BrownhillsBob's Brownhills Blog

There has been much shock and sadness in the local community following the fatal car crash that took place between Pelsall and Brownhills on the A4124 Pelsall Road last night (Saturday, 11th February 2017).

West Midlands Police this afternoon have released a statement, which I post below.

My sympathies and condolences are extended to all troubled by this awful incident. I would ask readers to be thoughtful and to consider feelings of others when commenting on social media. Thanks.

If you have any information, please do contact the police, however minor you think it may be.

West Midlands Police issued the following appeal a few minutes ago:

Police are appealing for information after a man died when a car hit a wall in Pelsall last night (Saturday 11 February).

Officers were called to reports a blue Suzuki Swift had struck a wall in Lichfield Road at 7pm.

A passenger in the vehicle, 22-year-old local man Ryan Coney, was confirmed dead at the scene.

Ryan Coney. Image issued by West Midlands Police.

In a statement his family said: ‘Ryan was the much loved youngest son of Peter and Vivienne; and younger brother to Lee, Jemma and Tank.

‘He was a keen and talented footballer who was much loved by all who were blessed to have met him.’

Three others in the car suffered non-life threatening injuries.

Officers are appealing for anyone with information and may have seen the vehicle in the lead up to the collision to come forward.

Sergeant Alan Hands, from the West Midlands Police Collision Investigation Unit, said: “A young man has sadly lost his life and we have specialist officers offering his family support.

“We are still at the early stages of this investigation and would ask anyone who may have seen anything to contact us as soon as possible.”

To contact the unit call 101, quoting log 1970 of 11 February, or email FL_COLLISION_INVEST@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk.
 

Image posted on Twitter by @AldridgeFire

Image posted on Twitter by @AldridgeFire

Image posted on Twitter by @AldridgeFire

Image posted on Twitter by @AldridgeFire

Pictures posted on Twitter by @AldridgeFire

It’s been a busy night in the area for the emergency services as Saturday evening (11th February 2017) saw a major accident on the Pelsall Road in the Highbridges area, an incident that closed the M6 Toll for a while and now a blaze in what West Midlands Fire Service are calling a ‘cannabis factory’ above shops in Walsall Wood High Street.

@Aldridgefire tweeted:

Blue watch are dealing with a cannabis factory fire in Walsall Wood with @WalsallFire @WestMidsFire #notjustfires @FirefightersUK pic.twitter.com/eFEbDpJpO5

— Aldridge Fire Station (@WMFSAldridge) February 11, 2017

My gratitude to the folks who work so hard to keep us all safe. Cheers to readers Kevin, Dena and Les for help with this one.

Interesting graphic design. Original period poster from the PennyCliffe Club kindly supplied by Terry Basford via Clive Roberts.

One of the more bizarre episodes in the history of Brownhills that’s always interested me is the use of long-gone Coombe House on Coppice Lane as a music/night club.

Coombe House was a large place and can be seen in the opening sequence of the early 1960s Brownhills Cincefilm Club footage below – a dark, foreboding, red-brick pile, it was once the home of a mine agent, then at least two local doctors before being used as Engineer’s Offices by Brownhills Urban District Council before it’s merger with Aldridge.

Not a natural candidate for music club, it nonetheless became one for a short period on the cusp of the 1960s and 70s, before closing under a bit of a cloud. After the Pennycliffe shut down, Coombe house became derelict and was demolished soon afterwards, and very little evidence of the place now remains.

Noted local historian and author Clive Roberts has investigated the history of the Pennycliffe and found out a whole bunch of great info about the place, including the fact that the precursor band to Black Sabbath – Earth – played there.

This is somewhat prescient as Ozzy and the lads played their last ever gigs last weekend.

Clive was good enough to write up all he knows about this curious musical venture for the blog – and my thanks to him for yet another great point of interest. For more of his detailed and thoroughly enjoyable work, Clive’s latest book ‘The Public Houses of Brownhills Part One’ is still on sale and details can be found here.

Clive Roberts wrote:

Pennycliffe Club

The Club was located at Coombe House, Coppice Road, Brownhills.

These premises were owned, and at one time used by Aldridge and Brownhills Urban District Council, and originally occupied and named after Dr. John Coombe Maddever a doctor looking after health and well being of the folk of the Brownhills and local area.

The Pennycliffe Club was locally known as the Pen.

