Author Archives: BrownhillsBob

it’s going ahead – A5 Live is on for 2021!

Long term readers will remember the annual music and fun festival that’s taken place on the smallholding just off the A5 at Newtown, Brownhills every summer – except last year, when it was cancelled due to the pandemic. Obviously none … Continue reading

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The early days of powerboats at Chasewater – a massive gallery

I am honoured today to be able to share with readers an archive gallery of images that are of Chasewater and the Speedboat Club in the earliest years, when the lake was still surrounded by the remnants of mining history … Continue reading

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An interesting aside

Sorry folks a bit busy elsewhere at the moment, but something came to light recently I’d just like to point out to readers. In the Walsall Council Cabinet Meeting of 10th February 2021, a private session was held. This isn’t … Continue reading

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Cottage loafing…

Here’s news of a great new group on Facey for canal enthusiasts – particularly those into canal cottages. The BCN Canalside Cottages group has been created by BCN Society member and old friend of the blog Brenda Ward to try … Continue reading

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A corner of Bloxwich remembered – heavy industry in it’s prime

Here’s a great bit of reminiscence for a chilly Sunday from Martin Hughes, the chap that works so very hard to keep the Brownhills Community Centre in the local eye by publicising it’s events and facilities. Martin grew up in … Continue reading

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The Thompson Family of Chasetown: What do you know?

It’s always nice to know the blog has helped a reader in some small way and today I can share with readers a fine email I’ve had thanking me for scanning and posting the booklet ‘Old Chasetown’ on the blog … Continue reading

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Walsall Wood Trooper Henry Hall: A message from The Netherlands

A few weeks ago I featured a post here telling the remarkable story of a soldier from Walsall Wood – Trooper Henry Hall – who died in the liberation of Dieteren in The Netherlands from Nazi occupation, and of the … Continue reading

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A lucky escape at Sandhills – what do you know?

A quick one for now while I sort out another post, but this remarkable image came to light a couple of weeks ago, posted on Facebook by Gill Brown. It shows Gill’s grandfather, Henry Penton standing in the crater caused … Continue reading

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A magnificent man in his flying machine – what do you know?

Here’s a great one from reader Peter Gibbs who’s making a rather wonderful enquiry relating to an incident in Chasetown/Burntwood in 1917 which seems to have been the talk of the area! I’ll let Peter explain. This is, genuinely wonderful … Continue reading

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Distraction burglars and bogus callers operating locally: Be on your guard!

There have been several incidents locally in the last week where elderly people have had money stolen by bogus callers pretending to be from the Water Board. This warning from West Midlands Police is important – please care it with … Continue reading

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Honouring the local Fallen, an ongoing duty – help needed please

Hello folks – I have a very important request here from blog contributor, friend and historian David Evans who is helping a team from the Netherlands uncover the history of the forces that liberated their village of Dieteren in 1945. … Continue reading

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Fair and Square

I featured a few weeks ago a painting by local artist Dave Dunkley of Rushall Station and level crossing that was very well received and generated a lost of positive debate about the station’s history. Well, spurred on by this, … Continue reading

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The crossing

Back in the end of November (what seems like an age away now) Dave Dunkley, a talented local artist and Rushall lad sent me a picture he’d painted from memory of the Rushall Station he remembered from his youth. Rushall … Continue reading

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Remembering a Brownhills D-Day hero

Another great piece of research comes in from reader and local military historian Isaac Marklew-Brown, whose article on his relative Thomas Marklew, a victorian ere soldier was so well received here a few months ago. This time Isaac again writes … Continue reading

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Sweet reason and the sourness of hypocrisy

An interesting contribution today from veteran blog writer and local industrial historian Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler, who has once again been delving via the newspaper archives into the grizzly reality of life as a miner, rather than indulging the more airbrushed … Continue reading

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Merry Christmas in this most peculiar of years…

Hi all I’d just like to take five minutes to wish you a happy Christmas and let us all hope for a better 2021, and hopefully a return to some kind of normal when we can enjoy cafes, a pint … Continue reading

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Let’s have a butchers!

