BrownhillsBob's Brownhills Blog

Here’s an important event taking place in Walsall this Thursday morning (18th October 2018) at the Royal Hotel, Ablewell Street from 10am until 12 noon that will be essential for anyone who cares for children or young adults with learning disabilities or special needs in the local area.

The event is being organised by the wonderful FACE Walsall, the Walsall Parent Carer Forum. 

Old friend of the blog and carer herself Jo Yarnall got in touch to explain…

Please can I ask the lovely folk here to spread the word about a Special Educational Needs Information day I’ve organised?

Our group is working so hard to try and find the vunerable children and young people and trying to reach out to parents who are at breaking point as they don’t know what is out there to help them.

So if anyone can help spread the word, please do.

Special Educational Needs Information Day Thursday 11th October 2018 at They Royal Hotel, Ablewell Street, Walsall 10am – 12pm.

This is a FREE event.

In attendance we have Speech and Language Therapists, Walsall Health, Home to School transport services, Transition into adulthood, Special Educucational Needs Disability and Inclusion services, Early Years, Talking Sense, Touch the Spectrum and many others.

See you there?

You can get in touch with FACE Walsall in a number of ways – they have a blog here, theres an active Facebook page here, there’s a twitter presence here and you can email them on facewaalsall@gmail.com.

The group is physically located at the Carers Centre in Darwall Street, Walsall WS1 1DA – the are friendly and welcoming, and offer just the kind of support network needed when you’re a carer.

Last week I promised to share with you the Central News report on Back the Track which appeared on TV last week – this has proven more difficult than expected, but thanks to the group themselves, I can share the full thing below.

Sadly, ITV no longer make available full episodes of the news show, but condensed, Buzzfeedish clips on the website, which are, I have to say, pretty bad. Thankfully by some means Back the Track go the whole thing an posted it on Facebook.

Here it is:

http://www.facebook.com/SupportBackTheTrack/videos/177135049868496/

Thanks to the people there – I must say it’s a great report and in a week when Brownhills hit the news for such tragic reasons this was a great pick-me0up.

I’ve covered the work of this great bunch of folk before – Brian Stringer and pals started in 2017 to clear out the old railway cutting under the miner island in Brownhills and convert it into a cycling and walking route for all.

Since then, the route has been cleared from the back of the Swan pub to the Smithys Forge, is absolutely beautiful and is a great asset to the community. Central News have been to see what these dedicated volunteers have been up to.

Back the Track is a wonderful project and Brownhills should be very grateful to the volunteers and all who have worked hard to make this dream a reality.I

I had a great summer this year. How about you?

About four eons ago, I started the blog and Facebook photo competition for summer 2018 – and I’ve had a terrific response with over 130 entries all summing up something that encapsulated summer for the person who entered it – you can see the gallery of entries below.

Barring any corrections this is the final gallery from which the five winners and five runners up will be selected. Myself and fellow admins of the group – Linda Mason, Phil Griffin ad Richard Burnell plus honorary blog wise owl the young David Evans will each select a winner and a runner up – winners will be announced next Sunday (hopefully) 14th October 2018.

So sorry for the delays. This has been a lot more work than I expected to be honest – but great fun. Thank you all so much for your patience and submissions.

We won’t be looking for technical excellence or top flight equipment or skills – a wonky phone photo capturing something fun can be every bit as good as the carefully shot image by a pro. It’s about feel and intention.

Entries have been limited to one photo per person to make judging easier.

The five winners will be awarded Backyard Brewhouse ale 5 litre (8.8 pint!) minikegs, which are brewed in Brownhills to great acclaim (you’ll need to pick them up from the brewery in Brownhills), and books for the five runners up – if you’re teetotal or living a long way away we’ll come to some other arrangement.

Prizes are as ever, are funded out of my own pocket. The judges decision will be final. This is for enjoyment and good feeling.

If I’ve missed anyone out, sorry -just contact me ASAP and I’ll add any I’ve overlooked. If you’ve messaged me any pictures on FB, please ping me again – it’s a mare to find images in messages.

The images below can all be viewed larger by clicking on them. If there’s an error, you spot a multiple entry or whatever, shout up. To err is human, to balls stuff up totally is my modus operandi.

If you’re looking for your image, use your browser’s search option is a good way. On a Mac that’s <option> & <F>.

Thank you everyone.

It looks like there are some treats in store for the Walsall Wood contingent as the wonderfully generous Tony Portman has allowed the young David Evans access to his private photo album which contains some remarkable, previously unseen material.

Tony, you’ll remember has previously donated wonderful images of Walsall Wood Secondary School and the Boy’s Brigade, and is a wonderful old freeing of the blog and true Walsall Wood stalwart.

These images show what we consider was probably a hamlet of its own – Sunnyside. This community, centred around the Five Ways Junction on Salters Road has been an area of quarrying for years, but used to look very different to how it does today.

David Evans said:

Hi Bob

Thanks to Tony Portman I cant share these remarkable images of life in Sunnyside, we think possibly from the 20s or 30s.

A track led from Vigo Road to the cluster of cottages that were Sunnyside. Another track led from opposite where the fire station is today to Sunnyside, too.

The reference to Cresswell  double fronted cottage is  an important one as this cottage  was probably the last of the settlement cottages to be demolished.

That cottage was behind the car body workshops corner of what is now Taylors yard.

I think the bungalow now stands on the site of the original cottage.

a huge thanks to Tony Portman..again!

David

There is more to come from Tony and David, and as ever I’m hugely grateful to both gentlemen for their sterling efforts to share an preserve our local history.

These images are obviously discussion points and if you have anything to add, please feel free to do so – either do so by commenting on this post, tugging my coat on social media or mailing me on BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com. Thanks!

It’s good to see the Moivation Hub in Walsall Wood going from strength to strength – this wonderful facility for those with learning disabilities or other special needs fills a real local gap in provision and provides a warm, safe and welcoming atmosphere for folk to socialise, learn and hang out.

This Monday (8th October 2018) at 1pm, there will be a coffee and cake morning with a prize tombola too!

It runs from 10:30am until 12 noon.

All this takes place at the Hub’s premises in the former Youth Club behind Walsall Wood Primary School at Streets Corner Walsall Wood – Call Suzanne Sant for more information on 07388 553615‬ or email her on santsuzanne@yahoo.com – you can also check out the Motivation Hub’s Facebook page here.

If you’ve a child or children under 4 years of age, there is a great Stay and Play session running at Brownhills Community Centre in the heart of Brownhills this Saturday morning 6th October 2018 from 10-11:30am.