Known bands that have played at the Club:

The band called Earth (Black Sabbath) were booked to play at the Pennycliffe, on 11th May 1969 Earth were paid £15 (cash) for 1 ½ hour performance. They had to be at the venue by 7pm. (Courtesy Norman Hood).

Below are a few of the known bands that performed there in 1969:

Bakerloo Blue Line
Prospekt
Dog House blue band
Tea & Symphoney
Evolution
Earth (Later Black Sabbath)

In 1970 the registered owner of the Pennycliffe was fined 13 times for serving alcohol to non-members, there are no more entries after this date, so I have to assume that is would have closed down soon after this date, as I would of thought they would not tolerate this abuses of the regulations!

I do have the information on who was registered as the owner of the club, but seeing as it was only 46 years ago I thought it would be best not to say.

If you would like to see the original document containing the Pennycliffe Club application for a license for your self, they are archive at Walsall Local History Centre, Ref Number: 492/4/7; Register to sell intoxicating liquor; date 1959 to 1974.

Attached are two very rare posters covering performances at the Pennycliffe Club, they are not in very good condition, but considering their age, its amazing they have survived. I believe these posters may be from the year 1969!

When doing the research on the Pennycliffe I found some information on the group Ambrose Slade, later known as just Slade, in January 1969 they performed at Brownhills Memorial Club.

Again, remarkably stark design. Original period poster from the PennyCliffe Club kindly supplied by Terry Basford via Clive Roberts.

Image 4: I think these are class photos, this one of an older group of pupils. Photo generously supplied by Tony Portman via David Evans. Click for a larger version.

Tony’s notes for image 4. Click for a larger version.

In the second serialised article of what will turn out to be quite a few, here’s the next three photos from Walsall Wood Secondary School in the 1950s with accompanying notes, as introduced in this blog post here – This time, I am including the handwritten notes by Tony himself below each image.

I shall post the photos in batches of three so we aren’t swamped with too much information at once – and these ones all seem to feature form or class groups. I shan’t comment on the notes directly, or attempt to transcribe: these are clearly a matter for readers as they obviously raise questions as well as answer them – and the last thing I want to do is lead the witnesses!

Thanks to Tony Portman who generously granted access to a remarkable collection, and to David Evans for scanning them so diligently. People like you gentlemen are keeping local history alive. Thank you.

Please, any comments, contributions or observations welcome. Either comment here, or mail me: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com.

Image 5: I note the dapper, flamboyant looking teacher is in this one, 8th from left – that makes him ‘Barry Wadison’ from the notes (below), I think. Who was he? He looks like a real character. Photo generously supplied by Tony Portman via David Evans. Click for a larger version.

Tony’s notes for image 5. Click for a larger version.

Image 6: Some great skirts on this one, particularly second left, front row. Photo generously supplied by Tony Portman via David Evans. Click for a larger version.

Tony’s notes for image 6. Click for a larger version.

Arian Wigley, rest in peace. Image generously supplied by Simon Reeves.

Friday saw the funeral of sadly departed son of Brownhills Adrian Wigley when friends and acquaintances of Adrian turned out in force to pay their respects to the talented Brownhills musician and character.

Adrian’s great friend Simon Reeves has written to me to ask if I’d share his message of thanks to all those who paid their respects and helped give Adrian the sendoff he deserved.

I’m happy and honoured to share Simon’s thoughtful and kind message with you.

Simon wrote:

Hello Bob

I would like to thank every one that attended Adrian’s funeral on Friday last,  3rd February 2017.

I would like to say a huge thank you to Kath and Alan at the Rose Villa for allowing us to have the wake there and supplying the food, which was amazing.

(Anybody wanting food for a function, contact Kath at the Rose Villa!)

Also John from Ashcroft Funeral Directors for everything they did.

A massive thanks to Dave Webster who performed the service which was perfect.

My last thanks are to everybody who has donated to the Air Ambulance Charity. (There is still the collection box on the bar in the Rose Villa if u would like to donate).

Thank you all
Simon Reeves

I’d like to extend my thanks, and those of the blog readers and wider community if I may to Simon who has so carefully and respectfully looked after Adrian’s funeral and matters since his passing. It can’t have been an easy task and in doing so, Simon has shown great love and respect for his lost mate.

Thank you Simon. This is real community at work, and you should be proud.

Simon wrote an extraordinary tribute to Adrian which I posed here previously – it’s well worth a read if you haven’t done so.

