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Category Archives: It makes me mad!
War is still hell
I run a variant of this post every year, because my views on Remembrance don’t change, but I feel it’s essential to mark it – and this year I’ve become increasingly disturbed by the way the act of Remembrance, and the symbol of that solemnity – the poppy – seem to have been hijacked by a motley collective of dodgy nationalist groups, a hectoring press and credibility-hungry politicians looking for a cheap headline grabber.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Events, Followups, It makes me mad!, Local History, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Bill Caddick, Brownhills local history, Jack Judge, June Tabor, Local History, Remembrance, Royal British Legion, Sunday, Tipperary
2 Comments
Latest bin collection information – October 2014
I’ve long held that if you want to start a revolution in the UK, just disrupt refuse collections, so this is a headsup for everyone in the local area – there’s a new issue of the refuse collection and recycling leaflet out now with a collection calendar, recycling guide and other information.
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Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 2014, Aldridge, bin collections, Bins, Brownhills, Christmas, Clayhanger, collection, collection day, Events, household waste, information, Leaflet, Local politics, new, Recycling, Refuse, rubbish, schedule, Silly, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood
8 Comments
Brownhills Christmas market: more stalls invited!
I’m running this again as the Brownhills Town Centre Partnership are really trying to plug their Christmas Market project, and I wholly support them – it’s a cracking idea, but they need to attract as many stalls as possible.
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Just a normal day in Brownhills….[/caption] Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries
Tagged 14th december 2014, Brownhills, Brownhills Christmas Evens, Brownhills Christmas Windows, Christmas Fair, Christmas Magic in Brownhills, Christmas tree festival, Cradle Club, Craft Club, Donkeys, Festivity, Ice Rink, Nicky Rolls, Ravens Court, Santa Special, Shop Local, Shop smart, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood
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Urgent – motorbike just stolen from Walsall Wood
Hey people – please be on the lookout for a stolen Honda NSC50R Repsol motorbike, taken in this evening between 9 and 10pm from Quantock Close, just off Occupation Road, Walsall Wood.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 2014, 30th October, Brownhills, Caroline Cash, Clayhanger, DN13TGF, Events, Facebook, Honda, Lichfield, New Photos, NSC50R, Occupation Road, Quantock Close, Repsol, Shire Oak, Stolen, taken, Theft, Things to do, Twitter, Vandalism, Walsall Wood
4 Comments
A Christmas market for Brownhills?
I’ve had the following press release in from Walsall Council, and I think this is a really, really good idea – a two-day Christmas market planned for Brownhills over the weekend of 13-14 December 2014, and the council are appealing for stallholders.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries
Tagged 14th december 2014, Brownhills, Brownhills Christmas Evens, Brownhills Christmas Windows, Christmas Fair, Christmas Magic in Brownhills, Christmas tree festival, Cradle Club, Craft Club, Donkeys, Festivity, Ice Rink, Nicky Rolls, Ravens Court, Santa Special, Shop Local, Shop smart, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood
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Very hard to build up, easy as hell to tear down
This is just a note to flag up a remarkable piece of writing by ex-Walsall resident, blogger and new dad Rich Johnstone, a chap who I’ve always found to be an excellent writer, thoroughly decent human and good online pal.
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Posted in Bad Science, Environment, Events, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, Local politics, News, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Cheap tat, creativity, Facebook, local blogs, Local politics, negativity, Politics, postivity, Rich Johnstone, Silly, Social media, TheFabMrJ, Walsall politics
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Tool burglary in Clayhanger: did you see these lads?