It costs just two quid per kid and includes fruit and a drink, so it’s great value and it’s run by those wonderful people at the Little Green Dragons Nursery, who are resident at the centre and are fully qualified nursery teachers.

There are games and toys and all manner of fun for the weans – and you get a break to boot.

The Community Centre is what my generation would know as ‘The Annexe’ – the old Central Boy’s School, now a bustling community resource. To find out more,  you can pop in or call them on 01543 452119.

The Community Association have lots of stuff going on, and loads of great facilities, right in the heart of Brownhills. I love what they’re about and all the great things they’re doing.

A wonderful facility in the heart of Brownhills!

Brownhills Community Association have been in touch, asking me if I’d share their latest newsletter here on the blog – and as ever, I’m happy to do so.

The Community Association are based at Brownhills Community Centre, just by the Miner Island in central Brownhills, and always have lots going on for people from the town – and the wider community – to enjoy.

The Community Centre is what my generation would know as ‘The Annexe’ – the old Central Boy’s School, now a bustling community resource. To find out more about the events and activities listed, you can pop in or call them on 01543 452119.

The Community Association have lots of stuff going on, and loads of great facilities, right in the heart of Brownhills. I love what they’re about and all the great things they’re doing.

My best wishes to Janet and the gang, please do pop along and check them out.

Autumn at Brownhills Community Centre

Our Singalong Cinema Season continues with a special Halloween presentation plus there’s a couple of events for the artists and connoisseurs and a charity showcase in aid of the Royal Park Charity for those living with brain injury.

Our classes and groups are starting up again, we have belly dancing, Tae Kwon-Do, Yoga and singing classes, along with many others.

If you’ve any suggestions for events or classes you’d like to see, then please get in touch with us at: info@brownhillsca.org.uk

Charity Concert at the Lamp

In aid of the Royal Park Charity for those living with brain injury, Backstreet Theatre Company, vocal harmony quartet 3QA and Followspot Productions have joined forces for a one night only concert on Saturday 6th October at 7.30 pm.

The show features songs from the shows and the hit parade of the last 50 years and maybe a few favourites from the download charts for the youngsters!

Tickets are £7.00, available only on this number 0777 543 6839.

Art Classes

Wildlife artist Shane Wiseman runs his popular pastels workshop at the Centre on Saturday 13th October & 10th November from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm.

(Cheetah Cub October, Cheetah Head November)

Places are limited, so book now at the Centre or call us on 01543 452119 – £35.00 for the day, a £10.00 deposit is required to secure your place.

Halloween Special

The Lamp have a special singalong screening of cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show (certificate 15) on Saturday 27th October.

The show starts at 6.00 pm and tickets are £4.00 (£3.00 for concessions).

http://www.ticketsource.co.uk/the-lamp-arts-centre.

Art Show 27th October

For one day only the Community Centre is taken over by a group of talented artists from a local group under the tutelage of Pat Ryan from nearby Pelsall.

There is a wide range of media on display including pencil, oil, acrylic, watercolour and pastel.

Come along to this great exhibition and sale of original works.

Room Hire

If you’ve an event or family occasion coming up, don’t forget that Brownhills Community Centre have rooms for hire.

Two of our larger activity spaces have recently been re-fitted and now have kitchen facilities.

To discuss dates and rates, call us on 01543 452119 or drop in at the Centre for a look around.

Just a quick headsup to point out that this evening (Tuesday 2nd October 2018) Brownhills very own Back the Track project will feature on Central News, which starts on ITV at 6pm.

I’ve covered the work of this great bunch of folk before – Brian Stringer and pals started in 2017 to clear out the old railway cutting under the miner island in Brownhills and convert it into a cycling and walking route for all.

Since then, the route has been cleared from the back of the Swan pub to the Smithys Forge, is absolutely beautiful and is a great asset to the community. Central News have been to see what these dedicated volunteers have been up to.

Back the Track is a wonderful project and Brownhills should be very grateful to the volunteers and all who have worked hard to make this dream a reality.

I’ll see if I can record the section and post it here later.

I get asked some unusual questions here on the blog and I was asked in the last week on Facebook what I knew of the poem The Bells of Brownhills, and what they in fact were; this was actually quite easy for me, as being an avid fan of local historian Sir Gerald of Reece, I recognised immediately his handiwork as featured in his 1996 book, ‘Brownhills: A walk into history’.

Since the person that asked didn’t have a copy of the book, I vowed to scan the relevant chapter and post it this weekend, which I’m doing here and now as I have with much of the book. Since the work is now rarer than rocking horse dung, it seems sad not to share what is the finest work on Brownhills with a wider audience where possible.

The Bells of Brownhills is a poetic lament to lads killed in an early Brownhills mining accident, written by Gerald in the absence of any real folk music of our town – but there is so much more in this chapter than that. I’d forgotten what a cracker this is.

As ever, I pay tribute to Gerald for this remarkable work, researched and written in a time before the internet and as ever, packed choc full of facts. If you ever get chance to buy a copy of his book, do so – it’s rare though, and will cost usually several times the original cover price.

Any observations? Comment here, feel free to mail me on BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com or tap my shoulder on social media.

Gerald wrote:

XXIV THE WESTERN BOUNDARY

The Wilkin Inn dates back into history but not as far as some would have us believe. It is not an old Toll House, from the simple fact that the roads that passed here were never turnpiked. I have to admit that my story of Queen Victoria having a secret meeting there with Adolf Hider was also an exaggeration. She would never have indulged in such ‘Monkey’ business. The Wilkin Inn is mentioned in the census returns for 1871 when the landlady was Lucy Follows, Widow, aged 31 years.

1914 J. Hughes
1926 F. Cook

The Pear Tree cottage existed in 1851 when William Hartshaw was the Beer Retailer there. Allbut’s Road is named after the Allbut family who farmed in the area from the 1760’s.

The Crown Inn, 196 Wading Street.

The signpost that stands at the junction of the Old Chester Turnpike Road and the Watling Street Road was erected in 1982. It was made by R. Bridgegroom of Lichfield. It replaced the earlier sign that was removed in 1978 and is now in the Staffordshire County Museum at Shugborough. That Signpost had been restored in 1931 by a Company in Oxford. A series of such signs had stood at or near the present site since 1777 when the first Signpost was erected by the Turnpike Trust.

