Latest news with #Stourbridge-based
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Stourbridge choir releases song to celebrate historic women's strike
A COMMUNITY choir has released a song to celebrate the women chainmakers' strike. Stourbridge-based In Sound Company have highlighted the historical 1910 strike with their song, The Chainmaking Women of the Black Country. The chainmakers' strike was a pivotal event in 1910 where women, producing chains for the ship industry, protested against poor wages and working conditions. Their actions led to improved pay for many women in the area at the time. Richard Newhall, who penned and produced the piece, said: "I came up with the idea following a visit to the Black Country Living Museum several years ago, but it only began to crystalise during lockdown. "The strike is an important piece of social history, both locally and nationally, yet is not widely known about in the area. "I wanted to do something to tell their story, and hope that it resonates with many people. "The audience reaction at the concert was amazing." The song premiered live at Stourbridge Town Hall in March. It is now available on music streaming services. Judith Moreland, co-arranger and musical director, said: "The fact that some choir members have family connections to the chain-making industry make this song extra special for us. "The lyrics, sometimes using Black Country dialect, describe the terrible conditions that the women worked in and their strike for better pay. "It is dramatic, moving and inspiring in equal measure. "Chainmaking Women has become one of the choir's absolute favourites." The song will be featured on Black Country Radio's Omma 'n' Chain Show every Sunday throughout June. It is also available to play or download from various music streaming services, and a storyline video has been released on ISC's YouTube channel at In Sound Company is keen to welcome new members. Rehearsals take place on Monday evenings during term-time, and no auditions are required. More details can be found on their website.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Artist begins transforming town centre buildings into musical murals
IT WAS after several conversations with members of some of Stourbridge's iconic musical exports that one artist birthed a creative idea to put the town back at the forefront of the country's artistic scene. Cal, a Stourbridge-based artist who has been active for over two decades, has begun a project painting murals of the logos of several bands born out of the town on buildings for all to see. The first completed work, an ode to rockers Pop Will Eat Itself, now adorns the side of the Direct2Print building on Foster Street, with the second mural of alt-rock band, The Wonder Stuff, almost ready to be unveiled just off the ring road on the side of The Bridge House. 'The Poppies' painting can be enjoyed by more than just Stourbridge locals, with an image of the mural already hanging in the prestigious V&A museum in London. An image of the Poppies mural is hanging in the V&A in London (Image: Olivia Warburton / NQ) Cal said it is important the town celebrates its rich musical heritage and it was about time Stourbridge 'made some noise' about itself. He said: 'We're known all over the UK for our music – I went to Tenby not that long ago and spoke to a woman who instantly knew Stourbridge for its bands. 'We're bigger than we think we are, and I don't want Stourbridge to be just another clone town with no identity. 'We should be celebrating our music and the arts and trying to promote creativity more.' Five bands will be featured in Cal's project: Pop Will Eat Itself, The Wonder Stuff, Ned's Atomic Dustbin, Diamond Head and, hopefully, an ode to a certain local, Robert Plant. The artist, who goes only by his first name, said the next mural on his to-do list is for Ned's Atomic Dustbin, with the band encouraging him to 'go big or go home' with the design. Cal, who is doing the work voluntarily, thanked the local businesses who have made his project possible, and the people of Stourbridge for their warm reception to his work. He said: 'Without Archava Scaffolding, I would not have been able to get up the buildings, and none of this would be possible. The Wonder Stuff mural is almost complete (Image: Olivia Warburton / NQ) 'Also the businesses, so far Dirct2Print and Bridge House, who have been up for me using their walls, and Brierley Printers and the John Porter Community Fund, who have been a massive help. 'It's been a community effort, and so far, everyone has been brilliant about the work. 'Of course, it's thanks to the bands as well – these guys are still selling out tours and bringing out new music and deserve to be celebrated.' Timed rather perfectly, the Poppies mural in particular coincides with the band's 40th anniversary and marks the release of their new single, 'Bruiser', which was released yesterday (May 27).
