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Category Archives: Just plain daft
Free talk on Heritage at Risk tonight!
Tonight’s talk is all about threatened architecture and heritage buildings in Ye Olde City, where there seems to be a more enlightened attitude than here in Walsall, where we regard heritage as merely ‘fuel’.
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Posted in Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged 2014, Architecture, at risk, buildings, Dave, David, Discovered, event, Events, Facebook, free, heritage, Heritage Centre, Kate Gomez, Lichfield, Lichfield and Hatherton Canal, local blogs, Local History, Lore, meeting, Monday, Moore, New Photos, Panoramio, Sandfields, Silly, social medial, Staffordshire, Talk, Theatre, Things to do, Twitter
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Walsall Wood FC v Causeway United FC – a respetable draw
Yesterday, to great relief, Walsall Wood FC finally got their first football match of 2014, at The Grove, against Causeway United – the Woodmen dodged the weather and held the Halesowen lads to a respectable 2-2 draw.
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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 2-2, 8th February 2014, away, Bill Shaw, Causeway United, draw, Events, FC, football, Footy, Good of the Wood, Halesowen, Lichfield, match on, match report, miracle, Old Hawne Lane, Saturday, soccer, The Growve, Things to do, Town, Walsall Wood, Walsall WOod FC
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Walsall Wood FC v Causeway United FC: Away match is on!
February 8th 2014, Walsall Wood v Causeway United away at The Grove, Old Hawne Road is ON following a pitch inspection – get down there for some great local football.
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 8th February 2014, away, Causeway United, Events, FC, football, Footy, Good of the Wood, Halesowen, Lichfield, match on, miracle, Old Hawne Lane, Saturday, soccer, The Growve, Things to do, Town, Walsall Wood, Walsall WOod FC
1 Comment
Ghostly tales and fascinating history
This is just a quick note to flag up a great talk by an excellent speaker coming up at Walsall Local History Centre next Monday evening – ghostly legends and fascinating history of the Black Country will be recounted by talented and entertaining Wednesbury author and historian Ian Bott.
Posted in Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged 10th February, 2014, Black Country, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, CCaldmore, Ghost, Ghostly Tales, Hand of glory, Ian Bott, lecture, legend, Lichfield, Local History, myth, New Photos, oral history, story, Talk, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall Local History Centre, White Hart
8 Comments
Rhyme and reason
While service is operating on reduced power, I thought I’d share this curious mystery – over the new year period, a Brownhills history group was created on Facebook, and it’s proved to be very interesting indeed.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged A walk down High Street Browmhills, Anchor, Brewes, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills Past and Present, Cooper, Events, Facebook, Jim Simpson, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Mystery, old shops, Poem, poetry, Princeps, Pubs, Redevelopment, rhyme, Selwyn Smith, Silly, Staffordshire, Station Hotel, Things to do
23 Comments
Lichfield discovered – great events upcoming for 2014
I see that there Kate Cardigan from the wonderful Lichfield Lore is going from strength to strength with lots of upcoming events for her informal and fun Lichfield local history group, Lichfield Discovered.
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Posted in Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged 2014, Dave, David, Discovered, event, Events, Facebook, free, Heritage Centre, January 13, Kate Gomez, LHCRT, Lichfield, Lichfield and Hatherton Canal, local blogs, Local History, Lore, meeting, Monday, Moore, New Photos, Panoramio, Sandfields, Silly, social medial, Staffordshire, Talk, Theatre, Things to do, Twitter
5 Comments
2014 New year quiz!
It’s been a long time in the making, but great fun – here it is, the Brownhills Blog New Year 2014 quiz – Get stuck in and see if you can win!
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, cycling, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 2014, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Clayhanger, Cycle rides, cycling, David Evans, Events, Lichfield, Local History, New Photos, New Year, prize, quiz, Shire Oak, Silly, Staffordshire, Things to do, Walsall, Walsall Wood
218 Comments
Court out
Here’s a little bit of a curiosity we’ve dabbled with here on the blog for the last few weeks – Silver Court in Brownhills, and the possibility it was once extended. 
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Council
Tagged 1960's, 1:2500, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Google Earth, Lichfield, Local History, New Photos, New Road, new Street, Old maps, overlay, planning, Redevelopment, Severn House, Silver Court, Staffordshire, Things to do
12 Comments
A beautiful game
In recognition of the day, the Young David Evans sent me some rather wonderful photos a couple of days ago – as readers will know, David has a particular interest in the wars in Europe, and has strong connections to Messines and the place where the celebrated First World War Christmas truce and football match is believed to have started.
