That’s a smile some little person loves very much. Do you know who Buttons the donkey belongs to? Image from Debi Taylor and posted on Facebook.
A quick one from the Chasewater page on Facebook – this lovely Donkey cuddly toy was found at Chasewater Railway, near the cafe yesterday by Debi Taylor.
Debi would like to see it reunited with the poor soul who’s lost Buttons, and so she handed him into the cafe where he’s being kept safe.
Debi said:
Found near the railway cafe yesterday. Handed in to cafe. Hope he finds his way home.
Thanks, as always to Debi for being so public spirited.
Midland Freewheelers fundraising at Tesco, Brownhills – image from their Facebook page.
Continuing the job of catching up with stuff that’s long overdue, sorry folks…
Kevin Osborne of the Midland Freewheelers – the voluntary organisation of bikers who perform urgent courier services for NHS services out of hours – wrote to me a couple of weeks ago to ask if I’d thank residents and visitors to Brownhills for their recent generosity.
The Freewheelers are a great organisation who deserve our wholehearted support, and on Sunday, 17th July 2016 they were on a fundraising drive at Tesco in Brownhills.
Although the organisation has no paid employees, fuel and other costs need to be met so fundraising like this is vital.
It seems the Freewheelers had a great weekend fundraising in Brownhills and raised an amazing £427 – more than ever they have before. Brownhills, I’m proud of you. Well done.
Kevin, if you have anything you’d like to say or publicise, please do get in touch – I offer you my full support. Great bunch of people doing vital work. Thank you all.
(I’ll try and get stuff through quicker in future – I promise!)
Kevin Osborne wrote:
Bob
I wrote to you last September thanking the people of Brownhills for their generous donations when we collected outside Tesco last year.
We had another collection on Sunday 17th July from 10am to 4pm and we collected a staggering £427. I must say that this was nearly double from last year and we found the people very friendly and generous.
It cost £15 000 a year for us to run the bikes and car for a year for fuel, maintenance etc. Our charity is completely voluntary so we rely on collections and limited sponsorship. We are extremely grateful to area once again for their tremendous support and we will return again next year. A heartfelt thanks to all the donators from the area.
Kevin Osborne Secretary Midland Freewheelers Blood Bikes
Kevin Osborne
Secretary, Midland Freewheelers
A fine group of people doing a very, very important job – voluntarily. Thank you.
Such a wonderful, clear image – and it shows something I’ve been going on about for years – how very green our area actually is. Image kindly shared by Steve Martin.
Steve also compiled the following excellent video of our town from the air – the quality of images and video is stunning. Just how magical is this? Drones are clearly wonderfully useful things, and get excellent results in skilled hands.
Steve’s family had the chip shop that used to be on the Lichfield Road, Brownhills for a while, and Steve has great memories of the Lichfield Road area, of which I’m currently looking for old images if you know to any, please do get in touch.
Thanks to Steve for a stunning collection of material and a wonderful application of new technology in a historic context. Steve’s email is in the video above, or contact me and I’ll pass it on. You can hook up with him on Facebook here.
Check out the gallery of images from the flight below – and if you have anything to add – particularly the date of the original image – please do get in touch.
Comment here or mail me – BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com. Thanks.
And… wow. The same image restored by Lisa Ashby. What a terrific job by a very talented lady!
Here’s a fun thing I’ve been meaning to share for ages, but haven’t actually got around to, sadly – things are so busy at the moment, I’m having difficulty fitting stuff in, but hopefully soon the rush will ease off…
For Black Country Day which was on July 14th, friend of the blog and long time supporter Lisa Ashby created a lovely photomontage video of Brownhills and other images and posted it on YouTube. I’ve been meaning to post it here for ages, as it’s a lovely thing.
I made this video in honour of Black Country Day with a cheeky homage to The Black Country, old and new pictures of Brownhills and some family photos.
Photos of: Brownhills High Street; Local School; Grove Pit (including the memorial to the Grove Pit Disaster and the funeral procession); Brownhills Gas Works and the Canal. Credit – public domain, Jason Ashby and myself. Thanks also to Brownhills Bob who kindly asked me to restore a couple of pictures which I used on the video
Family photos include: Grandparents; mum and dad on their wedding day; me as a child; aunts and uncles as young children. Credit – myself
Black Country photos: Teet Shirts and public domain.
Music by The Empty Can – still available on iTunes
Thanks to Lisa for sharing a lovely piece of work, and I hear she’s working on something else which should be… interesting!
Kim Morris from the Chase Inn at Newtown, Brownhills has been in touch to let me know that there’s live music on again at the popular Brownhills pub this weekend (Saturday 30th July 2016), with top 70s tribute act Rob Cairns live tonight from 9:00pm.
There’s a bar until 1am and now there’s Budweiser on draught too, so what’s not to love?
A great bunch of local kids are fighting to improve disability awareness. Image fro Equilibrium Facebook page.
Friend of the blog Chrissie Ismay has written to me to ask if I’ll mention a workshop her daughter is involved with that will be operating in Walsall next Wednesday – it’s to raise awareness of issues affecting the disabled, and takes place outside Wilkinson in Park Street between 11:30am and 3:00pm.
My daughter and other teenagers from Walsall are doing the national citizen course, and part of it she is doing a campain to bring awareness of the day to day struggles that people disabilities with face.
For this they are running a free workshop which includes games etc. to be held outside the Wilkinson store in Walsall town centre, next Wednesday 3rd August 2016 from 11:30am until 3pm.
They have been pitching for funding and doing a sponcered dancerthon to raise the money to be able to fund the games they are doing.
Would you be able to put it on your blog so that people can come along if they are in town to support the teenagers.
Thanks
Chrissy
It’s good to see local kids involved in such issues, and heightened awareness of them can only be a positive thing. My best wishes to all involved.
Don’t forget folks, if you have an event, fair talk or whatever going on and you’d like me to share it, please feel free to drop me a line: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com.
Already a queue forming in Newtown for the greatest festival for miles around!
Here’s a really, really great thing happening this weekend, Friday 29th – Sunday 31st July 2016 at Newtown, Brownhills – a weekend music and fun festival with proceeds going to the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity.
Last few tickets are now available so book quickly!
Cockfest runs over the whole weekend with camping available, and live music on Friday and Saturday. It’s a great, friendly and warm hearted affair in a field just off the A5 at Newtown, Brownhills. There’s not just music, but food, a licensed bar, campfire and all manner of entertainments and fun…
So much going on and such great, friendly people.
Organizer Keryl Jenkins had this to say:
This is the third year of Cockfest, and I can’t wait as this year is going to be better than ever!
The humbling part for me is how our team of volunteers have grown from last years success and how the local community has really stepped up to support us.
Cockfest is more than just a music festival, it’s a gathering of like minded charitable people raising money for a popular charity available to everyone.
A weekend pass is £30 for adults and just £5 for kids under 16, and day passes are £20 and £3 respectively. Under 5s go free! You can book tickets by calling Kez on 07966 611170 or by visiting the event’s Facebook page here.
This is a very professionally run event now in it’s third year and some of the bands look terrific – and it’s for charity so what’s not to love?
It’s apparently called “Cockfest’ because it’s on a chicken farm…
Some great local bands performing, and in memory of popular local man Carl Findon-Kent who sadly passed away last year.
Roger Mosedale (third left) and freinds in 1971, outside Terry Heath’s home in Park Ring, Norton Canes – thanks to Glenys Jones Smith for the location information. Image kindly supplied by Jake Williams.
I thank Jake for his continued generosity, and for allowing me to share Roger’s music with all the people who have noted Roger’s sad passing and ave commented and paid tribute to him.
Jake wrote:
Roger’s funeral will be at the West Chapel – Streetly Crematorium on August 12th, at 12 – 45 pm.
Anybody who knew Roger is welcome.
The enclosed songs are tracks that Roger and Barry Peacock made with the B’ham singer Gerry Levene (Michael Gibbs). We think it was around 1967.
Roger’s niece Rachel also sent the following lovely message detailing memorial arrangements:
To all,
I am Rachel, Uncle ‘Dodges’ niece. The family would like to thank Colin Corbett for posting this memoriam and for all your lovely comments and thoughts. Bought tears to our eyes.
If any of you, and others you may know would like to attend his service it is being held on Friday 12th August at 12.45pm, Streetly Crematorium, West Chapel.