The Rising Sun is reputed to be the oldest surviving public house in Brownhills and I have come across nothing to contradict this. It was an old established hostelry in 1800 and a recognised stop on the London-Chester coaching route. It has been rebuilt at least four times during its existence. The customary list of known licensees follows:

It became part of the William Roberts empire in 1880’s. A photograph of the building at the turn of the century can be seen just inside the bar area. In 1985 The Rising Sun was sold to Burton wood Breweries for a reputed £½m. History has a habit of repeating itself, in 1858 licensees were taken to court for serving short measure.

At the Bridge [Known as Shants Bridge – Bob] marking the boundary of Brownhills at the present division between Staffordshire and the West Midlands is a rural staircase leading down to the old Midland Railway Line, now used as a Nature Trail. It was built in the 1980’s, courtesy of the Manpower Services Commission. They utilised the otherwise unemployed, whose ancestors 100 years earlier had been employed repairing County Roads, whose ancestors 100 years earlier had been employed repairing Turnpike Roads, whose ancestors had been employed repairing roads long before the Romans arrived.

The lands on the Staffordshire side of the boundary are the Conduit Lands. They had been bequeathed by generous benefactors to the Feoffees and Sidesmen of Lichfield Conduit Trust. The revenue raised from leasing out the lands paid for the installation and maintenance of the early piped water system in Lichfield. The Conduit Colliery Pits 1, 2 and 3 stood on the ground now occupied by Lew-Ways Limited. The first mining shaft was sunk there in 1865. I worked at Lew-Ways from 1955 until 1958. A decent wage, considering.

The land upon which the Old Norton Branch Bridge stands is the edge of Little Wyrley Common. In 1855 John Robinson McClean had negotiated terms to build the Norton Branch Railway that would join his South Staffordshire Railway at High Bridges to the East Cannock Junction between Cannock and Hednesford. Compensation for the use of the Common Land was set at £61.5s.0d. The payment of this money seems to have been overlooked and it was to be another 25 years before it was finally paid, with interest. Half of the money allocated was spent trying to find out just who was still entitled after all those years. John Craddock of Wolverhampton Lane, Brownhills received 3d.

The major holders of Rights upon Little Wyrley Common in 1884 were:

The Cathedral Pit stood where the Plant Hire rusts. Crabtree Switchgear occupied the buildings here for many years. The lands once belonged to the Dean and Chapter of the Cathedral Church of Lichfield.

The land at the rear of the Rising Sun Inn was known as House Meadow, later to be called Engine Meadow. It was owned in 1840 by Henry Thomas Lister and was occupied by James Thacker. The area of Brownhills Common was crossed with deep water channels and drained by Steam Driven Pumping Engines. Remains of the water channels can still be identified. Near to Engine Meadow was the Old Coppice Colliery No. 3 Pit. It was reopened briefly in 1956 as a private concern under license from the National Coal Board’s monopoly. It was allowed to operate as long as it did not employ more than thirty underground workers. Several small pits were reopened and operated by George Jones, a local businessman. He was also a member of Brownhills Urban District Council.

The remains of the Branch Railway that served the Little Wyrley Common Pits and the Wyrley Grove Pit can still be traced. The Grove Pit was the site of a terrible disaster on 1st October 1930 when an explosion ripped through the underground workings and fourteen miners were killed. Ten of them were Brownhills men. They were buried with honour in a collective grave in St. James’ New Cemetery.

The worst mining accident in the history of Brownhills was barely mentioned in the National Press. The disaster was eclipsed by the destruction of the Airship R101 in which 46 people were killed.

The site of Coppice Colliery No. 5 and Colliery Brick Works is now a Fishing Pond [Marklews Pond – Bob].

The footings of a building can still be identified on the Common at the junction of Engine Lane and Coppice Lane. This was once the Farmhouse that was rented from the Hussey Estate by George Roberts. It was here that William (Brewer) Roberts spent his youth.

The bridge near the level-crossing in Engine Lane spans a shallow stream. This was the Branch of the Wyrley and Essington Canal that ran from the Slough Basin to near the Rising Sun. A clause included in the Act of Parliament that allowed the building of the main canal in 1794 made provisions for ‘Cuts’ to be built for the use of the Lord of the Manor. Remains of the Canal Lock Gates still hang hidden beneath the undergrowth in this grey place. Coppice Lane was settled in the mid 1800’s. Houses were built here for the Agents from the neighbouring mines. William Hanbury had built ‘The Coppice’ for his Agent and William Harrison agreed to the building of ‘Woodside’ for his. In the 1860’s the ‘Woodside’ Agent was Matthew Webb.

Cross referencing data I came across details that tied in the facts of several events. Extract from the Staffordshire Advertiser dated 3rd January 1863:-

Brownhills Rifle Volunteers. Captain Harrison of Norton Hall, has erected a very handsome monument in Ogley Hay churchyard over the remains of the late Hyla John Webb, second son of Mr. M. Webb, of Brownhills, as a tribute of respect to the memory of a member of his Company who was universally esteemed. The design by Mr. Robinson of Derby is purely Gothic, and has been executed with the greatest taste in blue York stone by Mr. Longmore of Walsall.

The monument still stands in Ogley Hay churchyard and can be seen right rear of the church as you enter from Vicarage Road.

‘Woodside’ grew over the years and became a large imposing residence. Fit indeed for a country squire. It was purchased in the 1880’s by Dr. John Coombe Maddever, Medical Officer to Brownhills Health Board. He renamed the building ‘Coombe House’. After his death the building became the residence of a line of eminent Doctors connected with Brownhills Urban District Council. A notable being Dr. Robert George Bradford M.D., after whom was named Bradford Road.

In 1951 Coombe House was purchased by BUDC for £2,000 and converted into additional office space.

I remember delivering early morning newspapers there in the 1950’s. I would hide my delivery bag in Birch Coppice and time myself on my internal verbal clock whilst sprinting there and back. I then worked, morning and evenings, delivering for Mr. Cyril Tomlinson, Newsagent, 52 High Street. Often, on a Wednesday evening, I would also work next door at No. 50 for Mr. Spinks the butcher. My task was to boil up the meats to make the brawn and to concoct from a secret recipe of herbs, rusk and meats the speciality of the house, sausages. ‘You can’t eat our sausages without bread’ was our motto.

After the amalgamation of Brownhills and Aldridge Councils in 1966 Coombe House fell empty. Anxious to find a use for the building the ‘new council’ leased it to Mr. C. A. Archbold of Leeds. He got a very good deal. Rent free for four years, paying rates only, with an option to purchase if he so wished. He turned ‘Coombe House’ into a Night Club. Members only. I had become a ‘Folk Singer’ by that time and I visited the ‘Night Club’ on many occasions to see the local group ‘Ceilidh’ perform. The ‘Night Club’ never really caught on.