You may recall that last week, I appealed for help from readers following the van burglary that took place at Clayhanger, during the early hours of Thursday 4th September 2014 – tools and equipment were stolen, including screw/nail guns and a radio from a van parked on the owner’s driveway on the Allerdale Estate in Clayhanger.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Uncategorized, Walsall community
Tagged Allerdale Estate, break in, Brownhills, Burglary, car break in, Car burglary, Car Crime, Clayhanger, crime, Events, Express & Star, Facebook, Film, footage, intruder, Police, public safety, Scott Parry, stolen bikes, tools, Twitter, Vandalism, video, Walsall Police, West Midlands Police
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The Acropolis cafe shuts; Middle Oak to close and B&M to open in Focus, Aldridge
Just a heads up on some local taking points I’ve had buzzing around for a couple of days now – A few readers including David Evans and Martin Littler have pointed out the longstanding Ravens Court cafe The Acroplolis seems to have closed down.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 2014, application, B&M, Big K, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Cheap tat, David Evans, Derelict, Events, Focus, for, housing, Lichfield, Local History, Local politics, Middle, Mike Bird, New Photos, Northgate, Oak, planning, Pubs, Ravens Court, Redevelopment, Royal, sale, Shire Oak, sold, Twitter, Vandalism, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood
3 Comments
Smooth operators
Here’s a nice one to run for a change – a few days ago the young David Evans dropped me a line to tell me how impressed he was with the new road surface recently laid in Friezland Lane, Shire Oak by Tarmac LaFarge working for Walsall Council.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, cycling, Environment, Events, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged August, Brownhills, complete, cycling, David Evans, Events, Friezland Lane, Green Lane, Lafarge, Lichfield, planning, praise, resurfacing, Shire Oak, Tarmac, thanks, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood
1 Comment
Clear waters rising
Here’s some good news and welcome common sense for those of us who enjoy Chasewater – after being nothing more than a filthy soup of rotting bird faeces, food and feathers for a few months now, Staffordshire County Council have got contractors in to clean out the boating lake.
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Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community, Wildlife
Tagged bird, boating lake, bread, Brownhills, Canal, change, Chasewater, consideration, cynical, ducks, Facebook, feed, feeding, geese, hazard, Lichfield, mess, New Photos, pollution, poo, Reservoir, Rose Maria Burnell, seed, shit, Silly, Staffordshire, swans, Things to do, Water, wildfowl, Wildlife
1 Comment
Consultation event in Brownhills this Wednesday!
This Wednesday, 3rd September 2014 from 10am-12pm, there’s a Walsall Council budget Consultation event in Brownhills Library at The Parkview Centre in Brownhills. Everyone is invited to attend and offer their view on prospect cuts to the local council budget, and Council Officers will be on hand to discuss matters.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, It makes me mad!, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 3 September, 5th November, Aldridge, Brownhills, Budget, budget consultation, Clayhanger, Consultation, Events, have your say, Lichfield, Local politics, Mike Bird, planning, Politics, Shire Oak, Things to do, Walsall, Walsall Advertiser, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
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Shed burglaries in Shire Oak overnight: did you see anything?
Terri Fallon Nicholls from Lichfield Road in Shire Oak has been in touch today regarding the fact that her shed, and that of a near neighbour were burgled in the early hours of Saturday, 30th August 2014.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, It makes me mad!, Local Blogs, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 2014, 30th August, break in, Brownhills, Burglary, crime, Events, Facebook, Fallon, intruder, Lichfield Road, local blogs, Nicholls, Police, public safety, Shed, Shire Oak, Terri, Twitter, Walsall Police, Walsall Wood, West Midlands Police
7 Comments
Car stolen from Shire Ridge – keep an eye out folks
Please be on the lookout for this somewhat distinctive Ford Focus RS car which was stolen from Shire Ridge in Walsall Wood in the early hours of this morning.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, It makes me mad!, Local Blogs, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Audi, break in, Brownhills, Burglary, Car burglary, Car Crime, Car Theft, crime, Debbie Etches, Events, Facebook, intruder, local blogs, PC Simon Bytheway, Police, public safety, Rob May, Shire Oak, Stonnall, Sunday 4th August 2013, Twitter, Walsall Police, West Midlands Police
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You can’t trust all you read in the paper…
Whew – panic over Yesterday, following a report in the Express & Star, I wrote of my concern that the old leisure centre at Oak Park in Walsall Wood would be demolished before a new one was built to replace it.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Express & Star, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Shared media, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills, Coppice Road, Demolition, Express & Star, houses, housing, Labour, Leisure Centre, Leisure Services, Local politics, new, New Photos, Oak Park, planning, Plans, Rebuild, rebuilt, Redevelopment, revised, Sean Coughlan, Shire Oak, submitted, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood
2 Comments
Demolition, man?
