Here’s hoping for an away win! Image from Pitchero.
Saturday 15th August 2015
Walsall Wood v Hinkley
The boys from The Wood travel for awe F.A. action at Heather in Leicestershire!
St John’s Park
Ravenstone Road
Heather
Leicestershire
LE67 2QJ
3:00pm kickoff
Please come and get behind your local club
For The Good Of The Wood!
We shall always remember them.
Hey people, listen up – theres a really important service taking place this Saturday morning (15th August 2015), commemorating the 70 year anniversary of V.J. Day. It’s being held by Brownhills British Legion at the Cenotaph at St. James in Brownhills at 11:00am.
I know many local men fought, suffered and gave their lives in this most awful of conflicts. My respect to them all.
Thanks to Martin Littler who wrote to tell me about it:
Hi Bob,
Just to let you know that Brownhills Branch of the British Legion, will be holding a service for the 70 years of VJ day Commemoration, at the Cenotaph St James Church Brownhills this Saturday August 15th at 11.am. a warm welcome to all.
Kind Regards.
Martin Littler
Please do turn out and support them if you can.
A stunning bit of recent local history dropped in my lap unexpectedly today with an email from reader and friend of the blog Andy Wood, who’s sent me a whole bunch of interesting photos.
I’m going to go first with these, as I know this is a much sought-after topic and one I’m often asked about – Taylors Cafe, that used to stand on Pelsall Road, Brownhills, just opposite Wallace Road.
The well-loved cafe was razed for new housing ten years or more back (does anyone know exactly when?), but it seems Andy paid a visit just before it closed.
He wrote:
Bob
I have some pictures of Taylors Cafe Pelsall Road taken the week prior to it being demolished. They include some interior pictures and include of some of the staff.
I also have pictures of the path between the old pig farm and Pelsall Road before it was developed
all the best
Andy Wood
Andy actually sent me loads of wonderful additional stuff, which I’ll post up in due course – but for now, wallow in the memories of smoke, steam, sticky sauce bottles and soss, Egg, Chips and beans with and a large mug o’ tay.
Have any memories or anything further to add? Please do comment or mail me: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com.
A great image from Chasewaterstuff’s Railway and Canal Blog.
Today, Thursday 13th August is GRANDPARENTS DAY
Looking after the children? Don’t know what to do with them?
Come to Aldridge, have a look at the vehicles and a go on our childrens activities, then a free bus to Chasewater Railway and a ride on a train before another bus ride back to Aldridge AMRTM – Museum Open from 10.00 First bus from Shenstone Drive at 11.30
Refreshments and picnic facilities available at Chasewater Railway.
Tickets – £7.oo per child (over 2 years) or adult (includes entrance to both museums, train ride and free bus service)
For any last minute updates you can check the Facebook Open Day event page here.
For more information, check out the museum website or their Facebook group.
seems fair enough
I know it says ‘booking essential’ but you’ll probably be OK if you call in in good time…
Naomi Jones, Area Librarian from Brownhills Library at the Parkview Centre has been in touch to ask if I could give a plug for a folded book art event being held at Brownhills Library today (Thursday 13th August 2015), from 10:30-11:30am.
The event is free, and open to all.
You can book your place by calling 01922 650730, although you’ll probably be OK if you turn up on-spec.
Brownhills Library
The Parkview Centre
Chester Road North
Brownhills
Walsall
WS8 7JB
Parklands Court, Bloxwich: last residence of George Brian Leach. Imagery from the remarkable Apple Maps.
Walsall Environmental Heath Department have issued an appeal to trace the family of Walsall resident Mr. George Brian Leach, who passed away in Parklands Court Nursing Home, Bloxwich on the 4th August 2015.
We seem to have had a lot of appeals in the last twelve months to trace the family of local deceased people – but I make no apology for running another one; these appeals are essential, and I really feel for anyone who passes away alone.
If you’re wondering why we suddenly see a lot of these, Environmental Health at Walsall (as with any authority) have always had a legal duty to trace relatives in such cases, but formerly used classified adverts in local papers. In the last twelve months, they’ve wisely started using social media, too.
Although such appeals are a legal requirement, I’ll always support them and run them; this blog has a large readership now, and someone out there may just unlock a mystery. It must be horrible to lose a parent, sibling or child and not know, whatever the relationship between you. Nobody should ever pass unmourned.
The Department issued the following request:
Local residents are being asked to help with the search for relatives of a recently deceased man.
Environmental health officers are keen to get in touch with any family members of Mr George Brian Leach who passed away in Parklands Court Nursing Home, Park Road, Bloxwich on 4 August.
Mr Leach who formerly resided at 34 Austin Road, Upper Forster Street was born in Bloxwich on 8 November 1933.
Aged 81 when he died Mr Leach it is believed that he retired from British Rail and had never been married.
Neil Harris, principal environmental health officer, said: ‘We would like to pass on our condolences to Mr Leach’s family and friends.
‘We would be grateful to hear from any relatives of Mr Leach or anyone who might have helpful information about his family so that they can make proper arrangements for his funeral.
‘We appreciate this may be difficult but we encourage anyone with information they think may be useful to get in touch.’
If anyone has any information about Mr Leach’s family they are asked to contact Julie Faulkner in environmental health on 01922 653018.
Thanks in advance. If anyone would prefer no to contact the council directly for whatever reason, email me at BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot come and I’ll pass any messages on.
Thanks.
‘Can we interest you in double glazing, sir?’
Here’s one for the Walsall Wood FC fans out there – I’ve got the full video of the edition of Big Centre TV’s ‘Extra Time’ featuring Andy Roper and Graham Collins of the club – you can watch it in the player below.