Sid, Roger’s lifelong friend, is conducting the service. The family have requested no flowers but any donations to be made to St Giles Hospice, Walsall, where he spent his last days.
You will be able to do this on the day.
Once again, thank you for all your lovely kind thoughts and memories.
As Uncle Dodge used to say to me, night and god bless to you all xx
Thanks to Jake for a true act of community and remembrance, and to Rachel for such kind, thoughtful words.
My sincere condolences remain with Roger’s family, friends and all who knew and remembered him. Rarely have I seen this strong a reaction to such news on the blog; Roger was clearly a very special and well-loved man.
It’s a brave man that vacuums his cat. Image from Pookles Cat.
I’m running this post again as a notable hoover enthusiast and blog contributor the young David Evans has been called by the fake Dyson engineers, and he’s just one of several who’ve reported calls in our area lately.
If you are called by these people, decline and don’t give them any details is my best advice.
Reader Gina wrote to me last August:
Dear Bob,
I though I would let you know about a scam that is happening at the moment in the local area. On Tuesday night I was cold called by a man who said he was from Dyson saying that their engineers would be in Brownhills on Thursday and would be able to service your vacuum cleaner for £14.99 instead of the usual price of £40.00.
I thought this was good so I have booked a slot for this morning. I was told by the man called Connor that one of three engineers called either Gary, Thomas or Daniel will call and will have identification with them.
After thinking about it yesterday I felt uneasy and contacted Dyson direct who said under no circumstances do they cold call customers and there are none of their engineers in Brownhills or the surrounding area on Thursday or any other day and the identification these men have is fake.
Please ask people to be careful as I have arranged for these people to go to my Moms this morning between 9.00 and 12.00 and I and quite worried.
Best wishes
Gina
How worrying – I’m sorry to hear about this, and that you very much for the tipoff. I am, of course, happy to share this with readers of the blog.
Dyson say they won’t ever cold call customers offering them anything, as one would expect from such a respectable, well known brand. They ask that victims of this practice or those who have been called contact Dyson themselves and let them have details, as this helps them take action – you can call them on0800 298 0298.
Genuine Dyson engineers are on hand to support you
Dyson engineers clock up over three million miles a year visiting homes and workplaces to carry out service and repair work. They drive Dyson vans, wear a Dyson uniform and carry a Dyson ID. Call or email us if your Dyson vacuum is not functioning properly. A Dyson engineer will only visit you if you’ve pre-arranged a visit through our contact centre.
We don’t ask anyone else to call you on our behalf
If someone calls you to talk about your Dyson vacuum, check that they’re from Dyson. Unauthorised companies are cold-calling UK households – offering to carry out service or repair work. Because we are the UK’s best-selling vacuum manufacturer, there’s a one in three chance they will speak to a Dyson owner.
Unscrupulous sales tactics
Some unscrupulous businesses are making speculative calls offering cheap services. They offer to service Dyson vacuums for sums as little as £20. However, customers have told us that these visits actually end up costing them up to £150. Poor workmanship carried out by these engineers can also invalidate your guarantee. They regularly use fake parts that don’t function properly and can cause damage that won’t be covered by your guarantee. There are even examples where the visitor has sabotaged Dyson vacuums in order to sell new machines.
Dealing with bogus engineers
If you think you have been contacted by a bogus engineer, or would like some help or advice, please email askdyson or call a Dyson expert free on 0800 298 0298 (open from 8.00am to 8.00pm Monday – Friday, and 8.00am to 6.00pm Saturday and Sunday). The information we gather helps us build legal cases against companies employing misleading or fraudulent business practices. We also work with Trading Standards to stop companies operating illegally.
It’s good practice never to buy at the door or from any kind of cold call – please advise your friends and any elderly or vulnerable relatives about this. You can always call West Midlands Police on 101, or Trading Standards at Walsall Council on 03454 04 05 06.
Thanks to Gina for the heads – reader information like this is vital and very much appreciated.
I’d like to wish all the very best of luck to the hard working volunteers and community minded folk who’ve worked with Brownhills Town Centre Partnership on this year’s Brownhills in Bloom bird, which is judged this afternoon (Wednesday, 27th July 2016).
Last year Brownhills did well: this year, they’re hoping to improve their standing!
Well tomorrow afternoon we get to showcase all the work we have done to develop our town centre since October to the wonderful Heart Of England In Bloom judges.
We hope they will see just how hard we have worked and how the community has pulled together to develop this years campaign!
Keep your fingers crossed guys and lets hope it dosen’t rain!
Well, I’m sure all the readers wish the team luck, and as I write this, the sun is peeping from behind the rain clouds of the Black Country…
Whatever the result, it’s great that Brownhills has so many people that care for it and they should all be very proud indeed.
Sandfields Pumping Station – a great historic building with immense history and social significance – not just to Lichfield, but to the Black Country. Lichfield Discovered and local historian Dave Moore have saved this valuable asset for the community.
Sandfields Pumping Station champion and public historian extraordinaire Dave Moore has been in touch to let me know that this Thursday evening (28th July 2016) there will be a public progress meeting for the Lichfield Waterworks Trust charity, formerly the Friends of Sandfields Pumping Station group.
Note the return to the usual venue – the meeting takes place at the George IV, Bore Street, Lichfield from 7:30-9pm.
Dave wrote:
Dear BrownhillsBob,
The next monthly progress meeting of the Lichfield Waterworks Trust will take place on Thursday 28 July 2016 at 7.30pm, in the rear meeting room of the:
The trust is now in negations with persimmon Home Ltd where we are working jointly to agree a licence for access to undertake a site investigation/assessment study that will last six months. We have asked that as part of the licence agreement, we will open Sandfields Pumping Station for 3 hours a week to allow supervised visits by member of the trust.
We see the issue of this licence as the first stage of an ongoing process to hand back Sandfields Pumping Station to the public, and a significant step towards protecting this unique piece of our industrial heritage.
The draft licence is now with our solicitors, who are busy preparing a response to Persimmon Homes Ltd.
This is an incredibly exciting project, and we would like everyone to become a part of it, so please consider joining the Lichfield Waterworks Trust by clicking the membership link here.
Membership is free, but a small donation would always be very much appreciated. We have an enormous amount of expenditure coming up with the legal fees relating to the access licence, so any amount, however small, will be most welcome.
It’s great to see people like Dave encourage a better attitude to our historic buildings, rather than that which we seem to have here in Walsall, where we regard heritage architecture as merely ‘fuel’.
Please do attend if you’re able, it’s sure to be enlightening and educational.
The algae is a natural occurrence, but can be deadly for dogs and very unpleasant for humans. Photo taken 24th July 2016 at Chasewater, by me.
It’s important that I make readers aware of recent concerns about blue-green algae at Chasewater – over the weekend, the park management appear to have been hard at work printing, laminating and sticking up signs warning against swimming in the lake, and warning dogs and their owners to be wary as blue-green algae has been found in the water.
[Edit, added 1:45pm 25th July] Monday lunchtime (25th July 2016) Staffordshire County Council, who manage Chasewater, issued the following statement:
Hi Bob,
Statement from Staffordshire County Council here:
Gill Heath, Cabinet Member for Communities and the Environment at Staffordshire County Council explained that park rangers noticed the blue green algae on the water over the weekend and signs were put up around the lake to let people know.
Gill said: ‘We are now having the water tested to see what kind of algae it is. As a precautionary measure we are asking people not to go into the water and for dog owners to keep their pets away from the water’s edge.
‘There are lots of different types of algae that gather on water. Once we have the results back and know which type of algae we are dealing with we will take the appropriate action.’
Blue-green algae naturally occur in inland waters, estuaries and the sea. Blooms can form when their numbers become excessive.
There’s a wide range of blue-green algae (cyanobacteria). In fresh waters, they’re suspended within the water or attached to rocks and other surfaces. They include single- celled species and others whose cells are arranged in colonies and filaments. It’s difficult to see individual cells, colonies and filaments, but you usually can when they’re concentrated into clumps. These clumps can look like green flakes, greenish bundles or brownish dots.
Where high levels of phosphorus exist, and other requirements for growth are met – for example, adequate light, mixing, flow and temperature – then the numbers of blue- green algae can increase. Increased periods of growth are called blooms.
