BrownhillsBob's Brownhills Blog

Long term readers will remember the annual music and fun festival that’s taken place on the smallholding just off the A5 at Newtown, Brownhills every summer – except last year, when it was cancelled due to the pandemic.

Obviously none of us can predict the future, but things are looking good for summer right now and I think we all need a good time this tp look forward to.

For 2021 the music, entertainment and fun returns, and takes place from Friday 6th to Sunday 8th August 2021, and tickets are now on sale. It promises to be the summer event we all need.

Tickets range in price from £2.50 for a kid’s Sunday only ticket  to just £25 for the whole weekend which is smashing value I think you’ll agree – click here to browse options and purchase yours.

There are a fantastic range of bands including Fleetwood Mad, The Endings, Maxwell Avenue, Tinalien, Martian Social Club, Caroline Bella, NOT QUITE DEAD YET, One Eyed Dog Band, Those Fine Strangers, Magnalium, The Arosa, Robbie Joyce, The Fazys, Big Indie Rocks, BlackSheep and loads more.

There will be all the usual festival fun like sideshows, great food, bar and a great crowd.

Martin, the organiser, posted the following on the festival Facebook Page.

I wish everyone the best for this and it’s always good to see local music events.

I am honoured today to be able to share with readers an archive gallery of images that are of Chasewater and the Speedboat Club in the earliest years, when the lake was still surrounded by the remnants of mining history and the BRD Company of Aldridge were using the reservoir to test the outboard boat engines they were developing.

Image courtesy of David Hughes.

The full story is in my original post from some some years ago, where David Hughes explains that his father, Reg, was engaged in the development of the motor:

In the late 1950s the BRD Company in Aldridge started to develop an outboard motor for powerboats.

The engine was called the Bermuda. I was told at the time that the name was chosen because it was ‘exotic’ and contained the letters BRD in order.

After the Staffordshire Hydroplane Boating Club gave their permission, most of the engine testing was carried out at Chasewater.  The Bermuda project team spent many days testing the prototype engines and entered them in many powerboat races held at Chasewater. In 1961 they were 1^st and 2^nd fastest in the ‘D’ class times in the boat builder trials at Chasewater.

Recently, David has found an archive of photos taken of the testing, trials and competitions of the time online, and has obtained them for me to share here. The images are naturally taken, of variable quality but it has to be said they are fascinating and a real document of the times, company and project.

David wrote:

Bob

Recently whist looking on Flickr I came across over 100 old (B&W) photographs of Chasewater. Much to my surprise I found out that they were taken by my father!

You may remember a few years ago I sent you an article about BRD in Aldridge building outboard motors and testing them at Chasewater. The photographs are of that period and mainly taken from the speedboat clubhouse area.

Many are poor quality and just show a lot of water! However there are some quite good ones.

All the photos are from the early 1960’s and relate directly to the previous information which I sent about BRD Bermuda outboard motors. Bermuda appears frequently.

There are many similar shots, but I think overall they provide an interesting view of Chasewater.

Many thanks
David Hughes

As is often the case, study the background, too – it’s interesting. This is a document of Chasewater when it was still effectively a polluted industrial wasteland, before the leisure era fully kicked in. It’s fascinating.

The gallery is massive, and to see any image in detail, click on it for a larger version.

Thanks to David for sharing it with us – it’s truly stunning and I thank him from the bottom of my heart for his generosity and for completing the circle.

If you want to read the ‘Early Days at BRD’ book, you can download a copy from this post here in electronic form – and don;t forget the origins of this story below the gallery!

Image courtesy of David Hughes. Click any image for a larger version.

Original post:

The endurance boat as it finished the 7day trial. Image very kindly supplied by David Hughes – please click for a larger version.

There are two subjects I really wish I could feature more of here on the Brownhills Blog – recent, postwar history and images of Chasewater, and more on local industry, like the BRD – well, today I get to feature both are reader David Hughes recently sent me the following article out of the blue, and it tells of a bit of local history I didn’t know: the BRD in Aldridge experimented with boat motors.

Thanks to David for a wonderfully informative article, and for highlighting the innovative nature of local industry. I nearby appeal for scans of the BRD book if anyone can manage it as I think it would be a lovely addition to the works here on the blog, and I know many readers are interested in the history of the company.

David Hughes wrote:

Chasewater and  the BRD

In the late 1950s the BRD Company in Aldridge started to develop an outboard motor for powerboats.

Early (cold) days in the building of the powerboat club. Image very kindly supplied by David Hughes – please click for a larger version.

The engine was called the Bermuda. I was told at the time that the name was chosen because it was ‘exotic’ and contained the letters BRD in order.

After the Staffordshire Hydroplane Boating Club gave their permission, most of the engine testing was carried out at Chasewater.  The Bermuda project team spent many days testing the prototype engines and entered them in many powerboat races held at Chasewater. In 1961 they were 1^st and 2^nd fastest in the ‘D’ class times in the boat builder trials at Chasewater.

Boats preparing for one of the races at Chasewater. Image very kindly supplied by David Hughes – please click for a larger version.

However, the most exciting test was the one which took place around November 1961 when a team of 20 men took turns to drive a twin Bermuda engine boat round Chasewater for 24 hour a day for 7 days. They covered around 4000 miles. This kind of endurance test had never been done before and gave the company national and international attention.

My father, Reg Hughes, was a development engineer on the Bermuda project and was one of the drivers. He drove the boat on the night shift and it was an experience he would never forget.

Four of the BRD staff involved in the project including my father on the right and I think that second from the left is the ex-speedway rider Vic Emms. Image very kindly supplied by David Hughes – please click for a larger version.

As a result of his involvement with the project our family often found itself at Chasewater watching the racing and sometimes manning the rescue boats. We also spent many weekends in Aberdovey where the salt water testing took place.

I hope this is of interest
David Hughes

The cover of ‘Early days at BRD’ which is a fascinating book that documents the Bermuda history among many other events at the BRD. Image very kindly supplied by David Hughes – please click for a larger version.

William Thompson, Overman, the bearded gent in the bowler, and his brother Charles with the folded arms to the right. What a remarkable image.

It’s always nice to know the blog has helped a reader in some small way and today I can share with readers a fine email I’ve had thanking me for scanning and posting the booklet ‘Old Chasetown’ on the blog I back in 2016 for readers to download.

The real thanks are of course due to Stuart, who donated the booklet, and David Evans who scanned it for us!

Alan Thompson found the work, originally published in 1980 as a schools research project marshalled by Staffordshire County Council, invaluable in his pursuit of information about his family history. Alan’s Great Grandfather was Overman at Chasetown Colliery, and the book not only details this, but carries a photo of William and his Brother Charles, which has clearly been quite a find.

Alan wrote:

Hello Bob

I have recently been seeking information on my family history and was told that I should read the remarkable work on Chasetown, ‘Old Chasetown’ published by Staffordshire County Council as a local schools project in 1980 and posted on your blog several years ago for download.

On page 8 there is mention of my Great Grandfather William Thompson and his brother Charles. You can imagine my delight at finding not only this information but also the photograph.

The passing of respected overman William Thompson, as reported in the Lichfield Mercury of Friday 23 November 1923. Image kindly supplied by Alan Thompson.

I have recently found a rather good obituary piece on William would you have any knowledge on where he lived and if the church is still there?

Once the current restrictions are over I would like to visit the area. I have enclosed the obituary piece.

Thank you for posting the pdf file and for any information you can share.

Alan Thompson

Well, St Annes – purportedly the first church in Britain to be lit by electric light – is still there (well, it was last week…) and still an under-appreciated architectural gem: The cemetery is still opposite and will soon be full of gorgeous crocuses as it usually is in Springtime (if not already).

St Annes, Chasetown, is a remarkable piece of ecclesiastical architecture. Image from my 365days journal.

If you can help Alan with any details of his Great Grandfather or the Thompson family in general, please do get in touch: I’m sure many family historians currently confined to barracks will be only too happy to have a scout around the resources on Alan’s behalf.

St. Annes in springtime: Always a delight. From my 365days journal.

You can comment on this post, mail me on BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com or tug my shirt on social media.

Thanks to Alan for his kind words and letting us know how useful he’d found the upload on the blog. It really makes doing this worthwhile. Thank you.

Here’s the original post, where you can read about ‘Old Chasetown’, and download your own copy free.

‘Old Chasetown’ includes some amazing images like this one, of workers in a local colliery.

Thanks to the immense generosity of reader and old pal of the blog Stuart, and the tireless work of the young David Evans, I can share with you something rather special today: a book on Chasetown history entitle ‘Old Chasetown’2, published in a very limited run – very probably  1980.

The book – very reminiscent of the slightly later Brownhills History one featured here a couple of years ago – was created mainly by school kids from three local schools with adult help. It’s over 100 pages long, with loads of good quality images – many of which I’ve certainly never seen before – and lots of interesting, engaging prose.

The introduction notes the following:

During 1979, three of the local Chasetown schools were involved in a project to “mine” historical records, documents and photographs of the area, which undoubtedly lay under the depths of “overburden” in drawers, trunks or in attics. Children of the St. Joseph’s, Chasetown Primary and Oakdene Schools acted as mining “agents”, and many “seams” of interesting material were discovered, unearthed and finally”mined”. As editors we would like to thank the children, parents and friends concerned for the interest shown. This little pamphlet is an example of child/adult co-operation which is the basis and substance of the educational style of today. The young learn from those experienced in life who have a story to tell. The enthusiasm of the young and the archives of those older have provided us with the material from which this selection has been made.

Reader Stuart found the book in his loft, and kindly shared it with the young David Evans, who has scanned it beautifully. David emailed me the scans, and I’ve combined them into a text-searchable PDF file. You can download your copy at the link below.

Old Chasetown (PDF file, 44.3 megabytes)

You can also peruse the first 20 pages in the gallery at the foot of this post; click any page to see a legible version.

This is now the complete version with the missing pages restored! If you downloaded a copy of the original, please download this one instead.

Like the Brownhills book, this is a remarkable work, completed long before the internet. That said, some of the material is open to debate, and I welcome views on some aspects – so if you see anything that makes you think, please do shout up.

Maybe you remember the book, or were involved in some way. I’d love to hear your story.

You can comment here or mail me: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com.

