

But the news has sent shockwaves through the city, as councillors and MPs call for meetings with Jaguar bosses to discuss the full impact of the luxury carmaker's announcement.

Jaguar Land Rover also announced plans to close one of its plants in the Midlands, but will not confirm until next year whether it will be its factory at Castle Bromwich or its site in Solihull.

Bosses confirmed that some work at Coventry's Whitley plant will be transferred to Gaydon and the city will become the company's national headquarters.

The company's Indian owners Tata claim there will be no short-term job losses or compulsory redundancies.

Coventry City Council's deputy leader, Coun Kevin Foster, said: "I am relieved to hear Jaguar's commitment not to make compulsory redundancies, as well as it's long-term commitment to the Whitley site that supports thousands of jobs and ensures Coventry is at the cutting edge of high technology.

"Yet, there are many Coventry workers at Castle Bromwich and Solihull as well as at the many other companies reliant on Jaguar Land Rover for their future who will be worried by this announcement.

"Likewise the news that the future of the wood veneer plant lies outside the JLR Group will also cause some concern."

MP for Coventry south Jim Cunningham added: "I was a bit surprised to hear the announcement that Browns Lane will close. I raised this as an issue when they moved work to Castle Bromwich five years ago. We thought that at that time they would have relocated the plant to Whitley. But when they didn't we felt the situation was settled upon, only for it to be resurrected again today.

"It is a disappointment to say the least. Browns Lane has been at the heart of the company for more than 50 years and it is a sad occasion."

Mr Cunningham has asked for a meeting with management at the firm and will be meeting with trade union members to discuss the future plans of JLR.

He added: "However, let's not be too negative. Jaguar land Rover is working on new products and technologies which are the envy of many of its competitors. The main headquarters will be located at Whitley which is good news for Coventry.

"I am also assured there will be no compulsory redundancies."

Stay and play session at Eastern Green Pre-School

2009-09-23T11:00:27Z

By Naomi Draper
Eastern Green Pre-School

Eastern Green Pre-School have a new Stay and Play session every Wednesday from 1:45pm at he village hall

The session is suitable for children from birth until school age.

]]> We would love to meet some new people and old friends.

For more details call Kay on 02476 474174

Woodlands School Old Boys Reunion

2009-09-18T12:30:33Z

By Peter Surtees

On Friday 11th September the Woodlands School 3rd year class of 1954, held its re-union at the Walsgrave pub. It was 55 years almost to the day when two schools, Templars and Coventry Technical School merged to form one of the first Comprehensive schools in the country.

Around twenty of us O.B.'s enjoyed a superb luncheon and spent the whole afternoon chatting about times gone by. What a far cry it was we reminisced, leaving the draughty old huts in Earlsdon resembling Stalag Luft 111, sans the barbed wire, and moving to one of the most modern and hi-tec schools in the country.

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Although the school was not yet finished, we sometimes enjoyed our lessons in the classroom in the company of painters and other tradesmen. The sports fields were not yet planted so for our Rural Science lesson, we pupils had to help dig it out by hand ( did I mention hi tech?).

Apart from diverse places in the U.K., Old Boys came from as far away as Australia and Canada. Appreciation was shown to the two main people who organised the event, Garth Bonsor and George Lindsay. Apologies were heard from people who couldn't attend giving reasons such as holidays and sadly illnesses One of the most striking excuses for not being there came from Leon Bowman. He emailed to say he could not come as he had just taken delivery of a new 37 ft yacht, and it was undergoing sea trials on the Solent. One of the chaps suggested we have next years' do on his boat.

Sadly the party broke up about 6pm, and after swapping emails and phone numbers, we all went our separate ways.

St Barbaras Website - September 2009

2009-09-16T11:43:22Z

By Jim Griffiths

Hi Everyone,

Please find latest church website updates. Hopefully I have captured most of the current events over the next few months. Please let me know of any omissions, mistakes ( I do occasionally make them!) or additions that you may wish me to add.

Please distribute this to other parishioners who I have missed off the distribution list and who have a broadband connection!

Many Thanks.

http://www.stbarbarasearlsdon.org.uk/index.htm

Coventry and district Osteoporosis support group

2009-09-15T13:22:23Z

Coventry and district Osteoporosis support group will host on Thursday 24th September 2009 from 2-3.30 pm at St John the Baptist Church Hall, Spon Street, Coventry City Centre

MOBILITY AIDS TO VIEW AND TRY OUT

Provided by Glen Till, Manager Mobility Care Store Limited, Ullesthorpe

This event, which will feature a scooter and an electric riser chair as well as walkers, rollators and a host of daily living aids, will provide a golden opportunity to people with mobility problems or their carers to test, try out and ask about what might suit them.

