Events

MARK SIMMONS’ life was changed forever when he was involved in a horrific accident aged just seven – but his love of Wolves helped him on the road to recovery.
Mark’s devotion to the club and his remarkable recovery earned him the title of Express & Star fan of the season, writes Jamie Brassington.

The 45-year-old, from Kingswinford, was presented with the award at Wolves’ glitzy end-of-season awards night held in Telford this week.
He said: “It was a fantastic night. I got to meet the players and manager and former stars like Steve Bull and Don Goodman.
“It is a privilege and honour to receive this award. There are so many Wolves fans out there.”

Mark goes to see Wolves every home game and also some away matches, and is looking forward to being in the Premier League next year.
He used to go with his father John, 77, to watch Wolves matches when he was a child.
But when he was seven he was involved in the tragic accident that dramatically changed his life.

His mother Gill, 78, said: “When he was seven he took some money out of his money box and wanted some sweets.
“And I told him he couldn’t have them until after tea. And he just went out the house and he was knocked down and involved in a major road accident.”
Mark was rushed to hospital where he underwent a life-saving operation before going into a coma and was left paralysed down his left-hand side.
He suffered a blood clot, a broken femur and the optic nerve to his left eye was severed, meaning he couldn’t open it.

Mark said: “I don’t remember a lot about it. I broke my arm, my leg, my femur, I had a stroke, lost all my use down my left hand-side.
“I fractured my skull, had to have a blood clot removed. I had serious head injuries. I had five operations on my left eye which I can’t look up or down. I was in a coma.”

The accident meant Mark had to learn basic life skills like walking and talking once again. Gill said: “When he came out of the coma, he was unable to speak, he was unable to walk. Everything had to be learnt again and to do that needs some determination. The doctor and nurses were absolutely tremendous. The hardest feeling was having to learn to walk and talk again. He has always been very determined and I think his love of the Wolves has brought him through.”

Gill didn’t leave Mark’s bedside for 14 weeks. While at the hospital he was inundated with get-well cards, scarves and memorabilia.
Almost all of his cards from his friends were Wolves related and they had all drawn Wolves pictures on them.
On the day that he was discharged from the Corbett Hospital in Stourbridge some Wolves players went along to visit him after being contacted by Mark’s friends.
But unfortunately they missed Mark as he had already left.

Gill said: “One of his friends contacted Wolves to see if any of the team could visit him.
“It was unfortunate that the day he was discharged from hospital after 14 weeks, some of the players went to see him and he missed them.”
However, it was arranged a few months down the line for him to be a mascot and lead the team on to the pitch, after his parents contacted Wolves.

Mark said: “My mum and dad wrote to the Wolves. To have the chance to be a mascot, it was Saturday on March 8, 1986. It was a privilege to lead out the team.”
Mark has made a good recovery over the years into his adult life – and following Wolves has helped him along the way.
The accident did not stop him following Wolves but instead increased his passion for his favourite football team.

Speaking during the awards ceremony, Mark was overwhelmed with joy at receiving the accolade but was left very surprised, and humbly said ‘why me?’.
He added: “This season has been the best ever and long may success continue for everyone associated with Wolverhampton Wanderers.
“I was very surprised with getting the award, definitely. I was nervous as well to be truthful. I thought why me?
“It is a privilege and very kind of everybody who has done it, it is lovely.”

His parents Gill and John said the award would mean the world to Mark.
Gill said: “It is very important to Mark. I think he will gain a lot of confidence from it and it will give him a lot of pleasure, something that he will always remember all his life.”

Mark described this past season as the best one he had ever witnessed.
He said: “Wolves is my life, it is an important part of it. This season has been the best ever and long may continue for everyone associated with Wolverhampton Wanderers.”

Events

TO BE named fan of the season is the icing on the cake for Rosemarie Cliffe, who claims Shrewsbury Town are the love of her life.

The 80-year-old Town superfan travels home and away to every game with grandson Fraser Reading – and first starting watching her hometown club in 1953.
Fraser nominated Rosemarie for the Shropshire Star fan of the season and she claimed her award – alongside the biggest cheer of the evening at a packed Sovereign Suite at Montgomery Waters Meadow – at Sunday’s evening’s end-of-season awards.