If your budgie was looking a bit peaky about the beak, just the thing. Very probably from Ecob’s, the bottle never seems to have been opened. Item shared by Lynn Lynn and photographed by David Evans.

Here’s an odd little one for a Saturday afternoon, that I’m hoping will generate some discussion, and act as a precursor to a fascinating and eclectic collection of material donated to the blog recently by new year quiz whizz Lynn Link via the young David Evans.

These two rather old medicines – one remarkably for your pet budgie – are believed to have both originated from Ecob’s Chemist in Walsall Wood – the Kurboil certainly did from the label.

I have been in touch with David Evans via my parents in law with some lovely old snippets of Walsall Wood history via my Grandad who kept three old biscuit tins full of paperwork including newspaper cuttings, shop receipts, dog licenses, payslips, tax everything from 1942 to 1970s.

There was a receipt there for my mom’s first bike and my little trike bike from when I was one.  This information only came to light when my Gran passed away before Christmas she was 93 years old and had lived in Walsall Wood all her life.  It was sad she would never talk about her early life much.

I will find out some photographs and more information to pass to David Evans hopefully he will put it all together to make a good story of life in the Wood.

There is indeed a great collection of stuff and I thank Lynn for her generous and thoughtful donations, and David’s work to tie them together – this stuff is invaluable and I’ll be featuring more over the coming weeks.

I’d be interested in what readers remember of pills, potions and tonics that were sold by local chemists. In a time before antibiotics and modern painkillers, the community chemist was often the purveyor of a variety of home-brew exotic medicines of varying efficacy. Who remembers Gentian Violet and the kids with purple feet, hands or heads as a result? Iodine perhaps? Zam-buk? (Incredibly, still available in some form).

Liniments were often popular with local sportsmen. Who made the best?

And did your budgie, dog, pigeon or cat frequently need a pick-me-up? Who made it and what was it?

On that subject, recently on a picture of Lichfield, Aer Reg commented on a local vet whose existence I was debating with a friend just the other day: Steele Bodger. Although his name sounds like an obscure leatherwork tool, this well respected animal doctor had a practice in Brownhills near Co-op corner on the Lichfield Road.

He was prominent enough to have his own Wikipedia entry which says:

Steele-Bodger was born in Lichfield, Staffordshire, the son of Harry Steele-Bodger, also a noted vet, and the elder brother of Micky Steele-Bodger, another vet and also England international rugby player. He was educated at Shrewsbury School before reading Natural Sciences at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge and qualifying as a vet at the Royal (Dick) Veterinary School, University of Edinburgh. He practised as a Veterinary Surgeon in Lichfield from 1948 until 1977 and then for two years in Fordingbridge, Hampshire.

In 1979 Steele-Bodger was appointed Professor of Veterinary Clinical Studies at the University of Cambridge, a post which he held until 1990.

Steele-Bodger was President of the British Small Animal Veterinary Association in 1962, President of the British Veterinary Association in 1965-66 and President of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in 1972-73. He was awarded the CBE in 1980.

Steele-Bodger married Anne Finlayson in 1948 and they had three daughters. He died in Monmouth on 17 September 2008

Please folks, any memories or comments on the above welcome, and as ever, my thanks to Lynn and David. I hear from Lynn that the beer prize went down well with her husband!

Feel free to join the conversation: comment here please, or email me: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com. Thanks.

Kurboil, as supplied by Ecob’s Chemist in Walsall Wood. Boils were much more of a thing in the grimy-aired days of yore. A remarkable artefact belonging to Lynn Lynk as photographed by David Evans.

Looking down Vicarage Road towards the Mill at Catshill: a previously unknown to me card from Brownhills. Image kindly supplied by reader Peter.

I really thought I was familiar with all the local old postcards, but every now and then a new one pops up that surprises me, which makes me wonder how many more are out there waiting to be found – and so it is with this one sent to me by reader and friend of the blog Peter.

This undated card was quickly photographed at a local sale recently and shows Vicarage Road, Brownhills. looking considerably more bucolic than it does today – initially I couldn’t place it, and Google Streetview as no help as it doesn’t cover this area. The best image I can come up with is from Bing! maps Birdseye view:

Note the large house, centre – the black and white eave detail and chimneys indicate this is the one on the card, without the surrounding development.

This confirms clearly that the card is looking down Vicarage Road to Ogley Road, and if clear, would show the mill at Catshill. I’d imagine the date to be around 1910-1930.