Anyone with an interest in mobility aids is welcome.

Admission of £2.50 includes refreshments.

Although there is no on street parking outside St John's, public car parks are nearby and there is disabled parking in nearby Hill Street.

Many bus services, including Park and Ride North and South, stop within yards of the venue.

Contact Lynne Adams on 024 7667 6683 for more information.

Something's cooking at Allesley Park Walled Garden

2009-09-10T10:40:42Z

A FESTIVAL of food and music is being held in Coventry's walled garden this weekend.

The monthly food market at Allesley Park Walled Garden will be held on Saturday morning followed by the launch of an autumn and winter cookery book full of recipes for transforming leftover food in the fridge.

The garden group is launching the book between 2pm and 3pm with cookery workshops by local chefs, quizzes, children's crafts, face-painting and free tours.

On Sunday local artists will display their work in the garden and give painting demonstrations from 11am to 12.30pm.

Families can bring a picnic to a concert from 2pm to 4pm with Leamington's Circle Singers, the Flauto Dolce recorder group and Ben Matthias on the melodeon.

Kendall's Deli serves up Coronation Street star's cheese!

2009-09-08T11:42:40Z

Earlsdon Street's family owned delicatessen Kendall's of Earlsdon will be serving their customers with a new line of cheeses this week - all produced by former Coronation Street star Sean Wilson.

Sean, the actor that originally played Martin Platt in the popular soap has had a bit of a career change and is now very busy producing award-winning cheeses.

Sean recently set up the Saddleworth Cheese Company creating four new cheeses, three of which have already won awards at the British Cheese Awards this year.

They are Muldoon's Picnic, a Lancashire crumbly; Shanks Pony, a Lancashire creamy;

How's Yer Father, a Lancashire Tasty and Smelly Apeth, a specially formulated medium soft blue.

Theresa Kendall, owner of the Kendall's of Earlsdon Delicatessen, said: "Since the recent publicity about Sean's new venture, we have been asked by lots of customers who are curious about his cheese making skills and absolutely loved the names he has given them.

We like to be very responsive to our customers' needs - so we thought we'd give these new cheeses a try!"

These guest cheeses will be available in the Deli from Wednesday 9 September onwards.

2009 Heritage Weekend events at Allesley Park Walled Garden

2009-09-03T11:59:12Z

By April Chaplin

I'm sure I'm not the only one who is at a loss to explain where the summer has gone! Allesley Park Walled Garden has certainly sprouted lots of greenery and vegetables since I last sent a blog entry to the Telegraph, but that was quite a long time ago now.

We're getting ready for two day's worth of events for Heritage Weekend. I have just signed-off the final proofs of the new autumn/winter cookery book, which we will be launching on the 12 September - hopefully lots of people will want to buy a copy! We've started looking at spring and summer recipes as well for another volume.

On Saturday 12 September we'll be ready for visitors at 10.30am for our usual market, with fresh vegetables straight from the garden, cakes and jams, etc. We'll also be running guided tours, quizzes. From 2.00 to 4.00pm we'll be launching the cook book with some tasters and cookery activities for children and adults.

For the Sunday (13 September), we'll have some painting demonstrations for adults and children, Children's face-painting and other crafts, alongside the quizzes, displays, raffle and guided tours. From 11.00am-12.30pm there will be Children's story-telling and a children's music ensemble. In the afternoon (2.00-4.00pm) visitors will be treated to music from the Circle Singers a melodeon player and the Flauto Dolce recorder group.

There's lots going on - we hope you can drop in!

Hatton Locks...'The stairway to heaven'

2009-08-17T11:35:59Z

By Peter Surtees

Feeling at a loose end last week, my wife and I drove down to 'Hatton Locks' for the morning. It's not very far from Coventry and you can reach them by taking the A46 Warwick Bypass. Come off at the Warwick exit and onto the A4177 to Birmingham.

Follow the brown signs to 'Hatton Country World' and you will reach the locks about two miles up the road. They are well signposted and you have to take a small turning on the left.

Parking there is good and it only costs £1 20p to park for the whole day. The locks are known by the boatmen who use them as 'The Stairway to Heaven'

There are 21 sets of locks altogether and they raise the Grand Union Canal to a height of 45 metres/144 feet, over a distance of 2miles/4km. For a narrow boat to make the climb would take, between 3 to 5 hours, depending if they went singly or in pairs.