I note David Evans, Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler and the blog get a namecheck!
Seriously impressive, lads, and best of luck with the issues raised – you’re a great community institution going from strength to strength and you do Walsall Wood proud.
Nice ties, too…
Highgate United’s The Barn Lane ground. Image courtesy Pitch Side Stories.
With the commencement of the 2015/16 season and his return to good health, I’m happy to welcome back regular match reports from top Walsall Wood footy correspondent Bill Shaw here on the Brownhills Blog.
Tuesday evening (11th August 2015) saw Walsall Wood travel to Solihull’s Highgate United at their The Barn Lane ground, where sadly, the Woodmen lost. It’s fair to say Bill Shaw was not amused.
I know many of you lot love the match reports and news from Oak Park, and it’s great to be able to share them: I thank Bill Shaw profusely – he’s a top bloke.
Bill wrote:
Hiya Bob
A defeat at one of my least favourite venues, throw in two goals from Lei Brown and my night was completely ruined. There aren’t many more hostile environments in football on a Tuesday evening, but then again it isn’t much better on a Saturday as Hereford will find out this weekend.
We allowed ourselves to be roughed out of it in a disappointing first half, but came back strongly and deserved at least a share of the spoils.
FA Cup action on Saturday away to Hinckley, replay if needed Tuesday night at Oak Park, let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.
Highgate United 2 v 1 Walsall Wood.
Wood came away from Tythe Barn Lane pointless yet again and totally browned off in the process, as Lei Brown continued to be their nemesis, as his brace made it seven goals in three games against hem, as the rustic triumphed again, but then it’s difficult to play football on a pitch that was only missing the sheep.
Wood started brightly, after just four minutes Leon Taylor played a neat one-two through the centre with Joey Butlin, raced into the box, keeper Bradley Catlow saving bravely at his feet, before giving notice of United’s plan of action by launching a howitzer kick downfield looking for the head of Shane Benjamin, Nathan Edginton or Lei Brown. It was Wood who threatened again 2 minutes later, Butlin winning the ball on halfway before putting debutant Chad Degville-Cross clear wide right, his low cross put behind for a corner that was easily cleared.
On 20 minutes yet another long ball forward was cleverly flicked on to his right by Edginton into the path of Brown, his low drive bringing a full length save from keeper Mario Kisiel. Three minutes later Brown latched onto a ball over the top, raced into the right of the box only to fire well wide. Edginton powered inside from wide left on 31 minutes and was fouled on the edge of the box. Kisiel saving comfortably from Benjamin’s free kick. Two minutes later Benjamin planted a header just wide from a right wing cross from Tom Lacey.
Steven Hayles right wing run on 37 minutes ended with a cross to the far post, Butlin lost his marker and his header back across the keeper was deflected just the wrong side of the post.
On 40 minutes Edginton hit a left wing cross beyond the far post, Brown’s first time volley pushed away by Kisiel but straight back to Brown whose acrobatic attempt was well wide. A minute later it was Brown who broke the deadlock; a right wing free kick was delivered to the near post, his glancing header looping into the far corner of the net.
Within two minutes Wood nearly equalised, from a left wing free kick a poor clearance only went to Louis Harris 20 yards out, his low drive through a crowded area well saved by Catlow.
At the start of the second half Wood were closing down the route one supply avenue by defending in the opposition half. On 51 minutes a surging run out of defence by Grant Beckett saw his ball inside find Butlin who was flattened on the right edge of the box and for the second game in succession the decision was a free kick, outside not a penalty, much to the striker’s disgust. He took the free kick himself and just cleared the bar.
Disaster for Wood on 62 minutes, a rare piece of neat, short passing football ended with Tyrone Smith racing onto a ball left of the box, only to go down under an untidy, mistimed challenge. No doubt it was a penalty and up stepped Brown to send Kisiel the wrong way, making it seven goals in four hours two minutes against Wood in the process.
Wood, rather than capitulating came roaring back, putting the home defence under pressure, on 70 minutes Butlin chased a lost cause on the right byeline, mugged Nathan Pulisciano near the corner flag before laying the ball back into the path of Charlton Davies to fire a rising drive just too high. Wood were back in it, when two minutes later Toumani Sidibe won a left wing corner, Josh O’Garra opening his Wood account with a powerful header from the flag kick. Three minutes later Sidibe was involved again with Beckett wide left as they opened up the home defence after a throw in, the ball inside found Butlin whose first time low drive brought a full length save from Catlow.
On 80 minutes Brown raced onto a long ball into the left of the box, crossed to the near post, Danny Lennon seeing his header pushed away by the diving Kisiel.
Wood were bullied and intimidated in the first half as they struggled to cope with the aerial bombardment, they shut down the supply route in the second half and deserved to come away with at least a point from a much improved second half display that had United grateful to hear the final whistle.
The Hereford bubble was quickly burst as they lost 2-0 to last season’s 10th place finishers Stourport Swifts, welcome to the reality of the Midland League Prem guys.
For Wood, It’s FA Cup action on Saturday with a visit to Heather to take on another fallen giant Hinckley, no easy task.
Bill Shaw
Walsall Wood FC
Walsall Wood Football Club are a top local side with a big-hearted faithful who know how to have a great time supporting their lads, and welcome all comers to come enjoy great local soccer. The boys from The Wood have been at the heart of the local community for a century or more, so please do go check out a match or two if you’re curious.
I guarantee you’ll have more fun cheering on the local chaps than you ever will watching the over-priced prima donnas on TV…
For the good of The Wood!
