Life in the northern wastes of Walsall
Images Kindly supplied by Brian Stringer via the young David Evans. Last week I pointed out that this weekend, there was to be an unveiling ceremony of the restored George Fullelove Memorial Shelter near The Parade in Brownhills – well, the event took place on Saturday morning (21st April 2018) in splendid weather to an…
Images and captions Kindly supplied by the young David Evans It’s time for a mega football roundup – the young David Evans, Simon, Russell and co have been very hard at work reporting on the bewildering and packed schedule of matches home and away for Walsall Wood in the last week – and yesterday (Saturday…
With the local Remembrance appeals in mind, I thought I’d advertise this event today (Saturday 21st April 2018): a great St George’s day party at Walsall Wood Football Club hosted by the Bard of Brownhills himself, Ian Neville. The party funs from 2pm until midnight, with last admissions 8pm, at Walsall Wood FC’s Oak Park…
Saturday 21st April 2018 Walsall Wood FC v Racing Club Warwick FC Home match rearranged to be at Chasetown FC to accommodate Walsall Wood FC’s St. Georges Fun Day! Chasetown Football Club, Church Street, Chasetown, Staffs. WS& 3QL Don’t break your Wood vows, be there, be faithful to your local heroes – win this one and the Woodmen could well…
Images supplied by Barry Carpenter. Hey folks – please be on the lookout for this distinctive white Ford Transit nine seater minibus, stolen this afternoon (Friday, 20th April 2018) from Leighswood Avenue, Aldridge, registration no HK61GDH and bearing a private hire licence number plate 547 on vehicle. The van belongs to old mate of the…
I’m pleased to see that the expansion of online history resources continues apace, with lots of formerly quite restrictive services opening up with more sensible usage terms and conditions – one such archive is the British Library’s Aerofilms archive of aerial photography of Britain from 1919-1953. Aerofilms, as the leader in such imagery for years,…
I see from the excellent WMNow service that there has been a worrying theft of a car from Wrekin View, Shire Oak in the early hours of Wednesday morning (18th April 2018) which has been taken without keys – the latest in a series of such events across the local area of late. The reader said:…
A quick warning to people with vans and appeal to folk in Brownhills for information – On Monday night into Tuesday Morning (15-16th April 2018), there were at least two break-in into vans in the town; one in the Ogley Road area and another in Shire Oak. There appear to have been three offenders in…
Find out how far they’ve come at Summerhill in just two years in this informative film for the Lichfield and Hatherton Canal Restoration Trust Tom Reid from the Lichfield and Hatherton Canal Restoration Trust has been in touch to remind us that there will be a guided walk of the Summerhill section of the canal they’re working…
There’s something that’s quite historically important been going on for months now right in the heart of Brownhills, that whilst not earth shattering, is very significant to our local history, and helps to preserve the memory of one of the finest sons of Brownhills: Chorister and Choir Master George Fullelove. I think few people realise…
I’ve hd a really interesting email in from a respected elder in Brownhills, someone whose comments on the area I’ve always respected greatly and whose opinion I value and usually agree with – John Bird. John Bird has periodically written clear, eloquent and concise letters to the local press – the ones that have always…
Images and captions Kindly supplied by the young David Evans. Yesterday (Saturday 14th April 2018) Walsall Wood FC travelled down the motorway to the King George Playing Field Ground to face Pershore Town – and continued their run of goof form, beating the visitors decisively four nil. David Evans was there to witness a great…
On Friday evening (13th April 2018), there was an incident in the Vicarage Road area of Brownhills that generated a large amount of speculation on social media. I made enquiries with the press Office at West Midlands Police, and this morning they issued the following statement: A 51-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault…
Saturday 14th October 2018 Walsall Wood FC are away at Pershore’s King George ground! Walsall Wood v Pershore Town 3:00pm kickoff Please come and get behind your local club For The Good Of The Wood! King George Playing Fields, King George’s Way, Pershore, WR10 1QU Check out the club website here Rate this post…
Since the sad passing of Bill Shaw, old friend of the blog, champion of local football and Clayhanger lad, the tributes have been fullsome, and so richly deserved – but it’s also wonderful to hear the memories and see photos emerge of this wonderful man. Bill sadly passed away following serious illness on 4th March…
I received notice of this great event from Walsall Police via the excellent WMNow service this morning, advertising a pop-up meet the police event this Saturday, 14th April 2018 at Aldridge Library from 10:00am until 11:00am where you can meet your local policing team and get help, crime prevention and public safety advice. This is the…
I’ve just had warning from the excellent WMNow system (you can sign up here – it’s free and very useful) that there’s a very convincing scam in operation I think readers should be aware of – and will be wanting to warn their elderly and vulnerable friends, family and neighbours about. It seems scumbags are…
Pictures and captions Kindly supplied by the young David Evans. Saturday week ago (31st March 2018) the blog father and son groundhog double act David and Simon Evans went to watch the away match between the Woodmen and Uttoxeter at a rather damp Oldfields, and whilst there saw another good win – pleasing for the…
I’ve been asked the question by reader Norman Taylor as to what I know about Brownhills Chemical Works – otherwise known as The Chemical or The Chemy, later the site of a notorious war scrapyard local kids were all attracted to. The Chemical, for those who don’t know, was situated high on the Lichfield Road,…
Saturday 7th April 2018 Walsall Wood visit Stafford Town Walsall Wood v Stafford Town Kickoff 3pm Don’t break your Wood vows, be there, be faithful to your local heroes Evans Park, Off Fairway, Stafford, Staffordshire ST16 3TL View with Google Maps Please get behind your local club For The Good Of The Wood! Match report to follow! Check out Walsall Wood FC’s…
Brownhills Community Association have been in touch, asking me if I’d share their latest newsletter for March/April 2018 here on the blog – and as ever, I’m happy to do so. The Community Association are based at Brownhills Community Centre, just by the Miner Island in central Brownhills, and always have lots going on for people from…
The scheduled Easter Monday match between Walsall Wood FC and Bolehall Swifts FC, scheduled to take place today has (Monday 2nd April 2018) has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. As usual on wet days, the clubhouse is still open for beer and moaning about the weather! For The Good Of The Wood! Check out…
There’s a great event going on in Whittington this acoming Saturday (31st March 2018) in aid of the Lichfield and Hatherton Canal Restoration Trust ‘Tunnel Vision’ appeal – Eric and Doreen’s All Day Easter Coffee Morning.