Posted in Churches, Environment, Events, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1914, Chris Baker, Christmas, David Evans, Events, football, Great War, Jean Claude Joly, Messines, military history, New Photos, Politics, The Long Long Trail, Things to do, trenches, Truce, Word War One, WW1
1 Comment
Something cheesy for Christmas
I’ll keep this brief, as I know there are folk in Short Heath suffering in quiet, restrained dignity as they haven’t had their Liberal Democrat Focus news sheets this week due to the inclement weather – please spare a thought for those less fortunate souls this Christmas.
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Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, cycling, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff, Wildlife
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Christmas, Cycle rides, cycling, Greetings, local blogs, Local History, Local politics, New Photos, Politics, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood, Wildlife
6 Comments
Silver caught?
A couple of weeks ago, I posted the following map here of central Brownhills from the late 1960s, in answer to an enquiry tied up with the thread about the Salvation Army Hall in Brownhills – it’s a great map, and at the time it caused quite a bit of interest.
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Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Churches, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local History, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged 1960's, 1:2500, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Google Earth, Humphries House, KMZ, Local History, New Photos, New Road, new Street, Old maps, overlay, planning, Redevelopment, Severn House, Silver Court, Staffordshire, Things to do
9 Comments
It was magic…
I didn’t really know what to expect from the Brownhills Christmas Magic 2013 event, it looked really good on paper but I was curious as to how it would pan out on the day – I was really, really pleasantly surprised.
[caption id="attachment_16900" align="alignright" width="224"]
‘Can you give us a hand?’ they said. J’Just a few hours on Saturday’ they said…[/caption] Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local media, Local music, News, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Wildlife
Tagged 14th december 2014, Armitage Birds of Prey, 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, photos, pictures, Ravens Court, Santa Special, Shop Local, Shop smart, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood
8 Comments
Death, Destruction, Crime And Notable News
Here’s a bit of a plug for an old friend of the blog, Paul Robinson, who created a site of which I’m rather fond – way back in September 2010 following a comment from Paul upon the blog, I was introduced to the site digDeeper…
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Posted in Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, digDeeper, Knave's Castle, local blogs, Local History, Old maps, Ordnance Survey Benchmarks, Paul Robinson, Staffordshire, Tales from Four Towns, Tamworth Time Hikes, Walsalsall, Wednesbury, West Bromwich, Wolverhampton
2 Comments
Christmas magic in Brownhills today!
This is the first Christmas Magic event since 2011, and it looks to be a cracker – there will be loads to do and see, like a free artificial skating rink in Ravens Court, local choir carolling, tons of stuff for kids of all ages, and even donkeys!
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
3 Comments
Bloxwich: men in tights!
I see that Glen, Dave and all the folk behind the wonderful Cart Before the Horse community theatre company have a great Christmas production on this weekend at the Bookmark Theatre, Bloxwich, which is situated in the new library.
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Posted in Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, Local music, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged 2013, amateur dramatics, Bayards Colts, Bloxwich, Bookmark Theatre, Dave Calcutt, Events, free, French Magician, Friday 13th December, Glen Buglass, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Mummers, Performance, Robin Hood, Saturday 14th December, Silly, Staffordshire, Street Theatre, Sunday, Sunday 15th December, The Cart Before The Horse, Theatre, Things to do, tickets, Walsall, Walsall Council
4 Comments
Changes to local bin collections this week!
This is a headsup for everyone in the local area – this week, some refuse bin collection days change hereabouts – a full calendar leaflet can be downloaded from Walsall Council’s website, but here’s how it works for local readers.
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 Aldridge, Bins, Brownhills, change, Christmas, Clayhanger, collection, collection day, Events, Facebook, Friday, household waste, information, Local politics, Monday, Politics, Recycling, Refuse, rubbish, Shire Oak, Silly, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood
1 Comment
Fist of Glory, fists of rage
I see the genius of SalmonCorporation has been at work again – this film is an uncomfortable piece of genius that needs to be spread far and wide, like it’s precursor ‘Walsall: Everything a pound’.
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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 History, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged animation, £1, Cheap tat, Derelict, Events, Everything a pound, Fist of Glory, Local History, Local politics, planning, Politics, Pubs, Redevelopment, SalmonCorporation, short, Silly, Stuart Williams, Tesco, Tesco Development, Twitter, Vandalism, video, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Youtube
3 Comments
Christmas magic in Brownhills!