Blooms can have a negative effect on the appearance, quality and use of the water. It may become green, blue-green or greenish- brown and several species can produce musty, earthy or grassy odours. Blooms can also cause foaming on the shoreline – sometimes confused with sewage pollution.
During a bloom, the water also becomes less clear, blocking sunlight and stopping plants in the water from growing.
There’s nothing that can practically be done to counter this problem in the water, and caution is advised until the danger passes.
Blue-Green algae can be quite toxic to humans upon ingestion, and can be deadly to dogs. If your pet enjoys a swim, Chasewater should be avoided for the foreseeable future, and it’s definitely not good for human swimming (although it’s not for casual swimming at the best of times!)
After people showed some scepticism on social media, I went to check and see the signs for myself yesterday, and they’re certainly genuine.
If you suspect your dog has been made ill by algal poisoning, there’s a help guide here. for people concerned about wake boarding or other Chasewater based waterspouts, best contact the relevant club or operator for guidance.
I’m hoping to obtain a statement from Staffordshire Council in due course.
There are lots of new ‘No swimming’ notices, but a few of the blue-green algae warning ones too. This one was on the life lifebelt post near the dam bridge and steps, a popular spot for dog swimming.
Jake Williams, a great friend of Roger’s posted the above wonderful photo in response on Facebook, and subsequently sent me some of his and Roger’s music for you to enjoy.
I thank Jake for his warm and generous memories, and for allowing me to share them with you all.
Jake wrote:
Very sad at the passing of Roger Mosedale.
After The Sundowners split – Roger and Barry continued playing together in the other bands until 1972.
Roger then, left the live music scene – but he began songwriting and recording between 2010 and 2013.
This photo was taken in 1971. ( Roger is 3rd from the left)
Roger was a big fan of the American – Boyd Coddington – (Amercican Hot Rod) on the Quest channel, so we wrote and recorded a tribute to Boyd. ‘Boyd’s Gonna Build Me A Hot Rod’.
My sincere condolences to Roger’s family, friends and all who knew and remembered him. Running the blog as I do you become all too aware of time’s arrow and at instances like this the sadness is particularly acute.
Looks like a fun event for vintage ephemera lovers!
I notice that this Sunday, 24th July 2016, there’s a rather fun looking vintage event being staged at Chasewater Railway byMabel’s Vintage Carriage, who have a regular vintage stall in a carriage at the preserved railway.
The fair runs from 11am until 4pm at Brownhills West Station (Use the Chasewater main entrance from the A5 and Pool Road) and there will be entertainment, over 50 stalls, the noted tea rooms and of course the wonderful atmosphere provided by a working preserved steam railway.
The whole thing is staffed by helpful and friendly volunteers who are always ready to chat and talk about the railway and rolling stock.
At Brownhills west station there are also a lovely model railway, plus a couple of great vintage and collectible stalls. The railway itself has a shop selling books, rail models, toys and other merchandise.
You can check their website here – trains run this and every weekend from 11am to 4pm with the museum, cafes and stations open earlier.
This Saturday evening (23rd July 2016) there’s a change from the usual with a Vynial Disco – bring your favourite records up and have a party!
The Chase inn said:
Something a bit different…
This Saturday we are having our first ‘old skool disco’ with vinyl… Anyone who wants to dust off their favourite records and bring them along, you are more than welcome!
All lagers £2.50 a pint (our happy happy, happy, hour!) from 8pm onwards (1am bar!)
See you all from 8pm for some vintage disco-ing
It’s free entry and there’s great ale, cider and a banging atmosphere.
Why not get down there? You’re guaranteed an excellent time…
For the satnav folk, the address is: 6 Watling Street, Newtown, Brownhills WS8 6JS
Andy Roper from Walsall Wood Football Club has been in touch to let me know that they’re having a maintenance weekend at Oak Park today and tomorrow (Saturday 23 July -Sunday 24 July 206), from 12-5pm each day.
Andy said:
Your help is needed this Saturday and Sunday for small maintenance jobs in and around the ground. From 12-5pm – Any help is really appreciated!
Jobs include decorating, tidying, small DIY type tasks etc. – the club always need help and this is your chance to help them and have great fun while you do so!
Walsall Wood FC are a popular, community focussed club that I’m proud to support here on the blog, and if you can help them, I’m sure you’d find it satisfying and rewarding.
Back home at Burntwood Leisure Centre – should be a great day!
Sorry, running very behind today but there’s a great family fun event right now up in Burntwood (Saturday 23 July 2016) with the annual Burtnwood Chase Wakes festival kicking off at Burntwood Leisure Centre from 12-4pm.
There will be food, fun activities for all ages, a scarecrow competition, live bands… so why not get up there?
There’s a great new arts facility at Brownhills Activity Centre… Image from Walsall Council.
Brownhills Community Association have been busy, and recently got in touch to point out that they have a great new arts and performance space in the refurbished former school hall which is now called The Lamp.
The public debut of The Lamp will be next Friday, 29th July 2016, When it will be Movie Night at the Activity Centre – Buster Keaton’s ‘The General’ will be showning, with live piano accompaniment. Doors open at 7pm, with tickets at a very reasonable £5 or £4 for concessions. Tickets are available now from the Acitivity Centre office.
Come and see this silent classic, performed with a live piano accompaniment, as it was intended. Image from Silentfilm.com
In order to find out more about this hive of activity right in the centre of Brownhills, roving reporter, arts correspondent and serial tea taster the young David Evans pooped over to the Brownhills Activity Centre to find out more.
I met Mr. John Batchelor, Marketing Manager of Brownhills Community Association, who kindly gave me a printed potted history of the building, and he and Mr. Nigel Anderson, Marketing Assistant showed me the Association’s new pride and joy, The Lamp which I remember as being the old school hall. But now it is much, much more and is a suite of rooms that boasts all the facilities to enable a whole range of activities, performances, exhibitions and social events to be held. An amazing transformation and total refurbishment which only took six months to achieve.
I was impressed by the self-evident team spirit and positivity in the centre and also by the range of activities, their breadth and number, that take place in the centre. This is truly an Activity Centre for all of the Brownhills community.
I am pleased to attach the photos I took, some which will bring back memories of school days from times gone by for some, er, more elderly readers, I feel sure…
I would like to thank Mrs Janet Davies of Brownhills Community Association for her hospitality and very warm welcome, and wish all the activity participants and club members of all ages every success.
The Community Association are based at Brownhills Activities 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.
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The latest Brownhills Community Association newsletter – click the images for large versions.
The Activity 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, check out the newsletter above, or 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, and thanks to David for a great report. Please do pop along and check them out.
Selection from the very busy noticeboard!
The adjoining refreshment room; one of the suite of rooms .
Selection from the very busy noticeboard!
Selection from the very busy noticeboard!
Document kindly offered by Mr John Batchelor.
The foundation stone for the original Central School building, opened in 1893. Who were these people?
Selection from the very busy noticeboard!
The team!
Selection from the very busy noticeboard!
Selection from the very busy noticeboard!
A rain-soaked view from the car park.
Selection from the very busy noticeboard!
Messrs Batchelor and Anderson
Selection from the very busy noticeboard!
This will be familiar to many a former pupil…
The activity centre’s fully equipped computer room
Selection from the very busy noticeboard!
Selection from the very busy noticeboard!
Selection from the very busy noticeboard!
This will be familiar to many a former pupil…
Selection from the very busy noticeboard!
Selection from the very busy noticeboard!
Holland Park Photography group, just before their meeting started.
The doorway to the old school hall, about to surprise and delight me…
A totally transformed and refurbished Arts venue, now officially named ‘The Lamp’, in deference to the statue of the Miner nearby.
Roger’s great friend Colin Corbett informed me of his condition on Monday, but I was unsure whether to share it here. Sadly, the following day, Roger slipped away.
Colin Worte to me a few hours ago:
Hi Bob
I sent you a message about Roger Mosedale – Monday 18th July – very poorly in Goscote – St Giles – Sad to say He passed away the following day – Tuesday.
I hope you can let the people of Brownhills, Walsall Wood & Aldridge know as many knew him.
I send all my best and sincere thoughts to his family and friends.
I’ve lost a great and close friend.
I enclose a Picture of Roger ( 1961) plus a picture of the Group as well ( 1961 ) The Sundowners.