There was an interesting report in Monday’s Express & Star (18th August 2014) which points out the project to replace Oak Park leisure centre in Walsall Wood and the similar facility in Bloxwich is to start ‘next month’.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Express & Star, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Shared media, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills, Coppice Road, Demolition, Express & Star, houses, housing, Labour, Leisure Centre, Leisure Services, Local politics, new, New Photos, Oak Park, planning, Plans, Rebuild, rebuilt, Redevelopment, revised, Sean Coughlan, Shire Oak, submitted, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood
5 Comments
Walsall residents urged to keep an eye-out for distraction duo
I notice in the last week or so several reports of attempted and possible distraction burglary incidents in Walsall – the most recent report seems to have occurred yesterday – please, if you have and elderly family friends or neighbours, please do advise them to take care, and never buy goods and services at the door.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, It makes me mad!, Local Blogs, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged bogus officials, break in, Brownhills, Burglary, crime, distraction, distraction burglary, distraction theft, Events, Facebook, intruder, Lichfield, local blogs, Pelsall, Police, public safety, Scam, Walsall Council, Walsall Police, West Midlands Police
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Road closure in Brownhills from tomorrow
I see that tomorrow, Friezland Lane in Shire Oak will be closed from 9am-5pm by Walsall Council for ten days for much needed resurfacing works – this is good news for residents and folk who use this cut through, but may cause delays and disruption to busses that use the route.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, cycling, Environment, Events, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 20, 2014, 29, August, Brownhills, Clive Roberts, cycling, David Evans, Events, Friezland Lane, Green Lane, Lafarge, Lichfield, micro asphalt, planning, resurfacing, Shire Oak, Tarmac, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood
3 Comments
Aspirational my backside
I noticed in early summer that someone had been undertaking clearance work on a site near Brownhills, just down the Chester Road to the south of Shire Oak Nature Reserve, and was curious about it – it now seems that my question has been answered.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 14/0910/FL, application, Aspirational, astlehill, block, Brownhills, Chester Road, Derelict, Lichfield, local blogs, New Photos, planning, Politics, quarry, Redevelopment, Shire Oak, Silly, Stonnall, Upper Stonnall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood, Works
12 Comments
Robbery of vulnerable lad in Aldridge – can you help police find the culprits?
This is a nasty one – if anyone has any information, please do come forward and contact Walsall Police or Crimestoppers – on Friday afternoon, 11th July 2014, a 17 year old lad with physical and learning difficulties was robbed in Aldridge of his mobile phone by four youths.
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Posted in Environment, Events, It makes me mad!, Local media, News, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 11 July, 2014, Aldridge, appeal, attack, chip shop, difficulty, disable, Friday, iPhone, learning disability, physically, Police, robbed, Robbery, thugs, Walsall Police, West Midlands Police, youths
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World War One Centenary events in Walsall this Monday
As you will no doubt be aware, it’s the centenary of our entry into World War One on Monday, 4th August 2014, and Walsall Council and other organisations in the borough have arranged some interesting, respectful and well considered events to mark the 100 years.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Churches, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, It makes me mad!, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 4 August 2014, Brownhills local history, Cecil Burton, Conflict, David Evans, Events, first, folly, Great, Harry Patch, Levi Cooper, Local History, memorial, Moday, Peter Cutler, Remembrance, Royal British Legion, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood, war, world
3 Comments
Lady mugged in Brownhills – be on your guard!
Brownhills resident Samantha Lucas has been in touch on Facebook to ask me to warn Brownhills folk, and appeal for information following the very unpleasant mugging of her mother near the A5 Watling Street this morning.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, It makes me mad!, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged bike, Brownhills, Brownhills West, Chasewater, Common, crime, Events, Facebook, Gail, handbag, Junction, Lichfield, Lucas, Mugging, Police, Pool Road, purse, Robbery, Sam, Samantha, Twitter, uniform, Watling Street, yellow
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You can’t bank on it
There has been a fair amount of dismay and disbelief locally in response to the decision of Barclays Bank to close their branch in Brownhills, which will apparently cease trading on Friday, 24th October 2014.