It's very interesting for the children as the can actually see the boats being raised or lowered by the water. We only spent a couple of hours there but next time we go we hope to visit each lock in turn, all 21 of them. My wife and I only managed about six. Just as well we weren't on a boat.

When you finish here, you can always pop into Warwick for a visit. There's lots going on there and you really get the feeling that you are in a 'Tourist Town', which of course it is.

Earlsdon great-gran's so Glad to be 100 years old

2009-08-06T10:33:33Z

IT was a real family treat for Gladys Gascoigne when she celebrated her 100th birthday with a special performance by her great-grandchildren.

The children sang "Nana We Love You" and gave their great grandmother a pink rose each at a party at the Elsie Jones House, in Earlsdon Avenue South, where she has lived for two years.

Lord Mayor Jack Harrison dropped in to wish the birthday girl many happy returns and she also enjoyed a performance by the Wyken Male Voice Choir, who sang songs from the war period.

Gladys has lived in Coventry all her life and married Herbert in Coventry Cathedral. The couple went on to have two children, Jeanne and Derek.

She also has three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Gladys said the secret of living a long life is to love one another and make others happy. She has spent much of her life looking after others, including her older sister who brought her up after her mum died. During the war she and her husband also took people into their home.

Her daughter, Jeanne Simmons, 73, of Styvechale, said her mum used to be delighted to send and receive greetings from the Queen Mother every year because she shared her birthday. This year she received a greeting from Prince Charles and a card from the Queen.

Gladys enjoys attending the Friday Teapot group at St Mary Magdalen Church, in Chapelfields, and is able to go thanks to the city's Ring and Ride service.

Green-fingered E.ON volunteers help Coventry college go back to basics

2009-08-05T10:54:35Z

A group of energetic volunteers from E.ON's Coventry HQ has transformed an outdoor area at Hereward College into a vegetable patch.

The 13-strong team, including two teachers and students from the College, donned wellies and spent a day digging, planting and clearing overgrown shrubs to help bring the outdoor area to life.

Now complete, the allotment will provide the College canteen with fresh, healthy, home-grown produce, including potatoes, peas, beans, cabbages and herbs.

Julie Andrews, a part-time lecturer at the College, said: "Thanks to the E.ON team and funding from Business in the Community, we've now got a completely new allotment which will provide us with lots of lovely produce.

"We've never done anything on this scale before and couldn't have done it without such fantastic support. We're absolutely delighted with the results."

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Lucy Morgan, from E.ON's environmental team, said: "Because we work in the environment team at E.ON it was important to us to create something sustainable for the local community.

"It's been a fantastic day and we're thrilled that we've been able to help make a real difference to the College. Hopefully the new allotment will provide them with fresh, tasty food for years to come."

E.ON finds volunteering opportunities for employees across the UK, working with schools, older people and other vulnerable groups as part of its wider community relations programme. In 2008, E.ON employees spent over 13,000 hours volunteering in their local communities.

CCMA Coventry student gets two wins in one night!

2009-08-03T12:48:39Z

By Jamie Clubb

Clubb Chimera Martial Arts Coventry club was represented by regular student, Roger Marshall, at a mixed martial arts event held at Kyushinkai Martial Arts Centre, Telfordon 1st August.

Roger had to step in when a novice fighter's opponent didn't show up and then had to fight his own normal scheduled fight.

Roger won both bouts inside the first round by way of submission. Mixed martial arts matches are full contact bouts and permit both strikes and grappling - the type made famous by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

Clubb Chimera Martial Arts founder and head coach, Jamie Clubb, said "CCMA are very proud of Roger and deserves the victories due to the hard work he has put in.

He has been through some gruelling training, but has always had our club students' support.

We look forward to entering more students in these bouts. It really fires up inspiration and gives them an opportunity to find out how they respond under pressure.

These are essential internal skills not just for self defence or martial arts, but for life in general".

CCMA classes offer training in realistic self defence and use MMA (mixed martial arts) as a form of attribute training.

A reduced contact version is used for the children's classes.

Classes are held every Wednesday 5:30-6:30pm for juniors (6-14 year olds) and 6:30-8:00pm for seniors (15 years+) at the WoodlandsSchooland SportsCollege, Broad Lane, CV5.

Please contact jamie@clubbchimera.com or visit our website www.clubbchimera.com for more information.