Finding no further use for the building and faced with the burden of squatters and vandals BUDC had ‘Coombe House’ demolished. Sections of the garden wall still stand as a reminder of this once stately home.

As a Folk Singer I did research for ethnic songs of Brownhills but I found nothing of local interest. As most of the original community came from outside the area it was no surprise that renditions concerning the exploits of two German Officers crossing the Rhine and Four and Twenty Lassies from Inverness were high on the repertoire of local balladeers.

Not to be oudone I have composed a traditional Brownhills Folk Song, based upon fact and complete with nasal undertones. I carried it around in my head for twelve years before putting it to paper. In the key of G, I hope you like it.

THE BELLS OF BROWNHILLS

John and James lie neath the clay
their brave young lives they threw away.
They left their homes in Ogley Hay
to work the Bells of Brownhills

How rich the harvest seemed that day
they went to reap their double pay.
They left two widows in their sway
to mourn the bells of Brownhills.

Why did you leave your land so fine
to work in an infernal mine,
why sell your souls for one and nine
to toll the Bells of Brownhills.

A warning then from me take care
brave Ogley lads I pray beware.
Stave venture into journey there
and shun the Bells of Brownhills.

John Cooper and his brother James were killed along with five other miners when the roof of Mr. Harrison’s Brownhills Colliery collapsed in January 1861. The youngest victim was Levi Craddock, aged 11 years.

Birch Coppice escaped most of the devestation that pillaged and mined much of the surrounding lands. In the earlier days of mining Bell Pits had dotted the scenery but these were only superficial scars and left no lasting damage. The Midland Railway’s incursion that disected the area in 1882 also caused little interuption to the tranquil woodlands. The Birch Coppice had existed for centuries on the cloyed heavy soil. In 1935 The Potters Clay Company took a lease on the land. Their initial objective was to remove the surface coal deposits and the underlying clays. The Clays were transported to The Potteries in North Staffordshire where they were made into ceramic tiles and sanitary ware. A district in the Potteries is also known as Brownhills. A promise was made in those early years that the land would be returned to its natural state when the diggings were exhausted. In 1954 the Potters Clay Company sought permission to excavate the Heath and Common as far north as the Wading street. It was refused on the grounds that they had not reclaimed any of the land that they had earlier taken. Local Governments used to do that then. Really the rest is history, Potters Clay were unable to conform to standards. They sought the help of Leigh Environmental Ltd., who were only too willing to help out. They had succeeded in filling the underground workings of Walsall Wood Colliery to make it safe. Leigh have pulled out all stops over the last twenty years in their effort to help fill the gap. They have even called on overseas assistance in their bid. Perhaps it was only fitting that after all the years that Brownhills coals were sent to the comers of the world we received their residue contributions. Leigh Environmental Ltd., have promised that they will comply with regulations and return the land to nature when their task is completed.

The plan below shows the route taken by the Norton Branch of the South Staffordshire Railway when it was opened in 1858. No. 38 is Engine Lane. History has a habit of repeating itself and once again this area has become a hive of industry.

I’m please to share the news that Emily’s Cafe (formerly the Coffee House and Grill) in High Street, Brownhills is doing really well and celebrating it’s first year in business, during which it has gained a growing number of loyal customers who love Emily’s great food and the lovely atmosphere.

A couple of days ago proprietor Emily Chard contacted me to say that tocelebrate this excellent milestone, and also to thank loyal customers old and new the cafe will be giving free cake with any breakfast or meal purchased on Friday 28th, Saturday 29th or Sunday 30th September 2018.

Emily said:

Hi bob

Just a special thank you to all of our customers for our first year trading, it has been an amazing first year getting to know all of you, so we’re giving away free cake to mark the event this Friday Saturday and Sunday.

We will have traditional birthday cake, old school sponge cake and cupcakes for takeaway orders!

We have a busy Facebook page at Emily’s Cafe here.

Many thanks
Emily, Helen & Gus x

The food and hospitality are wonderful, so do pop in for a brew and chat. Let’s really get behind and support this growing local business.

People frequently moan about Brownhills High Street, but it has some excellent traders running some great, independent businesses, well worthy of your support.

See you there?

An unusual view of Brownhills Station. Image from Walsall Local History Centre/A Click in Time.

Just as I hoped when I first saw the report, local railway historian and expert Ian Pell has been in touch to add his comments to the matter of the 1873 railway accident I featured the findings of last weekend.

You can see the 1873 report from the Railways Archive here.

I was surprised at the time that signalling systems and control procedures were already so complex, even though the railway was still effectively in it’s infancy; now Ian lights the whole thing up. It’s truly fascinating.

My thanks, as ever to Ian whose knowledge of the subject is huge and yet always takes time out to answer questions and offer a wise owl view on such matters here on the blog.

If you’d like to meet Ian, he has a talk coming up soon in Brownhills – he’ll be giving a talk entitled ‘From Water to Oil’ on Tuesday, 23^rd October 2018 at the Scout Hut,  Barnetts Lane,  Brownhills for  the ‘Back the Track’ Group.  18.45 for 19.00 start.

If you have anything to add, please do – comment here is welcome, as is buttonholing me on social media or a good old fashioned email to Brownhillsbob at Googlemail dot com. Thanks.

Ian wrote:

Hi Bob

A Question if Visibility

Such incidents were not uncommon on the railways of the 1870s.  At that time the wagons or carriage were unfitted, ie:-  there was no continuous braking system throughout the train, and as such the trains relied on the locomotives brake, the guard’s van’s brake and the skill of the crew in understanding the gradients of the line.  The event was not really due to the system being overloaded but more the signalling system’s limitations.   A similar rear end collision occurred on 4^th March 1873 on the Cannock line from Birchills to Bloxwich, where a proceeding goods train slipping on the up hill gradient was rear ended by a passenger train injuring 12 passengers.  Train travel in those days was a lot more exciting!

Put simply –

Permissive block signalling.  Under the permissive block system, trains were permitted to pass signals indicating the line ahead was occupied, but only at such a speed that they could stop safely driving by sight.  Permissive block working could also be used in an emergency.