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged bank, Barclays, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Cheap tat, Closure, Derelict, Events, Facebook, Lichfield, Local History, Local politics, New Photos, planning, Politics, Pubs, Redevelopment, retaildecline, Things to do, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood
17 Comments
Youth service in Walsall – important meeting tonight!
I note that Walsall Council have a scrutiny meeting this evening on the vexed matter of the Integrated Young People’s Support Service – that’s pretty much anything the council provides for kids and young people, including youth justice, targeted support, youth centres, the Education Business Partnership and parent partnership services.
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Posted in Environment, Events, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 13th June, Aldridge Manor, area manager, Cheap tat, Closure, cuts, Facebook, Green Belt, John Morris, Lane's Farm, local blogs, Local History, Local politics, planning, Politics, Public Meeting, Rachel Andrew, Redevelopment, Shire Oak, Silly, sold, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood, Youth Club
1 Comment
Mill Road violent assault: two men appear in court
Readers may well be aware from social media and local gossip that a man was seriously attacked in a house in Mill Road, Brownhills in the early hours of last Saturday morning (26th July 2014).
Posted in Environment, Events, It makes me mad!, Local media, News, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 2014, 26 July, assault, Brownhills, Brownhills crime, Cannock, community, Crimestoppers, Facebook, Gossip, hunt, incident, Jo, Joanne, local policing unit, Mill Road, Police, Statement, Twitter, violent, weapon, West Midlands Police, WMP
1 Comment
Brownhills canal indecent exposure incident
Worrying news reaches me of an indecent exposure incident on the canal in Brownhills last Wednesday night (23rd July 2014), when a lady cycling on the towpath between the Pier Street pedestrian Bridge (near Tesco) and Catshill Junction witnessed a naked man on the far side of the canal near the Silver Court Gardens site.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged 23rd Jult 2014, act, appeal, bridge, Canal, Catshill Junction, Clayhanger, crime, cyclist, Events, flasher, incident, indecent exposure, lewd, local blogs, Pier Street, Police, Silver Street, The Bridge, towpath, Wednesday
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Funeral arrangements for Gareth Perrins-Seedhouse
Following my post a few days ago where I shared the awful news that Gareth Perrins-Seedhouse had passed away, I received a lovely and very kind email from Mick Roseblade, a close friend of the family, who’s also asked me to publicise the arrangements for Gareth’s funeral.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Events, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Local Blogs, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged arrangements, Brownhills, cancer, condolences, death, Events, Facebook, fundraising, funeral, Gareth Perrins-Seedhouse, local blogs, memorial, memorium, Mick, passing, rest in peace, Roseblade, Shenstone Fun Run, sponsorship, Staffordshire, Teenage Cancer Trust, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Council
2 Comments
Car accident in Brownhills on Saturday afternoon
There’s been some interest in a car accident that occurred on Saturday afternoon in Brownhills – official detail is scant and somewhat contradictory, but yesterday evening I spotted this press release from West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS).
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, It makes me mad!, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 19 July, 2014, Accident, Air ambulance, Brownhills, CFR, collision, crash, Events, Lichfield, Ogley Road, paramedic support, RTA, Twitter, West Midlands Ambulance Service, WMAS
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On the loss of a great, great man
It is with great sadness and a large degree of personal grief that I must share the tragic news that Brownhills lad, Walsall Council Parks guy and top fundraiser Gareth Perrins-Seedhouse yesterday passed away following a tenacious and long fight with cancer.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Events, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Local Blogs, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Brownhills, cancer, condolences, death, Events, Facebook, fundraising, Gareth Perrins-Seedhouse, local blogs, memorial, memorium, passing, rest in peace, Shenstone Fun Run, sponsorship, Staffordshire, Teenage Cancer Trust, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Council
7 Comments
A clean sweep at Chasewater – at last
I’m pleased to see that, in all probability, people power has worked over the issue of the filthy state of the walkways around the boating lake at Chasewater, which this week have been cleaned to a decent standard – you’ll remember that last week, I posted about the disgraceful mess there.
