News Archive

July 2006

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25th July 2006

It’s all systems go to ensure that the Hednesford Mining Memorial will be completed in time for the dedication event this Saturday

            29^th July

            Market St, Hednesford (outside Hednesford Library)

            at 3pm.

The ceremony will be hosted by Tony Wright MP and led by Bishop Michael Bourke of Wolverhampton , assisted by Rev David Buck of St Peter’s Church in Hednesford. The ceremony will mark the culmination of 4 years’ work by CHAPS (Chase Arts in Public Spaces).

Members of the public are invited to come along and join the celebration.

Tony Wright said:

"Work is going on flat out to make sure the memorial is ready for this special event and we hope local people will join us on Saturday.

I am delighted that the area’s mining history is being honoured in this way and am very grateful to all those who have worked so hard to bring the project to fruition.  

It could not have even got off the ground though without the commitment of many local miners and their families to buy individual bricks inscribed with the names of their loved ones who worked in the local pits. I hope too that they will turn out in force Saturday to mark this special occasion.”

The Rugeley Power Station Band will be playing from 2.40pm and Cannock Chase Male Orpheus Choir will be leading the singing. It is hoped that members of the public will join in the event (with orders of service available on the day).

Special guests include a group of former miners from the South Wales coalfield who have given so freely of their advice and support. The group will be welcomed by CHAPS Vice-Chair, Mr Jack Sunley, and the Miners’ Veterans Association.

The memorial, which comprises a replica miner’s lamp and individually inscribed bricks, will stand as a permanent memorial to the area’s mining industry. Bricks have been bought by local miners and their families in recognition of their individual part in the mining industry and local companies have given goods and services free of charge as a sign of their commitment to and recognition of the area’s heritage.

21st July 2006

Dennis Skinner MP for Bolsover will be the Speaker at the Constituency Dinner to be held on the 20th October 2006 at a Venue to be announced shortly.

For more information or to book your place at this event contact Christine Mitchell on 01543 467810

14 July 2006

Tony Wright MP, Chairman of CHAPS (Chase Arts in Public Spaces) will be hosting a dedication ceremony for the group’s latest project, the Hednesford Mining Memorial,

            On Saturday 29^th July

            At Market St, Hednesford (outside Hednesford Library)

            At 3pm.

The ceremony will be led by Bishop Michael Bourke of Wolverhampton, assisted by Rev David Buck of St Peter’s Church in Hednesford and will mark the culmination of 4 years’ work by CHAPS and, in particular, its Vice-Chairman Jack Sunley.

The Rugeley Power Station Band and Cannock Chase Male Orpheus Choir, both very much connected with the former mining industry in the Cannock Chase area, will be providing the musical background to this special event.

The memorial, which comprises a replica miner’s lamp and individually inscribed bricks, will stand as a permanent memorial to the area’s mining industry. Bricks have been bought by local miners and their families in recognition of their individual part in the mining industry and local companies have given goods and services free of charge as a sign of their commitment to and recognition of the area’s heritage.

Tony Wright said:

"This will be a very special event, and a special memorial, in recognition of this area’s history and we are very grateful to Bishop Michael for leading this dedication.

It is a people's memorial, built by the contributions of local families in recognition of loved ones who worked in the local pits.

 A huge amount of work and planning has gone into this project and I will be offering my thanks to all concerned on the day, but I hope that local people will come along to this dedication to show their pride in our heritage.

Standing right in the middle of Hednesford, I hope this memorial will be a focus for local pride for a very long time to come."

11 July 2006

Tony Wright Gets Assurances About Future of Staffordshire Ambulance Service

Tony Wright MP has been assured by the Health Minister Lord Warner that no timetable has been set for any future merger of Staffordshire Ambulance Service.

Tony Wright has been asking for a clarification of the recent announcement on the future of the ambulance services, which saved the Staffordshire service from merger but seemed to suggest that there was still a planned future merger date.

The Minister told Tony Wright that “it is not our intention to set a firm timetable merger, and no timetable has been set”.

Commenting, Tony Wright said:

“I wanted to get this clarification that there was no timetable set for a future merger. In my view there should be no talk of merger unless and until there are common service standards of Staffordshire’s level and the Staffordshire Ambulance Service agrees to merge.

This is an important assurance for the future of the ambulance service in Staffordshire, and a great victory for all of us who have been fighting so hard to save it.”

11th July 2006

Tony Wright Nominated as “Backbencher of the Year

Tony Wright MP has been shortlisted as Backbencher of the Year in the annual awards organised by the House Magazine, the journal of Parliament.

The nomination citation describes the Chase MP as:

“A thoughtful and talented MP who has maintained a high profile after eschewing a ministerial career in order to offer constructive criticism from the backbenches.”

The winners of this year’s awards will be announced before Parliament’s summer recess.

Tony Wright said:

“It is obviously an honour to have this kind of nomination, but it is above all a tribute to the work of the Select Committee that I am privileged to chair.”