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Search Results for: Ogley hay school
May I make a correction?
An interesting mail winged its way in here a couple of weeks ago from longstanding reader Keith Jemison-Mills who was a pupil at Ogley Hay School and featured in a couple of the wonderful May Day celebration photos we’ve featured … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Events, Local History, Malcolm Kelly, Mr. Riley, New Photos, Ogley Hay, Ogley Hay Junior School, School, Staffordshire
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Boys and Girls…
As I struggle to catch up with material sent in to the blog, here’s a great post for a Sunday from Pat Ward, who’s a long term reader and lady we’ve previously helped with family history matters here one the … Continue reading
Posted in Environment
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Can we solve the mystery of an old Ogley Hay influencer from the 60s?
A quick enquiry here from reader Ray who yesterday sent me in this headscratcher of a question which seems ideal for a Sunday. He wrote: Hi Bob I was hoping you may have information that can help me out. Whilst … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged 1964, 4a, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Events, Local History, Malcolm Kelly, Mr. Riley, New Photos, Ogley Hay, Ogley Hay Junior School, School, Staffordshire
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Ogley Hay May Day 1952-3: A historical Staple!
Images kindly supplied by Elizabeth Staples. Click for larger versions. In the last couple of weeks old friend of the blog Elizabeth Staples – mother of the remarkably talented Mark Staples who, with others, created the 1880s Brownhills local history … Continue reading
Ogley hay Juniors in the late 60s: Who can you spot?
I’m indebted today to local lady Gail Hughes who posted this wonderful pair of Ogley Juniors photos – the upper one appears to be from the annual May Day event in 1965 (which has featured here many times before from … Continue reading
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In the hall if wet – more Ogley Hay May celebration photos!
it’s time, I think for the last set in the amazing collection of images sent in by old pal of the blog Dawn Hayton, from her mother’s personal collection – and this is a fantastic set continuing the recent Ogley … Continue reading
Posted in News
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Accession to the throne Brownhills stye
Following Janet Bullock’s wonderful photo posted here in the last few weeks there has been a terrific response to the Ogley Hay May Day them, with a further image of the same event being Kindly donated by Kate Dixon, and her mum May Queen Linda Horobin – now we have a further great image sent in by Sheila Kelly of May Day the following year.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged 1964, 4a, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Events, Local History, Malcolm Kelly, Mr. Riley, New Photos, Ogley Hay, Ogley Hay Junior School, School, Staffordshire
6 Comments
May be? Ogley Hay infants in the early 1960s
Reader Janet has sent me an absolutely gorgeous school photo from the early 1960s at Ogley Hay infants in Brownhills – from the activity and dress depicted, I think this may be a May Day celebration which I believe was customary at the school at the time?
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged 1964, 4a, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Events, Local History, Malcolm Kelly, Mr. Riley, New Photos, Ogley Hay, Ogley Hay Junior School, School, Staffordshire
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Fit for a queen
Following Janet Bullock’s wonderful photo posted here a few days ago – which turns out indeed to be the May Queen celebrations at Ogley Ha Infants School in Brownhills – there was much discussion here and on social media about this traditional event, and reader Kate Dixon turned up local history gold.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged 1964, 4a, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Events, Local History, Malcolm Kelly, Mr. Riley, New Photos, Ogley Hay, Ogley Hay Junior School, School, Staffordshire
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Details of 2021 local Remembrance events – live list
This post is pinned to the top until Sunday – new material will appear below. Remembrance Sunday 2011 Aldridge, by Andrew Watson, posted in his Flickr photo stream. As usual in a normal year, I will try and share with … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 10 November, 2019, Aldridge, Bloxwich, Brownhills, Clayhanger, Details, Events, Heath Hayes, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Remembrance, Service, Staffordshire, Things to do, time, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood
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In memoriam, Rita Cassidy
Ian Cassidy has been in touch to let readers know of the sad passing of his mother, Rita Joan Cassidy (nee Percival) who passed away on the 9th December 2017, and to invite all who knew her to her funeral next Monday, 8th January.