My sincere condolences to Roger’s family, friends and all who knew and remembered him. Running the blog as I do you become all too aware of time’s arrow and at instances like this the sadness is particularly acute.
Thank you to Colin for letting us know. On behalf of all blog readers, my deepest sympathies, and thank you.
The Sundowners are very only remembered. Image generously supplied by Colin Corbett.
A quiet start to the football season at Oak Park last Saturday (16th July 2016) as the lads from the Wood faced the mighty Chasetown in a pre-season friendly that sadly, didn’t go the Woodmen’s way.
Sorry for the delay in posting this, it’s been one of those weeks…
Simon Evans submitted some great images, and Bill Shaw sent the following match report:
Hiya Bob,
Hardly the start we wanted, but winning friendlies doesn’t win you anything.
Nevertheless a good work out against a higher division side who had benefitted from an earlier game and it really showed.
Walsall Wood 0 v 4 Chasetown
Wood started their pre-season programme with this game against local rivals Chasetown, the visitors who had played at Hednesford last Saturday were much sharper from the start and kept Wood pegged back in their own half. It was no surprise when on 20 minutes Paul Sullivan opened the scoring with a low drive into the bottom corner. 12 minutes later an incisive run in from wide on the right by Peter Till saw him open up the Wood defence with a lovely ball into the left of the box, Sullivan calmly slotting the ball past the advancing keeper Andy Hughes. It was Till again 4 minutes later powering into the right of the box, crossing to the far post to find Mitch Piggon who scored with a powerful header.
Wood made wholesale changes at the break but went further behind on 56 minutes when Piggon finished off a right wing move involving Garfield Robinson (playing for a seventh club against Wood in three seasons) and the impressive Matt Curley.
Wood were more competitive in the last 30 minutes, but apart from a Joey Butlin low drive that was well saved they struggled to make any headway against a solid defence.
Wood’s only other home friendly is on Thursday night with Leicester side Aylestone Park the visitors.
The season starts for Wood on Saturday 6th August in the F.A. Cup with a tricky trip to Brocton. Ironically the winners are at Chasetown in the next round on Saturday 20th August.
Bill Shaw.
Thanks to Bill and Simon for the report, as ever.It’s a joy and an honour to publish them here.
Walsall Active Living Centres opening date announced
The eagerly awaited opening date for both Oak Park and Bloxwich Active Living Centres became reality this week when the keys for both centres were handed over by contractors.
This significant moment marked the beginning stages to the run-up of their opening on Tuesday 9 August.
The new multi million pound centres, which each include a 25 metre swimming pool, teaching pool, six court sports hall, dance studio and cafe will be fitted out over the coming weeks with state of the art station fitness suites in time for their opening to the public. Oak Park is also able to offer two glass backed squash courts, sauna and a steam room. The full size, floodlit artificial grass pitch at Oak Park will be replaced over the autumn.
Councillor Julie Fitzpatrick, Portfolio Holder for Community, Leisure and Culture said: “Opening these doors for the first time is very exciting.
“It is truly wonderful to be able to take possession of these buildings and brings us ever closer to realising the Council’s commitment to improve the health and wellbeing of residents by getting more people, more active, more often.
“Over the coming weeks the two centres will be a hive of activity and the excitement of everyone working to get these centres ready is positively brimming over.
“Our customers are about to be able to access some truly iconic and outstanding facilities that they can be really proud of. Over the coming days we look forward to being able to launch our activity programmes ready to open both centres on Tuesday 9 August.”
Funded through the Council’s £24.3 million Active Living Centres initiative, the project received a £2m grant from Sport England’s “Iconic” facilities award scheme to support Walsall Council’s aspiration to improve Walsall residents’ overall health and well-being.
Walsall Manor Hospital – surprisingly beautiful at night.
This is very unusual, but I think is somewhat important – this request was posted by the Communication Team at Walsall Manor Hospital Tuesday (19th July 2016) and I’d like all locals to have a think about it, and if any of you can, please do help.
Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust are trying to locate the family of one of its patients.
Constance Collett from Bentley in Walsall was born in the year of 1927.
Anyone with information or who is related to either of the two should contact Julie Venables at General Office, Walsall Manor Hospital on 01922 721172 ext 4637.
Thanks in advance. If anyone would prefer, email me in total confidence at BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot come and I’ll pass any messages on.
This photo is believed to have been taken at Norton Pool – Chaswater – in the early part of last century and features men believed to be boaters. Do you know anything about it? Image from the Andy Matthews collection.
It’s always nice to get a bit of new Chasewater history to share with you readers and this curious image from friend of the blog and canal historian Andy Matthews is no exception.
Believed to have been taken in the early part of last century at ‘Norton Pools’, it shows what is believed to be a group of boat operators, who are named on the back of the photo.
Andy said:
Hiya Bob,
I wondered if you could do anything with this image, its of my great uncle I think, possibly great grandad.
Its a group of workers off the boats, taken at Norton pools. I have no other information on why it was taken but Ive included the back of the photo as well where the people are named and its dated 1929. ‘Myself’ is probably named … Foster, no idea of first name to be honest.
Underneath the penned names is some pencil writing which gives the location, looking at it again Im not convinced by the date and it could possibly date to just pre-war with the first person being my granddad.
Not a lot of help! I thought maybe families of some of the others in the pic might have more info on why, when and whatever.
Andy
It would be really great if we could firm up the detail or even cast new light on this curious photo. Thanks to Andy for a wonderful bit of history – I know Andy has been amassing lots of local canal material for years and is very knowledgable on the matter of local waterways , their traffic and industrial history.
If you can help, please do: comment here or mail me – BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com. Cheers all.
The back of the same photo. Ring any bells? Image kindly supplied by Andy Matthews.
Police are concerned about distraction thefts in Walsall Wood. Imagery from Apple Maps.
People are being warned to be on their guard after a couple of distraction theft incidents in the Walsall Wood area over the last few days – the first in Walsall Wood High Street on Saturday 16th July 2016 and the second in Vigo Road yesterday, Monday 18th July 2016.
It would be a very good idea if you have elderly or vulnerable family or friends to warn them about this.
West Midlands Police issued the following statement this morning:
Police continue to appeal for information following a roadside distraction theft in Vigo Road, Walsall Wood on Monday 18 July.
A 75-year-old man was walking his dog at around 2pm when a car, described as an old C Class Mercedes with foreign plates, pulled up beside him and a woman passenger asked him for directions.
The woman described as white of a large build and in her late 30s early 40s distracted the dog walker and replaced the gold jewellery he was wearing with cheap costume jewellery.
The man who was driving the car is described as Eastern European in appearance.
Officers have been trawling CCTV for any clues and are appealing to anyone that could help them with their investigations to call on 101.
Police are urging people to be wary of anyone who is overfriendly in these types of circumstances.
Kind regards,
Gina Lycett
Corporate Communications Department
Communications Officer
Kevin Pitt, Partnerships Officer at Walsall Police, also posted the following on Facebook:
The incident described occurred in Vigo Road at about 2pm yesterday, what is described as a left-hand drive Mercedes has pulled up alongside the gentleman, the occupants (described as Eastern European) have asked for directions and when the gent has leaned into the vehicle have stolen his jewellery as described.
A similar incident occurred on Saturday morning in Walsall Wood High Street, in this case the victim had just returned to his car when he was approached by an unknown female who asked for directions, after he’d complied she lent into the car putting her arms around his neck in thanks, stealing a necklace and watch. She got into a waiting car and made off.
This type of crime is not unknown but at the same time isn’t that common so whilst I wouldn’t want people to worry I’d also advise people to be cautious if approached by strangers asking for directions, especially if you’re visibly wearing jewellery (watches/necklaces/rings), and try to remember as much about the persons and vehicles involved as you can.
Unfortunately the two victims mentioned above were unable to give more than brief descriptions of the thieves and vehicles involved, leaving the police with no real lines of enquiry.
I’d like to thank the West Midlands Police Press Office and Kevin Pitt for their very rapid response to my enquiry about this today.
Please, if you have any information, do speak to the cops. These people need to be caught before they do it again. If you know who they might be, or if you saw anything at all, please do contact West Midlands Police by dialling 101 or speak to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
A wonderful memory of Millfield School from reader Harry. Click for a larger version.