Well, it’s that time of year again – I noticed today that posters were up for this year’s Brownhills Christmas Magic event, and thought I’d better get hold of a copy and run it on the blog.
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
3 Comments
A Brownhills drinking den is raided – in 1921
Here’s an odd snippet I found in the newspaper archives whilst looking for something completely different, which as anyone who’s ever researched any local history will tell you, is generally the way all the best stuff is found.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged 1921, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills Progressive Working Men's Club, Brownhills West, Cheap tat, Hednesford Road, Lichfield, Local History, Mercury, New Photos, Police, Pubs, Raid, Silly, Staffordshire
3 Comments
11pm, and still no sign of Dick
It seems Panto Season is coming a wee bit early to us here in Brownhills, as Aldridge Musical Comedy Society stage their latest show, ‘Dick Whittington and the Return of the Rat’ from Thursday 21st November to Saturday 23rd inclusive.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, Local music, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Aldridge, Aldridge Musical Comedy Society, amateur dramatics, Anthony N Britt, Brownhills, Clayhanger, community school, Dick Whittington, Events, Lichfield, local blogs, New Photos, pantomime, Return of the rat, Show, Silly, Theatre, Things to do, Twitter, Walsall Wood
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Well versed
You may well remember the video I got so excited about a few weeks ago, ‘Luv’in the Black Country’ by talented and impressive local filmmakers Black Country Cinema – I went on to explore even more of their cannon of work in my post ‘I Love this place with all my heart’.
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Posted in Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged Andrew J. Walker, Black Country Cinema, Black Country Verse, Canal, Distinctly Black Country, Facebook, Film, Jaspal Singh, local blogs, Local History, Manjeet S. Gill, Matthew E. Carter, New Photos, Things to do, Twitter, Youtube
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Cannock Chase Messines Model on Countryfile
The first world war model of Messines, it’s history and recent archeological dig have been the talk of Staffordshire for a while, and tonight formed the basis for a great article on the BBC program Countryfile.
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Posted in Cannock Chase, cycling, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Wildlife
Tagged Archeology, BBC, Brocton Field, Cannock Chase, Chase Trails, clip, country file, Cycle rides, cycling, David Evans, Dig, disappointing, Film, Lichfield, Local History, Messines, Model archeology, Silly, Staffordshire, Things to do, Wildlife, World War 1, WW1 Great war
6 Comments
Severe car crash at Walsall Civic Centre
There’s been an unfortunate RTA at Walsall Council, and it deserves as wide exposure as possible.
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Posted in Bad Science, Express & Star, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, News, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged 50000, Broadway centre, Car, Cheap tat, credibility, cuts, Express & Star, justification, limousine, Local politics, Manor Youth Club, Mayor, Mike Bird, redundancies, Silly, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
15 Comments
Lichfield discovered – everyday objects tell wonderful stories tonight!
I see that there Kate Cardigan from the wonderful Lichfield Lore is going from strength to strength with her informal and fun Lichfield local history group, Lichfield Discovered. Now they’ve got the basics sorted, the Lichfield Discovered Group are moving on to … Continue reading
Posted in Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged 12th April, 2013, Dave, David, Discovered, event, Events, Everyday Items, Facebook, Garrick Studi, Kate Gomez, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Lore, Moore, New Photos, Panoramio, Sandfields, Silly, Staffordshire, Talk, Theatre, Things to do, Twitter
2 Comments
Doing the Locomotion
Back last weekend, local wildlife expert, ecologist and local historian Chaz Mason got in touch, asking for help with a picture of an old steam locomotive that he’s got hold of – he wasn’t sure about the origins of the engine, but thought it was something unusual.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Wildlife
Tagged 0-6-0T, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Chasewaterstuff, Chaz Mason, Clayhanger, Hartley Main Colliery, John Daft, local blogs, Local History, Locomotive, New Photos, Steam Train, Things to do, USA Class, Wildlife
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Identifying a rarity?
Writer of the best local wildlife blog there is, Chaz Mason, has been in touch asking for help with a rarity he’s got a photo of in the wild – he’s not sure if it’s a migrant species or just a very unusual native, but would like help from fellow enthusiasts to help him get a definite tick in his book.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Wildlife
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Clayhanger, local blogs, Local History, New Photos, Things to do, Wildlife
3 Comments
Bonfire & Fireworks at Walsall Wood FC this evening!