Absolute block signalling is designed to ensure safe operation by allowing only one train to occupy a defined section of track (block) at any time.  A train approaching a section is offered by a signalman to his counterpart at the next signal box. If the section is clear, the latter accepts the train, and the first signalman may clear his signals to give permission for the train to enter the section. This communication traditionally takes place by bell codes and status indications transmitted over a simple wire circuit between signalmen using a device called a block instrument, although some contemporary block working is operated wirelessly. This process is repeated for every block section a train passes through.

Below is a copy of the 1899 signalling diagram for Brownhills, when the original signal box was replaced with the new box that was to remain until its closure in January 1967.   Far left is the distant signal in question.  It also shows the down goods loop, adjacent to the goods shed which existed in this form for a number of years.  It was approved for construction on 17^thOctober 1873.

A remarkable document: The 1899 signalling plan for Brownhills Station. Image kindly supplied by Ian Pell. Click for a larger version.

I think the signal andkindred is referring to is the Norton Junction distant adjacent to the pony centre off the Pelsall Road – although I could well be wrong.   The distant signal in the report was closer to Brownhills between bridge Nos. 68 Bullows Road and 69 Clayhanger Lane.

Hope these ramblings are of some assistance.

Kind regards
Ian

PS.  For anyone who’s interested I’m due to give a presentation entitled “From Water to Oil” on Tuesday, 23^rd October at the 2^nd Brownhills Scout HQ,  Barnetts Lane,  Brownhills for  the “Back the Track” Group.  18.45 for 19.00 start.

A worrying incident is being reported locally on social media that’s causing me great concern: It appears that on Friday evening, 21st September 2018 outside the Tesco store in Brownhills a local lady was violently assaulted, resulting in the loss of two teeth, and considerable damage to her mouth and jaw.

From the details I have, I can say that at about 8:30pm there was a brief exchange and the lady was punched in the face by a youth, believed to have been using a knuckleduster.

The youth in question was apparently part of a larger group and was mixed race in appearance. 

I have contacted local police about this incident, but disappointingly, I have yet to receive a response, which is quite troubling.

If you have any information about this incident or the gang of lads involved, please contact West Midlands Police on 101 – or online here. You can also contact me in total confidence by emailing me on BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com or through the usual social media channels.

Should I hear from the police further on this matter, I’ll share anything I’m able to here. In the mean time, please be vigilant and report anything you may recall, no matter how minor you think it may be.

A little bit of really interesting history passed me by some years ago and popped up again this week from Facebook Memories – this image posted on a local group by the lovely Elisabeth Staples, who I believe is the mother of Mark, who worked on the wonderful Brownhills Memories book featured here previously.

The image is of the Brownhills Mothers Union Christmas party in the 1950s.

Elizabeth said:

Here is a photo of St James Mothers Union Christmas party. I think in the 1950s.

A second photo was contributed by Jane Dyke of the same organisation, which seems to be about the same time. I’m fairly sure the upper photo is in St James Church Hall, due to the curved ceiling, but where is the second? Possibly the Memorial Hall?

I must confess, I don’t think I had any idea that this club/union existed. This is quite a find. What do we know? I’m thinking that Mrs. Parsley must have been involved at some point, surely?

I have some names for ladies in these images, but I thought I’d leave them open for readers to see what they have to offer. Please do comment here, mail me on BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com or prod me on social media.

Thanks to Elizabeth and Jane for lovely pictures and I’m sorry I missed them in 2014!

I have an interesting one here for people interested in the history of rail in Brownhills and rail accidents in general – while diving in the Railway Accident Report Archive for something else, I found this remarkable document from 1873.

On the 29th August 1873, a Derby-bound train shunted into the rear of a waiting goods train just outside of Brownhills Station, at a site I assume to be adjacent to the Pelsall Road.

Thankfully, any injuries were minor and there was limited damage to the rolling stock, but the story this report tells – startlingly familiar if one delves through the language – shows how little had changed in these matters in 145 years.

I’d be interested on comments from local rail buffs on this – but one thing that occurs to me here is just how thorough and modern the enquiry is here, and it shows the railway was far less Heath Robinson and more formalised than I would have expected for the time period.

If you have anything to add, please do: Comment here or mail me – BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com of tug my sleeve on social media.

LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN RAILWAY.

Shrewsbury, 14th November 1873.

Sir,

In  compliance with the instructions contained in your minute of the 4th instant, I have the honour to report, for the information of the Board of Trade, the result of my inquiry into the circumstances connected with the collision that occurred on the 29th ultimo [Last. month – Bob] at the south end of Brownhills station on the London and North-western Railway.

There are sidings at both sides of the line at the south end of this station, which is protected by home signals that are placed at the north end of the platform, and by distant signals in each direction. The distant-signal at the south end of the station is 500 yards from the home-signal, and about 60 yards beyond a through crossing to one of the sidings. This through crossing to the siding is pro­tected by another distant-signal  placed 500 yards outside the station distant-signal. The distant-signal which protects the crossing is worked by a lever placed near the crossing, and is only used at such times as the crossing is occupied by trains shunting into the siding. The station distant-signals are worked from the station platform, and are not interlocked with the points. The block system is in operation on the down line over a section of railway about one mile in length to the north of Brownhills, and it is also in operation on the up line, for a section about a mile and a half in length at the south side of Brownhills station. The collision however occurred on the down line at, the south side of the station, and therefore on a part of it which is not worked on the block system.

A goods train from Dudley arrived at the south side of Brownhills about 8 o’clock. Tho goods train was not timed to stop at Brownhills, but the station was blocked by a coal train, and the goods train came to a stand with the break-van[sic], which was at the tail of the train, about 145 yards inside the station down distant-signal. This goods train consisted of an engine and tender, 41 waggons, and the break-van. The distant-signal stood at danger, aud the breaksman of the goods train considered that his train was sufficiently pro­tected by tho distant-signal which was burning brightly, and which he considered could be plainly seen by a driver approaching from Walsall. The goods train had been standing for about 15 minutes at the place where it was stopped, when it was run into by the 7.10p.m. passenger train from Birmingham to Derby. This passenger train consisted of an engine and tender and five coaches, the last coach being a third-class carriage with a break compartment and a guard in it. The engine ran into the van at tho tail of the goods train at a speed of about four or five miles an hour. No damage was done to the goods train, and the breaking of the buffer castings of the passenger engine was the only damage tliat was done to any vehicle of the passenger train. No vehicles in either train left the rails and no damage was done to the permanent way. The engine-driver of the passenger train was an experienced man, and bears a good character. He was perfectly acquainted with the nature of the line over which he was travelling. He stated that he did not see the Brownhills distant. signal, which was at danger, until he was close to it.

