Good News 🎉

🍝 Mangia Mangia Opening. Open for a week of tests and trials, Italian Deli and Spritz Bar is hosting an official opening party on 6 August at 6pm. Situated in the Old Picture House, come along to taste the delicious cuisine of Italy!

🤸 The Pilates Studio Now Open. Another new edition to the Old Picture House, book your place on mat or reformer Pilates classes, whichever suits you the best! Bookings are available on a pay-as-you-go basis or in packages.

💆 THE KNOT’S LICHFIELD PERSON OF THE WEEK – VERONIKA SHCHETININA 💆

Veronika worked as the regional sales and marketing manager, while managing a team of 11 doctors, covering three regions of Ukraine for Pharmasciences Ukraine Inc, before she was forced to leave her homeland. She has now lived in Lichfield for two years and is working hard to rebuild her life and career.

Despite being away from her family and friends, she has such a positive attitude and a resilience I haven’t seen in anybody before. I had the pleasure of meeting Veronika at The Hub, at St Mary’s where she volunteers every Saturday. She brings such joy to the team, and we spend the time talking about the beauty of Ukraine, traditional clothing, food, her grandson and how she yearns for a career and independence here in Lichfield. She truly is an inspiration to us all.

Striving for a new career, Veronika has recently graduated as an experienced and dedicated massage therapist with a background in various massage techniques and therapies. She has developed proficiency in deep tissue, therapeutic massage, sports massage, lymphatic drainage massage and reflexology. She has now set up her business as a massage therapist, working in Lichfield and surrounding areas. Contact Veronika to book an appointment via email or phone number.

Email: morgun91verona@gmail.com; mobile: 079466 82771

🎨 Children's Summer Craft Session. Erasmus Darwin House is hosting a children’s craft session on the 12 August between 11am-2pm. Free for children and £5 for adults. Come along and join in, take a look around the house and gardens, and even sign up for a cellar tour!

✒️ Writing Group. Come along to a writing group held at the Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum on 9 August between 2pm-3.30pm. Everyone is welcome, and the aim of the group is to provide a space for anyone interested in writing to practice their skills, receive feedback and meet like-minded people. The group gathers on the second Saturday of each month. Best of all, it’s completely free to join!

🐎 Norse Legends – Embossed Metal Workshop. The Hub, at St Mary’s is hosting an embossed metal workshop for children 10 years and over. Running for one session on 11 August between 2pm-4pm and costing £12, you will learn how to cut, trace, emboss and engrave your very own plaque. During the workshop you’ll also learn all about Norse Mythology… cool or what?

🥨 A word from Sophia, writer at The Knot 🥨

Welcome back for the third episode of The Knot, Lichfield! It’s been a packed summer here, most recently the Lichfield Festival brought us an inspiring collection of artists from all over the UK. From short plays to Lesley Smith as Anne Boleyn to Congolese music, there was something for everyone. Kasai Masai closed the festival with their incredible Soukous and traditional Congolese folkloric music. Originally from Congo, the band members moved to London for their music career. The crowd went wild, dancing in the aisles and cheering for the band to carry on playing after they’d finished their set. There’s already rumours they’ll be returning for next year’s festival... fingers crossed!

Keep an eye out for Lichfield’s Chamber Music Festival, this autumn. Hosted by The Hub, at St Mary’s and Wade Street Church, enjoy a long weekend of sensational music by the likes of, Ahmed Dickenson, Danny Driver, Mabelle Park, Julian Chan and more. It’s a packed weekend of entertainment for everyone, and a lovely way to welcome in the autumn.

Lichfield really is such a creative hub, with something always going on. Artists and creatives of all types are appreciated and supported by the local community, and everyone is rooting for each other to succeed. If you want to start a small business, Lichfield is the place to do it, you will have the whole of the city behind you, cheering you on. This has been proven with the opening of Mangia Mangia, The Pilates Studio and the expansion of Nero Biano’s new studio and workshop space. Lichfield may not be the most well-known spot on the map, but it truly is a hidden gem to many of us.

Weekly Weather (Lichfield):

Mon 🌧️ 21° (12°) Tues 🌦️ 21° (9°) Wed ☀️ 23° (12°) Thurs 🌦️ 25° (12°) Fri ☀️ 25° (13°) Sat 🌦️ 25°(12°) Sun ☀️ 25° (13°)

Sunrise 04/08 ☀️ 05.23 Sunset 04/08 🌅 21.04

Sophia Moseley - subscribe now!

Freelance writer with an interest in fiction, community engagement and observation.

