Parklands Court, Bloxwich: last residence of George Brian Leach. Imagery from the remarkable Apple Maps.

Walsall Environmental Heath Department have issued an appeal to trace the family of Walsall resident Mr. George Brian Leach, who passed away in Parklands Court Nursing Home, Bloxwich on the 4th August 2015.

We seem to have had a lot of appeals in the last twelve months to trace the family of local deceased people – but I make no apology for running another one; these appeals are essential, and I really feel for anyone who passes away alone.

If you’re wondering why we suddenly see a lot of these, Environmental Health at Walsall (as with any authority) have always had a legal duty to trace relatives in such cases, but formerly used classified adverts in local papers. In the last twelve months, they’ve wisely started using social media, too.

Although such appeals are a legal requirement, I’ll always support them and run them; this blog has a large readership now, and someone out there may just unlock a mystery. It must be horrible to lose a parent, sibling or child and not know, whatever the relationship between you. Nobody should ever pass unmourned.

The Department issued the following request:

Local residents are being asked to help with the search for relatives of a recently deceased man.

Environmental health officers are keen to get in touch with any family members of Mr George Brian Leach who passed away in Parklands Court Nursing Home, Park Road, Bloxwich on 4 August.

Mr Leach who formerly resided at 34 Austin Road, Upper Forster Street was born in Bloxwich on 8 November 1933.

Aged 81 when he died Mr Leach it is believed that he retired from British Rail and had never been married.

Neil Harris, principal environmental health officer, said: ‘We would like to pass on our condolences to Mr Leach’s family and friends.

‘We would be grateful to hear from any relatives of Mr Leach or anyone who might have helpful information about his family so that they can make proper arrangements for his funeral.

‘We appreciate this may be difficult but we encourage anyone with information they think may be useful to get in touch.’

If anyone has any information about Mr Leach’s family they are asked to contact Julie Faulkner in environmental health on 01922 653018.

Thanks in advance. If anyone would prefer no to contact the council directly for whatever reason, email me at BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot come and I’ll pass any messages on. 

Thanks.