“I feel very honoured,” said Rosemarie, who is looking forward to travelling to Charlton on Thursday evening to cheer her team on in the League One play-offs.
“It’s a wonderful thing to have, the icing on the cake for me at my age after going for so long. I want to thank the team and the manager for this year.
“It’s been fantastic. We’ve been to some places and had some wonderful results away from home. I’m really, really proud to be a supporter at this moment in time.”

Rosemarie quipped that she believes it is impossible for Shrewsbury Town to kick-off unless she is there at the stadium.
“We’ll be there – good or bad,” she added. “Going away and coming home late. I’ve got it in my head they can’t kick-off unless I’m there. A stupid thing I know, but I’ve got to be there!”

She said her favourite all-time Town player was former striker Alf Wood, who played between 1966 and 1972. Her favourite of the current bunch is Lenell John-Lewis. Both goalkeeper Dean Henderson and manager Paul Hurst referenced Rosemarie’s unwavering support during the evening. On-loan Manchester United goalkeeper Henderson added that her support and story gave him goosebumps.

“I started going with my mother in the 1950s and I was a teenager then. We’d go home and away and the club’s the love of my life,” added the proud grandmother.
“Three generations have gone through, my children went and now my grandsons are coming with me. It’s part of my life.
“I hate summer with no football – it’s dreadful. Going away on the winter nights and getting back at 3am in the morning, absolutely great – especially if you’ve won. If you’ve lost it’s a long journey!

“If we lost then I’m absolutely down until the next match.”

Events

Leading regional news publisher the Midland News Association (MNA) is continuing to promote their new weekly digest magazine, Shropshire Weekly.

Brought to readers by the publisher of the Express & Star and Shropshire Star, the magazine includes essential writing around life and culture in Shropshire and surrounding areas.

As part of the launch marketing campaign, radio competitions were run with Signal 107 and Free Radio.

Ann Law, who is a keen visitor to Shropshire, scooped the Free Radio prize.

Ann won £250 in cash plus an overnight stay in a Shropshire hotel.

Ann said: “I am absolutely delighted with the £250 and a night at a hotel in Shropshire.

“I have booked to stay at the hotel in August, and I am looking forward to it. Thank you very much.”

Marketing executive Natalie Coughlan, who worked on the Shropshire Weekly marketing campaigns, said: “We were really pleased that Ann won the competition and we will continue to promote the new publication.

“We hope Ann enjoys her hotel stay.”

For more information, visit https://shropshireweekly.co.uk/

Events

Businesses from across the region were given advice on crisis communications when they took part in a seminar hosted by a Midlands PR agency.

Star Public Relations welcomed 15 invited guests to its offices in Wolverhampton on Thursday April 12.

The seminar was led by Star PR agency director Sundeep, who explained how crisis can be managed in an organisation.

Sundeep discussed how staying calm is important, and gave examplea of good and bad crisis management.

The guests were also given a talk by Shropshire Star Editor Martin Wright about how a newspaper expects a company to approach a crisis.

Raynor Fletcher, from Dudley Building Society, attended the seminar.

She said: “The seminar was really interesting and Sundeep’s talk was engaging.

“I have taken away lots of useful information and it was great to find out about good and bad examples of crisis management in context.”

Charlotte Davies, from the Grand Theatre, said: “The event has been very informative.

“Sundeep is extremely knowledgeable and gave us real life examples of crisis and how it was managed.”

Following the seminar, visitors were given a tour of the Express & Star newsroom, led by reporter David Cosgrove.

They were able to see the news and sports teams in operation as they prepared the latest stories for the newspaper and websites.

The guests were then treated to lunch in the Express & Star boardroom, whilst networking.

Star PR agency director Sundeep said: “The seminar was well attended and we had some really positive feedback.

“Thank you to everyone who came and who listened to the discussion.”

Star Public Relations is part of the Midland News Association, the publisher of the Express & Star and Shropshire Star.