The passenger train was timed to stop at Brownhills, and it was only running about ten miles au hour, with steam shut off, at the time that the engine-driver noticed the distant-signal to be at danger. He at once reversed, put on steam, applied sand, and whistled for the guard’s break, but could not stop his train before the engine struck the van at the tail of the goods train. The side lights and the tail lamp were all burning brightly on the van at the tail of the goods train which was run into, and the breaksmen in charge of this train was inside his van, engaged in making out a time bill, at the time that the collision occurred. Neither this man or the driver and fireman of the passenger train were hurt; but two passengers in the passenger train have complained of slight injuries.

The accident was caused by the engine-driver of the passenger train neglecting to keep a proper look out as he was approaching a busy station. This man pleaded in excuse that tho night was foggy, and that he thinks the distant-signal must have been obscured by the steam of two engines that were standing in the siding, inside the down distant-signal at Brownhills. From the evidence of the station-master at Brownhills and of the breaksman of the goods train it appears that although the night was a little hazy there was nothing to prevent the engine-driver of the passenger train seeing the distant-signal in sufficient time to stop his train and avoid the collision. The regulations of the London and North-western Railway Company provide that if drivers cannot see a signal, they are to consider such signal as being at danger, and con­sequently if the driver did not see the distant-signal as he was approaching Brownhills he ought to have reduced the speed of his train so as to be able to stop before he reached it.

The guard of the goods train excused himself for not going back to protect his train as he should have done in accordauce with the company’s rules, by stating that he thought that his train was sufficiently far inside the distant-signal to ensure its safety. I think, under the circumstances, that the train ought to have been safe in the position in which it stood, but the breaksman should have gone back and taken further means to protect his train instead of remaining in his van during the fifteen minutes that he stopped at the station. More siding accommodation should be pro­vided at Brownhills station, so that the main line shall not be kept blocked by goods trains; and the sooner the points and signals are interlocked, aud the block system introduced, the better, as this part of the line consists of heavy gradients and sharp curves where the view is very limited. The distant-signals at Brownhills should be moved farther back. The com­pany have arranged for this to be done, and for the points and signals to be interlocked, and also for the permissive block system to be introduced at once, for which latter they have bad men in training for some weeks back.

I would suggest that the absolute block should be adopted instead of the permissive block system.

I have, & c.
F. H. Rich
Col. R. E.

The Secretary,
(Railway Department)
Board of Trade.

Printed copies of the above report were sent to the Company on the 8th December.

Here’s a great looking jumble sale taking place today (Saturday 22nd September 2018) in the buildings just opposite Barons Court Hotel near the Snooker Club – and it’s in aid of a wonderful charity.

Tracy’s Cats Kitty are a great bunch of people doing wonderful things to help our furry feline pals, and as everyone knows, I adore cats.

The sale runs from 12-3pm at CJs Room Hire, and you can also drop off donations there to help the cause.

Happy bargain spotting, everyone!

If you’ve a child or children under 4 years of age, there is a great Stay and Play session running at Brownhills Community Centre in the heart of Brownhills this very morning, Saturday 22nd September 2018 from 10-11:30am.

It costs just two quid per kid and includes fruit and a drink, so it’s great value and it’s run by those wonderful people at the Little Green Dragons Nursery, who are resident at the centre and are fully qualified nursery teachers.

This week’s theme is Autumn, and there are games and toys and all manner of fun for the weans – and you get a break to boot.

The Community Centre is what my generation would know as ‘The Annexe’ – the old Central Boy’s School, now a bustling community resource. To find out more,  you can pop in or call them on 01543 452119.

The Community Association have lots of stuff going on, and loads of great facilities, right in the heart of Brownhills. I love what they’re about and all the great things they’re doing.

Very late notice of something this evening (Friday 21st September 2018) at Brownhills Community Centre on the Miner Island in Brownhills – a singalong showing of the classic film Grease (unbelievably 40 years old now) in a relaxed environment which everyone will love.

It kicks off at 7:00pm and you can book tickets online right now, so what’s not to love? Click here to buy yours – just £4 adults, £3 for kids…

Brownhills Community Association wrote:

Can it really be 40 years since the cinema queues went right around the block and songs from the Grease soundtrack dominated the Top Forty? 
Come and celebrate those ‘Summer Nights’ with The Lamp’s special singalong showing of this magical musical movie.

Tickets are £4.00 (£3.00 concessions) and the show starts at 7.00 pm.

Tickets available online at the link below (no fees) or from 01453 452119.

https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/the-lamp-arts-centre

If you haven’t yet visited The Lamp for a show, you really are missing out; it’s a wonderfully modern and intimate community theatre with a wonderful atmosphere operated by a lovely community of dedicated folk, located in the old Annex or Brownhills Central Boys School right there on the Miner Island in Brownhills. You can find out more here.

Please ring the crew on 01543 452 119 if you have any queries or need any help or email: info@thelamparts.co.uk.

Sad news reaches me from Dawn Hayton who has let me know that John Dennis, the handyman at The Memo for many years when it was the beating heart of the Brownhills community, has passed away suddenly.

John will be greatly missed and was a good friend to all who knew him and was dedicated and tireless in his support of Brownhills and the local community.

My sincerest condolences go out to John’s family, friends and also to Dawn and all the other folks who worked with him at the Memorial Hall. 

My sympathies, may he rest in peace.

It is with great sadness to pass on the news of the recent sudden death of John Dennis, our amazing volunteer at The Memo.

John, fondly known by many as JD gave many hours of his own time until last year bringing The Memo gardens back into order. Mowing, pruning, weeding, sweeping and burning rubbish when possible or using his own car to help with trips to the tip.

When the grounds were looking good he put his hand to painting railings, gates, walls and jet washing pathways all amazing work transforming the building and complimented by many. 

John attended many events bringing in new people and was always there for the heavy jobs of setting rooms up plus always being on hand to both The Sunshine Club and Darby & Joan when needed. Basically if something needed doing JD would happily help. A superstar.

For those who would like to pay their respects, JD’s funeral is Friday 28th September 2018 and will be leaving from Smithy’s Forge at 11am for a service at Streetly Crematorium Midday, then returning to Smithy’s Forge.

Huge condolences to his girls Karen, Jo, Tina and Sam and their families at this very sad time and to his many friends both old and new. 

A proper Brownhills Lad, big respect John, sleep tight.  

Much love from Team Memo x

Dennis’s daughter, Sam asked me to add this morning:

We would like to thank Tina the manager and her team at Smithy’s Forge for their brave and quick response at giving Dad CPR. We are eternally grateful.