This is an incredible piece of work, and I salute all involved – it’s great to be able to share it with the community. Thanks to Stuart for his immense generosity and patience, too. A real gentleman.

A few weeks ago I featured a post here telling the remarkable story of a soldier from Walsall Wood – Trooper Henry Hall – who died in the liberation of Dieteren in The Netherlands from Nazi occupation, and of the remarkable endeavour being undertaken there by historian Henk Penders and his fellow historians who are gradually building up a documented history to honour those lost in the relief of their village.

Much work is still ongoing both here, undertaken by the indefatigable David Evans and of course back in Dieteren, yet I think we are still to find any relatives of Henry. If we could find someone, it would be most wonderful. The search is still ongoing.

In the meantime, Henk sent me this remarkable film, covering the liberation of Susteren and the part in that battle played by Major John Evans, who lost an arm there, not far from Dieteren. It is a stunning and emotive piece of work and beautifully crafted, but also gut-wrenching in it’s realism.

Henk said:

A local made documentary film about the liberation of Susteren and Major John Evans who got injured (lost his arm) during the battle.

After [the] war a school [which later became derelict and was demolished] was named after Major Evans and there is a street named after him.

On the house were he got injured there is a plaquette about it.

The film was made by Cor Voorter and Ton Vranken, two people I know. They live in Susteren and that is their focus.

I have no contribution to the making of it.

I researched the liberation of Dieteren, this was the first objective of operation Blackcock, this was for long unknown to the local people as only the liberation of Susteren was known.

Henk Penders

It’s worth noting that the name of the offensive – Operation Blackcock – was nothing to do with Henry Hall or Walsall Wood, although there is a notable pub in Walsall Wood called The Black Cock. How much of a coincidence is that?

My thanks to Henk for pointing out this film – it’s great to see the people of The Netherlands honouring those who fell so beautifully and with such attention to detail. May we never forget. Thanks are also due to David Evans, whose energy in this enquiry is wonderful and ceaseless.

I include the original post below, and would ask readers to note that the request for relatives of Henry Hall is still live and ongoing.

If you can help, please comment here, mail me on BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com or tug my sleeve on social media.

Original post:

Hello folks – I have a very important request here from blog contributor, friend and historian David Evans who is helping a team from the Netherlands uncover the history of the forces that liberated their village of Dieteren in 1945. One of the lads to be lost was from Walsall Wood, Trooper Henry Hall.

‘Dieteren, Occupied by the Germans May 10, 1940 Liberated by the English January 16, 1945’ – Image from Henk Penders and the Liberation of Dieteren website to which he contributes.

My thanks and best wishes to all involved in this, it’s a stunning example of collaborative history and international cooperation, which is hugely prescient in light of the times.

I’ll let David explain:

Very recently a request was posted in the comments on Brownhills Bob’s blog for information about a Walsall Wood soldier who had been killed in action in the Netherlands during the Second World War.

Thanks to the wonders of technology – the blog primarily, the internet , the super help given by fellow reader and contributor Andy Dennis, it has been possible to complete most of the request.

In the Netherlands  there is an ongoing local history project to honour those who gave their lives to liberate the village of Dieteren, whereby local resident Mr Henk Penders and others have been compiling a book.

Following a Messenger call with Henk he sent me these links to the site detailing the history – they are in Dutch but if you open in Chrome they translate beautifully to English – they detail a remarkable military liberation operation in which Trooper Hall from Walsall Wood gave his all:

Main site – click here.

The last crossing The Story of Trooper Johnston and the Canadian Kangaroos – part 1

The last crossing The Story of Trooper Johnston and the Canadian Kangaroos – part 2

The remarkable level of detail in what is a fascinating story, both of the events and subsequent historical detective work, is a credit to Henk and those involved. It’s a touching and wonderful thing.

So here’s where help is needed from the community: What of  Trooper Hall?

A sobering document, generously shared by Henk Penders via David Evans. Click for a larger version.

Trooper Henry Hall served in the 9th Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry. The 1939 census confirms the military record, and that he lived in Walsall Road, Walsall Wood before enlisting.

image from the Mayo collection,. from ‘Memories of Old Walsall Wood’ by Bill Mayo and John Sale.

David and Henk are trying to locate surviving members of the Hall family, that Henry may be honoured for his sacrifice. It’s possible that Ivy Hall may still be living locally (that would be possibly Ivy’s maiden name).

If you can help, please contact Bob by commenting here, or emailing him on BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com, or pull him aside and have a word on social media, please.

I would like to express my personal thanks to Mr Andy Dennis for his help and to Brownhills Bob for his expertise and assistance, and to Mr Henk Penders in the Netherlands for his amazing work to honour our fallen.

David

A quick one for now while I sort out another post, but this remarkable image came to light a couple of weeks ago, posted on Facebook by Gill Brown. It shows Gill’s grandfather, Henry Penton standing in the crater caused by a wartime bomb dropping near his house during the war.

Henry lived at Spinney Cottage, near Home Farm (Lanes, or Brawn’s Farm, Sandhills).

We’ve been aware that a bomb fell on the farmland here for a while, but scant and conflicting detail existed. It’s believed a horse was killed by the explosion, the unfortunate creature belonging to Mr. Pelari, one of Brownhills’ two ice cream men. The horse pulled Mr Pelari’s ice cream cart.

Whilst there were raids when incendiary devices fell oil the town, actual bombs were few and far between in Brownhills, so this must have been quite a spectacle, and it’s by pure chance that nobody was hurt. There was, apparently, significant damage to nearby houses.

The bomb that caused this crater will not have been a huge one in the scale of these things: Farm soil like this is loose, and will have piled around the void. But it’s a huge crater and must have taken a lot of work to fill. Odd there seems no sign of it today. Image kindly supplied by Gill Brown.

Gill said of the image:

My great grandfather Henry Penton born in 1877. 1940’s in bomb crater, adjacent to Spinney cottage. Sandhills. Brownhills. This is where Henry Penton Lived.

I’d like to thank Gill for this remarkable image, and ask readers what the know about this incident? One of the oddest things about this is there seems to be no trace of the crater in the current landscape, and we’re wondering if anyone knows the approximate spot where the bomb fell.

Both myself and David Evans have scoured maps and aerial imagery and we can’t really find any trace: So we’d love to hear what readers recall – not just of this incident but of any others locally.

Home Farm, Sandhills in current Google Earth aerial imagery. Where did this bomb-blast happen? There really is no discernible trace in the current landscape we can see. Click for a larger version.

This really is another incidence that local history continually throws up new material and I’m really pleased and amazed to see this picture. It just goes to show the danger that the country faced in wartime.

If you have anything to say, please do contribute: You can email me on BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com,, comment on this post or pull me to one side on social media.

Here’s a great one from reader Peter Gibbs who’s making a rather wonderful enquiry relating to an incident in Chasetown/Burntwood in 1917 which seems to have been the talk of the area!

I’ll let Peter explain. This is, genuinely wonderful and I’ve not seen anything like this before. Peter raises some great questions aside from the final showstopper, so any help at all would be welcome.

A SPAD S.XIII – probably the type of biplane Frederick Gibbs piloted, if not certainly a close relative of it. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

Peter wrote:

Hello Brownhills Bob

Chris Graddon suggested you might be able to help.

I have recently become a member of the Burntwood Family History Group (BFHG) in order to trace the history of my father’s family who came from a line of Walsall and Chasetown miners. After his father, Albert John (Jack) Gibbs 1865-1940, had three sons and two daughters however, all three boys became headmasters. I have been interested to learn how, at a time when boys of twelve went routinely into the mines, my grandparents were willing and able to support the boys through their education.

The first of Jack’s sons, my Uncle Fred (b.1894), became a WW1 ‘flying ace’ and was awarded the Military Cross as noted in a Wikipedia page for FJ Gibbs. A story handed down in the family told of the time Fred landed his plane in a field, possibly the ‘Rec’, in Burntwood. A crowd quickly gathered to see the new flying contraption at close quarters. The story has it that Fred picked up my Grandmother and took her for a ‘spin’ over Chasetown.

Lichfield Mercury. Friday 14th September 1917. Remarkable stuff!

Chris found a short report in the Lichfield Mercury of Friday 14th September 1917 describing a plane landing in Burntwood but no name, no picture. He wondered if you might have any ideas? If so I’d be grateful for any help – or for any other scraps of info on the Gibbs family.

Best wishes
Peter Gibbs

Thanks to Peter for a fascinating enquiry: If you have anything to add, please do – either comment here, mail me on BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com or tug my coat on social media.

How fantastic is this?

Hello folks – I have a very important request here from blog contributor, friend and historian David Evans who is helping a team from the Netherlands uncover the history of the forces that liberated their village of Dieteren in 1945. One of the lads to be lost was from Walsall Wood, Trooper Henry Hall.

‘Dieteren, Occupied by the Germans May 10, 1940 Liberated by the English January 16, 1945’ – Image from Henk Penders and the Liberation of Dieteren website to which he contributes.

My thanks and best wishes to all involved in this, it’s a stunning example of collaborative history and international cooperation, which is hugely prescient in light of the times.

I’ll let David explain:

Very recently a request was posted in the comments on Brownhills Bob’s blog for information about a Walsall Wood soldier who had been killed in action in the Netherlands during the Second World War.

Thanks to the wonders of technology – the blog primarily, the internet , the super help given by fellow reader and contributor Andy Dennis, it has been possible to complete most of the request.

In the Netherlands  there is an ongoing local history project to honour those who gave their lives to liberate the village of Dieteren, whereby local resident Mr Henk Penders and others have been compiling a book.

Following a Messenger call with Henk he sent me these links to the site detailing the history – they are in Dutch but if you open in Chrome they translate beautifully to English – they detail a remarkable military liberation operation in which Trooper Hall from Walsall Wood gave his all:

Main site – click here.

The last crossing The Story of Trooper Johnston and the Canadian Kangaroos – part 1

The last crossing The Story of Trooper Johnston and the Canadian Kangaroos – part 2

The remarkable level of detail in what is a fascinating story, both of the events and subsequent historical detective work, is a credit to Henk and those involved. It’s a touching and wonderful thing.

So here’s where help is needed from the community: What of  Trooper Hall?