If you’re at a loose ed this afternoon, or are looking for a great firework party to take the kids to, there’s a great event at the Walsall Wood Football Club Ground, Oak Park, Walsall Wood, this evening (Sunday, 3rd November 2013), kicking off at 4:00pm.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged bonfire night, Events, FC, fireworks, football, Footy, Good of the Wood, Lichfield, November, Oak Park, party, soccer, Sunday, Things to do, Walsall Wood, Walsall WOod FC
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Do the walk…
Andy Dennis touches on a sporting phenomena which seems to largely have lapsed: pedestrianism, to which these days, power or nordic walking would be comparable.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged Anglesey Arms, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Chase Inn, ercury, Events, Fleur de lys, Gerald Reece, john, Lichfield, Local History, Pedestrian, Pedestrianism, Pubs, Samuel Jones, Shingler, Silly, Staffordshire, Walking match, Wallace
4 Comments
I love this place with all my heart
I have no doubt you’ll remember the video I posted a couple of weeks ago ‘Luv’in the Black Country’ by local filmmakers Black Country Cinema – it caused quite a stir at the time, and I’m very excited by what these talented folks are doing.
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Posted in Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged Andrew J. Walker, Black Country Cinema, Canal, Distinctly Black Country, Facebook, Film, Jaspal Singh, local blogs, Local History, Manjeet S. Gill, Matthew E. Carter, New Photos, Things to do, Twitter, Youtube
3 Comments
Lane’s end
In the circles of my cycling mates, I’m fairly well known for my forthright and controversial vies on cycle facilities – bike lanes, shared use paths, coloured bits of tarmac etc – that generally non-cycling traffic engineers create to try to make junctions easier for us on two wheels.
Posted in Bad Science, cycling, Environment, Events, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Council
Tagged Advance Stop Line, ASL, Beyond the Kerb, Bez, Bikeability, Cheap tat, Cycle rides, Cyclecraft, cycling, cycling facilities, cyle safety, danger, Darlaston, Lichfield, Lichwheeld, Local politics, Lorries, New Photos, planning, Politics, Silly, Things to do, Tipping out the paint, Vehicular cycling
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Is this your ferret?
Hi folks – I spotted on Facebook that a clearly mislaid, meandering mustelid has been found in the Whitehorse Road area of Brownhills.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Wildlife
Tagged Brownhills, Canal, Chase Ferret Rescue, Chasewater, Chasewon, Dale Preece Kelly, Events, Facebook, Ferret, found, Lichfield, Lost, New Photos, Newtown, Norton, Reservoir, Silly, Staffordshire, Things to do, White's 1854 Pipehill, Wildlife
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Not worth the paper it’s written on
The saga of Aldridge Manor and the winding down of youth services in Walsall is still rumbling on, and the issue is still being pursued by doughty campaigner Linda Mason – in a post on her blog a few days ago Lind detailed a recent letter she has received from Walsall Council which appears to be in almost total denial of the facts.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, 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 Aldridge Manor, by election, Cheap tat, Closure, Councillors, cuts, Facebook, Independent, Liberal Democrat, Linda Mason, 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
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A walk in the woods
Just a headsup for folks interested in Lichfield history, geography and miscellany – top local historian, blogger and cardigan enthusiast Kate Gomez from the wonderful Lichfield Lore has organised a walk tomorrow around the woods, lanes and greens of Leomansley.
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Posted in Churches, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media
Tagged cardigan, Christ Church, Events, guide, history, Kate Gomez, Leomansley, Lichfield, Lichfield Lore, local blogs, Local History, Marin Heath Hall, New Photos, Silly, Staffordshire, Sunday 6th October 2013, Things to do, walk
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Generous to a tea!
Bonita Clayton from Brownhills Community Association has been in touch to let me know that their recent fundraising event for Macmillan went very well indeed, and asked if I could thank all those who took part. It is, of course, my … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Just plain daft, Local media, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media
Tagged 27th September, Activity Centre, Bonita Clayton, Brownhills, Brownhills community association, cancer, charity, Coffee Morning, Eamonn Regan, Events, fundraising, Macmillan, sponsor, support, team, Things to do, Worlds Biggest
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Staffordshire Hoard talk at Chasewater Innovation Centre tonight
hoard Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills Hoard, Brownhills local history, Burntwood, campaign, Chasewater, Hammerwich, Hoard trail, information, Local History, Local politics, memorial, monument, Ogley Hay, Staffordshire, Staffordshire hoard, Statue, Warrenhuse, West Midlands
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Brownhills Wilkinson raise £120 for MacMillan!