Thanks to Stuart Williams of Walsall Local History Centre, I can share with readers today another piece in the remarkable jigsaw that is the Ferrie family history – the Ferries, as many old hands will recall, were a larger than life father and son who were well known in Aldridge and Brownhills for their entrepreneurialism and propensity to acts of community largesse and showmanship.
Hey folks – please be on the lookout for this Ford van, registration believed to be NG07AEX, which was stolen on Saturday afternoon (24th March 2018) in a carjacking in Brookland Road, Walsall Wood, just by the cemetery.
The sheer number of people who have paid tribute following the sad news of the passing of Bill Shaw has been heartwarming, and many have expressed their desire to attend his funeral – well, Bill’s wife, Lynn has been in touch to give further details, including the details of the function afterwards.
I have been alerted to a worrying incident that happened in Poole Crescent, Brownhills this afternoon (Saturday, 24th March 2018) when a door to door caller was touting for work clearing gutters, and seems to have received payment for work in advance he then did not carry out.
This afternoon, Saturday 24th March 2018: Walsall Wood FC at home to Brocton!
Well, what do you know – just as I published the advert for the police pop-up event taking place at Tesco today (Friday 23rd March 2018), another email dropped into my inbox from the excellent WMNow service pointing out there there are actually four separate events today – one each in Brownhills, Shelfield, Pelsall and Rushall.
Chasewater Railway – the little gem of a preserved industrial railway right on our doorstep is holding it’s annual Diesel Gala this weekend, Saturday and Sunday 24-25th March 2018.
I see from the events list that Aston Manor Road Transport Museum in Aldridge have a ‘Models at the Museum’ event this Sunday, 26th March 2017 -It starts at 10:00am and should be just the thing for modellers, transport enthusiasts, petrol heads and big kids of all kinds.
I received notice of this great event from Brownhills Policing Team via the excellent WMNow service a yesterday, advertising a pop-up meet the police event this coming Friday afternoon, 23rd March 2018 at Tesco, Brownhills from 3pm until 5pm where you can meet your local policing team and get help, crime prevention and public safety advice.
There has been some discussion of late on Facebook and other places about local cinemas, and with Russia topical at the moment too, this is a good time to share this one from reader Sam that came in a few weeks ago.
Everyone involved with the blog has been saddened and dismayed by the loss of Bill Shaw, Clayhanger lad, champion of local football, commentator and all round decent bloke – and I’m proud and honoured to feature here an obituary for Bill from his fellow match reporter at Walsall Wood, David Evans.
Your chance to catch Walsall Wood FC at home to Nuneaton Griff this afternoon – can they maintain their position at the top?
There was a very nasty car accident on the Walsall Wood/Brownhills border last night (Wednesday 14th March 2018) when a car crashed into the former butcher’s shop on the corner of Pauls Coppice and Lindon Road, just opposite the derelict Wheel Inn pub.
I received notice of this great event from Walsall Police via the excellent WMNow service this morning, advertising a pop-up meet the police event this Saturday, 17th March 2018 at Aldridge Library from 10:00am until 11:00am where you can meet your local policing team and get help, crime prevention and public safety advice.
I always love expanding railway threads here on the blog – and it’s always great to hear from local railway historian and expert Ian Pell.
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.
This is an urgent appeal for help from the West Midlands Ambulance paramedic staff that currently operate out of the old Walsall Wood Library at the junction of High Street and Coppice Road – last night (Friday, 9th March 2018) their vehicles were broken into and medical supplies stolen.
Sad news – Home and away matches of Walsall Wood and Pelsall Villa FC today (Saturday 10th March 2018) both cancelled due to waterlogged pitches.
Tom Reid from the Lichfield and Hatherton Canal Restoration Trust has been in touch to let us know about a rather interesting challenge the trust’s engineers had to deal with last weekend when the big freeze hit the UK.
Following the sad news of the passing of Bill Shaw, long time contributor to the blog, Clayhanger lad and great champion of local football there, has been a huge outpouring of sympathy and condolence – Bill was certainly a friend and familiar face to many, not just in local football, but in the wider community.
Just a reminder that Brownhills Community Association and the Back The Track project will be hosting a fundraising concert at the Community Centre in Brownhills on this Saturday, March 10th 2018 and tickets are just £5 with proceeds to the greenway project on the old rail line through Brownhills.
I’m asking readers if you could please look out for the lad pictured above, whose name is Levi Smith, he’s 15 years old and lives in the Shire Oak area of Brownhills.
It’s my sad duty to report to you that old friend of the blog, Clayhanger lad and football reporter extraordinaire Bill Shaw sadly passed away yesterday following an ongoing, serious illness.
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.
It will come as no surprise at all to fans of The Woodmen that the Walsall Wood FC – Cadbury Athletic match scheduled for today (3rd March 2018) has been postponed due to the large quantities of white stuff abounding.