A sobering document, generously shared by Henk Penders via David Evans. Click for a larger version.

Trooper Henry Hall served in the 9th Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry. The 1939 census confirms the military record, and that he lived in Walsall Road, Walsall Wood before enlisting.

image from the Mayo collection,. from ‘Memories of Old Walsall Wood’ by Bill Mayo and John Sale.

David and Henk are trying to locate surviving members of the Hall family, that Henry may be honoured for his sacrifice. It’s possible that Ivy Hall may still be living locally (that would be possibly Ivy’s maiden name).

If you can help, please contact Bob by commenting here, or emailing him on BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com, or pull him aside and have a word on social media, please.

I would like to express my personal thanks to Mr Andy Dennis for his help and to Brownhills Bob for his expertise and assistance, and to Mr Henk Penders in the Netherlands for his amazing work to honour our fallen.

David

Rushall square as Dave Dunkley remembers it from his childhood. Image kindly shared by Dave.

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

Well, spurred on by this, Dave has sent me a couple of his paintings of the Rushall Square area as he remembers it from his childhood. Rushall Square today is the area around the old library, shops and Macdonalds restaurant; the Macdonalds is the former site of the George and Dragon pub in the pictures. The photographic studio there today used to be the local newsagent.

Dave said:

Hi Bob

I have attached two paintings I have done of Rushall 1950’s showing what I remember of the old police station.

Davis’s paper shop is now, or was when I lived at Rushall, Eileen Mason’s. It shows the George and Dragon, Whitehouses shop and the Congressional church in Station road.

The church in 1958 is where I attended my first year of Shelfield secondary modern. Upstairs Mrs Wilkes who taught the ”A” stream, me, downstairs in the ”B” stream taught by the dreaded Mrs Jarvis. Think every one in her class suffered a few strokes of the cane from her. Did us no harm.

The other painting is a bit of a joke illustration from another angle. I jokingly put on Lowry type people just for fun. The lad looking in the window at Davis’s could have been me looking at all the Dinky cars for sale.

Best wishes
Dave

A different angle on the same memory, complete with figures – see text.. Image kindly shared by Dave Dunkley.

Dave, once again you are most welcome, I really love your paintings. I’d be only too happy to share your work in future, as I am honoured once more to do so today.

My thanks to Dave, then, and come on readers – what do you remember of Rushall Square?

Please do let Dave and the readership know what you remember – comment here, mail me on BrownhillsBob at googlemmil dot com or whisper in my ear on social media.

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

Rushall station closed to passengers in 1909, but the buildings remained up until  the middle of the last century, at least.

The painting generated lots of warm memories and debate – and what I hoped might happen, has – top local rail historian Ian Pell has sent me a fascinating, illustrated response.

Local historian and author Clive Roberts emailed me this lovely scan of a photo he acquired from the moving sale for Walsall Local History Centre. We think it might be by Jack Haddock, and shows Rushall Station House roof, the house itself obscured by a bus waiting at the crossing. Image courtesy Clive Roberts.

It turned out that many remembered the level crossing with fondness – it was of course on the South Staffordshire Line that used to bisect Brownhills, mostly closed in 1984 – and a few remembered the old station itself.

Local historian Clive Roberts found the above photo in his collection he bought from the Local History Centre when it closed to move. It shows a steam loco passing the station with a Walsall Corporation bus sadly obscuring the building. We suspect this is a Jack Haddock picture.

Rushall Station in the 1950s, painted from memory by Dave Dunkley. Click for a full size version.

It turns out there don’t seem to be any good pictures of the station that have come to light yet, but Ian Pell assembled the evidence in his usual precise and fascinating manner. Once again I’d like to thank Ian for a lovely contribution and apologies for losing his original email otherwise this article would have been up sooner!

It’s a joy to feature work of this quality here, as it is to feature Dave’s painting, too – I love communal, collaborative local history like this.

So, what can you add? Comment here is welcome, you can mail me on BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com or pull me to one side on social media.

Ian Pell wrote:

Hi Bob,

Thoughts regarding Rushall station and crossing.

I love these drawings from people’s memories, a gentleman, Mr. Frank Allen, did several sketches and drawings of a similar nature for the Cannock line. The station building as is indicated in the 1958 photo certainly stayed the course of time, even if not used by the railway.  The platforms didn’t fair so well.  Readers may recall it was a steep drop from the back of the box to the adjacent field where cows often roamed.

There are a couple of technical notes to add – for the rivet counters – one is that the wicket gates were on the box side of the road and the other is that the window pattern on the front of the box was 2-3-2. But ,what a great effort from memory.  I only wish mine was as good.  I’m always confusing the down line with the up line!

Extract from 1912 LNW 2-chain map of the South Staffs line. Image courtesy Ian Pell.

This plan is taken from the 1912 LNW 2-chain map of the South Staffs line.  It shows the station after closure (1-3-1909) and gives an indication of a typical South Staffs station and station master’s house.  This is further borne out by the 1958’s photo below which was taken from one of those new fangled diesel multiple units.

1958 from a DMU heading north. Platelayers hut to the left, box with station building behind. Image courtesy Ian Pell.

Well Tim Spiers, it’s the best stab I have at a photo of the station house.  It was still being called this in 1958.

The station opened on 24-3-1856 along with another at Ryder’s Hays.  It closed as a direct result of tram competition and was the first station in the West Midlands to close in the 20^th century.

The crossing signal cabin replaced a previous one, located slightly further to the south of  Harden Road,  in October 1899, consisting of 10 levers and a crossing wheel.  The crossing and wicket gates were replace on 9^th December 1979 by lifting barriers.

Tinsley (Sheffield) to Eastleigh bound evening freight , 6 June 1975 – station site to the right. Image originally by John Whitehouse kindly supplied by Ian Pell.

In the 1960s an extensive transport depot was built to the north of the station site and at some time the station house was demolished, leaving a wedge of land which the engineer’s used.  The signal on the up line was eventually replaced with the colour light signal shown below.

Since then the transport depot by the crossing has been replaced by housing. The building had something to do with exports and imports from Ireland with some sort of bonded warehouse facility.

Kind regards
Ian

Former station site looking north, taken in the last week of the line being open for traffic, March 1984. Image courtesy Ian Pell.

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

This time Isaac again writes beautifully and in great detail  about a relative lost in the wake of the D Day invasion of Northern France, Lawrence Marklew, one of the many local lads to pay the highest price in that most decisive battle in an atrociously bloody conflict.

A memorial to the Normandy Landings is currently being built near the then ‘Gold Beach’, near the town of Ver-sur-Mer. Image from the Normandy Memorial Trust.

I’m always more than happy to feature reader articles here and I’m very keen to cover the stories of local service – wherever it was. We have featured many such stories here over the years from Cecil Arthur Burton MM to the fascinating story of an Anzac from Norton Canes, to the more personal recollections of the toll of war. If you would like to add to the body of such work here pleaser do get in touch.

My huge thanks to Isaac for yet another outstanding piece of local history – and it’s worth noting that his fund-raising skydive for charity is still open for donations – click here. A truly brave thing to do!

Anything to add? Please feel free: Comment here, mail me BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com or tap my shoulder on social media.

Isaac wrote:

Lawrence Marklew by Isaac Marklew-Brown 

Image generously supplied by Isaac Marklew-Brown. Click for a larger version.

Due to the great success of the last post on a Marklew soldier from Brownhills I thought I would do another one but this time one who paid the ultimate sacrifice in one of the greatest battles the world has ever seen known as D-Day. 

I try to cover every Marklew who has ever fought in military action as I’m motivated by the quote “The living owe it to those who no longer can speak to tell their story for them.” From Brownhills I am aware of three Brave Individuals who gave their all and sadly passed out of the sight of men by the path of duty. These are William Marklew who died in the First World War and Lawrence Marklew as well as Thomas H Marklew who died in the Second World War. These names can be seen on the Memorial in Brownhills. As an aspiring Army Officer I see it as essential to remember those who came before me and fought for our freedom.

Lawrence Marklew as pictured below which was found in the Newspaper archives was part of the 2nd battalion King’s Shropshire light infantry. 

Image generously supplied by Isaac Marklew-Brown. Click for a larger version.

The 2nd Battalion began the war in Jamaica, with a company detached to the Bermuda Garrison. The battalion would eventually join the 185th Infantry Brigade, which included the 2nd Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment and the 1st Battalion, Royal Norfolk Regiment. The brigade was originally assigned to the 79th Armoured Division, but was then transferred to the 3rd British Infantry Division in April 1943, when the division was preparing to invade Sicily, until it was replaced by the 1st Canadian Infantry Division. The battalion took part in the D-Day landings of Operation Overlord, where they failed to capture the D-Day objective of Caen due to the presence of the 21st Panzer Division. The 2nd Battalion fought in the Normandy Campaign, Operation Market Garden and the rest of the North West Europe Campaign with the British Second Army

2nd Battalion landed on Sword Beach on D-Day (6 June 1944), before fighting its way through France, Holland and Germany until May 1945. Lawrence Marklew was part of the soldiers who stormed the Beaches that day.

The following extract was written by a soldier present at the day of invasion known as Bob Littlar, he best can describe the actions in that period that both him and Lawrence were part of. This is Bob Littlar’s account of his D-Day experiences as a corporal in the 2nd Battalion King’s Shropshire Light Infantry:

To the Continent

“At about 9pm that night the four LCAs carrying our battalion quietly slipped out of the harbour and into the English Channel. We spent the entire Monday at sea, and we could see ships from horizon to horizon, all along the Channel. We’d all been issued with French francs, and to pass the time at sea the lads were playing cards and gambling with the foreign currency.

We’d also been issued with a terrible kind of soap, it was just about impossible to wash with the stuff. At 4am on 6 June, I was trying to shave using this stuff, and it was just impossible, so I decided I would just have to invade France wearing a moustache!

It was barely light at that time of the morning, but we could see that we were among war ships of all sorts. As we got closer to the coast of Normandy we could see smoke on the shoreline, from the long range battleship assault. We were all looking at this incredible sight when we were ordered to go below decks.

Image generously supplied by Isaac Marklew-Brown. Click for a larger version.

