Still running!

Here’s a couple of quick images I’ve been meaning to post here from Godfrey ‘Oakparkrunner’ Hucker who posted them to my ‘Brownhills Past and Present‘ page on Facebook, and I think they deserve a wider audience.

The first is the end of Coppice Lane in Brownhills, about where the junction of Coppice Side is today, [Later edit: I have this utterly wrong – see comments below. Sorry! – Bob] which would be off to the right, Marklew’s Pond through to the left. I think the buildings in the distance would be Coombe House, then home of Doctor George Bradford.

The image was originally donated to Godfrey by Jean Houghton. Godfrey says:

Taken about the 1950’s this photo, courtesy of Jean Houghton nee Hinks, shows her Uncle Elijah Hinton and my father Godfrey Hucker (with the cycle) returning home from a Sunday lunch time drink in the Jolly Collier.

The second is, of course, Brownhills Fire Station’s appliances parked in front of the station in the 1960s, with the Central Boys School in the background – this would be where Parade View senior citizen’s flats are today.

Brownhills fire engines outside the fire station in Chester Road North Brownhills in the late 1960’s.

Godfrey was, of course, a local fireman and his knowledge of the service and it’s history are encyclopaedic – as is his knowledge of Walsall Wood and local rail.

Thanks to Godfrey for letting me share, and I welcome comment and recollections – comment here or mail me: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com. Thanks!