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Good News 🎉

🔔 St Mary’s Church Bells Restored. The bells of St Mary’s Church have been restored by Britain’s remaining bellfoundry, John Taylor & Co after being out of action since 2017. The bells were last rehung in 1875 by Mears & Stainbank with new fittings in 1908 by James Barwell of Birmingham. Tours of the bell tower will commence later this month, showcasing views of Lichfield and history of St Mary’s.

🎭 THE KNOT’S LICHFIELD PERSON OF THE WEEK – DAVID BAILEY 🎭

David studied a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Three-Dimensional Theatre Design at the University of Central England (now Birmingham City University). His speciality began with maquettes and evolved into scale models. He’s worked at South Staffordshire College for 22 years, currently working as the curriculum technician, in addition to designing and building the sets for the Performing Arts Department. Performances take place annually at the Garrick Theatre in Lichfield. The days leading up to the performance, David works around the clock to install and perfect the set.

David’s career began when he freelanced for West Midlands Youth Theatre to produce their set for a show called ‘Reclaim the Future’. He then trained as a secondary school teacher but ultimately realised that he wanted a career with more artistic involvement and less teaching. He began his role at South Staffordshire College and as the departments grew and new disciplines such as the Performing Arts Department, were introduced, David’s role evolved, and he became an integral part in the success of the department and college.

📌 Collage Workshop with Hazel Pitt. Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum is hosting collage workshop on the 17/07 with Hazel Pitt, an analogue collage artist based in Staffordshire. Hazel studied a Masters Degree in Art & Psychology and has since dedicated her career to producing work to communicate scientific findings. If you’ve never tried collage before or looking to get back into it, this is the class for you.

🪴 Fullbrook Nursery Public Open Weekend. Fullbrook Nursery are opening their doors to the public on the 21/06 & 22/06. Come along and browse their vast array of perennials and shrubs, talk to an expert for planting advice or enquire about their landscaping consultancy firm, G-Scapes, for garden design and construction.

📌 Pilates Classes. Lichfield Pilates with Emma Sanders runs throughout the week in various locations in Lichfield and Whittington. Emma is a qualified Pilates instructor, having studied with JPilates in London. Her classes are for all ages and abilities, from beginners the experienced. People attend her classes for exercise and others for gentle movement after injuries or surgeries.

🥨 A word from Sophia, writer at The Knot 🥨

Welcome back for another episode of what’s happening in Lichfield. Let’s get started! The past week has brought ‘Shoe Baby’ to town. The sweetest puppet show you’ll ever see, created by Long Nose Puppets, adapted from the book written by Joyce Dunbar, who is best known for her book, Tell Me Something Happy Before I Go To Sleep. The next show is down in Kent, so check it out if you’re travelling that way.

In other news, it’s been a hectic week of working as per usual, broken up by wet weather and slithers of sunshine. Lichfield’s very own historian, Jono Oates, gave a speech at the most recent AGM of the Lichfield & Hatherton Canal’s Restoration Trust. Held at Park View Centre in Brownhills, it covered the latest updates on the restoration project and the goals going forward. They are always looking for volunteers, so if you have an interest in restoration or gardening, I’m sure they’ll be pleased to hear from as many of you as possible.

Another exciting piece of news is that Mangia Mangia is opening the first Italian Deli & Spritz Bar in Lichfield! Renowned in Lichfield for serving up best lasagne in town, owner Alison moved here after spending 20 years in Italy, eager to introduce the locals to her mother-in-law's cuisine. Sign up to the newsletter to keep up to date with events and the opening of Mangia Mangia later this summer. Until then, you can find Alison at Lichfield Producer’s Market, held in Market Square in the centre of town, on the first Sunday of every month. I can’t wait!

Weekly Weather (Lichfield):

Mon ⛅ 24° (11°) Tues ☀️ 24° (11°) Wed ⛅ 22° (10°) Thurs ☀️ 23° (11°) Fri ☀️ 25° (11°) Sat ⛅ 25°(12°) Sun 🌧️ 22° (10°)

Sunrise 16/06 ☀️ 04.44 Sunset 16/06 🌅 21.30

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Good News 🎉

🎉 Time for the Lichfield Bower. What a whale of a time the Lichfield Bower is! As a child, it was the height of excitement to see the Bower Princess rolling through, everyone tossing coins up onto the elaborately adorned floats, being careful not to flick a penny into someone’s eye. Come to Lichfield on 26/05, Spring Bank Holiday, to watch the procession and the crowning of the Bower Queen outside of the Guildhall at noon and enjoy the afternoon in Beacon Park for the funfair, which this year is being by Pat Collins Funfairs.