Things have been a bit mad today and I haven’t got the updates done I’d have liked – and that includes catching up with 365daysofbiking. Please bear with me while I get back on top of things…
In the meantime, behold this wonderful image from Millfield School from the late 1960s, when the place was still relatively new. Reader Harry sent it in, and he had this to say:
Hi Bob,
Excellent blog as usual always an interesting read.
I thought you and some of your readers maybe interested in a photo I came across of Millfield School not long after it opened so around 1967, bearing that in mind most of the children depicted in the photo must be nearly pensioners now…
I cant name anyone but I am sure some of your readers might be able to.
Kind Regards,
Harry
There are a good few kids on there, and what seems like most of the staff too – so you know what I’m going to ask. Do you recognise anyone? Are you perhaps in this photo? Which staff and characters do you remember from these days?
If you can add anything, please do:comment here, or mail me: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com.
Thanks to Harry for the very kind words and such a wonderful picture – cheers for sharing, it’s what this blog is all about!
Bowls was huge for years – many local pubs had greens including the Shoulder of Mutton and Hussey Arms. Image from Clarice Mayo and Geoff Harrington’s book ‘Memories of Old Brownhills’.
When I can, I like to document the history of local sports and hobbies here on the blog – although many of you will know I’m not really a sporting person, I appreciate the huge community significance of sports and pastimes within the area.
Bowls was once huge throughout the area: many local pubs had greens, as did parks and recreation grounds. Although their time has passed, the sport is still very popular though, and I think few realise what a great facility there still is at Oak Park in Walsall Wood.
Last week, the young David Evans paid a visit to the club to find out about it and to chick out the history of this fine institution. I believe he even had a go, and thankfully no injuries or damage to property have been reported.
If you’re interested in bowls, or know someone who might be, you can contact Dave Elwell, the club secretary on01543 452378 – the club welcomes would be members!
Thanks to David for a great article, and thanks to to Dave Elwell and all at the club who generously shared their time with David.
David Evans wrote:
This isn’t just a game – it’s more serious than that. Image kindly supplied by Davide Evans.
Brownhills and Oak Park Bowls Club
I was delighted to be invited to watch a bowls match at Oak Park, Walsall Wood recently, which I readily accepted. This quiet oasis, well-hidden and away from the bustle of the busy Lichfield Road, has changed little from those happy hours of my childhood spent trying to master the skills of putting, or – and always under the watchful gaze of the groundsman- enjoying a game of bowls. Proper footwear, a square rubber mat, a box of heavy bowls, a little jack bowl, and an optimistic score-card and pencil ( ‘Mind you bring everything back after, lads’).
It was not an easy sport to master, but with lots of time, patience and application this captivating sport revealed some of its enormous charm. The crown green available to children was not the one I visited. This green was reserved for grown-up experts of the sport.
So it was with a mixture of emotions that I entered the gateway. A serious match was about to get under way. I was given a warm welcome…and within minutes those members awaiting their turn and I were sharing Walsall Wood notes, experiences, adventures, from a common childhood we had shared.
Proper score cards were being kept and recorded; signals from players on the green were understood, applause and congratulations were voiced during the action, at times the green seemed quite crowded as bowls rolled across the grass, each bowl aimed, judged, gliding seamlessly from the player’s hands in graceful, balletic moves.
Walsall Wood bowls club going strong in 1913. . Image supplied by David Evans.
Oak Park, its tennis courts, putting greens, beginner’s crown green, and pavilion are no more. But the sport of crown green bowling is alive and well here, on the ‘top green’, where new shelters for waiting players and spectators grace the ground, and perhaps a new pavilion may appear.
I would like to thank Dave Elwell, the committee, and players for their warm welcome, and for allowing me to take my photos during their match. I wish the club every success in the future.
I have always wondered when this part of Oak Park was completed. With the kind help of researcher par excellence ,Peter Cutler an answer has been discovered.
But where was the bowling green at that time?
Thankfully, Aerofilms flew over Walsall Wood in 1926, and took a rather useful aerial photograph which perhaps provides a clue to the original location of the bowling green.
Take a lose look at the image below:
This 1926 view of Walsall Wood shows a possible location, centre – left of the main road, behind St Johns Church, and surrounded by a hedge. Image supplied by David Evans.
Oak Park and the playing fields, which I believe was opened in 1932, is seen here in this 1938 map, but no bowling green, tennis courts, or pavilion… not yet.
1938 1:1250 mapping from Ordnance Survey showing the original Oak Park – note it’s where the current, 1970s centre stands.
August 1940 press cutting. In the early years of the war Local Authority minutes were deliberately left empty of salient details, but thanks to the excellent research of Peter Cutler, we have this press cutting, and an answer. Many sincere thanks, Peter.
A great find – when the greens were added to the original Oak Park. Clipping found by Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler and supplied by David Evans.
Having found by accident the trotting picture, I was reminded of some other things that belonged to uncle Frank, who lived in Castle Street for most of his life.
During the war he was called up to the Fleet Air Arm and, having poor eyesight, was trained as a ‘sparks’ (electrician) on marine aircraft, such as the Sunderland pictured. He was stationed for a time at RNAS Machrihanish, on the Kintyre peninsula, where his squadron was involved in convoy support, mainly u-boat spotting – so that destroyers could attack. This was where Campbeltown Airport is today (further reading here and a great piece here (scroll down)). The tools are from that time; pincers and a ‘cowling screwdriver’ – for getting at the engines. Today, they are used for more prosaic activities, such as pulling out nails (the metal DIY type) and prising the lids off paint tins!
After the Battle of the Atlantic became less pressing, he was transferred to Lincolnshire, where he serviced Lancaster bombers.
The book is an aircraft recognition manual from 1944 and I wonder if your followers would be interested in some of the silhouettes of aircraft that might have been seen over Brownhills or nearby between 1940 and 1945, like the ones bottom left in the picture. (Occasionally you can see some of them even now.) If so, I am quite happy to send some images.
Andy
Thanks to Andy for another fascinating bit of his family history. Well, I for one would be fascinated in that, I really would. What do readers think?
Please comment here, or mail me: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com. Cheers to Andy for a very thought provoking and interesting contribution.
RNAS Machrihanish (HMS Landrail), Argyll, Scotland as it is today. Image from Urbanghostmedia.
The car’s the star at the Arboretum this Sunday! Image from Classic Motorshows UK.
Friend of the blog Chrissie Ismay has been in touch to let me know that there’s a Classic Car Show on at Walsall Arboretum this Sunday 17th July 2016.
It runs from 10am until 4pm, and adult entry is £5, and £2.50 for kids between 4-16. There will be a whole range of classic and vintage cars, plus lots of stalls, an auto jumble and entertainment too.
Just a quick heads up that this Sunday (17th July 2016), there’s to be a Summer Fair and Dog Show at Chasewater – the whole thing runs from 10am until 4pm, with registration for the Dog Show taking place from 11am and the show itself at 2:30pm.
The dog show is just a quid per entry per class, and features categories we can all get behind – laggiest tail, most appealing eyes, most handsome, prettiest bitch (!), best junior handler etc.
Walsall RSPCA who are organising the show, had this to say:
Fun Dog Show – Run by Walsall RSPCA.
Everyone is welcome to attend. All proceeds to Walsall RSPCA.
Entry Fees – £1 per class, you can enter as many classes as you like.
Booking in from 11:00am Judging starts: 12:30pm
1. Best puppy (3-12 months)
2. Best Junior Dog (12 months – 3years)
3. Best Adult Dog (4 years – 7 years)
4. Best Veteran (8 years and over)
5. Prettiest Bitch
6. Most Handsome Male
7. Waggiest Tail
8. Best Junior Handler (children aged 12 and under)
9. Best 6 legs (dog plus handler)
10. Most Appealing eyes
11. Dog in best condition
12. Best family group
13. Best Trick
14. Best Rescue (dog must be from a rescue not rehomed from a private individual)
15. Dog the judge would most like to take home
Overall winner (Winners of classes 1-15 compete)
We will also have a stall with pet toys, foods and treats, RSPCA merchandise, gift ware, childrens toys and a big tombola!
Please come along and support us.
This event is well worth a punt if you’re at a loose end – and there’s always the Chasewater Railway while you’re up there. I must say, the Cafe at the station does a cracking butty.
Another great band at the Chase Inn tonight – image from The Usual Suspects Facebook page.
