Buzzards Valley Vineyard supports Royal Sutton Coldfield Gang Show

15th February 2017

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For the first time ever the Royal Town's Gang Show will have a bar for the audience to enjoy a drink before the show and during the interval. Buzzard`s Valley are providing the stock and are setting up their bar. Gang Show Chairman Nigel Palmer said, "We wanted to have a bar but as the Show is run entirely by volunteers we didn`t have the resources to take it on. Buzzards Valley have made it possible".

The Scout Gang Show is run entirely by volunteers and without the hard work of all these people it would never happen "This year's Show will be better than before", said Nigel Palmer. "I've seen the work the young people have put into this over the past 6 months. The talent and dedication they have is truly amazing".

It is the teamwork and dedication by the Royal Sutton Coldfield Gang Show that prompted Buzzards Valley to step up and support the Scouts. "I found out about the Show", said owner Leon Jones "in a chance conversation with Gang Show Chairman Nigel Palmer. The teamwork that is needed for the Show struck a chord".

The story of Sutton Coldfield`s only winery at Buzzards Valley is a story of triumph over challenge and change. It is also the story of a family with a vision to succeed in a business they love against the odds. Leon and his sister, Yvonne, run Buzzards Valley and have been part of it for all their lives. The vineyard has gone through several transformations from it`s beginning when Leon and Yvonne's parents acquired the small holding in Canwell and established a dairy farm in 1962.

"Every challenge has been met head on", said Leon, "and the family has pulled together".

Yvonne added, "when things have got tough, like the collapse of our market for processed potatoes, we have stepped out of our comfort zone and achieved even more than before".

The future is looking good for Sutton Coldfield's vineyard. English wines collected 120 medals at the 2016 International Wine Challenge. In recent years sales of English wines have risen steeply and even the French have begun to invest in English wine makers.

"I'm very optimistic for the future of the winery", Yvonne said. "None of this would be here, though, if we did not work as a team".

Scouting began 110 years ago as an experiment at Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour. It was a great success and brought together public school boys and boys from the slums of London. They became friends and learned teamwork and life skills. Modern Scouting grew rapidly from that first camp and there are now approximately 28 million Scouts across the world today.

On 21st January the Sutton Coldfield Cancer Support Centre hosted a Well Being Day with the Gang Show and more than 400 people attended during the day, raising over £500 for charity. To help the Centre care for those with cancer, the Gang Show performed to a packed conference room. This short preview from the forthcoming full production met with loud applause from Gang Show Chairman Nigel Palmer.

"The cubs and scouts have worked really hard for what will be our best ever Show on it's 50th Anniversary in Sutton Coldfield. The Show has something for everyone and is a brilliant night out for the family".

The Sutton Cancer Support Centre provides an invaluable service to people across the community that have had a cancer diagnosis. The Centre is a charity and relies on donations and volunteers.

"We were very grateful to the whole Gang in the 2017 Show", said Centre Manager Jackie Price. "They were brilliant. I am buying a ticket to see the Show. On behalf of us all at the Cancer Support Centre, thank you Royal Sutton Coldfield Gang Show!"

The Show promises to be its best ever on its 50th Anniversary. The Gang Show runs from 21st - 25th February at Bishop Vesey Grammar School and tickets are available from the box office on 01922 745678.

And, of course, you can enjoy fine English wine from Buzzards Valley too!