All over everywhere like a rash.
An annoying bit of fly-posting that seems very widespread across Brownhills, Walsall and the Black Country has recently come to my attention, and I’m finding it a bit irritating, but at the same time, quite interesting.
I first noticed it on the weekend of 1st-2nd August 2015 in Brownhills. Every empty shop, gateway and bus stop was plastered in posters advertising an event the following weekend (that’s last weekend, 8-9th August) – something called The Walsall Show.
I held off commenting before the event, as I didn’t wish to give the people publicity. But over the last few days, I’ve recorded a few of the places where posters for the event were posted up.
I haven’t searched, these are just ones I’ve noticed on my travels: The Warreners Arms in Brownhills; the closed Blockbuster and Freezer Shop, Brownhills; The Four Crosses, Shelfield (actually pasted over an important legal notice); The Scott Arms in Kings Hill Darlaston.
Anecdotally, they’ve apparently been posted around Wolverhampton, too.
Illuminating – thanks.
My first reaction was of course, to ask myself why Walsall Council had allowed one of their events to be flyposted in this manner? I made enquiries with @WalsallCouncil on twitter, who not unsually these days, ignored the question, despite advertising the event earlier. Mind you, since @WalsallCouncil dedicated a huge amount of time discussing the new Primark on the same feed, perhaps it’s not surprising.
I subsequently found out thanks to the excellent @Walsall_nhoods that the event is not staged by, or connected with Walsall Council in any way. Which begs the question of why their twitter feed was being used to promote it?
Why would Walsall Council advertise a privately operated event?
Walsall Council takes a very stern line on flyposting, as you’d expect – this from their website, apparently updated on 30th July 2015:
Fly posting
Walsall Council is campaigning against illegal fly-posting and the borough is looking better as music promoters and other organisations get the message that the authority will not tolerate unauthorised advertising.
Council workers are removing posters as soon as they go up – thanks to residents and councillors across Walsall working with the authority to notify officers of fly-posting in their area.
Walsall Council is leading the way for other authorities and will prosecute the people responsible for fly posting wherever possible – particularly repeat offenders who think that they can ‘get away with it’.
The initiative is aimed at boosting the borough’s image and helping restore a sense of civic pride, as the unsightly signs are spoiling Walsall’s appearance.
Fly-posting is illegal – whether on lampposts or buildings – and Walsall Council is keen to encourage companies and organisations to publicise their events within the law.
The problem is national but Walsall’s approach is paying dividends as companies realise the council is serious that this blight on our borough must stop.
This page was last updated on 30 July 2015
Way back in 2010, Walsall Council officers and Councillors were very much on the offensive as regards the issue, which I and many others regard as nothing more than promotional littering.
I’d really like to know what the council intends to do about this particular issue, and what action will be taken against those responsible – but we must remember that it may not be the organisers themselves, but maybe a third party agency.
Those posters are everywhere.
I look forward to Walsall Council responding positively.
Images and captions kindly supplied by David Evans
With the commencement of the 2015/16 season and his return to good health, I’m happy to welcome back regular match reports from top Walsall Wood footy correspondent Bill Shaw here on the Brownhills Blog.
Saturday (8th August 2015) saw Walsall Wood entertain newcomers Bardon Hill at home, and the Woodmen bravely battled to hold the visitors to a one-all draw. Ah well, it’s a start…
I know many of you lot love the match reports and news from Oak Park, and it’s great to be able to share them: I thank Bill Shaw profusely – he’s a top bloke.
Bill wrote:
Hiya Bob,
Not the start we wanted, an early goal, some lovely flowing football for the first 20 minutes until the injury to LTB curtailed the attacking flair and in the end we had the irrepressible Mario to thank for keeping the one point.
With 10 wins and just the one draw in the Premier division on the opening day we find ourselves mid table but facing a daunting trip to big spending Highgate United on Tuesday, with an already injury depleted squad life isn’t easy. Throw in a potential banana skin of an FA cup tie at Hinckley on Saturday and you see why following the Wood isn’t for the faint hearted – but Semper Sursum – Onwards and Upwards.
On Monday night (10th August 2015) on Extra Time at 9.30 pm (Freeview Channel 8) there is a 30 minute interview with Wood President Andy Roper and Commercial Manager Graham Collins, should be interesting, don’t miss it.
Walsall Wood 1 v 1 Bardon Hill Sports
For the third season running Wood failed to get the better of Leicestershire opposition on the opening day of the season, they went ahead courtesy of a seventh minute Drew Aiton volley, but could have been behind but for two world class saves from keeper Mario Kisiel before Richard Hanslow tucked home the equaliser in the 75th minute.
Wood put the visitors under intense pressure from the start, going ahead after just seven minutes, Corey Currithers was released into the centre of the box, he went to the right, through two tackles before playing a lovely reverse ball to beyond the far post that was volleyed back across the keeper and into the net by Drew Aiton.
On 12 minutes Richard Hanslow capitalised on a defensive mistake on the right of the box and raced for goal, his low drive pushed away by keeper Mario Kisiel, but only into the path of Sam Moore, the keeper up quickly and bravely to block his shot. Then on 19 minutes a right wing corner eluded everyone as it flashed across the face of the Wood goal.
Two minutes later Harry Harris released Lewis Taylor Boyce in the inside right channel, he ran clear, lobbed the advancing keeper Josh O’Brien and agonisingly the bar, before falling to the ground clutching his hamstring, before being replaced by Daniel Holgate.