Kim Savage from the Chase Inn at Newtown, Brownhills has been in touch to let me know that there’s live music on again at the popular Brownhills pub this weekend (Saturday 16th July 2016), with top pop and rock covers act The Usual Suspects live tonight from 9:00pm.
There’s a bar until 1am and now there’s Budweiser on draught too, so what’s not to love?
The band said:
The Usual Suspects pick up where they left off and resume their Summer dates on Saturday 16th July at The Chase Inn, Burntwood.
The band are fired up and ready to deliver the best pop and rock anthems in the world, with a sprinkling of soul and blues. There truly is something for everyone! We look forward to travelling over to the A5 to entertain you all – tell your friends, this is a show not to be missed!
Walsall Wood FC have a great reputation for entertaining football, and a keen, loyal and friendly bunch of supporters! Come join in the fun this Saturday and see some cracking football.
A treat for enthusiasts and casual spectators alike!
This Saturday and Sunday (16th and 17th July 2016) will be quite a special weekend for the local powerboat community as Chasewater hosts the PowerBoatGP 2016 Chasewater Grand Prix at our favourite reservoir and country park.
There are races both days, and the action commences at 10:00am and runs through to 5pm, and I believe it’s free to spectate – so why not pop up and take a look?
The organisers of the Chasewater Grand Prix, PowerGP had this to say:
Join us for 2 days of action packed racing as the Chasewater Watersports Centre hosts a round of the Powerboat GP RYA British Championships which will be held at Chasewater Country Park , Pool Road, Nr Brownhills, WS8 7NL
Here’s a really, really great thing happening on the weekend of Friday 29th – Sunday 31st July 2016 at Newtown, Brownhills – a weekend music and fun festival with proceeds going to the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity.
Cockfest runs over a whole weekend with camping available, and live music on the Friday and Saturday. It’s a great, friendly and warm hearted affair in a field just off the A5 at Newtown, Brownhills. There’s not just music, but food, a licensed bar, campfire and all manner of entertainments and fun…
Organizer Keryl Jenkins had this to say:
This is the third year of Cockfest, and I can’t wait as this year is going to be better than ever!
The humbling part for me is how our team of volunteers have grown from last years success and how the local community has really stepped up to support us.
Cockfest is more than just a music festival, it’s a gathering of like minded charitable people raising money for a popular charity available to everyone.
A weekend pass is £30 for adults and just £5 for kids under 16, and day passes are £20 and £3 respectively. Under 5s go free! You can book tickets by calling Kez on 07966 611170 or by visiting the event’s Facebook page here.
This is a very professionally run event now in it’s third year and some of the bands look terrific – and it’s for charity so what’s not to love?
It’s apparently called “Cockfest’ because it’s on a chicken farm…
Some great local bands performing, and in memory of popular local man Carl Findon-Kent who sadly passed away last year.
The original trotting track in the town would be on what is now Brownhills School’s field, between the Black Path and the former railway – indeed, the A-Z bizarrely still shows it. That track closed I believe when the new stadium opened near Chasewater.
Andy had the following to say about this photo:
Hello Bob
Here is a photograph taken by my uncle Frank, who was a keen photographer in the 1940’’s and ‘50s. There is no information as to where it was taken, but I think it was local.
He would have developed this himself. I wonder if any of your followers can work out where it was?
Cheers
Andy
Great thanks to Andy for that – and it’s worth noting the spirit of ingenuity that drove local sportsmen and hobbyists to use their industrial or craft skills to make their own equipment, modify vehicles and so on.
Join in with the last Rosie’s Walk and help raise money for local charities!
Sunday 17th July 2016 sees the last ever Rosie’s Charity Walk in aid of the wonderful Rosie’s Helping Hands Charity -I’m sure readers know the story of how the charity started, and out of tragedy, this event has raised a whole lot of cash for local good causes and proves that good things really can come from heartbreak.
There is a choice of one and three mile was, and while there is no festival this year, there will be live entertainment at The Longhorn.
Please join us in purple for the 15th (and last) Rosie’s Walk.
Ending as we began in 2002 with just the walk with live entertainment at the Longhorn Pub on the 3 mile route.
Food vendors, balancing skills workshops and pony rides at the start and finish.
Choice of 3 mile or 1 mile walk. Walks open at Noon – last entries at 2pm.
To take part either collect sponsors by signing up or turn up on the day with a donation.
All walkers receive a beautiful medal and certificate.
Raising money for children and young people’s projects in the area including Aldridge Air Cadets, Children’s hospital wards, The Avenues music project in Brownhills.
Message from Karen and Sean: It will be the 15th year we have lost Rosie and organised the walk in her memory. Whilst we celebrate what the event has achieved over the years, it’s also a painful reminder of the time without our beloved daughter. We have decided to make this year the last year we organise Rosie’s walk. It has been incredilbly successful over the years and we wholeheartedly thank everyone who has made it so. Next year will be 16 years, the same time as we had Rosie, and we do not feel able to continue with fundraising after this poignant milestone. We hope you understnad our decision and help to make this last Rosie’s Walk one to remember.
Please pop along and help this great local cause.
Best wishes to Karen and Sean, and best foot forward to all walking. Looks like being a cracking day.
Barista – Supervisor/Keyholder Costa Coffee Brownhills
Pioneers UK Ltd – Walsall WS8
£7.30 – £8.00 an hour
Passionate about coffee. That’s Costa. Since our creation in 1971, when we started supplying coffee slow roasted the Italian way, we’ve grown to over 2000 stores across 29 countries worldwide.
Pioneers UK Ltd runs a number of franchised Costa Coffee stores across the Midlands. We have a number of opportunities to join the team to develop a new store opening shortly in Brownhills. As a Keyholder, you’ll have responsibility for opening and closing the store, along with ordering stock and cash handling. You will act as Supervisor and support the Assistant Manager and Store Manager in ensuring Costa brand standards are delivered by the team at all times.
We’re looking for someone with an enthusiastic and friendly manner and outstanding customer service skills. Previous supervisory experience would be an advantage but not necessary if you have substantial customer facing experience and are ready to make the next step. In return you can expect full training and £7.30 – £8.00 per hour.
Job Type: Full-time
Required experience:
Supervising a team: 1 year
If you wish to apply, click this link here. Obviously, the job and advert is on a third party site and has no connection with the Brownhills Blog – queries can only be answered by the advertisers.
So there you go – it looks like we are actually getting a Costa in Brownhills. There also seems to be one planned in Burntwood at the former Kwik Save/Tesco store, in front of the MacDonalds restaurant that’s currently being built on the building’s car park.
Personal Assistants are becoming a vital resource as care models change.
I think regular readers and friends of the blog will know that I care passionately about social care and disability issues, particularly around socialisation and support in the community for those that require it – so I’m happy to share the following appeal from Walsall Council for people to work as Personal Assistants for the disabled and elderly in out community.
These are paid opportunities for which training can be obtained – and with a current shortage, applications are invited from the general public.
For contact details see the foot of the post.
With things getting tighter in the social care sector as care and support models change, this is a real opportunity for those who want to support others.
Walsall Council wrote:2
Walsall Council launches recruitment drive for 150 new Personal Assistants in care sector
A new campaign to increase the number of people able to work as personal assistants for disabled and older people has been rolled out by Walsall Council today.
Working with disability charity ‘Ideal for All’, the local authority is looking to meet the increasing demand for one-to-one independent living support by encouraging more than 150 people to enrol as registered PAs on the Walsall Personal Assistant Network.
Ray and Manjit. Image from Walsall Council.
There are currently 35 on the council’s directory and the aim for the new campaign, which provides information, advice and access to a Level 1 qualification in Personal Assistant Care, is to increase this figure five-fold over the next six months.
‘PAs typically provide a range of personal and practical support to help people live their lives with greater independence, freedom and choice,’ explained Councillor Diane Coughlan, Portfolio holder for Adult Social Care at Walsall Council.
‘This includes help with washing and dressing, household jobs, shopping, paying bills, meeting friends, attending college, work or medical appointments.’
She added: ‘Personal Assistants are usually employed directly by the person requiring the support and some PAs can work for two or three clients during the course of a week.
‘This type of work suits people who enjoy the company of others, like variety, perhaps already work in the care sector, want part time hours or are looking for a second income.’
Skills for Care, the national skills academy for social care, estimates that there will be more than 1.2 million Personal Assistant jobs in the UK by 2025.
