I’m not really sure where to start with all this stuff that’s coming up, but this seems as good a point as any. The fact is two great threads on the blog of late – that of Brownhills Memorial Hall and the history of the Fullelove family have intersected.
The Young David Evans has recently been in communication with Mr. Reg Fullelove, with whom he’s worked very closely indeed to explore and preserve the immense historical treasure trove that is the Fullelove family archive. This material includes George Fullelove’s diaries, cinefilm, photos and even music.
Reg has been immensely patient and generous in sharing this material, and it’s taking a huge amount of work from David, Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler and myself to get together into usable, coherent chunks. This work is ongoing.
Together with all the other projects we’ve been sweating over, this is a massive amount of work in the background. Please be patient if the normal pace of things stumbles a little while we all work stuff through.
In all of this, David found the following image, from 1966, and a news report related to the event. This is useful as it not only documents the refurbishment of the Hall, but helps us to put faces to some notable locals, including Norman Waine, who’s been mentioned here a lot lately.
My thanks to all, but particularly David Evans and the Fullelove family, who really have come together to make something special.
David wrote:
My sincere thanks are extended to Mr Reg Fullelove, son of Mr D Fullelove, pictured above, for so kindly offering these photos and information and thus making another part of our local history available and accessible.
David Evans
P.S. Help identifying the gentlemen in the back row would be most appreciated.
Note. In the photo, middle row, from the left are Mr D Fullelove, Mr E Ptitchard, Mr H Lord, Mr G Bradbury. In the front row, from the left , are Mr N Waine, Mr T Ash, Mr F Poxon.
From the Lichfield Mercury, Friday 1st June 1966:
Presentations to four men last night heralded the ‘new look’ Brownhills Memorial Hall. The occasion was ‘a £100 advertisement for the hall’ said the publicity officer, Mr D Smith. The four men, with 136 years continuous service to the hall, are Mr George Bradbury, chairman of the hall’s trustees ( 40 years ), Mr Edgar Pritchard, trustee ( 38 years ), Mr David Fullelove, secretary ( 30 years ) and Mr Herbert Lord, treasurer, ( 28 years).
The trustees and the management committee have been increased, and improvements to the hall costing £20,000 are planned.
‘Tonight is an attempt to show people that these things can be held here, with a little forethought and planning’, said Mr Smith.
The planning for last night’s presentations included three uniformed commissionaires, tape-recorded music, spotlights, cocktails and a buttonhole flower and gold-plated pin for each lady.
The guests were introduced to Councillor T.A.Ash, chairman of the Aldridge-Brownhills Urban District Council, and Mrs Ash, Mr and Mrs F Poxon, and Mr N Waine, former clerk to Brownhills council, and Mrs Waine.
This week, orders were placed for a new central heating system and a new floor at the memorial Hall. Said Mr Smith ‘ We are trying to make it applicable to anyone who wants to use it. We are hoping to keep it up-to-date’ The presentations were made to the men by Mr Waine.
From the Fullelove family archive – the program from the presentation evening.