Thanks to Peter for the contribution and if anyone has any comments, they’d be most welcome: either here, or to BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com. Thanks.

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.

A curious bit of early 1990s video posted on YouTube by Craig Niven.

Just a quick one spotted on YouTube by friend of the blog Jayne Preston today – a most curious bit of video, recorded in July, 1992.

The video posted by user Craig Niven seems to be connected with local police at the time – almost 25 years ago – and shows Lichfield mainly, although late on there’s a very interesting trip down Brownhills High Street and into the car park at the back of Brownhills Police Station which was then still fully.operational.

Fans of cars of the period and the long, thankfully lost Austin Montego – may also find some gold in there. Anyone any idea where the lanes are the police were filming in?

Thanks of the spot, Jayne, that took me right back.

Comments invited – either here, or to BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com. Mind how you go, now.

Image 1: I’m gong to give the images numbers for discussion purposes: A group of 15 staff. Photo generously supplied by Tony Portman via David Evans. Click for a larger version.

Tony’s notes for image 1. Click for a larger version.

In the first serialised article of what will turn out to be quite a few, here’s the first three photos from Walsall Wood Secondary School in the 1950s with accompanying notes, as introduced last week in this blog post here – This time, I am including the handwritten notes by Tony himself below each image.

I shall post the photos in batches of three so we aren’t swamped with too much information at once – and these ones all feature staff lineups. I shan’t comment on the notes directly, or attempt to transcribe: these are clearly a matter for readers as they obviously raise questions as well as answer them – and the last thing I want to do is lead the witnesses!

Thanks to Tony Portman who generously granted access to a remarkable collection, and to David Evans for scanning them so diligently. People like you gentlemen are keeping local history alive. Thank you.

Please, any comments, contributions or observations welcome. Either comment here, or mail me: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com.

Image 2 – Clearly something was a laughing matter, and that chap front right looks a. somewhat delightfully flamboyant and b. a bit of a character. Photo generously supplied by Tony Portman via David Evans. Click for a larger version.

Tony’s notes for image 2. Click for a larger version.

Image 3 – a large group that possibly seems to feature older pupils as well as staff. Photo generously supplied by Tony Portman via David Evans. Click for a larger version.

Tony’s notes for image 3. Click for a larger version.

Arian Wigley, rest in peace. Image generously supplied by Simon Reeves.

Simon Reeves, friend of sadly departed son of Brownhills Adrian Wigley has let me know details of Adrian wake, and asked me to remind readers of the details of the funeral, which takes place this coming Friday, 3rd February 2017.

Simon wrote:

Hello Bob

Would you please post details of Adrian’s funeral?

It takes place Friday 3rd February, 10:45am at Adrian’s house, or 11.00am at Streetly Crematorium.

There will be a donation bucket there for the Air Ambulance Charity if anyone would like to donate.

Adrian’s Wake will take place at the Rose Villa, Brownhills West (‘The Goat’ – 8 Hednesford Rd, Brownhills, Walsall WS8 7LS) following the funeral.

Simon

Thanks to Simon for keeping us informed, so very considerate – Simon, you’ll remember wrote the extraordinary tribute to Adrian I posed here earlier in the week.

My condolences, and those of the readers and the wider community to Simon and all who loved and knew Adrian.

Norton Canes Primary School class image from 1955 or 56: Image kindly supplied by Alan Harvey – recognise anyone? Alan is second from right, back row. Click for a larger version.

Following on from the recent school photos, and as a precursor to some more Walsall Wood ones tomorrow, I thought I’d share the image above from old friend of the blog Alan Harvey, and a note about the image further down the post, spotted in last weeks Tony Portman gallery by Phil Smith.

Alan sent in the photo of Norton Canes County Primary and said:

Hi Bob

I have attached a photo of the class of 1955 or 1956 at Norton Canes Primary School. I’m back row second from the right. I can name others if people are interested.

Alan Harvey

Well Alan, we’d all be very interested in any names you can add, or contributions from anyone else for that matter! All responses welcome, and thanks for sending in a lovely image. Always appreciated.

Meanwhile, Phil Smith mailed me in relation to this post from last week:

Hi BrownhillsBob,

My dad, Ron Smith, is in one of the photos you included in your article “Class photos”! (Fourth from the left, back row.)

He was a PE teacher at Walsall Wood Secondary School in the 1950s and it looks like he’s in his tracksuit!