He was having his last pint which is exactly what he would have wanted. We have seen the best community spirit come from the people of Brownhills this week and it has helped immensely.

A quick headsup for a new comedy club that’s operating in Aldridge and has social media comedy star Gary Powndland this Wednesday evening (19th September 2018) – it takes place at Aldridge Social Club in the High Street and entry is just £8.

You can find out more about Juney’s Comedy Club at their Facebook page here or you can call 01922 456742.

The organisers said:

Wolverhampton’s Gary Powndland is coming to help launch Aldridge’s own new comedy club on Weds 19 Sept at Aldridge Social Club, plus Britain’s Got Talent’s Nick Page, UK Pun Champion / Free Radio’s Lovdev Barpaga, Charmian Hughes and MC Paul Savage. Only £8!

Then Britain’s Got Talent’s Mandy Muden headlines on Weds 24 October. With Andrew McBurney, Craig Deeley and regular Juney’s MC Maureen Younger. This will be a unmissable night!

Tickets are available directly from the club or tickets for September gigs can be bought online here and online ticket sales for October are here.

Please note Gary Powndland’s shows always sell out so book quickly! Please message if any questions. 🙂

Over 18s. Bar open 7pm.

It’s all going on at Brownhills Community Centre. Image from Walsall Council.

I’d like to draw your attention to a great quiz night taking place this Saturday evening at 7:30pm (15th August 2018) at Brownhills Community Centre.

It’s being hosted by the wonderful Laura Hucker who has organised many events for the local community over the years and also runs the wonderful Reading Rooms Coffee Shop and cake emporium in Pelsall.

We will be hosting a quiz on Saturday 15th September 2018 at Brownhills Community Centre.

The quiz is for all abilities and we will also be holding some fun games throughout to give you a chance to win spot prizes!

The winning team take home prizes and of course, there will be booby prizes for the losing team.

During the interval, a ploughman’s lunch will be served.

This event is bring your own drinks, making it a really cheap night out!

Tickets are £5 per person, teams of four or less.

We will also be holding a raffle in aid of St Giles Hospice, Goscote.

To book, please call Laura on 07713 634811.

There will be ploughman’s supper included and it’s only £5 a person to enter. What’s not to love there?

The Community Centre is what my generation would know as ‘The Annexe’ – the old Central Boy’s School, now a bustling community resource. To find out more,  you can pop in or call them on 01543 452119.

The Community Association have lots of stuff going on, and loads of great facilities, right in the heart of Brownhills. I love what they’re about and all the great things they’re doing.

I love the lady’s expression and outfit. A fantastic image from the cusp of wartime. Birmingham Gazette, July 1939 – click for a larger version. Image supplied by Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler.

One quick one that’s turned up since I posted David Oakley’s musings on Temperance, probation and the fight against drunkenness in the early part of last century – Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler has found the above image and short note in the Birmingham Gazette of July, 1939.

The cutting shows Walsall’s first Probation Officer and Court Missionary Mr. Courtney Orchard after receiving his Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (M.B.E.) award.

He certainly looks like a formidable gentleman who wouldn’t stand any nonsense.

David had said this of Mr. orchard:

I was very lucky that in my early life I met a ‘court missionary’, he was Courtney Orchard and he served as  Court Missionary at Walsall for a number of years, and became Walsall’s first Probation Officer, when the position was regularised in 1907, making ‘missionaries’ court officials.  I knew Mr. Orchard in his later days, 70 years of age,  or so. But my workmates, who knew him in earlier days, knew him as a fearless man, who could defend himself with his fists, when called upon, when seeking his ‘lost sheep’ amongst the dingy pubs and hostile environment of the day. Those ‘local encounters’ were all too common amongst the populace and would never count as ‘news’.  

Courtney Orchard  wrote a book entitled ‘The Court Missionary’s Story, published about 1930. Not many copies about, these days. Courtney ran the Town Mission in Walsall at the corner of John Street and Stafford Sreet. Due to the fact that I had signed for the football team, ran by Alan Wakeman, former Villa goalkeeper and Leamore kid, under the gentle persuasion of Courtney Orchard, I attended the Sunday evening services and found Mr. Orchard in his later years to be motivated  by the desire that still shaped his life, the love of his fellow men.  Alan was later to become team manager at Walsall Wood F.C.

Thanks to Peter for a great spot – I can see he’s still researching matters around Alfred Merrick and this whole thread and I thank him for his continued, diligent work.

Anything to add? Feel free – please do comment here or mail me: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com, or tap my shoulder on social media.

It’s been a heck of a summer. I’ve enjoyed every minute.

Hey people – for those not on Facebook it’s time for the Summer Photo Competition I’ve been promising this year – I had a terrific response to the new year one, and I promised, especially for those that missed the first one, to run a second mid-year.

I started the appeal on Facebook for entries over a month ago on Facebook, and since then lots of people have submitted some absolutely excellent photos – over 120 in total so far.

The competition will be open for a further two weeks and will close at Lunchtime, Sunday 23rd September 2018, when myself, Linda Mason, Phil Griffin, Richard Burnell and David Evans will each decide the individual entry for them that best sums up summer.

We’re not looking for technical excellence or top flight equipment or skills – a wonky phone photo capturing something fun can be every bit as good as the carefully shot image by a pro. It’s about feel and intention. Images must be your own work, that’s all.

Entries are limited to one photo per person but you can change your entry up until the closing date if you wish. Backyard Brewhouse ale 5 litre (8.8 pint!) minikegs, which are brewed in Brownhills to great acclaim will be the main prizes, and books for the runners up – if you’re teetotal or living a long way away we’ll come to some other arrangement.

Prizes are as ever, are funded out of my own pocket. The judges decision will be final.

Please keep this good spirited. This is for enjoyment and good feeling.

You can get images to me in a number of ways: email me on BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com, post a link to an online album in the comments, or use social media by posting or messaging me on Facebook or Twitter. Please make clear this is your photo competition entry.

If I’ve missed anyone out, sorry: It’s taken me most of the weekend to collate the entries so far which I’ve included in the gallery below, so if yours is missing please do shout up and I’ll rectify things.

The images below can all be viewed larger by clicking on them. If there’s an error, you spot a multiple entry of whatever, shout up. To err is human, to balls stuff up totally is my modus operandi.

If you’re looking for your image, use your browser’s search option is a good way. On a Mac that’s <option> & <F>.

Thank you everyone.

