Passionate Blog

Mincher Lockett sets its sights on new optician for Stafford and Gnosall

An opticians with practices in Stafford and Gnosall has welcomed a new member of staff to its team, as part of plans to expand the services it offers.

Optician Paul Lee has joined Mincher-Lockett Opticians, just weeks after owners Sarah Edge and Jan Goodwin bought their Station Road practice in Gnosall.

They already own a practice in Stafford Street in Stafford, which they have extended and refurbished in recent years, as well as making significant investments on state-of-the-art equipment,  to ensure they offer a comprehensive service.

York swimmers make a splash at national champs with city hotel’s backing

A group of York’s top swimmers are hoping to make a splash at the national championships later this month thanks to the support of a city hotel.

A group of eight swimmers from the York City Baths Club have won through to the prestigious championships at Ponds Forge starting on Thursday, July 21.

The swimmers from the historic club will look a cut above the competition after being kitted out in specially made T-shirts and hoodies for the championships, provided by The Park Inn by Radisson York.

Armitage golf club’s fun programme gives game a makeover

  

Golfer Pete Till is looking the part for a series of fun activities at St Thomas’s Priory Golf Club, aimed at changing the image of the game.

The amateur dramatic enthusiast has put on his best frock to take part in a dress down day at St Thomas’s, near Lichfield, part of the Hawkesyard Estate.

It’s one of five events the Armitage club is putting on from Monday July 18 to Friday July 22, the week after the British Open, to attract players who have been put off by golf’s stuffy reputation.

New slimline menu for Darlaston restaurant

A Darlaston restaurant has enlisted the help of a personal trainer – and a whole team of fitness boot campers - to help get its new healthy options  menu into the best possible shape.

Rakesh Kumar, specialist curry chef at Suki’s Bar and Indian Restaurant in Walsall Road, has been working with Walsall fitness guru, Paul Wilson, to offer customers some lighter, low fat curries.

The idea for the new menu came from Suki’s  owner Bharat Patel and Mr Wilson, after the restrauteur recently joined Paul’s Fat Burner Boot Camp, to try and increase his fitness.

And realising that he also needs to address what he eats, Mr Patel then turned his attention to the restaurant.

Travel writing competition celebrates beautiful Britain

OUR Have a Lovely Time family travel and activities website is calling for submissions in a travel writing competition celebrating Beautiful Britain.

The family travel writing contest has a top prize of £200, a second prize of a weekend stay at the Park Inn in historic York and 10 English Heritage family passes for everyone finishing in the top ten, as well as a copy of Travelling with Children, by Catherine Cooper, one of the competition’s judges.

There’s also a mystery prize on offer for the entry voted readers’ favourite after the competition closes on October 1, 2011.

We want to celebrate all that’s great about family tourism in our stunning land. That might include breathtaking  adventures in the Lakes, laughing til your sides ache at a family-friendly Edinburgh festival, savouring the splendour of the West Wales coastline, a Devon cream tea or a knees up at a holiday park…or of course plenty more.

Stafford business mums celebrate second successful year

A group set up to help working mums in Stafford is preparing to celebrate it’s second birthday with an open day proving that you can mix business with pleasure.

Busy Mums was established in 2009 as a chance for mums running their own businesses to get together with like-minded parents, and share advice, support and business contacts whilst their youngsters got on with the important business of playing.

The Busy Mums open day will include stands run by all members, and offering a range of products from jewellery, to baby goods and gifts, as well as a range of professional services.

The event is aimed at mums already running their own business, or thinking of setting up on their own, as a way to encourage them, and show them that it is possible to thrive, even with very young children. It will also be helping to raise funds for Cherish, a charity helping children in Uganda which is strongly supported by Rising Brook Baptist Church, whose meeting rooms are used by the group.