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💃 THE KNOT LICHFIELD’S PERSON OF THE WEEK – MOLLY WRIGHT 💃

Dance teacher Molly Wright trained at world renowned conservatoire Trinity Laben and graduated with a degree in Dance Theatre in 2008. Most recently, she curated the ‘Day of Dance’ event at The Hub at St Mary’s. This included a day of workshops for children and adults, plus a showcase celebrating dance for the over 60s. The performances came from all over the country - ThirdBite Dance, Sheffield, Damn Fine Dance, London, Dance Hub Co, Lichfield and Out of Whack, Coventry.

Molly hosts dance classes for the over 50s at Deanslade Farm and encourages anyone to try it out as a form of exercise, with the view to “empower our dancers by giving them the tools to not only perform set choreography but to have the confidence to be creatively engaged throughout their own process.” Fancy trying some dance? It’s every Tuesday 12.30-1.30pm, £7.50. Email Molly to book a place. First class is free, and there’s free tea and coffee after every session.

• 🎉 Coming Soon: Lichfield Festival. Tickets are now on sale for Lichfield Festival, which takes place on 08/07-20/07. From comedy to Congolese dance music, there’s something for everyone, with the opening evening showing Twelfth Night at Lichfield Cathedral. Since its inception in 1982, it now includes Lichfield Literature, which takes place in March, and an Autumnal Chamber Music Weekend. Tickets are available to purchase here.

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• 🧵Learn How to Make Friendship Bracelets! Spellbound Bead Co is one of my favourite establishments in Lichfield. A completely unique and special place to browse, form creative ideas and demonstrate your best pincer grasp during their workshops. The next one coming up is on 29/05 May at 11am, where you’ll be taught how to make friendship bracelets. Tickets are £10 with beads included, make sure to choose your preferred beads when booking.

• 👩‍👩‍👦‍👦 Join A Family Craft Day. Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum has so much to offer. Visit on 29/05 between 11am-1pm for the Family Craft Day. Booking is suggested as this is a popular museum and can get busy. Entrance to the museum is free, with other activities for children such as quill-pen writing and costumes to try on. It really is an excellent place to visit, offering a selection of workshops and groups to join such as the Birthplace Writers’ group. Entry fee is £2 for children, while accompanying adults go free.

  

Really Good News 🎉 Your favourite news from the last week

👩‍👩‍👧‍👦 Invite Your Friends to Read The Knot: James introduced our referral programme, with prizes for those who spread the word about The Knot’s positive news.
🎸 Own a Stake in The Sugarmill! You can become a shareholder for as little as £50 thanks to Music Venue Properties’ 'Own Our Own Venues' project.
👩‍💼 Free Leadership Courses for Heritage Leaders: There’s executive-style training for heritage leaders via the University of Staffordshire’s CREATE PLACE programme.

The Knot Pod 🎤 ⬇️ Catch James chatting with some of our amazing innovators

🥨 The Red Haired Stokie: Our ace local blogger, photographer & Knot contributor
🗣️ Kirsty Hulse: Get inspired, it’s the founder of leading event Confidence Live
🏃‍♂️ George Bettany: Jog to this chat with the founder of MARA Run Club
📽️ Daniel Moore: So much creativity going on in Stone at top agency Dissident
🎶: Ash and Ryan: Listen to two of Stoke’s biggest names in music and fashion
🕯️Beth Warren: Founder of sustainable candle brand The Wandering Bee

🥨 Good Vibes Only: A word from Sophia, writer at The Knot

Welcome to The Knot, Lichfield edition. Much like James, I also moved back from London to the Midlands. Fed up of the cost of living and wanting to reconnect with my creative past, I came across The Knot in a BBC news article and immediately felt hopeful. It wasn’t until James considered shutting The Knot down that I felt the urge to get involved and lend a hand creating an eye into Lichfield. I’ve had the idea to start a Lichfield journal for quite a while, and we’re not short on stories and interesting people here. With a thriving community, there’s a lot to talk about.

The Lichfield edition is going to mirror The Knot in many ways, each week documenting talented artists, integral members of the community, fun things to do and see, what’s been going on, links to events and so forth. Suggestions are welcome, so if there’s anything you’d like to know about, hear about or if you’re a local artist or independent business for example, and would like to be featured, please do get in touch.

I look forward to providing all Knotters with news from Lichfield and reasons to visit and explore our small historic city.

Love, Sophia x

Weekly Weather (Lichfield):

Mon 🌧️ 16° (11°) Tue 🌧️ 16° (11°) Wed ☁️ 18° (10°) Thu 🌧️ 21° (19°) Fri 🌧️ 21° (9°)
Sat 🌥️ 22° (9°) Sun 🌥️ 10° (7°).

Sunrise 26/05 ☀️04:56 Sunset 26/05 🌅 21:13