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Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community, Wildlife
Tagged bird, boating lake, bread, Brownhills, Canal, Chasewater, consideration, Councillors, cynical, ducks, feed, feeding, geese, hazard, Lichfield, mess, New Photos, pollution, poo, Reservoir, Rose Maria Burnell, seed, shit, Silly, Staffordshire, swans, Things to do, wildfowl, Wildlife
8 Comments
Chasewater – you can’t polish turds
Of late, Lichfield District Councillors and Staffordshire County Council have been cock-a-hoop about Chasewater – they’ve suddenly discovered our local reservoir, and just how fine it is – but there’s a bit of a problem.
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Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community, Wildlife
Tagged bird, boating lake, bread, Brownhills, Canal, Chasewater, consideration, Councillors, cynical, ducks, feed, feeding, geese, hazard, Lichfield, mess, New Photos, pollution, poo, Reservoir, Rose Maria Burnell, seed, shit, Silly, Staffordshire, swans, Things to do, wildfowl, Wildlife
10 Comments
Did anyone see a car accident in Ogley Road on Saturday, please?
I’ve just had this enquiry in from long time reader and friend of the blog Scott Littleton – who’s had a bit of bad luck last weekend – It seems that on Saturday afternoon last (28th June 2014) a mystery car collided with Scott’s and fled the scene.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, It makes me mad!, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 2014, 28th July, Accident, Brownhills, Clayhanger, collision, Events, fail to report, failed to report, Fiesta, green, Insurance, Lichfield, Ogley Road, Police, Red, red car, RTA, Scott litlleton, Small Hatchback, Things to do, Twitter, Vandalism, Walsall, Walsall Wood
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Local history for a distant son
I thought today I’d just do a small post highlighting a couple of sites that will be of interest to many readers, but mainly to blog stalwart David Oakley, who I sadly gather hasn’t been in the best of health lately.
Posted in Bad Science, Churches, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged A brief history of Darlaston, Bev Parker, birthday, Bullstake, Darlaston, Darlaston Remembers, Darlo, David Oakley, fallen, FH Lloyd, GKN, green, industry, Local History, Local politics, Redevelopment, Rubery Owen, Staffordshire, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, war memorial, Wilkings and Mitchell
3 Comments
Water supply issues in Brownhills, Aldridge & Pelsall
Seeing lots of reports of folk with no water or severely reduced pressure in our area, as far away as Aldridge, Brownhills and Pelsall – here’s the latest updates.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, It makes me mad!, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Aldridge, Brownhills, Clayhanger, Events, Facebook, Fault, interruption, Lichfield, low pressure, News, no water, Pelsall, Reservoir, Shelfield, Shire Oak, south staffordshire water, Staffordshire, status, supply, Twitter, updates, Walsall, Walsall Wood, Water, water fault
11 Comments
Knifepoint mugging in Brownhills – Police issue statement and appeal for help
Following my post in the early hours of this morning in which reader Holly Jones asked me to warn Brownhills folk and appeal for information following the very unpleasant mugging of her partner Sam, West Midlands Police have issusued the following statement…
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, It makes me mad!, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged black path, blade, Brownhills, Brownhills West, Chester Road, Common, crime, cuts, Events, Facebook, Hednesford Road, Holland Park, Holly Jones, hoodie, knife, knifepoint, Lichfield, Mugging, pockets, Police, Robbery, Sam, Twitter, Watling Street
2 Comments
Knifepoint mugging in Brownhills – be on your guard
Brownhills resident Holly Jones has been in touch on Twitter to ask me to warn Brownhills folk, and appeal for information following the very unpleasant mugging of her partner Sam last Friday, 30th May 2014.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, It makes me mad!, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged black path, blade, Brownhills, Brownhills West, Chester Road, Common, crime, cuts, Events, Facebook, Hednesford Road, Holland Park, Holly Jones, hoodie, knife, knifepoint, Lichfield, Mugging, pockets, Police, Robbery, Sam, Twitter, Watling Street
4 Comments
Ballot dance
I’ve agonised over what to write here for days – it is, of course polling day here in Brownhills and Walsall today, and you get double bubble; not just chance to vote for one of your three councillors, but you get chance to vote for your European MP, too.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, Local politics, News, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills, Clayhanger, Council, Councillors, Election, European Parliament, Events, Lichfield, local blogs, Local politics, Mike Bird, Politics, poll, Shire Oak, The Plastic Hippo, Things to do, UKIP, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