By now it was about 9am and the first brigade was already ashore and fighting. I went onto the deck to have a look at what was going on, and we were about 400 metres off shore. We could hear the sandbanks on the bottom of the boat, and we were very nervous about mines.

About 100 metres off shore we were ordered back on deck. On the front of the LCA there was a gangplank on each side of the bow, up on deck. When you get inshore they shoot these forward on pulleys, and you walk down. As the gangplanks went forward the chaps were nearly on them – it was no good hanging around because there was already shellfire coming at us. The boat on our right took a direct hit, making us very anxious.

The right hand ramp turned over with a whole lot of chaps on it, so everyone had to go down the left ramp. I think I was in the fifth section to go down. One of the naval chaps had tied a rope to the end of the gang plank, and had run onto the beach with it, so that we could all hold onto the rope to guide us onto the beach. Chaps were disappearing under the waves, you could just see their hands holding on to the rope. It was very comforting to finally get onto the sand, much better than being at sea.

We had been issued with waterproof waders that can keep you dry up to the chest, a bit like the ones fishermen wear. In theory this was great, but in practice it only worked if the water came up to your waist. Chaps were going under water and trying to wade out with these waterproofs absolutely filled to bursting.

Image generously supplied by Isaac Marklew-Brown. Click for a larger version.

I got out a knife and started slicing the waterproofs of the chaps that were struggling to walk on shore wearing these things. I did this for about seven or eight blokes, the men in my group. Then I looked around and saw a sea wall, about two or three foot high, and I sheltered behind it on my own. My sergeant came up to me and said, ‘You’re not going to win this war on your own, get your men.’

I could see smoke, and smouldering tanks that had been blown up earlier. The seafront area had already been taken, but there was still some resistance and we were still being fired on.

Image generously supplied by Isaac Marklew-Brown. Click for a larger version.

Trying to meet objectives

We were supposed to assemble in an orchard, and I was concentrating on that. Eventually we moved off inland, on the road to Caen. We walked past what must have been lovely seafront houses in peaceful days. We were moving south towards our assembly area, and suddenly I could see a German plane coming from my left. He was dropping what I could only describe as oil bombs. I could see them bursting, and the flames going up and spreading.

We were carrying Bangalore torpedoes, and I turned to the lads and said, ‘Dump those in the ditch, quickly, and lie on the road – it’s our only hope if they explode.’ Fortunately the bomber missed the road. We decided to leave the Bangalore torpedoes behind.

We eventually got to the orchard where our battalion was gathering, and were organised into company groups. We were getting shelled, I have no idea where from. A piece of shrapnel hit my lance corporal, it cut his boot open and you could see flesh and blood sticking out through the hole. ‘That’s it,’ he said to me. ‘Cheerio, I’m off with the stretcher-bearers.’ That left me without a lance corporal.

We were meant to ride forward onto Periers Ridge with some tanks, but the tanks never showed up so the decision was taken that the battalion would move forward without the support of the tanks.

My company was to be the first one going up the left hand side of the road, and W company was to go up the right hand side. The concentration of fire on this ridge was incredible, and to this day I have no idea whether it was our boys or the enemy firing. Whoever it was, it wasn’t nice.

We left a space of at least five yards between each man as we moved up the hill, as we had been trained to do. This is to avoid a cluster of men being hit at once. The first bit was all right, but then we got closer and closer to this massive concentration of fire. I was so scared I got down on my hands and knees, and then onto my stomach. It was a baptism of fire, I had never seen anything like it. I think some of the fire was German, but some of it was our ships firing onto the ridge.

We eventually made it over the ridge and onto the southern slope, where the fire eased off a bit.

What I didn’t know at this time was that there was a German battery of six guns on the right-hand side of the road at Periers-sur-le-Dan. The brigadier had ordered our colonel to send a company to deal with that, and that reduced us to just three companies.

Heading for Beuville

We carried on towards Beuville, and in the distance I could see what I would call a wadi, with a small stream running through it. It was now coming up to midday and we had been going since 4am. I was feeling tired and decided that I would cross the stream at a bridge.

We could see the village on the other side of the river, but as we rounded a corner near the bridge, BAM! A chap from W company was hit by an incendiary, and killed instantly as the bandoliers of ammunition around his waist exploded.

I thought the fire had come from a farm on my left so I turned around and started shooting at the farmhouse. Took all the windows out. But of course, they fire from ground level. I wasn’t to know that – these things you learn on the job. I saw another company commander taking a hit in his shoulder, then tossing a grenade over a wall because he thought the fire had come from there, but in truth none of us had any idea where it had come from.

By this time three tanks had caught up with us, and one of the captains was leaning out, telling our lieutenant that he’d seen about 40 Germans going to a farm some 3,500 metres away.

My platoon commander ordered me to go across the road and around the right-hand flank of the village, to the meadows at the back of the buildings. We scrambled up the banks, heading for the back of the village. All the while we were being fired on by snipers.”

Image generously supplied by Isaac Marklew-Brown. Click for a larger version.

Image generously supplied by Isaac Marklew-Brown. Click for a larger version.

Unfortunately after successfully getting in land and taking part in the early stage battles of the invasion of Normandy Lawrence Marklew would lose his life. On the 14th of June 1944 at a mere 21 years old Lawrence was dead. This would have been a big shock in Brownhills back home and a great loss to the area. Many other heroes from Brownhills would lose their lives as well throughout the ghastly and brutal war and may they all rest in peace. Their duty is done.

Thank you for reading this. If you want any research done then please let me know I’m always more than happy to help. 

Isaac Marklew-Brown 

An interesting contribution today from veteran blog writer and local industrial historian Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler, who has once again been delving via the newspaper archives into the grizzly reality of life as a miner, rather than indulging the more airbrushed versions of the industry common on many local history fora and sites.

The General Strike of 1926 bit deeply in the local coalfields, and the ultimately unsuccessful fight against reducing wages and increasing working time was bitter and protracted – but did gain widespread local support.

The Westley Church was just over the bridge where the car workshop is today on the corner of Hall Lane and Lichfield Road in Walsall Wood. From ‘Memories of Old Walsall Wood’ by Bill Mayo a& John Sale.

Miners children were fed by charity, soup kitchens and ‘fighting funds’ operated by churches and newspapers. They literally stopped children from starving.

Meanwhile, the mine owners – choosing to exert the squeeze downwards rather than bear the load themselves – continued their showy largesse, social climbing and glad-handing.

I thank Peter from a fascinating eating article that really reaches into the reality of life at the time, and it’s great to see his return after somewhat of a break. Great to see you, old chap: Welcome back.

I’m sure this article will generate comment: Please feel free to throw in your shilling. Comment here, mail me on BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com or pull me to one side on social media.

Peter wrote:

Birmingham Gazette 11 June 1926. Click for a larger version.

Hi Bob,

I came across this picture from the Birmingham Gazette of June 1926. It shows miners children in Hednesford on their way to the food depot during the General strike of 1926. It mentions the Birmingham Evening Despatch ‘Shilling Fund’ which set up in June 1926.

‘The Fund has a splendid send-off but deeper inquires showed more urgent was the need. The situation in Hednesford and district is that over 10,000 children are in need of food. Last week 5408 children were provided with from two to four meals during the week. The cost 6d per child for the week. In Pelsall District [It covered a bigger area than Pelsall – Bob] it is stated that nearly 20,000 children are going hungry. Poverty came up on miners of the Chase during the first week of the look-out. The situation today is very serious, and unless help is speedily forthcoming, it is certain that the dispute will not only involve children’s health, but may involve children’s lives.’

July 1926 it is reported, ‘Children are starving in the Cannock Chase coalfield, and a wife and child only receive 3s 6d a week, for the Lichfield Guardians have cut down relief by half.’ The Despatch asks for contributions of a shilling or a fraction of a shilling… P Goulding, Central Distress Committee of Brownhills, expressed thanks to the Despatch… Over 40,000 shillings have been donated. 

In August the Despatch says the dispute has entered the eighteenth week, and there is a greater need than ever. 66,000 has been collected.

In September nearly 70,000 shillings has been contributed. ‘The need for feeding the hungry miners children is greater than ever, and also an urgent demand for clothing. Nurse Phillips, 14 Bungalow, Green Heath, Hednesford appeals for serviceable boots, clothing, blankets, sheets etc.’

In December a small balance was used for the Christmas of the miners children, there is a picture but of poor quality in the Birmingham Gazette… ‘350 Christmas puddings sent to Hednesford, from the £3,925 13s 3d raised by the fund for the miners’ kiddies during the most disastrous stoppage in the history of British industry.

The Fund had been closed in early December and, ‘The distribution by John Baker of the Miner’s Association and by the Central Relief Committee under Rev F Cobb of St. Saviour… The men have been back at work for nearly a month but in the Hednesford area several of the larger pits are on short time and the miners are finding it difficult to make ends meet, with the barest necessities. This is typical of the rest of the Cannock Chase coalfield where it is said many can never hope to get out of debt which had to be incurred. 

It was in the January of 1926 that  WE Harrison opened the B’hills War Memorial Institute. G Cooper was Chair of War Memorial Committee and spoke of generous assistance of the Colliery Companies who had subscribed £750… ‘If the same spirit of sweet reasonableness in other coalfields, as did in Cannock Chase and Pelsall, the clouds that were hovering over the month of May would be quickly dispersed.’ He paid tribute to the character and worth of WE Harrison… ‘who never refused assistance to any good cause in B’hills, he was alpha and omega of all charitable work in the village.’

WE Harrison at this time was in possession of the Wychnor Estate, Alrewas. He would spend quite some time during 1926 at his London residence as he was a member of the Coal Commission. He seemed willing to speak freely in the public arena, but I couldn’t find many contributions within the Commission meetings.

Hi all

I’d just like to take five minutes to wish you a happy Christmas and let us all hope for a better 2021, and hopefully a return to some kind of normal when we can enjoy cafes, a pint in a sunny beer garden and the company of friends and family once more.

Lichfield, Saturday last. I still find those nutcracker things a bit creepy.

I know it’s very hard for many of us at the moment and that Christmas is not a happy time for lots of people this year. The blog remains here for all its readers and the community around it, and whilst I’ve been broadcasting on reduced power this year mainly due to work obligations, but also due to illness, I’m not in any way giving up and I have lots of great articles to come over the Christmas period for you.