It’s been a while since I featured a local history article by the young David Evans who’s still beavering away diligently in the background, and today we return to his home ground of Walsall Wood, where the good gentleman has … Continue reading

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Check out the true spirit of Christmas – on Clayhanger Common

Hi folks – here’s a heads up to something lovely that’s very local and a credit to the creator, lovely local lady Kathryn ‘Chalk Fairy’ Grace – The Clayhanger Common Nativity Trail. Kathryn works tirelessly for the good of the … Continue reading

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Rolling coal

Just a quick heads up as the great Canal Hunter Andy Tidy has posted some new episodes of a great canal history series on YouTube that I have plugged before about lost local canals – this time covering coal transport from … Continue reading

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West Midlands Police Statement: Illegal ‘lock in’ broken up at football club in Walsall

As a long time supporter of Walsall Wood Football Club as a historic, community institution, I’m angry and saddened to see West Midlands Police post the following statement yesterday. I will not carry any further material from the club until … Continue reading

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When the sound of bikes echoed across the town

A quick one for Saturday while I’m busy – a few weeks ago reader and Facebook group member Jim Wall posted some lovely period pictures of busy days at Wharf Lane Motocross Track that existed in a quarry that’s now … Continue reading

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, Local media, News, planning, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Supporting our veterans: A military historian is to skydive for charity!

A few weeks ago, I featured here a very popular article about a local late-Victorian era soldier from Brownhills from an engaging, enthusiastic and interesting man: Isaac Marklew Brown. His fascinating research and supporting material on the history of soldier … Continue reading

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The sands of time – another link to Old Brownhills is sadly lost

I was contacted earlier this month by old friend of the blog and frequent contributor Sheila Norris, with some rather sad news – her father, Leonard Jones sadly passed away last April. Len was the last of the Jones brothers … Continue reading

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Picture this: A lost local station

I was contacted in the week by local artist and reader Dave Dunkley who’s sent me a remarkable and lovely painting of something I was only peripherally aware existed: Rushall Station. And what’s most interesting is that Dave had painted … Continue reading

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A very rare species: Bike racing at Lazy Hill in the 1960s

Sorry, been a bit busy this week but hopefully can get some interesting stuff up in the next few days or so,. including some gems from the Young David Evans. In the meantime, a bit of motorbike racing ephemera that … Continue reading

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Bogus callers preying on the elderly are about again: Be on your guard!

There have been several incidents locally in the last couple of weekss where elderly people have had money stolen by bogus callers, or have been conned out of cash by people posing as workers. In one case reported this week, … Continue reading

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Virtual Remembrance around the area

This lovely tribute video was made by old friend of the blog Matin Littler and sent to me earlier in the year. A lovely thing. Thank you Martin! As explained in my previous post, since life under Coronavirus restrictions has … Continue reading

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A Remembrance Sunday unlike any other

In the remarkable and worrying times in which we now live, there are few constants remaining. One of those that has sustained, but in a very different – and somehow more starkly appropriate form – is the annual act of … Continue reading

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A brief apology to readers

Hello everyone – I’d just like to issue an apology for missing the traditional Remembrance post this year – last night I have something unexpected to deal with and events overtook me. There is some coverage coming up in the … Continue reading

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A record for Brownhills!

A treat today for the choral music fans – the wonderful transcription of a long-lost Brownhills vinyl LP record to MP3 that’s a real part of Brownhills cultural history. ‘Choral Favourites’ by Brownhills Co-Operative Choral Society is the second album … Continue reading

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Fancy finding out more about local wildlife? You can, one last chance this afternoon!

If you, the kids or grandkids are at a loose end today, since it’s the last chance before the next lockdown, it would be an excellent chance to grab the young ones and nip up to Stubbers Green where you … Continue reading

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A forgotten hero: From the mines of Brownhills to the deserts of Egypt

As I’m getting g back on the blog bike (metaphorically and in reality) I’m picking up speed and getting down to more regular articles here which I think readers will appreciate. Today I have an absolute gem from reader Isaac … Continue reading

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Fancy finding out more about local wildlife? You can, this afternoon!

If you, the kids or grandkids are at a loose end today, since it’s such a lovely autumn day it would be an excellent chance to grab the young ones and nip up to Stubbers Green where you can chat … Continue reading

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It was hall or nothing…

Images kindly shared by Chris Booth. Click any one to see a larger version. A second set of period images here this weekend from old friend of the blog Chris Booth he’s sharing out of the Clayhanger Methodist Church collection … Continue reading

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Arthur John Craddock of Walsall Wood: Can you help, please?