Ron is 89 now, and still lives in the area. I now live in Chicago, Illinois, so it was a great surprise to see his photo on the web!

Thanks to all involved in sharing these photos.
Phil Smith

Thanks Phil – that’s remarkable and wonderful, and I love that this was spotted so far away in America – one of the things that gives me most pleasure curating this thing is that it so often connects people physically so far apart.

Ron does indeed look like a sporty chap, and one of the reasons I like the Portman set so much is the people pictured – both staff and kids – look generally very relaxed and comfortable with themselves. It really is a revelation.

Thanks to Alan and Phil, and if anyone has anything to add, please do – you’re most welcome. Either comment here, or mail me: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com. Cheers all.

A 1950s staff lineup from Walsall Wood Secondary School, (which is now Streets Corner) – Ron Smith is fourth from left, highlighted. Image very generously shared by Tony Portman via David Evans. Click for a larger version.

Looks like a fine event!

Facebook pal of the blog Mark Poole has asked me to shout out to readers that he’s staging an event in Walsall Arboretum this coming May Bank Holiday (29th May 2017) in aid of the Laradorsinneed.co.uk charity, and wonders if anyone would like to take out a stall?

At Tails in the Park 2017 there will be dog shows, activities for kids, entertainment and all the usual stuff – as well of lots of great Labs. So if you’d like a stall at a busy summer event, this could be the thing for you.

Mark has asked that anyone interested contact him through the event’s Facebook page here where you can find out more, as well as lots about the project supported.

Come on, everyone loves a Labrador!

Sorry, sorting it out in the next couple of days – sorry been extremely busy. Will be in touch, not forgotten, sorry.

Cheers and apologies
Bob

Once you start, you’ll just keep on running… Image from Chasewater Running Club.

I note from social media that there’s a very active running club in the locality and I just thought I’d sound the headsup for readers, as I know that the sport is increasing in popularity, and many beginners who’ve been enjoying park runs and the like are after clubs to join and improve their skill.

Chasewater Running Club have a run tonight, Wednesday 25th January 2016, departing from the old Police Station in Brownhills (Chester Road North, opposite The Hussey Arms) at 6:30pm.

They said:

Wednesday night runners: Looking forward to seeing you all 6.30pm at Brownhills police station. There will be a variety of distance options from 5K upwards.

Please don’t forget Hi-viz and/or lights are essential 😀
See you there.

Carl

You can contact Chasewater Running Club on Facebook here, or try twitter here or even check out their website here.

People love Chasewater for a whole range of different activities – from waterspouts….

There’s been a whole heap of fuss lately over the badly-publicised possibility of car parking charges being introduced at Chasewater, which has turned out to be not happening before public consultation, despite what posters put up around the site said.

This article was published a couple of weeks ago in the Cannock Chase Chronicle:

No Parking fees at Chasewater

Council bosses have announced that parking charges are not about to be introduced at Chasewater – but admitted that they may be in the future.

Signs put up at the beauty spot informed visitors that they would have to pay to leave their cars from this year.

However, Staffordshire County Council which manages Chasewater, have now confirmed that those signs have been taken down and that charges would not be introduced without a public consultation first.

Councillor Mark Winnington, economic growth chief, said: ‘We already charge at some of our car parks including Marquis Drive and Milford Common on Cannock Chase and are looking at the possibility of extending this to other car parks.

‘We are exploring the possibility of introducing a small charge for parking at Chasewater. The car parking fees will help to ensure we can run the park safely, as well as being able to use funds to reinvest in the park.

With another stunning PR triumph for the Park Management there, it’s to my relief that they’re now actually attempting to engage with the public by other means than merely stapling unfortunately-worded missives to trees: the wonderful Kate ‘Cardigan’ Gomez from Lichfield Lore (and Lichfield Discovered, of course) has been working on a survey to gauge park user’s views on a range of issues, and is inviting readers and park users to complete it.

Your views will count. You can visit the survey hat this link here.

Kate had this to say:

…To wildlife.

Hi Bob

Working in conjunction with Staffordshire County Council, we’re doing some community consultation and development work at Chasewater about how people use the site, how they’d like to see it develop in the future and what, if any role they might like to play in that. We’ve created an online survey to gather people’s view and there will also be paper copies available at various sites across Chasewater in due course. It was also a good opportunity to seek people’s views about the idea of car parking charges.