On 29 minutes Leon Fray powered forward out of defence and his pinpoint ball into the right of the box was collected at pace by Hanslow, who rolled his cross shot inches wide.
Three minutes later a left wing free kick to the far post was headed back across goal by Josh O’Garra, it was only half cleared to Aiton on the left of the box, his low cross unceremoniously hacked clear. Wood were now cranking up the pressure, Currithers won a corner on the left on 37 minutes, O’Brien slapping the ball off the head of Joey Butlin but only to Aiton 20 yards out, his first time low drive deflected inches wide. A minute before the break Butlin cut back inside from wide right only to be brought down on the edge of the box, he fell in the box but the challenge was judged outside. Harris firing the free kick into the wall.
Three minutes into the second half Wood went close to making it 2-0, Holgate cleverly holding the ball up on the right of the box before crossing to the far post. Butlin’s header back across O’Brien was clawed out of the top corner by the keeper. From the resulting corner Currithers put a far post header narrowly wide.
The visitors thought they’d equalised on 51 minutes, the ever dangerous Moore was released into the left of the box by a superb ball forward by skipper Louis Kennan, he cut inside and crossed to the far post for Hanslow to rocket a header goalwards, Kisiel making an amazing one handed save to deny him.
Wood then replaced a struggling Currithers with new young signing Toumani Sidibe, with both wide players off they struggled to make inroads into a resolute visitors defence until on 67 minutes Craig Deakin went on a marauding right wing run, beat Keenan with a delightful nutmeg, crossed to the far post and Sidibe was inches too high with a powerful header. Three minutes later Holgate’s flick on released Butlin into the right of the box, his low cross missed by everyone. Sidibe won a left wing free kick two
minutes later, O’Brien only pushing the ball out to Holgate and then making a brave block from the rising first time shot. With Wood pressing for the second goal they got caught out on 75 minutes, Keenan broke up an attack, came forward and found Moore wide left, he played the ball to Jamie Disney in the box who laid the ball into the path of Dean Withers, his first time effort was blocked at point blank range by Kisiel, but Hanslow pounced to fire home the loose ball to equalise. Moore was again foiled by Kisiel on 82 minutes as he again raced into the left of the box, the keeper making a full length save.
Wood nearly nicked it at the death, Steven Hayles finding Sidibe wide left, his low cross was hit first time by Aiton but was blocked by a defender, Butlin was first to the loose ball but his low drive was again bravely charged down by a defender.
An interesting start to the season, once again Wood’s frailty in front of goal was there for all to see, but it could have been worse, keeper Mario Kisiel made sure of at least a point with another great display. Early season injuries giving Wood some concern, but that’s why you have a squad of players in the first place.
Regards,
Bill Shaw.
Walsall Wood Football Club are a top local side with a big-hearted faithful who know how to have a great time supporting their lads, and welcome all comers to come enjoy great local soccer. The boys from The Wood have been at the heart of the local community for a century or more, so please do go check out a match or two if you’re curious.
I guarantee you’ll have more fun cheering on the local chaps than you ever will watching the over-priced prima donnas on TV…
For the good of The Wood!
The great Reg ‘Aer Reg’ Fullelove: a great man and true Brownhillian.
A while ago, I featured a 15 minute film of Reg ‘Aer Reg’ Fullelove giving a talk some years ago – at the time, the film cut short after 15 minutes which I wasn’t sure was a technical cockup or if it was all the video there was.
It turns out the video is actually an hour long, and our copy was mangled. Thanks to the increasingly tech-savvy David ‘disc juggler’ Evans and the time and care of Reg himself, here’s the video in full for all to enjoy.
I was going to crop it into chunks to make viewing easier, but when I did, it broke the flow horribly, so I post it here in full. You just can’t edit Aer Reg!
I belive the talk captured was recorded around 2001, and it’s a fascinating, funny and touching walk down memory lane. Reg is wonderful in it, and I enjoyed every minute.
Thanks to all who worked hard to convert this and bring it to the blog, and thanks also to the man himself: Mr. Fullelove has a growing fanbase amongst the readership and he’s rapidly becoming the blog mascot. What say you, Reg?
In another remarkable instance of BrownhillsBob’s ‘How they are unexpectedly connected’ combined with the ‘Small world, innit?’ department, I today feature an unusual, but beautiful and warm followup to the Littleton Colliery 1912 strike article from last Sunday.
That article recorded an instance of the industrial unrest that dogged the coalfields of the country throughout the pre-Great War period, and Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler pointed out that it raised some interesting questions about historical and press coverage of such issues.
In the week, John and Paul Anslow wrote to me enclosing a couple of photographs. They rendered me speechless. Yet again, a hugely illuminating historical account from the Anslow brothers, without whose generosity of time and spirit we would be much the poorer.
Can I just clear up one issue, though please? You are not ‘inflicting’ family history upon me or the readers; we all love it. As much as you want, whenever you want. Your articles are so well written and get a huge response, they are an honour to publish.
Again also, beautifully scanned images. Thank you lads. From the bottom of my heart.
Anything to add? You’re most welcome. Please feel free to comment here or mail me: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com. Thanks.
John and Paul Anslow wrote:
John Spendlove and Eliza Newbold. An absolutely stunning photograph. Lives recorded in those faces. John’s eyes alone tell their own story. A wonderful photo from John and Paul Anslow.
Hello Bob,
Paul and I were most interested in Peter Cutler’s piece about the 1912 strike and protests at Littleton Colliery. We have connections with that pit on both sides of the family.
Our great-grandfather, Jim Anslow, was one of the miners who sank the shafts at Littleton between 1899 and 1902. He subsequently worked underground there, as did his sons.