Best wishes to you all, and a special thanks to the contributors to the blog who have needed the patience of a saint with me this year and my tardiness to answer email and get articles up in public.

So sorry, I will try and get more on top of it this coming year, I promise.

I will also be taking advantage of my first proper holiday in many years to catch up on 365days of biking too – so stay tuned.

There may even be the return of the New Year photo competition with a special lockdown them this year providing all goes to plan.

A big thank you again this year to Susan Forster and all involved in the Brownhills Christmas Tree Fund that worked so very hard to get us a tree at Morris’s feet for the second consecutive year.

So please, take care, have as best a time as you can in the circumstances and in this most peculiar of years, and remember, from here the nights get lighter…

Thank you for the community spirit, insights into history and fascinating contributions – and here’s to the new year and another twelve months of the Brownhills Blog.

All the best
Bob

It’s been a while since I featured a local history article by the young David Evans who’s still beavering away diligently in the background, and today we return to his home ground of Walsall Wood, where the good gentleman has been working on the history of one of the legends of the village: Batkins, latterly the home of Roadrunner.

Roadrunner, a name associated with Walsall Wood and car spares for as long as I can remember finally shut it’s doors in 2020, and the former shop is now being transformed. David has been investigating it’s older history, as a butchers.

I thank David for yet another lovely article to add to the expanding cannon of local history here on the blog.

The former Roadrunner store in Walsall Wood closed this year – a real legend has gone. Imagery from Google Streetview.

It’s nice to get time to do history again, and I also have great history articles coming real soon from Isaac Marklew Brown, and later today if possible, railway historian Ian Pell – so stay tuned!

With the ongoing lockdown and stay at home Christmas upcoming, hopefully I can provide some light distraction here on the blog for you all.

Best wishes folks – and stay safe!

David wrote:

I was intrigued to see that one of Walsall Wood’s former butchers shops is having some building work done to it.

This building, in its latter years, will be known to many as Roadrunner, a motor spares shop of repute, that stands in Lichfield Road Walsall Wood. But to local people of some advancing years it is known affectionately as Batkins the butchers.

There were several butchers shops in the Wood. Near to the canal in the High Street were two butchers, Cherry’s and Felton’s, with an abbatoir in the yard.

At Streets Corner, now a busy road junction, was Bates’ butcher’s shop. Along Salters Road was Jones’ butchers shop, a wooden hut building.

But, perhaps the oldest and possibly the longest serving of the butchers’ was Batkins

Image from Godfrey Hucker’s ‘Oak Park Runner’ blog; Original I believe from the book ‘Memories of Old Walsall Wood’ by Bill Mayo and John Sale. Image kindly shared by David Evans.

Jan Farrow’s fine local history book, Brownhills and Walsall Wood, published in 1992 shows this image with Batkin’s and the Reliant three wheel delivery van outside the shop

Image from “Around Brownhills and Walsall Wood in Old Picture Postcards’ by Jan Farrow. Image kindly shared by David Evans.

So, let’s take a look back and see what the local newspapers tell us about the shop and the people there.

From the Walsall Advertiser 24 October 1896 we see that Mr Batkin bought a shop and residence. We can see in the first image that the building was a shop and a residence:

Image from the National Newspaper Archive kindly shared by David Evans. Click for a larger version.

This is taken from the Walsall Observer, 6 May, 1916, page 1 and gives some revealing details. The business was established in 1855… Making the building perhaps one of the earliest along this part of Lichfield Road. Also there is reference to closing the grocery department. Consequence of War? Perhaps the two assistants being called up?

Image from the National Newspaper Archive kindly shared by David Evans. Click for a larger version.

What do we learn of the owner, Mr Alfred Batkin?

Image from the National Newspaper Archive kindly shared by David Evans. Click for a larger version.

From the Walsall Observer,2 April 1910, page 11. Mr Batkin was an active member of St. John’s Church. Where were the three Mission Churches? Walsall Wood, perhaps Clayhanger, but where was the third one?

Image from the National Newspaper Archive kindly shared by David Evans. Click for a larger version.

Walsall Observer 25 February 1933 gives some interesting details of his association with the District Nursing Association. In later years we know that Dr Roberts, our local GP, was active in setting up a Nursing Home during the war years.

We have seen, in Brownhills Bob’s wonderful blog, Audrey Proiffitt’s childhood memories and one adventure which involved Batkins butchers, and the field behind the shop was a training ground for Cossack Riders.

What became of the shop and especially the residence? This from the Walsall Observer 27th January 1940.

Image from the National Newspaper Archive kindly shared by David Evans. Click for a larger version.

And,to end with, a ‘brush with officialdom’ made the local press, from Walsall Observer of 2nd April 1910, page 11

Image from the National Newspaper Archive kindly shared by David Evans. Click for a larger version.

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

Kathryn works tirelessly for the good of the community – be it litter picking, organising lockdown-safe, socially distanced VE Day street celebrations or all manner of great community stuff.

It was with huge sadness I saw Kathryn’s post on Facebook on Friday 18th December when she lamented that vandals had attacked the nativity trail and torn it down.

After a period of justifiable anger, she regrouped, declared she would not be beaten and has restored it to it’s full glory, for which I admire the lady hugely.

So here’s a thing. If you have wee ones, and now the rain has at last stopped, why not pop over the Green bridge on Silver Street and go check out the Nativity Trail for yourself?

And please, if you have any idea who the scum are who trashed it, you can drop me an email in total confidence on BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com.

Brownhills is full of people doing fantastic stuff for the community to enjoy – and sadly, we have a few idiots, too, Please don’t let them get you down and to Kathryn and all involved in keeping us smiling, don’t be disheartened and please keep up the good work.

Just a quick heads up as the great Canal Hunter Andy Tidy has posted some new episodes of a great canal history series on YouTube that I have plugged before about lost local canals – this time covering coal transport from Cannock to various locations near here, via Chasewater, Aldridge and Pelsall.

Andy Tidy is of course the proprietor of the wonderful Jam Butty, a boat selling preserves that will be recognised by anyone attending a local canal event.

The new episodes are a great study of how our still extant canals acted as trunk routes moving coal and freight to the industries that consumed them, and how they linked the lost canals that Andy has told us about in the past.

Andy has created a wonderful series that I adore, and You can subscribe here – there are already a lot of great episodes, including one on the lost Slough Arm in Brownhills and all about the Black Cock Bridge which I featured previously here. He’s also covered the Ogley Locks in a fascinating series of videos you can begin to explore here and it continues here.

My congratulations to Andy for a lovely, beautifully produced and informative series of films. I commend you to subscribe.

As a long time supporter of Walsall Wood Football Club as a historic, community institution, I’m angry and saddened to see West Midlands Police post the following statement yesterday.

I will not carry any further material from the club until this matter has been addressed fully.

People within the local community have been lost during this pandemic; it’s also deeply disrespectful to local businesses who are suffering financial hardship from the lockdown yet obeying the rules – many of whom have supported WWFC over the years – to see this.

Image of the raid posted on Facebook by West Midlands Police.

West Midlands Police wrote:

A few weeks ago, I featured here a very popular article about a local late-Victorian era soldier from Brownhills from an engaging, enthusiastic and interesting man: Isaac Marklew Brown. His fascinating research and supporting material on the history of soldier Thomas Marklew who was from Brownhills was a wonderful article and has been one of the most read articles on the blog in 2020.

With that in mind I implore readers to consider giving to Isaac’s appeal – this is no idle bit of can rattling: He’s actually doing a tandem skydive, which has to be worth a donation, and the best bit is it’s for a variety of veteran’s charities who’ve been really suffering during this year’s pandemic unpleasantness.

The jump is self-funded too, so all donations got to the charities!

I’ll let Isaac explain – you can find out more by visiting the donation page here, which has the full details and a great explanation of the charities he’s splitting the money between.

The total currently stands at £195.50, and I hope we can increase that significantly amongst the blog readership. Donation through Virgin Money giving is safe and easy.

Isaac wrote:

What a brave endeavour for a fine cause! Click on image to visit the fundraising page.

Hi Bob

Although I’m not from Brownhills, my family were.

Do you think it would be possible to raise awareness and support for a two charities I am trying to help on your platform? I think the cause of PTSD and supporting limbless veterans is essential and shouldn’t just apply to my area.

You are the only person I know that has such a large audience available to you. This is totally up to you.

I’ve got 44 days left of funding time until my event. I think it’s worth sharing to as many people as I could. We all have a duty to help in these hard times.Thank you!

You can donate safely  and find out more on the event charity giving page by clicking here.

Kind Regards,
Isaac

Isaac posted on the donation page:

Our veterans are the pride of the Nation. Through your kindness today we can make a change to our heroes’ lives.

Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic our veterans are struggling. This has affected many charities and has had a huge impact on veterans nationwide.

Both Blesma (The limbless veterans charity) and Combat Stress (For veterans’ mental health) are essential services to veterans helping them with their rehabilitation and a better future.

In January 2021 I will be taking part in a Tandem skydive from a height of 13,000 ft. This is a great way to raise funds for our heroes who are both physically and mentally affected by their injuries. By supporting me you can play a part in helping those who were prepared to give their lives to serve in our armed forces.

Together lets help these heroes.

I promise you that 100% of your donation will go towards helping those wounded in conflict to have a better future . These are vital services that lack sufficient funding.

Please will you assist me?

This event is self funded.

I was contacted earlier this month by old friend of the blog and frequent contributor Sheila Norris, with some rather sad news – her father, Leonard Jones sadly passed away last April. Len was the last of the Jones brothers who operated the Gentleshaw Sand company who had several quarries in the area including Clayhanger, and built the factory that became RKG pressings (itself now Bridgeside Close) as a plant workshop.

Gentleshaw Sand operated from sites both sides of Clayhanger Bridge, both by where Bridgeside Close is now, and on the village side. There was a brickworks where the new pool is now, just the other side of the road behind the big house. Taken from ‘Memories of Old Brownhills’ by Clarice Mayo & Geoff Harrington.

My sincere condolences and sympathies to Sheila. It has been a horrid year and I’m so sad to hear of your loss, as all of the readership will be.