I asked Nicole Quinn from Wiklinson, Brownhills to let me know how she and her workmates got on with their MacMillan World’s Biggest Coffee Morning event last Friday, and good to her word, Nicole has kindly let me know that the team raised £120.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 27th September, Brownhills, cancer, charity, Coffee Morning, Events, fundraising, Macmillan, Nicole Quinn, Ravens Court, sponsor, Stores, support, team, Things to do, Twitter, Wilkinson, Wilko, Worlds Biggest
2 Comments
Bettered its manners
Last weekend I introduced readers to one of my longstanding passions – the 1930s gazetteer series that is Arther Mee’s ‘Kings England’ – back then, I broached the subject with Arthurs florid, but charming take on Wall, the little local village with the big Roman history.
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Posted in Churches, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged 1930's, Arthur Mee, Dora, Dorothy Pattison, Gazetteer, George Henry Carless, Kings England, Lichfield, Local History, New Photos, Panoramio, S N Webster, Sister, Staffordshire, Walsall, Walsall Council
13 Comments
Not what I’d hoped
Yesterday was my usual annual visit to the Cycle Show at the NEC, Birmingham, which I usually love – however, this year’s event left me feeling somewhat disappointed.
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Posted in cycling, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local media, News, Shared media, Social Media
Tagged 2013, Birmingham, BMW, Condor, Continental, Cycle rides, Cycle show, cycling, disability cycling, disappointment, electric bikes, Enigma, Events, Hope, let down, NEC, new bikes, New Photos, Things to do
2 Comments
Two sugars please!
Further to yesterday’s plug for the Brownhills Wilkinson Macmillan Coffee Morning Event, Bonita Clayton and Eamonn Regan from Brownhills Community Association have been in touch to point out they have an event planned as part of the same fundraising campaign.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Just plain daft, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media
Tagged 27th September, Activity Centre, Bonita Clayton, Brownhills, Brownhills community association, cancer, charity, Coffee Morning, Eamonn Regan, Events, fundraising, Macmillan, sponsor, support, team, Things to do, Worlds Biggest
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Join in the world’s biggest coffee morning!
Nicole Quinn and her friend Sally have been in touch – they’re just two of the great community minded folk who work at the Wilkinson store in Brownhills, and they’ve informed me that they have organised an event as part of the Macmillan Coffee Morning campaign, set to take place in Brownhills this Friday morning from 10:30-12:30.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Just plain daft, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media
Tagged 27th September, Brownhills, cancer, charity, Coffee Morning, Events, fundraising, Macmillan, Nicole Quinn, Ravens Court, sponsor, Stores, support, team, Things to do, Twitter, Wilkinson, Wilko, Worlds Biggest
2 Comments
The gold hoard to arrive in Brownhills at last…
My apologies to top fellow and friend of the blog David Hodgkinson, as quite frankly, I forgot this one, and it’s quite important for Staffordshire Hoard fans and local historians alike.