If you could share the survey, that’d be great. The online link is here. We also have two events planned to try and bring the community together, and I’ll let you know full details about these shortly. One is a microfunding event in March, called Chasewater Soup and the other, planned for the Summer, is a local history event about old photographs and memories of the park, called ‘Postcards from Chasewater’.

This is really just the start of the work and there are a lot of people we need to speak to, but wanted to give you a heads up about what’s going on, and also to ask for your help in promoting it, if you’re happy to.

Any questions about anything, just give me a shout,
Thanks as ever,
Kate Cardigan

I wholly support what Kate’s doing and always advise any interested party with five minutes to spare to complete consultation questionnaires: Contrary to popular belief these things do make a difference and its important our voices are heard.

While we’re on the subject of Chasewater I noticed this appeal for volunteers to man work parties at the park – they’re great fun, do essential work and are also a great way to get exercise, fresh air and meet new pals.

Why not give it a punt?

Chasewater needs you!

I love this photo. I know it’s disrespectful, but the inner miscreant in me so wants the lady to be working on an illicit still. Image very kindly supplied by David Evans, generously donated by Tony Portman. Click for a larger version.

This is a taster of a truly remarkable piece of local history that David Evans has been granted access to by it’s owner, Tony Portman – we have a collection of photos of life at Walsall Wood Secondary School in the 1950s.

What’s remarkable about the photos – over 30 in number – is that Tony has painstakingly documented them. But just as a taster for now, I’m going to share some raw images. I will then post a selection with the full notes every weekend. That way full discussions can ensue and no gems get overlooked.

If you want to go location spotting, see this post here where David returns to the school (now the Walsall Wood Youth Club) a couple of years ago.

Intersting comparisons too to the school photos from Shire Oak Grammar in 1964 here and 1962 here.

My thanks to David for great scans and hard work, as usual, but also to Tony for a wonderful act of felicity and generosity.

Just feast your eyes on these. Bring back memories? Comment here or mail me: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com.

Lunchtime in a school dining hall familiar to many locals, I feel. Image very kindly supplied by David Evans, generously donated by Tony Portman. Click for a larger version.

A proud team from 1954 – anyone you know? Image very kindly supplied by David Evans, generously donated by Tony Portman. Click for a larger version.

Apiary as a school topic. Wonderful. And just look at Walsall Wood Colliery in the background. Image very kindly supplied by David Evans, generously donated by Tony Portman. Click for a larger version.

Dressmaking – back then, a topic strictly for the girls. Image very kindly supplied by David Evans, generously donated by Tony Portman. Click for a larger version.

Must say, the staff here look a tad more comfortable than up at Shire Oak on the 1962 and 64 photos. Image very kindly supplied by David Evans, generously donated by Tony Portman. Click for a larger version.

I would imagine that while the ladies were sewing, the chaps were doing woodwork. Interesting place to hang a selection of saws… Image very kindly supplied by David Evans, generously donated by Tony Portman. Click for a larger version.

Good to hear the local Police have been active of late. Let’s hope it continues.

Interesting news just released from West Midlands Police via WMNow:

Debbie (Police,Sgt,Walsall Brownhills)

Yesterday, your Neighbourhood Policing Team, identified and arrested 2 males believed to be responsible for the Burglary of a business premises which occurred during the early hours of 21st January 2017 on the High St in Brownhills. Some of the property believed stolen during the offence was recovered. The two arrested have been charged with the offence and will appear in court shortly.

I post this for information only and for legal reasons, comment is not invited. Cheers.

A notable narrowboat photographed in a well-known spot from an unusual angle. What do you know? Image kindly supplied by Andy Dennis.

Here’s one I’ve been sitting on for a couple of weeks now, but it’s about time I shared this wonderful enquiry from the startlingly prolific Andy Dennis, who’s running a great local/genealogy/history blog that’s quite frankly, showing me a clean pair of heels at the moment.

Andy’s writing some great stuff – nip over and check it out here.

Anyway, on with the issue at hand: an interesting canal photo taken by Andy’s father, which I think we could do with knowing more about – and I’m sure there are folk amongst the readers who can help with it.

Andy wrote:

Hello Bob

I was looking for something in my ‘treasure box’, in which the treasures are memories rather than anything of pecuniary value, and I found this small photographic print (3 x 2.5 inches or 78 x 57 mm).

Andy’s treasure box. Love the clock! Image supplied by Andy Dennis.