I have covered The Gentleshaw Sand Company here on the blog several times, and also about the ‘Big House’ at Clayhanger where they lived for many years, thanks to the work of both Sheila and Brownhills historian Robert Webster.

With Len’s passing, another part of old Clayhanger as the original village and of wider Brownhills is lost and also, another link with past industry of the area. I thank Sheila for taking time out to help preserve the memory and the stories for future generations to learn about. It really is invaluable, particularly to the newer residents of the area, who may not realise the former industrial pst of their adopted home.

The site of this photo is now Bridgeside Close, but a large workshop/factory stood there for the best part of the 20th century – I always remember it as RKG Pressings. Image from ‘Memories of Old Brownhills’ by Clarice Mayo and Geof Harrington.

Shelia wrote:

Hi Bob,

In the past you have occasionally given Gentleshaw Sand Ltd. a mention on the Blog.

This is to let you know, somewhat belatedly, that Leonard Jones, last of the three Jones brothers who ran the business, sadly died of Corona Virus on 30th April this year, aged 96. He had outlived most of his employees but I understand that there are one or two left who might remember him.

More than 20 years ago he recorded his ‘memoirs’ and transcripts were made of these.

One of his greatest pleasures in recent years was to have these read back to him, and ‘The Story of Gentleshaw Sand’ was undoubtedly his favourite.

His working philosophy was never to ask anyone to do a job that he wasn’t prepared to do himself and this often meant that he was indistinguishable from the rest of the workforce.

I am attaching a couple of amusing anecdotes which illustrate this. They are written on the Company notepaper but if you highlight and right click the text alone you should be able to copy them into Word.

The attached photo is a favourite of mine as they all look such a happy bunch and it is how I remember my father from when I was a small child – I must be one of very few people to love the smell of diesel because of its happy associations! His brother Eddie is also in the picture. Perhaps relatives of these people may enjoy seeing this old photo from the 1950s.

Best wishes,
Sheila Norris

PS The photo shows a very young Roy Howes. Brian Stringer was able to put me in touch with him some years ago and we had some interesting telephone conversations about his time with Gentleshaw. He later wrote out his own memories of working for the company which Dad very much enjoyed hearing. Sadly, Roy died a few years ago now.

What a lovely image – and what fantastic plant! Image kindly shared by Sheila Norris.

THE BOSS WORE OVERALLS STORIES

I was digging a ditch at Hopwas because it had been raining heavily and lots of water was running down the lane and into the weighbridge. A Rep. drew up in his car and shouted

‘Oi mate!’

So I went over and he said

‘What’s the name of the bloke that runs this place?’

‘Jones ‘, I replied.

‘Yes, I know his name’s Jones but what’s his first name? If I can call him by his first name I’m in and can sell him something’

‘His name’s Len ‘ I said.

‘Right, where can I find this Len?’ said the Rep.

‘You’re talking to him’, I replied.

The Rep. just said ‘ Ah!’

I was working in the Ready-Mix plant because one of the men hadn’t turned up. We had a big order on at the time, so it was essential for the plant to be running. I was there by myself when a stranger came up to me and asked if he could buy a bag of Ready-Mix. I explained that he was supposed to buy it from local hardware shops but he said he lived very local and could I oblige him. So I agreed and said ‘Yes all right, it’s 5 shillings a bag.’

He pointed out a bag nearby that had burst and was waiting to be re-bagged and asked if he could have that one for half-price. I said ‘Yes, all right’ but then he said it would spill everywhere getting it home on his bike, so could he have a new bag to put it in! I said ‘Yes all right!’ and he gave me half a crown saying ‘Now you put that half crown in your own pocket – those Jones Brothers have got plenty!’ So I said, ‘Yes, all right then, thank you very much!’

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

Rushall Station in the 1950s, painted from memory by Dave Dunkley. Click for a full size version.

Dave said:

Bob,

Nice of you to reply. Firstly I don’t belong to any social media sites but regularly view yours and Hednesford in old photos facebook. Both excellent sites compared with the rest.

I have replied to your site with Brownhills cricket club who I played for in the seventies, I also found a lot of interest in an article about the Walsall to Lichfield old railway line.

I was born at Rushall at the end of the war and have fond memories of the area. With lockdown I decided to paint some scenes from Rushall from memory in watercolours.

The one attached is Rushall Station from memory in the fifties.

I spent hours on those gates trainspotting, unfortunately the station got demolished and there are no photos on the net. It’s just as I can remember it.

It will be interesting if anyone can remember the station as I have painted it. Before and with lockdown I have painted scenes from Rushall, Walsall, local canal scenes. If it gets much interest I could add these later.

Dave

Dave, can I just say this is most welcome, I absolutely love it and the idea of painting it from memory. I’d be only too happy to share your work in future, as I am honoured to do so today.

My tanks to Dave, then, and come on readers – what do you remember of Rushall Station? Can we locate an actual image perhaps?

Please do let Dave and the readership know what you remember – comment here, mail me on BrownhillsBob at googlemmil dot com or whisper in my ear on social media.

Sorry, been a bit busy this week but hopefully can get some interesting stuff up in the next few days or so,. including some gems from the Young David Evans. In the meantime, a bit of motorbike racing ephemera that points up something I knew nothing about, and would appreciate some help with: Grass Track racing at Lazy Hill, between Stonnall and Aldridge in 1964.

A modern grass track racing bike, from Wikimedia Commons. I’m intrigued by how slim the wheels are.

I found the scanned programme for an event just described as at ‘Lazy Hill, Stonnall, nr Brownhills’ on Sunday, 7th June 1964 in a junk shop a fair way from here a few weeks ago and paid very little money for it. It appears to have been run by the Midland Grasstrack Association, but several clubs and societies are mentioned including Kinver Auto Club.

When I bought the slim programme, it was sealed; but inside I found an A5 size pamphlet made from a professionally printed cover sheet and gestetnered interior pages with an amusing description of the day’s events, the club running it, and who was officiating.

I love this passage:

The grass track boys, of course, arc a very rare species. In no other sport, can spectators actually witness the phenomena of sone £275 plus of machine thrashed to destruction in a vain effort (usually) to win a trophy which could probably be purchased in almost any large jewellers for about 1/3d.

There are details of the races and notes about them scribbled by the buyer of the program – including the wonderful note ‘GOOD RACE’. There’s also a safety warning that probably wouldn’t pass risk assessment these days…

So, I’m interested in this event. I knew nothing of it: Was it a one off, or a regular event? Motorbike racing was a notable sport locally with scrambling at Wharf Lane being a nationwide attraction for years, and also a long tack event at Chasewater Stadium we’ve covered here before. But nothing about events at Lazy Hill. Can imagine it having been a bit noisy for the locals!

I scanned the program for your study: You can peruse it by clicking on the individual page thumbnails below, or download the whole thing as a text searchable PDF by clicking here. Sorry, some of the the pages are wonky or cropped, that’s how it was printed!

What do you know, or remember of this or related events, or the racing scene of the day? Please do get in touch: It’s something I know nothing about but I know we have many bike racing enthusiasts and historians of amongst the readership.You can comment on this post, mail me on BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com or find me on social media.

This lovely tribute video was made by old friend of the blog Matin Littler and sent to me earlier in the year. A lovely thing. Thank you Martin!

As explained in my previous post, since life under Coronavirus restrictions has led to community Acts of Remembrance being curtailed this year, so many parishes, Royal British Legion branches and other organisations have made virtual Remembrance films for those who could not attend.

Without any favour, I’ll post them here as I find/know about them. My thanks to all involved in these, as I know just how much preparation and work they take.

If you know f or find any others, please do comment on this post or mail me details: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com. I’ll add them as appropriate – it’s not bias, these are the ones I could find. Any assistance welcome!

May respect and thanks to you all: In these strange and uncertain times, it’s good that we still can remember, reflect and pay our respect to those who gave their all in the service of their country.

Thank you.

Brownhills:

Brownhills and Willenhall Methodist Circuit courtesy Chris:

Walsall Wood:

Aldridge:

Pelsall:

Walsall:

Chasetown:

Cannock Chase Methodist Circuit:

Lichfield Cathedral:

St. Micheal Lichfield:

Norton, courtesy Cllr John Preece:

Green Lane Baptist Church, Walsall courtesy Sarah Bingham:

In the remarkable and worrying times in which we now live, there are few constants remaining. One of those that has sustained, but in a very different – and somehow more starkly appropriate form – is the annual act of community Remembrance across not just our local area, but our country as a whole.

With the restrictions on social gatherings and social distance, traditional parades, wreath-laying and even poppy sales have been cancelled, scaled down or changed format totally.

The determination of our communities to honour those that served, properly and appropriately was fired, and most churches and relevant organisations have posted wreath-laying and Remembrance services online, and they’ve all been excellent.

To kick off, here’s Brownhills recorded Act of Remembrance, featuring our new Vicar, the Reverend Gayle Greenway who I’d like to welcome to the Parish. We’ve been far too long without an incumbent. Welcome to Brownhills, Reverend.

My thanks and respect to all who took part and worked hard to make this film and ceremony possible. I know readers will appreciate it. You can catch up with events at St. James and Holy Trinity Clayhanger on their website here, or on Facebook here.

There’s also an evening Reflection and Prayer Service being broadcast on Facebook by St. James this evening at 6:30pm. You can catch it if you’re quick by clicking here.

Whilst there was no public official Sunday service, at memorials across the area, people did turn out to remember and lay wreaths in respectful and careful social distance. One such spontaneous event occurred this morning at Brownhills and I was contacted by old friend John Bird of Brownhills Royal British Legion who had this to say:

Remembrance Sunday 8th. Nov. 2020.

Image kindly shared by Sara Coulson-Stobie

As we are all aware, with current restrictions due to the Pandemic, there was no Official Remembrance Sunday Parade or Service at local Venues.

However, I felt a personal need to visit St. James’ church to spend a few moments at the Cenotaph to show my respects. At almost 11-00am it was clear that quite a number of people had had the same idea, as approxiamately 200 to250 were now in attendance on the site around the Cenotaph.

Image generously shared by Richard Hinton.

I was so impressed how disciplined everyone appeared to behave, ensuring Social Distancing and respect for the occasion.

Suddenly, the whole gathering, voluntarily, fell still and silent at 11:00am without any prompting.