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Ogley Hay Juniors Football Team, 1963
Another great Ogley School image was sent to me a couple of days ago by reader Malcolm Kelly, who was reading my post last week regarding the mystery of the name of a forgotten teacher, and took part in the … Continue reading
Brownhills loses a hero and true son: In memoriam Geof Harrington
It saddens me greatly to share the awful news with readers that hugely respected elder statesman of Brownhills Geof Harrington – a record breaking athlete in his younger days – passed away in his sleep on Saturday 23rd October 2021. He … Continue reading
Happenstance: Two tales of Brownhills Canal Heroism
In one of those somewhat odd bouts of synchronicity that often befalls this blog, this week I have stories of two canal heroes that cropped up within days of each other yet are complete unconnected, except by location. A number … Continue reading
Posted in Environment
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Anyone for a 1960s Ogley Hay School reunion?
Belinda Bedworth has been in touch to ask if anyone present on the above photo of Ogley Hay Girls School could get in touch as she’d love to organise a reunion.
Posted in News
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Oiling Palmers… More info on where it all began
From time to time here I have material to publish that’s of a more – shall we say – technical nature and I always struggle with exactly how to present it. Such is the case today with this important article … Continue reading
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Ogley Hay Class 4A, 1963
A lovely photo comes in via reader Malcolm Kelly, who’s dug out an excellent photo of Class 4A at Ogley Hay junior Schooling 1963, and is wondering if readers can help with the faces he can’t recall?
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged 1964, 4a, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Events, Local History, Malcolm Kelly, Mr. Riley, New Photos, Ogley Hay, Ogley Hay Junior School, School, Staffordshire
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Congratulations! Walsall recognises Geof Harrington for his remarkable life in sport
It pleased me greatly yesterday to see that the hugely respected elder statesman of Brownhills Geof Harrington – a record breaking athlete in his younger days – has been recognised by Walsall Council for his tireless service to the community … Continue reading
Can you help reunite these sisters?
I have a request here from a lady called Dylis Richards, who is looking for her sister Valerie Jean Myatt who grew up in Brownhills and maybe still lives in the area – I believe Delis currently lives in Hayle.
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Full details of upcoming 10/10A bus service changes now available
Following the welcome news of the extension of the National Express West Midlands service 10A to Lichfield coming late this July (But just in time for the school holidays) there was some concern expressed locally about the continued route, timings … Continue reading
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The Bells of Brownhills
I get asked some unusual questions here on the blog and I was asked in the last week on Facebook what I knew of the poem The Bells of Brownhills, and what they in fact were; this was actually quite … Continue reading
Posted in News
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Christmas, 1957 – but who’s that girl?
As anyone who reads my other channels will know its been a hard week, and frankly, I’ve been too knackered to properly manage the blog – sorry for the lack of content over the last week and thanks for bearing with me.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged 1957, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Events, Kathleen Martin, Kathleen Schnabel, Local History, Mystery, nativity, New Photos, Ogley Hay, play, School, Staffordshire
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Snow update – Friday 2nd March 2018
So, the Beast from the East (I’m sure I worked with her once) has made itself felt and we’ve had some really quite grim weather conditions here in Brownhills over the last 24-48 hours, and now we have powdery, dry snow to compound the misery.
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Can you help with memories of a popular Brownhills school Caretaker?
I have a very unusual enquiry here from friend of the blog Tara Hackett relating to her Grandfather, Tony Hackett – he was a popular local school caretaker for years, and is a bit under the weather at the moment, and Tara thinks it would be great if anyone has any memories relating to Tony they can share.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Anthony, appeal, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Caretaker, Facebook, Hackett, Hay, Infants, Junior, Lichfield, Local History, looking, memories, Ogley, School, searching, Staffordshire, Tara, Things to do, Tony, Walsall Wood
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Snow update – Tuesday 12th December 2017
Again, I’m writing this at 12:30am on the night before, and in many respects the travel omens are looking worse for the morning commute on Tuesday than they did on Monday.
Snow update – Monday 11th December 2017
Right people, the weather – I’m writing this at 12:30am on the Sunday night before the Monday Morning, and unless something remarkable happeneds between now and then, the conditions for tomorrow’s travel are not looking good.
