Festive celebration at social evening

TAMWORTH and District Civic Society (TDCS) celebrated the festive season in style with its annual Christmas social evening at Wilnecote Parish Hall last Saturday as members discussed important matters at the council with their MP.

Guests enjoyed a delicious meal, a raffle and a brain-stretching miniquiz about Tamworth, accompanied throughout by folk and festive music and singing by Tim and Sandra Robinson of ‘Claret’.

Chairman Dr. David Biggs said: “It was a fun finale to our 50th anniversary year celebrations. We love being in Wilnecote Parish Hall as it is a wonderful building that we helped to save from demolition plans.

“Each Christmas it is, without doubt, the best decorated community hall in the whole district. Everyone who visits is blown away by the beautiful and tasteful Christmas decorations.

“The volunteers of Wilnecote Parish Hall Association who run this venue for community benefit do a superb service for Tamworth all year round.

“We were also delighted to be joined at this year’s party by Tamworth’s new MP Sarah Edwards who clearly enjoyed herself socialising with constituents and in discussing local matters with them. Obviously a hot topic among our members is the council’s demolition of the Goostry’s/peel Cafe historic building in Market Street last month.

“TDCS is very grateful for the support of our new MP in taking Tamworth Borough Council to task, asking searching questions and demanding proper and full answers and accountability about what was done, by whom, and when, and why, and how. Also, for Sarah’s help in seeking to ensure a proper, accurate and quality rebuild in this key area by

TDCS Chairman David Biggs and Tamworth’s MP Sarah Edwards admire the festive fare on offer. Picture by Amalia Purdii the town hall and Peel statue, with genuine heritage materials. “We need a replacement that Tamworth can take some solace and pride in after this debacle, rather than some cheap pastiche thrown up as quickly as the Georgian original was pulled down.”