How moving those few moments became. This was followed by the laying of wreaths by various representatives of different organisations all of which was completely unrehearsed and spontaneous.

Image generously shared by Richard Hinton.

May I take this moment to say a big thank you to all who attended for the discipline and respect shown. One had to be present to appreciate just how moving this spontaneous event was.

John Bird,
Brownhills.

Thank you John: As thoughtful and eloquent as ever. My thanks to you for such a lovely, proud and heartfelt message. My respect to all at the Legion.

Thank you to everyone involved in Remembrance this year – it has been like no other and yet our communities have done those that gave their all proud. We will remember them, whatever restrictions we find ourselves under, because we know theirs were so much, much greater.

As I locate other community remembrance videos, I’ll post them up.

Hello everyone – I’d just like to issue an apology for missing the traditional Remembrance post this year – last night I have something unexpected to deal with and events overtook me. There is some coverage coming up in the next hour or so – please accept my apologies for this failure and bear with me while I get into gear.

Poppies at Lower Stonnall from my 365daysofbiking blog

Remembrance is critically important to me, as it is to the whole community and I would not be in this position had I any choice in the matter.

For my general view on this most important of national commemorations, please see my post from last year which can be read by clicking here.

We will remember them.

A treat today for the choral music fans – the wonderful transcription of a long-lost Brownhills vinyl LP record to MP3 that’s a real part of Brownhills cultural history.

‘Choral Favourites’ by Brownhills Co-Operative Choral Society is the second album of music released by the award wing singers from Brownhills who I’ve covered a great deal on the blog. It has 15 tracks and was released in 1977.

There’s (at the time of posting) a rare chance to buy the first 1971 album on the tat bazaar here.

CA classic postcard of Brownhills was chosen for the cover of the album. Image kindly supplied by Martin Hughes.

The transcription is wonderful quality and has been shared with the blog by Brownhills Community Association’s Martin Hughes, a top man and tireless grafter for the community.

It’s difficult to overstate the local importance and musical pedigree of the Co-Operative Choral Society: They won awards up against the UK’s greatest choirs, and featured the noted local choristers George Fullelove and Deryk Langford – the latter still making wonderful music at well over 90 years of age.

You can find out more about the Choral Society in these stories here and here, and how George is commemorated, sadly unknown by many here.

This isn’t the first time we’ve celebrated the musical history of Brownhills, which is surprisingly diverse – from Jazz at the Crown in the 1970s, to postwar music festivals and lost venues for nascent monsters of rock.

My thanks to those involved in bringing this music back to a wide audience and to Martin and all at the Community Association who enabled it. I am honoured and proud to host this wonderful thing here.

If you have any comments, please don’t hesitate to comment here, email me on BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com or buttonhole me on social media.

You can play each track individually from the embedded player, download it from the link above each player or download the whole set from Dropbox by clicking here.

There’s also a full continuous playlist at the bottom of the post.

1 Sing a Song of Sixpence

2 Come Sleep

3 Midsummer Song

4 Lovely Rose

5 Watching the Wheat

6 With a Voice of Singing

7 Eriskay Love Lilt

8 The Way You Look Tonight

9 O Hush Thee My Babie

10 The Dance

11 The Lullaby

12 Let Us Break Bread Together

13 Golden Slumbers

14 Balm in Gilead

15 The Lord’s Prayer

If you, the kids or grandkids are at a loose end today, since it’s the last chance before the next lockdown, it would be an excellent chance to grab the young ones and nip up to Stubbers Green where you can chat to, and learn all about local wildlife with the Swan Patrol.

The Patrol are back there this afternoon – and most Sundays from 1-3pm and have bird books, binoculars and a wealth of knowledge to share – so why not join them? There’s so much more local wildlife than people think!

Ann Lawrence said:

Swan Patrol every Sunday 1-3pm

Please bring wild bird seed, sweet corn, porridge oats, lettuce, peas, chopped up vegetables, rice etc to feed the birds.

We have binoculars and bird books available to use. Stickers for the children

The reserve is by the pools on Stubbers Green Road, between Aldridge and Shelfield.

As I’m getting g back on the blog bike (metaphorically and in reality) I’m picking up speed and getting down to more regular articles here which I think readers will appreciate.

Today I have an absolute gem from reader Isaac Marklew-Brown who’s researched and beautifully documented the story of a local soldier and hero of the late Victorian/pre Great War era that I had absolutely no clue about.

The Chester Road, Brownhills – where Thomas more than likely grew up to go on to great things. Imagery from Apple Maps.

This lovingly written, beautifully illustrated work lights up the life of a clearly brave and dedicated soldier in a time we don’t really think about – the many campaigns of the Victorian era are now fading into history, but in the service of The Empire many servicemen went to fight like Thomas Marklew, many giving their all.

I’m always more than happy to feature reader articles here and I’m very keen to cover the stories of local service – wherever it was. We have featured many such stories here over the years from Cecil Arthur Burton MM to the fascinating story of an Anzac from Norton Canes, to the more personal recollections of the toll of war. If you would like to add to the body of such work here pleaser do get in touch.

My huge thanks to Isaac who’s been very patient in waiting for me to get my backside into gear and post this up, and for shining a diligent torch into a corner of local history I doubt many folk knew about.

Anything to add? Please feel free: Comment here, mail me BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com or tap my shoulder on social media.

Isaac wrote:

Thomas Marklew – By Isaac Marklew-Brown

Thomas Marklew was born in Brownhills on the 23rd March 1878 to Joseph and Mary Marklew. For a coal miner living on Chester road his life was about to get significantly more interesting and by the time of his death we would have travelled thousands of Miles with the British Army in their Imperial conquests and fought in many hard battles. 

He would go from seeing Staffordshire to the rich deserts of Egypt and the vast Mountains of South Africa. 

At the age of 18 years and 2 months he decided that the Mines of Brownhills and surrounding areas were not the best place to earn a living. He decided to Join the Grenadier Guards on the 23rd of May 1896 in London. 

After Thomas had trained he was sent to Gibraltar before embarkation to Egypt. He was part of the 1st Battalion The Grenadier Guards who took part in General Sir Horatio Herbert Kitchener’s campaign for the re-conquest of the Sudan. After landing from river steamers at Khartoum they fought at Omdurman on 2 September 1898. At Omdurman Kitchener defeated the army of Abdullah al-Taashi, the successor to the self-proclaimed Mahdi, Muhammad Ahmad. Kitchener was seeking revenge for the 1885 death of General Gordon. Marklew was among the Grenadier guards who annihilated the Dervish forces. 

Image generously supplied by Isaac Marklew-Brown. Click for a larger version.

Image generously supplied by Isaac Marklew-Brown. Click for a larger version.

Here are the Records which show Thomas Marklew’s Participation in the Sudan. 

The following photos are from Egypt and the Sudan and are of Marklew’s unit the 1st Battalion the Grenadier Guards. 

Images generously supplied by Isaac Marklew-Brown. Click for a larger version.

It would be only one year later in 1899 that Thomas Marklew would yet again be in heavy fighting. Thomas was now In the 3rd Battalion which sailed from Gibraltar in the Ghoorkha on 25th October 1899, and arrived at the Cape about 15th November. Along with the 1st and 2nd Coldstreams and the 1st Scots Guards they composed the 1st or Guards Brigade, under Major General Sir H E Colvile. From the Newspaper archives it has given a useful insight into this Brownhills man’s time in the Boer war and the reception he received after. In the letter we see how he says no man has ever received such heavy fire, how different that would be for the majority of young men in 1914-1918. 

Image generously supplied by Isaac Marklew-Brown. Click for a larger version.

These are Marklew’s records or participation in the boer war. His brother Joseph Marklew fought with him through the Campaign.

Image generously supplied by Isaac Marklew-Brown. Click for a larger version.

Image generously supplied by Isaac Marklew-Brown. Click for a larger version.

The Following pictures are of the 3rd Battalion the Grenadier Guards where Thomas saw a great amount of action. The soldier in the picture is not him although identical clothing.

Images generously supplied by Isaac Marklew-Brown. Click for a larger version.

These are Thomas Marklew’s Service records which have been of enormous help.

Image generously supplied by Isaac Marklew-Brown. Click for a larger version.

Thomas Marklew’s Military career ended on the 22nd August 1908 after he had completed his 12 year service. I think it’s fair to say that this ex coal miner had seen his fair share of action for the British Empire and so far I have not seen any evidence of him in the First World War. It is clear to see why.

However, During the Second World War Thomas was an Air Raid Precautions Warden so he still was getting involved in some sort of Military involvement.

After his service he resided in Dorset with his Wife Annie Major Cluett and he worked in a Prison as a Guard/Warden Officer. He is buried in Motocombe Near Shrewsbury. He died on the 26th November 1953 after an action packed and exciting life in the British Army.

I hope this story does him Justice even though there is so much more about him. A local man who at the time in Brownhills was very respected.

If you, the kids or grandkids are at a loose end today, since it’s such a lovely autumn day it would be an excellent chance to grab the young ones and nip up to Stubbers Green where you can chat to, and learn all about local wildlife with the Swan Patrol.

The Patrol are back there this afternoon – and most Sundays from 1-3pm and have bird books, binoculars and a wealth of knowledge to share – so why not join them? There’s so much more local wildlife than people think!

Ann Lawrence said:

Swan Patrol every Sunday 1-3pm

Please bring wild bird seed, sweet corn, porridge oats, lettuce, peas, chopped up vegetables, rice etc to feed the birds.

We have binoculars and bird books available to use. Stickers for the children

The reserve is by the pools on Stubbers Green Road, between Aldridge and Shelfield.

Images kindly shared by Chris Booth. Click any one to see a larger version.

A second set of period images here this weekend from old friend of the blog Chris Booth he’s sharing out of the Clayhanger Methodist Church collection – this time of the 1995 demolition and reconstruction of the Church Hall, situated just off Clayhanger Lane.

Last weekend’s set of the 1985 Centenary March has proven very popular.

I believe the reconstruction may have been a community benefit, or an act of beneficence of the builders of the new estate behind, but I’m not certain. The materials used in the estate are certainly very similar to those employed in the new hall.

It’s said the original wooden hut was from either the POW or army camp on Cannock Chase, but this is unproven.