Another stunning image – this one of Gertrude Newbould in a fashionable hat. Again, that face speaks for itself. Image generously donated by John and Paul Anslow.
A great uncle on our mother’s side, Joe Nutting, also a miner at Littleton, was living in Hednesford at the time of the strike, and later at Chadsmoor.
The reason I’m telling you about Joe, however, is not to inflict our family history on you and your readers, but to make the wider point about how strikes in mining communities must have divided families and engendered long-lasting conflict and bitterness.
Paul and I were scanning family photographs recently when we came across one of John Spendlove and his wife Eliza, née Newbold. It appears to have been taken in the early 1920s, around the time of his retirement after 48 years service with Staffordshire Constabulary, during which he rose to the rank of Chief Superintendent. Peter mentions him in his article in connection with the policing of the strike.
The irony is that the Chief Superintendent’s wife was Joe’s aunt, and, as Joe had married his first cousin Gert, she was Gert’s aunt too!
Paul and I do not know what part Joe took in the strike and don’t recall anyone speaking of the matter, but family ties and friendships in close mining communities must have been put under great strain during those difficult times.
Both you and I have commented before, Bob, that just because a man was a miner in those times didn’t mean that he and his wife could not dress smartly, even elegantly, when necessary. I don’t have a photograph of Joe himself, but there is this one of his wife, Gertrude Nutting, née Newbould (sic), taken around the time of their marriage in 1910.
All the best, Bob,
John Anslow
What a wonderful photo. Wailing Street School netball team in the 1920s, courtesy Iris Hollis.
The young David Evans has been very busy of late, turning up a variety of local history nuggets for the perusal of readers – and here, he turns up a real gem from Watling Street School in 1926, courtesy of Mrs. Iris Hollis.
The girls are, from left to right, Violet Overton, Maggie Shingler, Garnet Boulton, Evelyn Wiltshire, Doris Hicken, Marjorie Breeze, May Price.
I must say that they don’t look like a team to be trifled with!
David said:
Hi Bob
Please find attached an amazing photo which shows the Netball team at Watling Street School, Brownhills, in 1926!
I would like to thanks Mrs Iris Hollis, whose mother is one of the girls featured, for kindly offering this image to your readers. I think the names will certainly ring a few bells…
I wonder when netball came in to being, and when it was first included in school sporting activities?
Kind regards
David Evans
There are indeed some notable names there – Breeze, Shingler, Price. Come on people, what do you know? Comment here please, or mail me: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com.
My thanks to Iris and David for a remarkable photo.
Get down there if you’re quick, Fido could be a winner!
Having trouble keeping up this weekend, I really am – but if you’re quick, there’s a fun dog show in aid of the RSPCA at Chasewater and it’s on now (Sunday, 9th August 2015), so get down there!
It’s open to mutts of all and no breed, and there are different categories for all kinds of doggie talents…. So get your hound and take a wander over.
If anyone is attending, and would like to send pics, they’d be most welcome – cheers!
Now that’s a find! Thanks to Pat Lynk and David Evans for this.
One subject that has precious little presence in the historical record, yet keeps cropping up again and again is that of the local Working Mens Clubs.
We’ve touched on them, and I always push out any material I get. The clubs were socially very important – they saw christening parties, birthdays, wedding receptions, retirement functions and wakes. They had sports teams, dominos leagues and dart championships. They organised day trips and Christmas parties for local kids.
There must be huge amounts of material related to these vital institutions lying yet to be found. If you have any, please share.
We did a fair bit on Middleton House thanks to Mike Steakhouse and Brian Stringer, and dribs and drabs about the Friezland Club, but we’d love more. What have you got that you could perhaps share? All donations welcome.
With that in mind, David Evans writes in with the above gem of club ephemera, courtesy of Pat Lynk:
Hi Bob
Another cup of tea and a chat. This may be of interest to your readers – a medallion issued by Friesland Lane Working Mens Club marking the 1953 Coronation.
I wonder how many other Working Men’s Clubs celebrated the event in this way?
I would like to thank Mrs Pat Lynk – whose father, Mr Harrison was the secretary of the club at that time – for offering this to the blog
kind regards
David
Thanks, as ever, to Pat and David.
We have next to nothing about these clubs. There was a whole life here, and it seems lost to us. Let’s see what we can find.
Comment here, or mail me: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com. Cheers.
On Sunday afternoon – a great talent.
The Chase Inn at Newtown, Brownhills goes from strength to strength – there’s not only great ale and a warm, welcoming atmosphere, but great live music most weekends, too – and there’s a couple of great acts on this weekend.
Over the weekend you can catch The Lock Inn supported by Stevie (Saturday 8th August 2015) from 9pm, and in the afternoon slot tomorrow (Sunday 9th August 2015) the remarkable Tom Walker Trio play from 4-7pm.
The Chase had this to say:
The Tom Walker Trio is a collective of three Young musicians based in Birmingham fused together to form an exciting outfit performing blues/rock and funk music.
The band is made up of Tom Walker on guitar and lead vocals, Jake Clarke on bass guitar and James Burgess on drums. One of the most exciting young bands gigging today. At the Chase Sunday, from 4pm
The pub was in the doldrums for years, but now under new management, the buzz around the Chase Inn has been building. The recent real ale and cider festival was a real hit – it’s so good to see a local pub revived.
Why not get down there? You’re guaranteed a great night…
For the satnav folk, the address is: 6 Watling Street, Newtown, Brownhills WS8 6JS
You can contact the pub on: 01543 899568 or visit their Facebook page.