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Anthony ‘Tony’ Hackett – funeral details available
A short while ago it was my sad duty to report the passing of Mr. Anthony ‘Tony’ Hackett, a well loved and respected Brownhills gentleman who spent may years as a local school Caretaker and scout leader – the many touching tributes and kind words about Tony from his friends and former school pupils were lovely and a comfort to his Granddaughter Tara and family
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Anthony, appeal, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Caretaker, detail, Facebook, funeral, Hackett, Hay, Infants, Junior, Lichfield, Local History, looking, memories, Ogley, School, searching, Staffordshire, Tara, Things to do, Tony, Walsall Wood
2 Comments
Anthony ‘Tony’ Hackett – rest in peace
Earlier this week I posted a request for memories of Mr. Anthony ‘Tony’ Hackett, who was unwell; his Granddaughter Tara was keen to gather reminiscences of Tony, particularly in his occupation as local school caretaker, to help him remember good times.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Anthony, appeal, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Caretaker, Facebook, Hackett, Hay, Infants, Junior, Lichfield, Local History, looking, memories, Ogley, School, searching, Staffordshire, Tara, Things to do, Tony, Walsall Wood
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Brownhills schools facing budget cuts – meeting this Thursday
There’s a really important public meeting going on at Brownhills Memorial Hall this Thursday afternoon at 2:15pm, regarding cuts to local school budgets, and anyone concerned is invited to attend.
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Miss Hall’s girls
by reader Mandy Cockram, whose mother went to Ogley Hay Girls School in Brownhills in the e
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged Andy Dennis, Barbara Dennis, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Chase Terrace, Country Dancing, Events, Local History, New Photos, Ogley Hay, Pedro Cutler, Peter Cutler, School, Staffordshire
6 Comments
Knitting and Nitty Nora: a wartime schooling in Brownhills
The local history has been a bit patchy of late, thanks to a bit of a rash of news stories and the fact that I’ve been working very long hours – but I have a real treat today that’s come in from David Evans written by longstanding contributor and friend of the blog Pat Lynk.
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Brownhills Brownies need your help!
I’ve been contacted by Jenny at the St James Brownies up at St James in Ogley Hay to ask if you could help by voting in a competition they’re entering for community group funding, from galaxy hot Chocolate.
We have things in Common…
Of late, I’ve featured a lot of material here on the blog concerning local schools – this is wonderful, but as I have much more to come, but I thought we’d have a brief break today and feature some of the work of eminent local historian Gerald Reece, author of what has to be the greatest work on Brownhills, ‘A walk in Walk Into History’.
September 1993 – A day to remember!
Continuing the scans of the Brownhills Gazette – I present issue 48 of the long lost freesheet, from September 1993 for you to peruse and download – I’ve had an incredible response to featuring these long, lost publications here on the blog.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1993, Baker Bond, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Carnival, Clayhanger, David Evans, freesheet, Gazette, Issue 48, Laburnum Cottage, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, newspaper, September, Steve Parlett, West
2 Comments
An unusually clear view
A couple of postcard images send to me yesterday by the young David Evans that I feel I had to share immediately – they come from the fascinating collection of Dorothy Ruddock, and I think they’re amazing.
Details of 2016 local Remembrance events
Following my request for information to make a list of local Remembrance events, I can again share with readers a list of local Remembrance services taking place locally this Remembrance Sunday, 13th November 2016.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 13th November, 2016, Aldridge, Bloxwich, Brownhills, Clayhanger, Details, Events, Heath Hayes, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Remembrance, Service, Staffordshire, Things to do, time, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood
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It’s a special occasion – get on your Sunday best!
A couple of great images reach me from top blog contributor the young David Evans, and reader Maria Fitzgerald – both are of kids in their Sunday best clothes in celebration.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1948, 1967, 1968, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, celebration, David Evans, Ebenezer, Ebenzer, Events, Facebook, Infants, Lichfield, Local History, Maria Fitzgerald, May day, Maypole, New Photos, Ogley Hay, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, Sunday School, teachers, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood
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June 1991 – Is the waiting nearly over?
Continuing the scans of the Brownhills Gazette – I present issue 21 of the long lost freesheet, from June 1991 for you to peruse and download. I’ve had an incredible response to featuring these long, lost publications here on the blog.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Baker Bond, Brian Stringer, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canon Ion, Clayhanger, David Evans, freesheet, Gazette, Issue 21, June 1991, Laburnum Cottage, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Marina, newspaper, Silver Street, towpath, Walsall Wood
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Back on the team?