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Physiotherapist struck off for Botox jabs
A leading physiotherapist and former director of a Stourbridge-based rehabilitation clinic was struck off for giving prescription-only Botox injections for more than a decade without authorisation. Adrian Harding was struck off by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) for administering the injections to treat patients with spasticity between 2008 and 2020 without a prescription or written consent. He was described as an "extremely experienced" physiotherapist at NPP Neuro Group, which sees patients throughout the West Midlands. The tribunal found Mr Harding "acted as he pleased" and administered injections despite knowing the drug needed a prescription that he was unable to provide. A fellow physiotherapist, Dawn Hicklin, supplied Mr Harding with two boxes of injection vials while she was working at City Hospital for Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust in January 2019, the panel heard. The incident was reported and she was struck off. Ms Hicklin lied to bosses, the panel said, claiming that the boxes were empty, and that she had not previously provided him with any drug vials. Following this, in early 2020, Mr Harding told NPP Neuro Group that he would likely be called as a witness as part of an investigation into Ms Hicklin, and that there was "no cause for concern". By October, he revealed inquiries would be extended to his practice. Colleagues at NPP Euro Group subsequently audited his records as part of the investigation, and were left in "shock, horror and disbelief" by what they found, the tribunal heard. The panel said he was "angry" at his employer for raising concerns and "demonstrated a complete lack of insight" of the potential damage he had caused. Mr Harding was an "acknowledged specialist in his field and lectured on the subject", the HCPC panel was told, and it was likely he "authored the policies that he should have been following and that he had lectured students on such matters". His record-keeping was described as "so poor it was serious enough to be classed as misconduct". It was said that many essential records were either missing or incomplete. Mr Harding was referred to the HCPC on 9 October 2020 by his employer, and self-referred a day later, before retiring by 12 October. The tribunal found he had not shown any evidence of "reflection, remediation, insight or remorse" and he "simply walked away". Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Paramedic failed to take paralysed man to hospital Radiographer struck off for racist language Health and Care Professions Tribunal Service
BBC News
28-03-2025
- Health
- BBC News
West Midlands physiotherapist struck off for administering Botox
A leading physiotherapist and former director of a Stourbridge-based rehabilitation clinic was struck off for giving prescription-only Botox injections for more than a decade without Harding was struck off by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) for administering the injections to treat patients with spasticity between 2008 and 2020 without a prescription or written was described as an "extremely experienced" physiotherapist at NPP Neuro Group, which sees patients throughout the West tribunal found Mr Harding "acted as he pleased" and administered injections despite knowing the drug needed a prescription that he was unable to provide. A fellow physiotherapist, Dawn Hicklin, supplied Mr Harding with two boxes of injection vials while she was working at City Hospital for Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust in January 2019, the panel incident was reported and she was struck Hicklin lied to bosses, the panel said, claiming that the boxes were empty, and that she had not previously provided him with any drug this, in early 2020, Mr Harding told NPP Neuro Group that he would likely be called as a witness as part of an investigation into Ms Hicklin, and that there was "no cause for concern".By October, he revealed inquiries would be extended to his practice. 'Lack of insight' Colleagues at NPP Euro Group subsequently audited his records as part of the investigation, and were left in "shock, horror and disbelief" by what they found, the tribunal panel said he was "angry" at his employer for raising concerns and "demonstrated a complete lack of insight" of the potential damage he had Harding was an "acknowledged specialist in his field and lectured on the subject", the HCPC panel was told, and it was likely he "authored the policies that he should have been following and that he had lectured students on such matters".His record-keeping was described as "so poor it was serious enough to be classed as misconduct".It was said that many essential records were either missing or Harding was referred to the HCPC on 9 October 2020 by his employer, and self-referred a day later, before retiring by 12 tribunal found he had not shown any evidence of "reflection, remediation, insight or remorse" and he "simply walked away". Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