A great act live for you at the Chase.
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.
Saturday 8th August 2015
Walsall Wood v Bardon Hill F.C.
A new opponent for the opening of the new season!
Don’t break your Wood vows, be there, be faithful to your local heroes
3:00pm kickoff
Please come and get behind your local club
For The Good Of The Wood!
Check out the club website here
Oak Park, Lichfield Road, Walsall Wood. WS9 9NP.
My apologies to Steve Lightfoot and the BTC people, meant to run this last night, but I was too knackered to function – people, go have a butchers at this, it looks like a right hoot, and it’s running until 5pm.
Don’t forget the Brownhills Community Fun Day is also ongoing until 3pm.
Looks like a right laugh
The Burntwood Wakes Push-Kart Derby – 8th Aug 2015, Supported by Burntwood Town Council, 11 a.m. – 5pm.
Burntwood High Street Sankey’s Corner / Burntwood Shopping Centre.
Course: Two adjacent flat 100m straight runs for non-powered karts which can be pushed or pulled.
Technical Consultants / Judges: Chris and Craig Danby of team Danby Burntwood based Robot Combat Team, stars of TV’s own Robot Wars.
Entry Fee: £5 per team and all proceeds go to local charities.
Sandy’s Corner right now! Image from Burnwood TC and posted on Twitter.
Many of us in Brownhills know this as the Pelsall Road. Look out if you’re walking down this currently closed road. Imagery from Apple maps.
Worrying news reaches me of an indecent exposure incident on the Pelsall/Lichfield Road at Highbridges this morning (Friday 7th August 2015), when two ladies on their way to work at the council depot were subject to an indecent exposure incident.
Walsall Clean and Green asked me to post the following message:
Clean & Green Services
Aug 7th, 11:57am
Hi BobI wondered if you could alert your readers to this horrible incident this morning at 8.30am when two members of our staff where walking along the closed Pelsall Road to work:
‘There has been an incident of indecent exposure this morning involving two of our female staff walking to the council environmental depot from Pelsall.
We would urge you all to be very aware if walking along this road.
The man was hiding in the bushes by the bridge.
We have an excellent description of the man who is dressed completely in black aged between 20 and 30yrs old and on a small bike, the police have been informed and are dealing with the incident.’
Kind Regards
Clean and Green Services
Walsall Council
Environmental Depot
200 Pelsall Road
Brownhills
Walsall
WS8 7EN
Please be careful if you’re out and about in the area by yourself; even in the middle of the day parts of Brownhills can be very isolated, so take care where you go alone.
If you or your children are subject to anything like this, please do contact the police. These types of offences can escalate, and the man needs to be caught before he does more serious harm.
If you have any information related to this incident call Walsall Police on 101 or 0345 113 5000, or you may also speak to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
The Council and Police are urging anyone who falls victim to such an indecent exposure to call 999 immediately.
It’s worth repeating the advice about flashing incidents and suchlike issued by West Midlands Police last year:
Police Constable Richard Jackson, from Walsall Police, said: ‘Although this type of offence is rare, there are many parks and open spaces on the east side of Walsall that have historically attracted offenders.
‘They usually target women, often when they are alone in parks, canals or country tracks.
‘We take any such offences very seriously and saw five people arrested in 2012 when we set up an operation to reduce this kind of offending.’
Walsall Police have issued the following guidelines for the public if an offence occurs.
- Please phone 999 immediately! The Walsall Police plan involves an immediate response for officers to attend and try to capture the offender. Please do not wait until you get home.
- Try and get a good description of the offender, including detail of clothing. This is very valuable to police, and if the offender is in a vehicle, the registration number is also extremely important to help identify them. The make and model is also very useful.
- Details of where the offender was last seen, or last seen heading to is very valuable in assisting police to locate them quickly.
- Never put yourself at further risk to obtain these details, but if have seen them please commit them to memory, or write them down if you can. This information can then be passed straight out to officers via police radio to ensure that a meaningful search can take place straight away.
For advice on staying safe when out, visit: www.safer-streets.org
Any information? lease call Walsall Police on 101 or 0345 113 5000. You can also speak to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Always a great event
Hey – if you’re looking out for stuff to do this coming Saturday (8th August 2015), look no further than Brownhills Activity Centre (The old Central Boy’s School, or Annex to my generation), just off the Miner Island in Brownhills.
Happening there will be the annual Community Fun Day, which runs from 12 noon until 3pm. All children’s entertainment there is free of charge, so it’ll be easy on the pocket, too.
There will be lots of great stuff to see, do and get involved with, and while you’re there you can check out all the other interesting stuff Brownhills Community Association do – from IT classes to coffee mornings.
If you pop along, why not take some pictures and send them to me so I can pop them up on the blog?
The road was closed from the Spring Cottage junction for several hours.
Yesterday lunchtime (Wednesday 5th August 2015) there was a nasty traffic accident near the Jet filling Station [not the Spring Cottage as I previously stated – Bob] on the A461 Lichfield Road at Shelfield, in which an elderly lady was seriously hurt.
There are reports here at the Express & Star and Walsall Advertiser.
Walsall police this morning issued the following appeal for witnesses to come forward:
We need witnesses after a serious collision in Shelfield yesterday (5th August 2015) which has left a woman critically ill in hospital.
Officers were called to Lichfield Road just before 1pm after a black Vauxhall Vectra collided with a pedestrian.
The 75-year-old woman was taken to hospital by air ambulance where she remains in a critical condition.
The driver of the car involved stopped at the scene and has spoken with officers. Nobody has been arrested at this stage.