1 Comment
Now that’s good service…
On Monday, reader and friend of the blog Rose Maria Burnell pointed out that the play equipment area in Holland Park, Brownhills was out of use following fire damage due to vandalism – passing by this evening, I took a look – and to my surprise, the surface has been fixed.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged arson, Brownhills, crime, Events, fire damage, Holland Park, New Photos, play surface, Repair, Rose Maria Burnell, Vandalism, Walsall, Walsall Council
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Getting the Bird
Two Brownhills community activists lock horns in the Walsall Advertiser letters page over the subject of Ravens Court – the exchange is interesting, and deserves to be read widely.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Express & Star, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, News, Panoramio photo discussions, planning, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged 215 Notice, Blofeld, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills Market, Canal, Cheap tat, Clayhanger, Compulsory purchase, Derelict, Events, Facebook, John Bird, Lichfield, Local History, Local politics, Mike Bird, New Photos, New Tesco, planning, Politics, Ravens Court, Redevelopment, Retail, sympathy, Tesco, Tesco Development, teve Wade, Vandalism, Vivienne Aston, Walsall, Walsall Advertiser, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
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Vapour trials
The really fascinating thing about curating this blog is the way it inspires people to look into not just history, but the retelling of it; I have been banging on for years that we need to be careful not just of our own accounts and beliefs, but also of those accounts we hold as truths from authoritative sources.
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Environment, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Bradbury, Brian Rollins, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Cannock Chase Mining Historical Society, Coal Mining, Coal Mining in Walsall Wood, Coppy Pit, Explosion, Fire, James Rigby, Local History, New Photos, Nigel A Chapman, Pedro, Peter Cutler, petrol, Petrol engine mine, petroleum, Priestman Engine, Protector Lamp, Staffordshire, The South Staffordshire Coalfield, Thomas Clarke, vapour, Walsall Wood, Walsall Wood Colliery Co, Walsall Wood olliery, Walsall Wood Pit
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Urgent! Distraction burglary in Shire Oak yesterday…
Yet again, the brilliant Shire Oak group on Facebook draws my attention to crime in the area; this time a distraction burglary in Shire Oak yesterday afternoon (Friday, 25th April 2014).
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, It makes me mad!, Local Blogs, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 2014, 25ht April, bogus officials, break in, Brownhills, Burglary, crime, distraction, distraction theft, Events, Facebook, intruder, Lichfield, Lichfield Road, local blogs, Police, public safety, Rob May, Scam, Shire Oak, Stonnall, Twitter, Walsall Council, Walsall Police, West Midlands Police
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Pity the poor landlord
Five years ago, when I started this blog, one of the largest looming topics was that of the then proposed new Tesco Store in Brownhills – we’d been through a consultation, and the proposal was to build a large hypermarket fronting the High Street.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Express & Star, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, News, Panoramio photo discussions, planning, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged 215 Notice, Blofeld, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills Market, Canal, Cheap tat, Clayhanger, Derelict, Events, Facebook, Lichfield, Local History, Local politics, Mike Bird, New Photos, New Tesco, planning, Politics, Ravens Court, Redevelopment, Retail, sympathy, Tesco, Tesco Development, teve Wade, Vandalism, Walsall, Walsall Advertiser, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
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Brownhills mugging: further information now available
Further to yesterday’s post about a rather unpleasant knifepoint mugging of a school pupil on the Black Path in Brownhills last Monday, the ever on-the-ball Walsall Advertiser now has a great report available with loads of additional information. Click here … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, It makes me mad!, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged black path, Brownhills, Brownhills School, callparents, Clayhanger, crime, enquiry, Events, Facebook, Holland Park, knife, knifepoint, Lee Kettle, Lichfield, megssage, Mugging, Police, Robbery, Shire Oak, text, Twitter, Walsall Advertiser, Walsall Wood
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School’s out… or is it?