In 1926, the miners above used their strike time to decorate the Clayhanger Chapel . Taken from ‘Memories of Brownhills Past’ by Clarice Mayo & Geoff Harrington.

The original hall was very recognisable in a 1926 photo in the Bill and Clarice Mayo Collection of striking miners decorating it. It certainly looks in better condition them but this was clearly a huge age for a wooden building.

Chris has asked me to point out that Clayhanger Methodist Church have a great Facebook group which you can access by clicking here and of course, everyone is welcome.

What do you recall of the reconstruction, or evenings in the hall? You can comment here, mail me on BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com or hit me up on social media.

I’d like to thank Chris for yet another wonderful, evocative set of images that really help us bring history of the area back to life.

This one has me in a bit of a head scratcher. Angie Barnett writes in all the way from New Zealand, referring to a gentleman I have apparently mentioned on the blog.

There’s only one snag. Neither of us can find the reference.

Brook Lane Walsall Wood: Location of a bit of a mystery, it would seem. Imagery from Apple Maps.

Angie wrote:

Good day!

I see that you have an account of Arthur John Craddock, my husband’s half-brother, mentioned on one of your pages. I can not find it though….

He was living at 69 Brook Lane, Walsall Wood. In 1939. I have not been able to find him anywhere before. His mother had died in 1936. He was born a BARNETT.
Any help would be appreciated.

We live in New Zealand and trying to find long lost family from here, with them living in England, can sometimes be a mission.

Thank you, for your time.
Angie Barnett

Can any of the regular family history folk or blog nerds help me here please? It may not be on this blog at all, but maybe on one linked from it. Andy Dennis, are you out there mate? Could this be for you?

There are certainly no shortage of Craddock locally…

Thanks to Angie for a good enquiry and so sad I’m unable to offer immediate help. The blog search tools are lousy to be honest but this really isn’t ringing a bell. With over 6,200 posts now it’s quite hard to find stuff sometimes.

Any help appreciated – please do contact me if you can help – either mail me on BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com, tug my sleeve on social media or comment below.

Cheers, everyone.

Altogether now, ‘I love to go a-wandering…’ – image from Walsall Healthy Spaces Team.

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

I have checked this is going ahead with appropriate social distancing measures.

The Walsall Healthy Spaces Team volunteer led walk will be approximately 45-60 minutes every Wednesday afternoon, including today Wednesday 21st October 2020, starting from Brownhills Community Centre car park (the old Amex or Central Boys School, just off the miner island in the heart of Brownhills) at 1:15pm for a 1:30pm departure.

These great social walks will be exploring our beautiful commons and local open spaces.

This will be a great way to get some exercise and meet folk in a safe, socially distanced event that’s fun and great for a bit of much needed company in these tough times.

For more information on other volunteer led walking groups click here.

You can visit Walsall Healthy Spaces Team on Facebook here. If you attend, why not get in touch and let me know how you get on?

If you, the kids or grandkids are at a loose end today, since the rain has cleared and it’s a decent day it would be an excellent chance to grab the young ones and nip up to Stubbers Green where you can chat to, and learn all about local wildlife with the Swan Patrol.

The Patrol are back there this afternoon – and most Sundays from 1-3pm and have bird books, binoculars and a wealth of knowledge to share – so why not join them? There’s so much more local wildlife than people think!

Ann Lawrence said:

Swan Patrol every Sunday 1-3pm

Please bring wild bird seed, sweet corn, porridge oats, lettuce, peas, chopped up vegetables, rice etc to feed the birds.

We have binoculars and bird books available to use. Stickers for the children

The reserve is by the pools on Stubbers Green Road, between Aldridge and Shelfield.

Altogether now, ‘I love to go a-wandering…’ – image from Walsall Healthy Spaces Team.

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

I have checked this is going ahead with appropriate social distancing measures.

The Walsall Healthy Spaces Team volunteer led walk will be approximately 45-60 minutes every Wednesday afternoon, including today Wednesday 14th October 2020, starting from Brownhills Community Centre car park (the old Amex or Central Boys School, just off the miner island in the heart of Brownhills) at 1:15pm for a 1:30pm departure.

These great social walks will be exploring our beautiful commons and local open spaces.

This will be a great way to get some exercise and meet folk in a safe, socially distanced event that’s fun and great for a bit of much needed company in these tough times.

For more information on other volunteer led walking groups click here.

You can visit Walsall Healthy Spaces Team on Facebook here. If you attend, why not get in touch and let me know how you get on?

Walsall Wood FC are at the heart of the communty.

I have been asked to post the following statement by the Chairman of Walsall Wood Football club, Justin Hodgin. This is for information only and comment is neither invited, nor appropriate.

Walsall Wood FC said:

Statement From Walsall Wood FC

Following the incident at Walsall Wood FC yesterday during and after our game against Worcester City FC, we would like to make the following statement.

Firstly, we would like to apologise to all Worcester City fans, players, management and committee for the actions of the group of 30 or so youths at the game yesterday, it is not acceptable.

The club has had some issues with a group of youths over the past few games and we believe we took all precautions in assuring the safety and comfort of all fans with employing stewards for the game and also, we had two police officers in attendance.

The club has been trying to engage with these local youths by actively inviting them in the club, so they are not wondering the streets, as all local activities for them are currently not available.  We believe the actions of a few are now ruining it for the rest of them.

Any racist comments to anyone at our club will not be tolerated and if we find the person involved we will ban them for life from the club.

I spoke to the manager of Worcester City FC after the game and apologised for any issues he had personally encountered, which he gracefully accepted.

After speaking to the police officers after the game, we in conjunction with them will be going to the local schools where we believe they attend and will be hopefully holding assemblies with the footage the police have from their body cams to try and educate these youths in understanding what local community football should be about, and that their current actions are not acceptable.

We are working with the police and they will be attending our next few games and anyone causing any disturbance or racially abusing anyone with be arrested.

The club hope with the education, we can deal with this problem without any more incidents but we will take the strongest action possible if this is ignored.

We are a local community club with probably one of the most racial diverse player and management teams in the Midland Football League and want to ensure our own loyal fans, players and management team we do not take this matter lightly and we us all working together I am sure this short term problem can be solved.

Please keep the faith and together we will overcome this.

For the Good of the The Wood

Justin Hodgin
Chairman
Walsall Wood Football Club

If you, the kids or grandkids are at a loose end today, since the rain has cleared and it’s such a lovely day it would be an excellent chance to grab the young ones and nip up to Stubbers Green where you can chat to, and learn all about local wildlife with the Swan Patrol.

The Patrol are back there this afternoon – and most Sundays from 1-3pm and have bird books, binoculars and a wealth of knowledge to share – so why not join them? There’s so much more local wildlife than people think!

Ann Lawrence said:

Swan Patrol every Sunday 1-3pm

Please bring wild bird seed, sweet corn, porridge oats, lettuce, peas, chopped up vegetables, rice etc to feed the birds.

We have binoculars and bird books available to use. Stickers for the children

The reserve is by the pools on Stubbers Green Road, between Aldridge and Shelfield.

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

An amazing, stunning image of the destruction of Coventry in World War Two. But there’s a mystery within. Image kindly supplied by Peter Garbett.

Peter Garbett, admin of the ‘Visit Historic Coventry’ group, is determined to find out as much as he can about this image and the car in the crater, in which one man sadly died.

There is a Walsall and Hednesford connection, too.

I’ll let Peter explain: This is stunning, both for the fascination of the project and for the wealth of information so far assembled. Real, solid community local history in action.

He wrote:

Hello.

I’m an Admin on ‘Visit Historic Coventry’ as you may remember Coventry was bombed to pieces on the 14th November 1940.

The above photo shows one car in a bomb crater. We have seen this historic photo over the years but knew nothing about the owner of the car and we just wanted to know more.

We set ourself a task of discovery which had led us to Walsall.

We have found out quite a bit of information about the owners and the driver. The Owner was the landlady of a Coventry pub the greyhound, in the old medieval city prior to and post WW11 bombings. We understand the family originally came from Walsall area and the landlady certainly retired back here. We would be delighted if we could find out and relatives or descendants or of friends who can add to this story. The information we have so far is direct from our post:

We are looking to complete the story of this iconic picture and tell the inside story of the family that surround it. We also want to know what happened to the car? A Singer Nine leMans (which we understand was driven away after), it was built between 1933 and 1937. Note the forward handles on the rear hinged ‘coach doors’ and the lack of running boards, also note the opening quarterlight on the rear edge of the drivers door, most unusual.

The story so far we have discovered that the owner of the Singer Nine leMans car in the crater was 59 year old Mrs Mable Harriet Jones (nee Hawkswood) Landlady of the Greyhound pub, 118 Much Park Street, in 1940.

Mable was the youngest of 11 children born to Charles Hawkswood, lock keeper at Great Barr and his wife Emma nee Lewis. Mabel’s husband was Clement James Jones who was a tailor (cutter) by trade who had turned his hand to the license trade in 1933 when he took over the Greyhound pub, his wife Mable took over the license after his death in 1937 who had left £100 in his will.

It was their son 36 year old Clement Jones who was a bar assistant at the pub that his mother ran who was the driver of the vehicle who was sadly killed in the incident. Clement junior was born in Walsall in 1904.

We understand there was one surviving passenger who strolled around all night in a complete daze. Who was this? Clement (son) was buried in the mass grave in London Road Cemetery under the name of C Jones (see photos).

Mrs Mable Jones died on 7th December 1968 at 7 Jessel Road, Walsall leaving an estate of £11,206. No beneficiaries are mentioned in the probate

In 1911 they were living in Hednesford.

Are there any descendants today?

Does anyone know the story of survivor? What happened to the car? Does anyone know the registration number?

Are you related? Please help complete this story.

Does anyone have pictures of Mable Jones or Clement?

We want to bring this story right up to today. Please can you help us with information?

See the more at the Historic Coventry website here.

Any help would be appreciated

Peter Garbett

If you can help with this, please do – it really has captivated me. You can contact Peter directly via Facebook by clicking here, or via the Historic Coventry website here.

You can, of course, also comment here, tug my coat on social media or mail me on BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com, and I’ll pass any info on.

My best wishes to Peter for a wonderful, fascinating thing.