The road was closed for around four hours following the collision and has since re-opened.If you were in the area yesterday morning and saw what happened please call 101 as soon as possible.
West Midlands Ambulance Service also issued a statement:
Wednesday 5th August 2015 – 2.45pm – Steve Parry
A pedestrian has been airlifted to hospital with serious injuries following a road traffic collision in Walsall this afternoon.
The incident occurred on A461 Lichfield Road, Shelfield, Walsall at just before 12.30pm.
An ambulance; a community paramedic; a paramedic support officer in a rapid response vehicle together with the Midlands Air Ambulance attended the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: ‘Ambulance crews arrived to find a pedestrian had been in collision with a car on the Lichfield Road.
‘A woman in her seventies was found to be unconscious and she was treated for serious head and multiple limb injuries at the scene.
‘The patient was anesthetised by an air ambulance doctor before being immobilised with the use of a neck collar and placed on a spinal board.
‘She was conveyed by air ambulance to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital further assessment and treatment.
‘The hospital was alerted to the serious condition of the patient.
‘The driver of the car was uninjured.’
My sympathies to the lady and her family.
Knaves Court: can you make their fun day special?
I’m interested to see that Knaves Court, the elderly person’s housing complex in Brownhills near Anchor Bridge, are planning a fun day on the 27th August 2015, and they’re looking for stalls to attend.
Lisa Smith wrote to me with details, and pointed out that there will be no charge for having a stall, but they would like a gift that can go in the raffle. They’re looking for all the usual stuff and a face painter, too.
This sounds like a great event, so please do help them out if you can. You can also check out their appeal for stalls on Stallfinder.
Lisa wrote:
Hi Bob
We are holding an open day/fete at knaves court Brownhills, with lots of activities for the public.
We are looking for stalls of all kinds we would like a wide variety to please all. We are also looking for musical acts. We are holding the event between 11-4 On the 27th of August.
We have 20-30 stalls available there are no fees we just ask for a donation gift which can be raffled. Please get in touch with Lisa Smith between 9am-3pm on 0370 192 4000.
Regards Lisa
I look forward to a great event – and thanks to Lisa for letting me now.
Just a quick post to highlight that friend of the blog and queen of the Brownhills Full English San Brett will be live on 2ndcityradio.net tonight (Wednesday 5th August 2015) from 7-9pm – tune in online at the link below.
2ndCityRadio.net – listen along live here
San’s show is on tonight and every Wednesday!
San, of course, owns San’s Kitchen in Silver Court, a popular local cafe where she engineers a fine butty, but San is also a great laugh and is sure to be hugely entertaining on air, whilst also playing a whole variety of music.
Tune in if you can, San’s a star!
Sounds like a great show!
New Hall Mill is a splendid place, restored and run by wonderfully dedicated volunteers.
New Hall Mill is open again this Sunday for their Hobbies Day and I can heartily recommend the place. It’s fascinating and I had a great time there on Spring Bank Holiday Monday – not enough people know about this wonderful building.
It’s free to enter too (although donations are welcomed).
Alan Dawson, Friend of the mill, wrote to tell me all about Sunday’s event:
Hi Bob,
Have you any readers considering taking up a hobby?
Come along to our Hobbies day at Newhall Mill on Sunday August 9th when the mill will be fully operational and see what we do to produce flour and look after a piece of history. You could become a friend of the mill as we are always on the lookout for new members.
Additionally, other interests and hobbies will be on display with demonstrations by:
The Sutton Coldfield Rifle and Pistol Club who will be offering taster sessions using Laser pistols or rifles allowing you to shoot at electronic targets
The Trinity Photography Group
Our Beekeeper, Julian Routh
The Sutton Coldfield East District Scouts
If having a collection of unusual items is more to your liking, we will have displays of blowlamps, sprayers, milk bottles and dairy equipment…
If you have a hobby or interest which you would like to be shared with others, come and talk to us, we may be able to accommodate you next year.
I totally geeked out over this wonderful place.
Entrance to the mill and car parking is free. The times of opening are 10.00 – 16.00 and this year’s remaining open days are as follows –
- Sunday August 9th – Hobbies day
- Bank holiday Monday August 31st – Arts and Crafts day
- Sunday September 13th – History day
Although there is no charge for car parking or for admission to the mill or gardens, collection boxes are positioned at various locations. Donations from visitors are very welcome as the mill depends upon these to assist towards the costs of maintaining and running the mill for your pleasure and enjoyment.
Access to the mill is off the Wylde Green road, Sutton Coldfield, B76 1QU, some 200 metres from the National cycle route.
More details can be found on our website – www.newhallmill.org.uk
Best regards,
Alan Dawson – A friend of New Hall Mill.
This is certainly one worth visiting – please do pop along if you can. It is truly fascinating.
It’s not just the Mill, although that’s a gem itself – but the wonderfully tended grounds – plus a fine teashop!
I still love the drawing of the dog. So cursory. So beautiful.
Here’s a thing – it’s rare I think, that I can answer a question asked of the blog so comprehensively, but today an enquiry dropped into the mailbox from reader Glen Wootton, who posed the following question:
Hi,
Hope you can help! In the late 1950’s early 1960’s I used to attend the Co-op Drama group in Walsall and every year our teacher- whose name I can’t for the life of me remember- used to enter us in this festival, where we would recite poetry singly and in teams. My family think I’m pulling their legs and fell off the chair laughing! The one year we entered our chorale team and we won. I remember carting home this enormous great wooden shield on the no 38 bus out of Walsall back home to the Pleck.