Due to industrial action by teaching staff, some schools in the area will be closed today, Wednesday 26th March 2014 – to find out the latest information about the status of your school, visit the Walsall Council School Closures webpage here.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Express & Star, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills, Closure, Events, Facebook, industrial action, information, list, NUT, planning, School, schools, Strike, teachers, union, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall School Closures, Walsall Wood
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Brownhills School pupil mugged at knifepoint yesterday
I’ve just had a text forwarded to me apparently sent from Brownhills School today (Tuesday, 25th March 2014).
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, It makes me mad!, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged black path, Brownhills, Brownhills School, callparents, Clayhanger, crime, Events, Facebook, Holland Park, knife, knifepoint, Lichfield, megssage, Mugging, Police, Robbery, Shire Oak, text, Twitter, Walsall Wood
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Nasty robbery in Aldridge on Wednesday – police appeal for help
This is a nasty one – if anyone has any information, please do come forward and contact Walsall Police or Crimestoppers – It seems that just after 4pm on Wednesday (12th March 2014), a pair of thugs robbed two chaps who were sat in their car near Aldridge Post Office in Northgate, near the town centre.
Posted in Environment, Events, It makes me mad!, Local media, News, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Aldridge, appeal, attack, Natwest, Northgate, post office, Raid, Robbery, thugs, Walsall Police, West Midlands Police
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Walsall Wood trounce AFC Wulfrunians
The Woodmen yesterday faced AFC Wulfrunians at Castlecroft, and took yet another wonderful win, bringing their unbeaten run at 15 matches – Bill Shaw was at Wolverhampton to witness the great mach…
Posted in Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1 4, 2014, 8th March, AFC Wulfrunians, away, Bill Shaw, Castlecroft, Events, FC, football, Footy, Good of the Wood, home, match review, Report, result, soccer, support, Things to do, Victory, Walsall Wood, Walsall WOod FC, Westfields, win
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Duck soup
Hi folks – this is a plea for a bit of common sense, and it would be really nice if folk could perhaps think about it a little bit – It’s a nice weekend, and with that, we all like to go for walks and visit our local parks and greenspaces.
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Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community, Wildlife
Tagged boating lake, bread, Brownhills, Canal, Chasewater, consideration, ducks, feed, feeding, geese, hazard, Lichfield, mess, New Photos, pollution, Reservoir, Rose Maria Burnell, seed, Silly, Staffordshire, swans, Things to do, wildfowl, Wildlife
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Woodmen continue unbeaten run
Walsall Wood FC last night extended their unbeaten record to 14 matches, when they drew with Heath Hayes FC away one all.
Posted in Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1-1, 2014, 4th March, Bill Shaw, draw, Events, FC, football, Footy, Good of the Wood, Heath Hayes, match review, Report, result, soccer, support, Things to do, Victory, Walsall Wood, Walsall WOod FC
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Brownhills School: driven to distraction
The ongoing issue of Brownhills School’s withdrawal of community access to it’s facilities rumbled on this week, as the Walsall Advertiser published another excellent report about how the Spotlight Youth Theatre Group were told they’d have to move from the school last December.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills School, club, community, Doug Birch, Express & Star, facilities, football, governors, Head, Headmistress, Helen Keenan, history, lessons, Letter, Lichfield, Local Committee, Local politics, mining, Report, Richard, School, Shepherd, Silly, Sir, soccer, swimming, trust, Walsall Advertiser, withdrawal
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Woodmen send Westfields west!
Walsall Wood FC delighted fans yesterday afternoon (1st March 2014) as they expanded their unbeaten league run against Hereford’s Westfields FC in a goal-packed match, bringing their winning streak to a lucky 13 games.
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Posted in Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1st March, 2014, 5-2, allpay.park, Bill Shaw, Events, FC, football, Footy, Good of the Wood, Hereford, home, match review, Report, result, soccer, support, Things to do, Victory, Walsall Wood, Walsall WOod FC, Westfields, win
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