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Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged Brian Stringer, Brownhills, Brownhills Hoard, Brownhills local history, Burntwood, campaign, Chase Heritage Group, Chasewater, David Hogkinson, Hammerwich, Hoard trail, information, Lichfield Live, Local History, Local politics, memorial, monument, Ogley Hay, Peter Walker, Robert Carr, SCAMP, Staffordshire, Staffordshire hoard, Statue, Warrenhuse, West Midlands
3 Comments
A ghost of a chance…
Ghosts and such things; a rumination…
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Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills Barry, Brownhills local history, Brownhills Market, Clayhanger, Cycle rides, Derelict, folklore, Ghost, haunting, local blogs, Local History, New Photos, Nick Duffy, oral, Panoramio, Pubs, Redevelopment, Silly, Staffordshire, story, Tesco, Tesco Development, Things to do, Walsall Wood, West Midlands Ghost Club
4 Comments
Nailed it
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1880, a, AJP Photography, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Local History, Maker, Nail, Nailer, New Photos, Pedro, Peter Cutler, Shop, Staffordshire, The Graphic, Tony Parsons, Walsall, Walsall Wood, Women
10 Comments
Put on your top hat…
Okey dokey, I have no idea – The Dorsets were a famous footballing family in Brownhills, but this man doesn’t look like a centre forward to me.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged ale, Barrel, beer, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, David Evans, Dorset, gentleman, keg, Mr. Dorset, Mystery, New Photos, outdoors, top hat
11 Comments
The cruel Manor of their deception
I’d like to flag up a very angry post Lind Mason has written about the situation with Walsall Council’s Youth Service and the vexed question of Aldridge Manor – the Councillors may have wandered away now that the election is over, the Council Officers may be trying to fob us off, but neither I nor Linda have forgotten the issue of Aldridge Manor and the winding down of youth services in Walsall.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, 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 Aldridge Manor, by election, Cheap tat, Closure, Councillors, cuts, Facebook, Independent, Liberal Democrat, Linda Mason, 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
8 Comments
Inner Hays
Here’s another ride cam for all those who ask for them – including Trev in Oz, Rob Flodders and BillyTheBez – this one is edited, realtime bits of a mostly off road journey from Jerry’s Lane, near Weeford, up the bridleway that is Knox’s Grave Lane to Packington, then into the wonderful Hopwas Hayes Wood.
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Posted in Cannock Chase, cycling, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Just plain daft, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Wildlife
Tagged 1984, Advisory Circle, bike, Bridleway, Cam, Cycle rides, cycling, Downhill, Events, fable, firing range, GoPro, green, grenade, Hantology, Hays Wood, Hill, Hopwas, John Brooks, Knoxs Grave Lane, Mountain Bike, Packington, Rainbow, ride, Staffordshire, Tamworth Time Hikes, Things to do, Witches
3 Comments
The dirty old town I love
I’ve never made any secret of the fact that I love the Black Country with all my heart – this dirty, post-industrial powerhouse of a place has been prominent throughout my life, although, technically, I live outside it. 
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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 birthday, Bullstake, Darlaston, Derelict, FH Lloyd, GKN, Local History, Local politics, New Photos, Panoramio, planning, Politics, Redevelopment, Rubery Owen, Silly, Staffordshire, Tony Martin, Vandalism, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood, Wilkings and Mitchell
43 Comments
Chasing the rainbow
I’m still, after several decades, exploring Cannock Chase – since getting wonderfully lost around the quarries near Bevin’s Birches last week, I’ve developed a thirst for spots I’ve not been before.
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Posted in Cannock Chase, cycling, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Just plain daft, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Wildlife
Tagged bike, Cam, Cannock Chase, Cycle rides, cycling, Events, fable, forest, GoPro, green, Hill, Marquis Drive, Moors Gorse, Mountain Bike, Neil Cowley Trio, Rainbow, ride, Staffordshire, Stonepit, Things to do
3 Comments
Some Mummers do have ’em
There is a long tradition in British history of Mummer’s Plays – folkloric parables, stories and satires – performed for the benefit of the working classes by mostly itinerant actors and Walsall has seen a revival of this very old tradition in recent years with the plays written by former Walsall Wood teacher and local arts supremo Dave Calcutt.
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Posted in Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Local music, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged 1st September, 2013, 31st August, amateur dramatics, Bayards Colts, Bloxwich, Bloxwich Telegraph, Bookmark Theatre, Dave Calcutt, Events, free, Glen Buglass, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Mummers, Night Market, Performance, Robin Hood and the Giant, Saturday, Silly, Staffordshire, Street Theatre, Stuart Williams, Sunday, The Cart Before The Horse, Theatre, Things to do, Walsall, Walsall Council
10 Comments
Back down the old Kit Bag
I had fun over Cannock Chase yesterday, exploring the area around Wolseley Plain and the old quarries near Bevin’s Birches – while there, I also cycled down Kitbag Hill, the sharp semi-road incline that forms part of Marquis Drive between the old RAF Hednesford and visitor’s centre and the old level crossing at Moor’s Gorse.
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Posted in Cannock Chase, cycling, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Just plain daft, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Wildlife
Tagged bike, Birches Valley, Cam, Cannock Chase, Cycle rides, cycling, Events, forest, GoPro, Happy Dog, Just Brothers, Kitbag Hill, Marquis Drive, Moors Gorse, Mountain Bike, New Bridge, ride, Rodrigo Y Gabriella, Santa Domingo, Sliced Tomatoes, Staffordshire, Things to do
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