Walsall Council is hoping to attract individuals from a range of backgrounds, age groups and interests to offer local people greater choice in their search for a PA and increase the likelihood of a positive working relationship for both parties.
Doreen and Kath. Image from Walsall Council.
Individuals who are interested in what the role can offer, but have no experience of working in a care type setting, can access training and support by engaging with Ideal for All.
Khatija Patel, Chief Executive of the charity, went on to add: “We are holding taster sessions to explain the role of a PA, go through the appropriate checks, and, in partnership with Walsall Adult Community College, provide a package of accredited training.
‘We will then support PAs to advertise their skills and availability on the portal ready for prospective employers to view.’
She concluded: ‘We’re also happy to hear from anyone already working as a Personal Assistant and available to work for Walsall residents.’
For more information about the Walsall Personal Assistant Network visit www.wcld.co.uk or call Viv Palmer, Ideal for All, on 0121 558 5555 or email v.palmer@idealforall.co.uk.
We all love the common, but its management has proven controversial. Why not pop along to the meeting and discuss the issues with the experts and other users?
Here’s one for people interested in the issues surrounding Brownhills Common – theres a meeting at 7:00pm this Monday evening 11th July 2016 of the Freinds of Brownhills Common group at the Environmental Depot, 200 Pelsall Road, Brownhills – WS8 7EN – please meet in the reception by 7:00pm.
Brownhills Common needs a good active friends group and this is your opportunity to join in and have your say in shaping the future management of the open space we all love.
The meeting is also open to the general public who may not wish to join the friends group, but are encouraged to attend and hear what everyone has to say.
If you can make time, do pop along. Brownhills Common will benefit hugely from an active friends group, and considering the manufactured outrage in recent years, I’d have thought plenty would be ready to join and add their voice. It’s important that we recognise what a valuable, fragile and important habitat Brownhills Common is, and why it requires careful and measured stewardship.
If you’ve only heard the alarmists, it’s a good opportunity to go out and meet, talk and listen to people who understand the issues and want to preserve the wildlife, and to help shape the future of Brownhills’ greatest asset.
The Black Country flag is now ubiquitous. But who’s entitled to wrap themselves up in it?
There are some topics I treat very carefully here on the blog; some that cause so much anguish, heated debate and recrimination that I feel scared to approach them even tangentially, and so it is with reckless abandon that today, I run an article about the definition of the geographic area we refer to as ‘The Black Country’.
Whether a particular town is in the hallowed area is always hot debate; usually, the question is relating to Wolverhampton, but Walsall and satellites are often questioned by the hardened philosopher.
Speaking as someone who’s had some quite fearsome emails when I’ve included Brownhills carelessly in the Black Country, I actually don’t feel the name is geographical, I think it’s a kinship and spiritual thing.
Hitler did not take the loss of Bilston well. Don’t play if easily offended.
When the signs went up here for the Black Country Car Cruising Enforcement Zone, some of the annoyance in messages I received was almost incandescent.
I’ve worked in and around the Black Country all my life, pretty much. I speak it’s tongue, I adore it’s humour, I feel part of it. Walsall and Brownhills coal, clay and limestone floated down our canals to fuel the industrial revolution there; our reservoir – Norton Pool or Chasewater – collected water from our mines and streams and fed the whole canal network.
To me, spiritually then, we are of, if not geographically, the Black Country.
With this in mind, I’m opening the debate here today with an essay spotted in the Blackcountryman Magazine first issue, from 1967, by Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler. It’s a very interesting piece, and I think somewhat controversial.
The author is listed only as J.M.F. which doesn’t ring a bell. Anyone?
The Black Country to my mind isn’t situated on a plateau, but a range of hills.
I have a number of issues with this treatise, and I know Peter does too; my main one is constant reference to the ‘West Midlands Plateau’ which jarrs badly, and I find the tone a bit off. But give it a read. Pick the bones out of it. Comment here. Let’s have a debate.
Thanks to Peter for a wonderful spot – the text has been machine converted from a scan, so excuse any typos.
Comment here if you’ve something to add, or mail me: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com. Cheers.
What is the Black Country?
PERHAPS no area has suffered more misrepresentation than the Black Country. Local people are constantly being annoyed by the fatuous and puerile knowledge of the area shown by national figures and by the national press. The depth was reached by one famous Sunday newspaper which recently spoke of activities in Wedncsbury, then headed a photograph which illustrated this particular article with a caption speaking of the town as being in the Potteries!
To many southerners, the Black Country seems to be a term that is used to describe all of this country north of Stratford-upon-Avon. To others, probably avid readers of Arnold Bennett’s novels, the Black Country will be forever associated with the area around Stoke-on-Trent. There is really no excuse for this attitude. The borders of the Black Country can be clearly defined, although a true ‘Black Country mon’ might say that he carries the characteristics of the area with him everywhere.
It ay all drop ommers, cuts and grey pays, aer kid.
Historically, the West Midland plateau has not played a significant part in the development of this country until recent times. At the time of the Norman Conquest, Domesday Book shows the plateau as being sparsely populated and economically insignificant. The position remained essentially unaltered during the whole of the medieval period. No major river ran through the area, and at the time when traffic and trade was concentrated on the natural waterways, this meant that the plateau was isolated from developments in the rest of the country.
No major Roman road passed through the region. Activity, therefore, tended to bypass the Midland plateau and concentrate on the river valleys to the north, south and west, or in the booming manufacturing town of Coventry. This situation was changed only when the building of canals opened the plateau to influence from the outside.
The development of the region during the early industrial revolution laid down in outline the boundaries of the region we know as the Black Country. Contemporary writers were careful to differentiate between two types of activity they observed to he appearing on the plateau. In the first plaee, they saw the towns of Walsall, Wolverhampton and especially Birmingham appearing as large manufacturing centres with also a commercial element in their population. The central part of the plateau supplied the raw materials, coal and iron, that were used in these large towns. Of course, some manufacturing was also carried out in this central area, but the distinction is on the whole a valid one.
The three towns were themselves also separated from the mineral producing areas by very definite belts of open country or waste-land.
Between Birmingham and West Bromwich lay the country district of Handsworlh Heath. This area known as Soho gets its name, so it is said, from this being the cry of the hunters as they rode over the open fields and waste-land then characteristic of Handsworlh.
Between Walsall and Wedncsbury, a belt of waste-land known as the Pleck, a word meaning ‘waste,’ divided the manufacturing towns from the coal and iron mining area. To the north, heathland lay beyond Bilston, scparating it from Wolverhampton; the modern names Stow Heath and Monmoor Green today indicate where this belt of land was situated.
I love these streets, these towns. I haunt them. They are of me, and I of them. What does that make me, apart from eccentric?
We have the picture, then, of three busy manufacturing towns on the edge of the plateau divided from the mineral producing region by belts of open country. It is this mineral producing region that should rightly be known as the Black Country, and no other area. It is possible to speak of this as a specific region because the nature of the coalfield in South Staffordshire did produce close and compact development.
To the south and west, the field is limited by faults running approximately from north to south. Only in the later nineteenth eentury were investigations lor coal beyond these faults attempted. To the north, a line of faults known as the Bentley Faults running roughly from east to west divide the coalfield from the deeper, thinner seams found in the Cannock Chase area. Only in the south is the field not clearly defined; here the seams peter out around Halesowen. The faults in the east, north and west concentrate development of the coalfield within a very closely defined area, and this is rightly the Black Country. In this region until comparatively recently, the exploration of the rich coal seams with their associate deposits of iron, clay and limestone, provided employment for the majority of the inhabitants.
On the coalfield itself, we must distinguish between two types of development. The earliest mining was naturally located in those areas where the seams lay at a very shallow level. This ‘outcrop’ coal, as it is called, was found particularly in Wednesbury, Darlaston. Willenhall, Bilston. Coseley, Tipton, Dudley, Brierley Hill and the adjacent villages. In these centres the early development of the Black Country was most noticeable. The coal also lay at a greater depth, ‘concealed,’ in three other areas, West Bromwich. Smethwick and Oldbury. Here development came somewhat later and lasted a little longer than elsewhere.
These towns, originally small villages and hamlets, on the exposed and concealed coalfield, form the Black Country as it should be defined.
We may not be geographically Black Country, but Morris is the most Black Country thing I’ve ever bloody seen. A thertay feert tin mon, for pity’s sakes!