While I’ve been busy today with hardware difficulties and preparing some stuff in the background (more on that later tonight), Beryl Marklew sent the following wonderful Ogley Hay Girls School images from the early 1950s, via Facebook.
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56 bus service: Travel West Midlands to fill the gap
Excellent news from Councillor Steve Wade on the future of the 56 bus service from Brownhills to Birmingham following his meeting with Travel West Midlands last Thursday.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 2015, 56, axe, Birmingham, Birmingham city centre, Brownhills, bus, cancellation, Clayhanger, cut, Diamond, Diamond bus service, Diamond Buses, Events, Facebook, Gina Young, Lichfield, local blogs, Local politics, New Photos, planning, Service, Shire Oak, Silly, Things to do, Twitter, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood
16 Comments
A gift from Brian…
Reader Brian Clenton today landed us with a surprise: some excellent photos of Brownhills and Clayhanger life, mostly in the 1950s – these beautifully scanned images are wonderfully diverse, but Brian didn’t say much about them.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Followups, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1950's, 1960's, Barbecue, Brian Clenton, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Butcher, Chapel, Chasewater cycling, Clayhanger, Clenton, football, Footy, Juiors, Lichfield, Local History, Methodist, New Photos, Oglay Hay, Ogley Hay, Pig Roast, play, soccer, Staffordshire, Sunday School, Twitter, Walsall Wood
22 Comments
January 1995 – Environmental nightmare continues with latest mining bid
Continuing the scans of the Brownhills Gazette – I present issue 64 of the long lost freesheet, from January 1995 for you to peruse and download – I’ve had an incredible response to featuring these long, lost publications here on the blog.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1995, Accident, Baker Bond, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Clayhanger, David Evans, freesheet, Gazette, issue 64, January, Laburnum Cottage, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, newspaper, Pelsall, Steve Parlett
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Following the old roads
Last week, I posted the first part of Andy Dennis’s wonderful exploration of the old roads that formed our area, and received a wonderful response: here, I conclude the piece with some remarkable – and maybe contentious – research.
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Posted in News
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Sweet James
That there Clive Roberts – documenter of the history of the Shire Oak Inn and collector of local postcards – has been at it again He’s picked up another postcard of Brownhills at a fair, and mailed me scans of the front and back to post here on the blog.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Churches, Environment, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged AW Bourne, Bill, Bramford, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, camp, Cannock Chase, Church, Derek Porter, Leicester, Local History, New Photos, Ogley Hay, parish, Postcard, Redevelopment, Road, School, St James, Staffordshire, Things to do
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Message in a bottle
Local history has proven to be a more complex thing than I ever imagined when I started this blog – back then, I foolishly believed that different people had different memories, but generally coincided enough so that a diligent researcher might be able to form a cogent impression of things.
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I’m after all the tanners!
The Mavis Woodhouse material featured here of late is a local history gift that just keeps giving, and yesterday, I had a fascinating email very kindly sent to me by Ann Grinstead, the lady who edited the initial copy of Mavis’s family history, subsequently later edited for the blog by the young David Evans.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged 2015, Anglesey Basin, Ann Grinstead, Barbara Cassidy, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Bucket, Chasewater, coal, Cox, David Evans, Foxes Row, history, Howdles Lane, JB, Lichfield, Local History, Mavis Woodhouse, memories, mining, New Photos, Newtown, Norton Pool, pit, Staffordshire, Things to do, Watling Street, Wide
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Old Holland
Over the past couple of posts, the subject of Holland Park in Brownhills has come up, and reader Peter asked where it got it’s name – I knew it was named after Hyla John Holland, one of the great names in the history of Brownhills, but I realised I didn’t know much about the chap, or exactly what he did beyond being a councillor.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Panoramio photo discussions, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Wildlife
Tagged 1933, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Holland, Hylan John, Lichfield, Local History, Local politics, Mercury, New Photos, Obituary, Park, Parks, planning, recreation, Staffordshire, The Parade, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
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