If you look between the pit head and chimenys, just where the bus is turning, a little to the right is the Institute, at the junction of BrownhiFrom Walsall, a Click in Time/Walsall Local History Centre.

A month or so ago I had a great enquiry from Nick Pilley about his family history in Walsall Wood, in particular concerning the life of his Grandfather, Alfred Merrick, a deputy at Walsall Wood Colliery.

This fascinating enquiry spawned a great deal of interest from the old hands of the blog – David Evans, Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler and David Oakley, and much debate has been forthcoming, with here on the blog and behind the scenes, with David Evans and Peter engaging in a great deal of research.

Last week I received a fascinating email from noted Walsall Wood historian David Oakley, who tells me he’s been a bit under the weather lately- David, I hope things improve soon and I and everyone here wishes you all the best. Despite this, David has shone a huge light on why Alfred might have faced personal hostility, and just what the Institute was for in Walsall Wood.

I’m hugely grateful to David Oakley for this, not least because it highlights something I’ve been talking about for years: Drink was a real problem in ‘the good old days’ and if one looks in news archives, papers are full of reports of drunken violence, a fact mostly whitewashed out in many histories.

David Oakley wrote:

Hi Nick,

Very interested in your enquiry about your grandfather. It struck a few memory bells for me.

Talking of ‘The Institute’, Pedro stated that The word ‘Colliery’ seemed to disappear, there was a further abbreviation some time later, and the building was simply known as th’Institute. Its gone, now, but on the picture of the pit at the beginning of the article, th’institute is still there,  if you look at the top centre of the photo, there is a building that looks like a fairly large house. It was not within  the Colliery grounds, but stood on the corner of Brownhills Road and Coppice Road, in the corner of the field where the ‘gunpowder house’ was located, that was th’Institute, where your grandfather served as a secretary, with such distinction, for a number of years.  

I don’t know when it last served  the purpose for which it was built, but in my time, it served as the Colliery Manager’s house, Mr Bewick lived there in the ‘30’s and ‘40’s,

Moving to the Oddfellows membership, there were a myriad of Friendly Societies about at the time. In those dark, industrial days, the more thrifty of the populace sought some kind of financial shelter from the common hazards of humanity, sickness and death, the Oddfellows was perhaps the oldest and largest. Drunkenness being rife at the time, most were founded on a temperance basis, with an urge to get members to elevate themselves a little. The initial aim and objects of the Oddfellows was laid down as ‘…To improve and elevate the character of mankind by promoting the principles of friendship, love, truth, faith, charity and universal justice’.  

Many lodges started life in pub meeting rooms, but as funding improved, many moved out, as these locations had too close proximity to the ‘demon drink’, into Temperance Halls and Oddfellows Halls. One Lodge was heard to proclaim, ‘All our meetings were once on licensed premises, now, none are’.  

One version of the creation of the Oddfellows Society is that they were an offshoot of the Freemasons, formed by travelling, skilled journeymen of various types, who were looking for more than the static lodges of the Freemasons, these members were issued with travel warrants which enabled them to claim a free nights lodgings at any Oddfellows Hall in the vicinity.  This gave rise to impostors  and other fraudsters attempting to use these benefits, hence the need for secret signs and passwords given to the bona fide members, on initiation. Whether these are used to this day, I know not, but similar initiations are still  carried out by the R.A.O.B. and possibly by the Freemasons.  

Oddfellows Halls were common throughout the UK for many years like this one in Chester. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

In the early days there were splits in the membership and new independent Lodges were formed, at both national and international level, but now the Oddfellows do an excellent job, looking after their members interests and raising funds for many charities.   

Regarding the ‘missionary’ aspect of Alfred Merrick, I can understand Pedro’s assertion as a researcher, that there is no actual proof of religious discord, because there is none to speak of. The discord, or threats of violence came from a difference source, the deplorable living conditions, the gin–shops and the drunken violence which was commonplace in Victorian times. Perhaps an explanation of the term ‘missionary’, used in those days would better serve:-

Towards the end of the nineteenth century, a London gentleman contacted the Temperance Society to complain that amid all the fines and imprisonment imposed be the police courts for misdemeanours relating to excessive drinking, e.g. street fighting, vagrancy, theft, prostitution, wife-beating, there was no one there who had the least interest in the rehabilitation of the offender, the same gentleman offered a modest donation to the Society to ‘get something done about it’. The Society responded by contacting the Courts and getting representatives, chiefly temperance members of a church or chapel, to act as ‘missionaries’ within the courts to advise and council the  malefactors, both within the court environment and the domestic environment. These ‘missionaries’ were untrained, but largely enthusiastic in the reclaiming of ‘lost souls’ and pointing them in the right direction to a useful and fulfilling life.  These volunteers had no status within the Court, but their courage and their love for their fellow men did lead to contentious situations in the rough domestic environment.

I was very lucky that in my early life I met a ‘court missionary’, he was Courtney Orchard and he served as  Court Missionary at Walsall for a number of years, and became Walsall’s first Probation Officer, when the position was regularised in 1907, making ‘missionaries’ court officials.  I knew Mr. Orchard in his later days, 70 years of age,  or so. But my workmates, who knew him in earlier days, knew him as a fearless man, who could defend himself with his fists, when called upon, when seeking his ‘lost sheep’ amongst the dingy pubs and hostile environment of the day. Those ‘local encounters’ were all too common amongst the populace and would never count as ‘news’.  

Courtney Orchard  wrote a book entitled ‘The Court Missionary’s Story, published about 1930. Not many copies about, these days. Courtney ran the Town Mission in Walsall at the corner of John Street and Stafford Sreet. Due to the fact that I had signed for the football team, ran by Alan Wakeman, former Villa goalkeeper and Leamore kid, under the gentle persuasion of Courtney Orchard, I attended the Sunday evening services and found Mr. Orchard in his later years to be motivated  by the desire that still shaped his life, the love of his fellow men.  Alan was later to become team manager at Walsall Wood F.C.

I would rate Alfred Merrick amongst these early torchbearers, and the ‘personal violence’ would not be underrated. One would need a lot of courage to volunteer for such a post.  Alfred would need the support of his hard-working colleagues, not enmity, and this seemed to be fulfilled be the long-term appointment of secretary  to The Institute and his other interests. I think you can be so proud of your grandfather.

Nick. Best Wishes.
David Oakley

Thanks again to David and all involved with this history – and of course to Nick for the original enquiry which has sparked so much debate.

If you have anything to add, please do: yank me on social media, comment here or mail me: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com. Cheers.