This one has me in a bit of a head scratcher. Angie Barnett writes in all the way from New Zealand, referring to a gentleman I have apparently mentioned on the blog. There’s only one snag. Neither of us can … Continue reading

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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 , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Walking group sets off again in Brownhills this afternoon!

I’m glad to see that some important social activities are resuming in light of their cancellation for lockdown – and the resumption of the Wednesday afternoon walking group in Brownhills is great news. I have checked this is going ahead … Continue reading

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Clayhanger Methodist Church Centenary Parade in 1985 – what do you remember?

Images kindly shared by Chris Booth by original photographer Ted Hassall. Click any one to see a larger version. A remarkable collection of photos today wings its way in from old friend of the blog Chris Booth, taken by Ted … Continue reading

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Fancy finding out more about local wildlife? You can, this afternoon!

If you, the kids or grandkids are at a loose end today, since the rain has cleared and it’s a decent day it would be an excellent chance to grab the young ones and nip up to Stubbers Green where … Continue reading

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Walsall Wood away to Stourport Swifts this afternoon!

This afternoon, Saturday 17th October 2020 The Wood are away on their travels again! Walsall Wood FC versus Stourport Swifts FC Walshes Meadow Stourport on Severn Worcestershire DY13 0AA Kickoff 3pm Strict social distancing measures to be observed! Hopefully, a match … Continue reading

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Why not join the Orange Army litter pick this coming Sunday morning in Brownhills?

There is a community litter pick event taking place in Brownhills this Sunday, 18th October 2020 from 10am, meeting at Smithys Forge car park in Lichfield Road, Brownhills (Just off the Miner Island)  – all are welcome to join in … Continue reading

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Walking group sets off again in Brownhills this afternoon!

I’m glad to see that some important social activities are resuming in light of their cancellation for lockdown – and the resumption of the Wednesday afternoon walking group in Brownhills is great news. I have checked this is going ahead … Continue reading

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An important statement from Walsall Wood Football Club

I have been asked to post the following statement by the Chairman of Walsall Wood Football club, Justin Hodgin. This is for information only and comment is neither invited, nor appropriate. Walsall Wood FC said: Statement From Walsall Wood FC … Continue reading

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Fancy finding out more about local wildlife? You can, this afternoon!

If you, the kids or grandkids are at a loose end today, since the rain has cleared and it’s such a lovely day it would be an excellent chance to grab the young ones and nip up to Stubbers Green … Continue reading

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Walsall Wood play Worcester City this afternoon at Oak Park

Saturday 10th October 2020 Walsall Wood FC at home to Worcester City in a big-name match! Don’t break your Wood vows be there and be faithful to your local heroes 3:00pm kickoff STRICT SOCIAL DISTANCING TO BE OBSERVED! Please come and … Continue reading

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The mystery of the car in the bomb crater: Can you help with the local link?

I’ve become aware in the last few days of a remarkable history project relating to an incident during the Coventry Blitz and an absolutely iconic image of the destruction following the Second World War air raids that decimated the city. … Continue reading

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Walsall Wood send Selston forth

Images kindly supplied by David Evans Last Tuesday evening (6th October 2020) Walsall Wood F.C. entertained Selston F.C. at Walsall Wood. A belter of a match and home victory ensued, that roving reporter the young David Evans clearly enjoyed very … Continue reading

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Walking group sets off again in Brownhills this afternoon!

I’m glad to see that some important social activities are resuming in light of their cancellation for lockdown – and the resumption of the Wednesday afternoon walking group in Brownhills is great news. The Walsall Healthy Spaces Team volunteer led … Continue reading

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Why not catch some great footy this evening? Walsall Wood play Selston at Oak Park

Tuesday 6th October 2020 The Wood entertain Selston FC at Oak Park! Come watch the lads at home this evening Kick off is 7:45pm STRICT SOCIAL DISTANCING WILL BE OBSERVED! Hopefully, a match report will follow… For the Good of the … Continue reading

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A credit to any sports meeting

Also, while I’m busy – a quick bit of Walsall Wood School ephemera for the Wood Massive very kindly sent in by John Barlow, who said: Hello Bob I came across this a few days ago and thought it might … Continue reading

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