The isolation of the region in medieval times had already laid the basis for the development of a strongly conservative, inward looking culture on the plateau. The industrial revolution did not seriously change this.
Mining communities are always close-knit, introspective groups, and those of the Black Country were no exccplion. The development of the region was also slow enough to prevent a sudden influx of immigrants who could radically alter the traditions of the area; the only outside element to come into the Black Country in any quantity was the Irish. Their arrival caused considerable disturbance, but does not seem to have seriously affected the culture of the Black Country.
As a prosperous region, compared to many others, the Black Country was also able to retain much of its population which then contributed to stabilise the customs and traditions of the area. All these factors tended to produce a tightly knit community, inward looking and with peculiar customs associated often with the distant past.
The ending of the dominance of mineral production in the Black Country, the ease of obtaining transport and the spread of housing beyond the boundaries set by the old coalfield has inevitably blurred many of the distinctions noted above between the area and its adjacent regions. However, it would be easy to ignore the effect of this long history on the people of the Black Country. As a prosperous, rich area, the Black Country still retains its population and its stability. The traditions of the past cannot easily be dropped in the space of a few years. Although the character of the region has changed and is still changing rapidly, the sense of belonging to a distinct local community is very strong today.
We can still speak of the Black Country as that area lying on the southern part of the South Staffordshire coalfield, although its boundaries today are not so clearly defined and its activities no longer base themselves on the exploitation of its mineral wealth.
From Reg ‘Aer Reg’ Fullelove – what the devil is this object?
Hmm – I might be being wound up here, so I proceed with caution – but David Evans sent me this image yesterday of something belonging to Reg Fullelove – and they’re asking readers what it actually is, and what it’s used for.
I genuinely don’t have a clue. It’s actually a lot larger than I imagined at first glance – over six inches (no sniggering at the back) – and seems to be brass.
Any ideas please? Comment here or mail me – BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com.
I seriously have no idea so I’m relying on you lot to help me here…
I’m having the IT builders in this weekend, so posts are a bit scattergun as I move things, fix them up and reinstall them, so please bear with me – but helpfully, the blog regulars in the form of the young David Evans, Pedro Cutler, Andy Dennis and dear old Reg Fullelove have supplied lots of material to tide us through.
In the first of two posts of donated Aer Reg material today, the inimitable Mr. Fullelove kindly shared these mid-70s Wolverhampton historical postcards with David Evans, who scanned them and sent them in.
David said:
Hi Bob
These postcards were generously shared by Reg Fullelove for readers of the blog to enjoy.
They were produced in 1975 for the year of architecture by Wolverhampton Art Gallery and sponsored by Tarmac Construction.
Sincere thanks to Reg for the time and generosity!
Best wishes
David
Whilst Wolverhampton is on the extremities of the area, I know may of you know and love Wolves (particularly Mr. Cutler as it’s his adopted home!) and there are some wonderful images here.
Thanks to Reg and David for a wonderful donation, and if you have anything to add, please do. Comment here or mail me: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com. Thanks.
Posters on a building in Cleveland Street, 1866
Corn Exchange just prior to demolition in 1898. The building stood in North Street on the site of the Civic Hall. The old Bluecoat School may be seen in the background.
Victoria Street, c 1900
Industrial Hall, Wolverhampton. Fine Art and Industrial Exhibition, 1902. The extravagant Art Nouveau façade conceals a temporary prefabricated structure
Empire Palace Theatre, popularly known as the Hippodrome, demolished 1961 to make way for the Times Furnishing Company building
Victoria Street c 1870. At the junction with John Street. The timbered building and the elegant brick house still stand, though the latter is changed almost out of recognition.
The Empire Music Hall, Queen’s Square c 1890. Later the site of the Empire Palace Theatre (Hippodrome) itself demolished in 1961 to make way for Times Furnishing.
Old shops in Lichfield Street c 1870. These stood on the site of the present Art Gallery
All images kindly supplied by Reg Fullelove, from postcards published in 1975 by Wolverhampton Art Gallery.
Daisy the French bulldog is missing from Pelsall. Have you seen her? Image posted on Facebook by Laila Hayward.
Please share as widely as possible – this is urgent, a friend of the blog has asked me to enquire if readers have seen a lost French bulldog around the Pelsall, Rushall, Clayhanger or Brownhills area – Daisy went missing yesterday afternoon from Pelsall (Saturday, 9th July 2016).
To anyone who lives in Pelsall or Rushall, my dog Daisy ran away this afternoon and has been spotted on the railway tracks behind the Railway pub in Pelsall.
If anyone sees a small black, white and brown French bulldog anywhere around the village or near rushall please let me know, many thanks.
If you see Daisy, or know where she is, please comment here, or contact Laila Hayward on Facebook. You can also mail me on BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot Com. Cheers.
Anyone recognise the farm in the background? A wonderful family photograph from Keith Whitbrook.
Spinning out of the recent Norton Canes Historical Society 1975 article about the Norton Dame School which was donated by local historian Bill Mayo, reader Keith Whitbrook made a connected enquiry about his family history and the school, which I published last week – well, now Keith has added more information, including an interesting family photo.
Keith kindly sent me the above image, and said the following about it:
Hi Bob
I Found this photo in an old family album of my older sister with Grandmother Charlesworth at the old School House. My sister was born around 1933. Think the building in background would be the Pinfold Farm on the A5.
Can anyone expand on this please, or positively identify the farm?
Keith, there was some interest in your original article, but the researchers need some dates – or at least approximate ones – to kick things off. Can you help with those please?
If you can help, or have anything at all to add, please do – either comment here, or mail me – BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com.
If you have time you can combine Brewery Loco Day with the Transport Museum Open Day, but note Loco Day is held at Brownhills West Sation – but you can get the heritage train to/from Chasewater Heaths station where you can get a connecting bus to/from Aldridge Transport Museum.
Aston Manor connecting heritage bus service for the two events. Click for a larger version.
On the steam passenger service will be a locomotive that has arrived on extended loan from our good friends at Pontypool and Blaenavon railway called Rosyth and this will be its first appearance outside of Wales.
So another bonus to visiting oh – and some beer will available on the train.
The whole thing is staffed by helpful and friendly volunteers who are always ready to chat and talk about the railway and rolling stock.
At Brownhills west station there are also a lovely model railway, plus a couple of great vintage and collectible stalls. The railway itself has a shop selling books, rail models, toys and other merchandise.
Please do pop down if you haven’t already – Chasewater Railway really isn’t pushed enough; it’s wonderful.
You can check their website here – trains run this and every weekend from 11am to 4pm with the museum, cafes and stations open earlier.
Why not do both via a connection heritage bus and train linkup?
Here’s one I’m sad to say I know very little about and had very short notice of, but there’s a junior football tournament ongoing to Shire Oak School this weekend (Saturday and Sunday 9-10th July 2016) involving Shire Oak Saints under the banner of Walsall Wood Football Club.
A note to Walsall Wood FC, please. Happy as ever to advertise your events, matches and so forth, but is 6:15pm on Friday, the night before an event really the best time to mail me about it, particularly with no relevant information in the email?
As I say, happy to help, but please meet me halfway. Cheers.
Kim Savage from the Chase Inn at Newtown, Brownhills has been in touch to let me know that there’s live music on again at the popular Brownhills pub this weekend (Saturday 9th July 2016), with top local rock band The Mad Banditos live tonight from 9:00pm.
There’s a bar until 1am and now there’s Budweiser on draught too, so what’s not to love?
The walk takes place this Saturday 9th July 2016 at 2:30pm, meeting at the Erasmus Darwin statue in Beacon Park – thats the old geezer in the frock coat, not Captain Smith 🙂 – and the best bit is it’s totally free!
Kate had this to say about the talk:
Hi Bob
Time for something different!
As we all know, our city is a very photogenic place and we’d thought we’d arrange a photowalk to capture some of our best loved landmarks…. but from a different perspective. Bring your camera along and get creative.
There is no charge. Walk will take around 2 hours (pub not included!).
Many thanks as ever, Kate
Many thanks for this
Kate
These events are increasing in popularity, and I can see why; this is a collection of dedicated but offbeat local history enthusiasts who really know how to make their subject engaging and entertaining. And it’s absolutely free to attend. What’s not to love?
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