On the reverse, in my father’s hand, is written:
‘THE NORMAN CHAMBERLAIN’
AUDREY RUSSELL
&
WINFORD VAUGHAN THOMAS
OF THE BBC
BRIDGE BY B’HILLS SMELTERS

The original print is none too sharp – safe to say Dad was no Lichfield or Liebowitz!

I recall vaguely seeing a TV documentary about the campaign to rescue the canal network which, in the 1950s, was disintegrating rapidly and I think Wynford-Vaughan Thomas and fellow commentator Audrey Russell took to the canals to play their part. That is all I have been able to find out.

Hopefully, someone out there will know more.

Norman ‘Wilt’ Chamberlain was a member of the Harlem Globetrotters basketball team and one of the greatest of all time.

Best wishes
Andy

This is a very interesting image. I’m fairly sure that ‘Brownhills Smelters’ was Superalloys, the war scrap specialist beloved of local kinds for their remarkable collection of junk, and the bridge looks like Middleton Bridge under the Lichfield Road as viewed from the northern side. Here it is on Bing! Maps.

Fairly certain this is the same bridge. Opinions? Imagery from Bing! Maps.

Note the stepped parapet wall and white staining. It’s a very interesting angle as there’s no footpath that side and it would have been a hard spot to get to. I feel there’s a story there in itself.

Thanks to Andy for a wonderful enquiry – so what do you know? Any contributions welcome. Comment here or mail me: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com.

And don’t forget to check out Andy’s work here.

Arian Wigley, rest in peace. Image generously supplied by Simon Reeves.

Simon Reeves, friend of sadly departed son of Brownhills Adrian Wigley has been in touch to ask if I’d share with readers the details of Adrian’s funeral, which takes place on Friday 3rd February 2017.

Simon wrote:

Hello Bob

Would you please post details of Adrian’s funeral?

It takes place Friday 3rd February, 10:45am at Adrian’s house, or 11.00am at Streetly Crematorium.

There will be a donation bucket there for the Air Ambulance Charity if anyone would like to donate.

Detail of Adrian’s wake will follow when confirmed.

Simon

Thanks to Simon for keeping us informed, so very considerate – Simon, you’ll remember wrote the extraordinary tribute to Adrian I posed here earlier in the week.

My condolences, and those of the readers and the wider community to Simon and all who loved and knew Adrian.

Teddy Gray’s Sweet Factory, Dudley, 2010. Image courtesy Martin Parr.

I was sad to note at the weekend that Ted Gray, of Black Country confectionary company Teddy Gray’s, had passed away in his sleep at the age of 81.

Teddy Grays is is household name to those in the area – from the famous Herbal Tablets and rock, through a whole tranche of traditional sweets, Grays still make them all in their most traditional British factory.

It was with this in mind that when I saw the following documentary shared on Twitter by noted local historian @Sacredwench from Black Delph, I knew I had to share it with readers.

Back when the waistline allowed, I loved Gray’s herbals and other boiled sweets, and this wonderful documentary is a wonderful snapshot of a company at which little has needed to change in decades.

My condolences to the Gray family, and I’ll wave my little stick of Black Country rock in Ted’s honour.

From the Dudley News:

Former sweet company boss Ted Gray dies aged 81

TRIBUTES have been paid to the man who spent more than 50 years at the helm of a traditional Dudley sweet company.

Ted Gray, who ran the Edward Gray of Dudley company – fondly known as Teddy Grays – with his older sister Betty, died in his sleep on Friday, aged 81.

The siblings took over the day-to-day running of the family firm’s North Street factory in the sixties.

Betty, who still works for the company at the age of 88, was persuaded by their father to join the business when a vacancy arose in the office and she was soon joined by her brother when he returned from serving in the RAF.

Together, they kept the confectionary business – renowned for its speciality herbal tablets as well as boiled sweets, fudge, toffee, nougat and toffee teacakes, that are sold at its shops in Dudley, Wednesbury and Bewdley and market stalls in Bilston and Blackheath – at the top of its game.

However in 2013, Mr Gray, a father-of-four, who also leaves behind two grandchildren and a great-grandson, was forced to take a step back from the business due to ill health.

His daughter, Julie Healy, said her father’s biggest achievement were “keeping the business running all these years” and closely guarding the secret of his father’s herbal tablet recipe.

She continued: “He was a lovely, generous, caring man. Everybody loved him and had not got a bad word to say about him, he was very well known throughout the town. He was the ‘King of Rock’, we’ve been told.”