I don’t think I’m having delusions yet, so please – have you any memory of the festival being in this format? I can’t remember where they used to be held, but it was in Brownhills.
Kind regards
Glen Wootton
Well Glen, I don’t think you’re delusional. I think you remember attending Brownhills Music Festival, which I’ve noted here on the blog in a previous article, posted in August 2012. I’d been donated scans of the 1950 festival program, and I posted the whole thing on the blog (I include the whole article below).
The festival wasn’t just about music, it had ‘Elocution’ elements, and the program notes on page 2:
ROOM 3, GREAT CHARLES STREET.
Adjudicator : Elsle A. Davies, L.R.A.M. (Ch.M.A.T.S.D.)Class 1. Elocution. Under 12 years
2. Elocution. Under I5 years
3. Duologue. Open.
4. Choral Speaking
Choral speaking? That’s a terrific sounding thing. Has that died out as a practice? Are there any examples online? My interest is piqued…
Note also on page 9:
Class 4. Choral Speaking. (teams of 6 Voices). 12.30pm to 1pm.
Adjudicator : ELSIE A. DAVIES, L.R.A.M. (Ch.M.A.T.S.D.)
First Prize, Walsall Co-op. Education Committee Shield and Certificate.
Second and Third Certificates. Test : ‘The 23rd Psalm.’
(1180 marks attained).
- Brownhills Wesley Brownhills
- ‘Hcatherleigh’ Streetly
- Co-op. Drama Class No. I Walsall
- Co-op. Drama Class No. 2 Walsall
So the Co-op Drama Group were there in 1950 – I think that’s probably the answer. What was Heatherleigh? The name sounds awfully familiar. Anyone know?
When did Brownhills Music Festival cease to happen? Why?
I suspect the young David Evans may have more to add to all this – this is one of his great specialities.
Please, if anyone has anything to add, feel free: comment here or mail me BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com.
Never a dull moment!
I wrote in August, 2012:
A snapshot of a lost place. Click on the image to download the whole program in PDF format(about 2 megabytes, could take a while on a slow connection).
Now, here’s a thing. It is probably the most complete illustration of Brownhills in that peculiar, post Second World War twilight hangover period I’ve ever seen. Found by local historian Clive Roberts, it’s both a sad, and joyful thing. It’s the complete scan of a program for the Brownhills Sixth Annual Music Festival, held on Saturday, October 7th, 1950.
This is a large booklet, consisting of some 36 page scans, containing both program detail, listings, participants and most interesting to me, adverts for local businesses. This is the sad part – if you read the testimonials for butchers, for example, several refer obliquely to the then ongoing rationing. Note the Poxon & Sons copy says with some ennui:
We shall be pleased when once again we can give you unrestricted quality.
Bradshaw’s similarly note:
We endeavour to please you under present conditions
And even the trusty Co-Op tailors are circumspect:
Whilst we must admit there is an acute shortage in men’s & boys’ clothing, we realise that this shortage is no excuse to be any the less courteous to our friends.
Our endeavour is to find you just what you require, and with that thought in mind we have built up our stock as far as the prevailing restrictions will allow.
Call and have a look around – we would like to help you in your clothing problems.
This is a town under the same immense pressure economically as the rest of the country, and appearing to consequently let off steam in the art of music. Scholars of Brownhillian history – and indeed local street nomenclature – will notice many names here that are familiar; Patterson, Bradbury, Roberts. Seedhouse, Simmonds, Harrison (yes, that Harrison). George Fullelove, the great Brownhills chorister, was recorded as conductor of the Brownhills Male Voice Choir.
Please download a copy and read it – it’s like a glimpse into another world. I particularly love the instructions to visitors on how to find the venue:
To make things run smoothly for all concerned, will you please note that :-
The Schools arc situate in Great Charles Street and Church Road.
Competitors arriving by train proceed down the Bridge, turn left along the Lichfield Road, off which is Great Charles Street (sharp right).
Competitors arriving by bus or charabanc from Walsall or District proceed along Main Road to Railway Station entrance ; turn right along Lichfield Road.
I thank Clive immensely for sharing this wonderful find with us, and emailing me such wonderful scans. Just when you think you must have nailed every gem the Brownhills history cannon has to offer, up pops another…
One of the more contentious issues in the history and folklore of mining communities is that of strikes and protest – we all know they happened, but for some historical retellers and gatekeepers the actuality has always been a wee bit too raw, rough and ready for their liking, so the stories are often given a subtle cast to better align with delicate sensibilities.
Local history rapscallion Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler has again been busy crate digging in the archives and turned up this interesting bit of history relating to a remarkably tense protest at Littleton Colliery, Cannock, in 1912 – and he finds the historical coverage seems a little disparate.
Thanks, as ever to Peter who consistently ruffles feathers with his investigations into such matters. His coverage of the Old Hednesford Pit Disaster has certainly been ruffling a few feathers…
Peter wrote:
A remarkable image of Littleton just before closure. Image taken, and kindly donated by Reg ‘Aer Reg’ Fullelove, via David Evans.
Littleton Colliery 1912, another Battle of Orgreave?
Anyone interested in the coal industry around the time of the Geat War can gain a great deal from the Sankey Commission of 1919, available and searchable online. It was called by Lloyd George, probably just to buy time, and to examine the future of the coal mining industry. At the conclusion recommendations were made, but just as Cameron and Leveson it was confined to the dustbin.
Searching for anything of local interest reveals very little except a mention of Littleton Colliery. Thomas Bailey, who was a prominent adviser to many royalty owners, sited the Colliery as being an example of capital risk taken by the royalty owner Lord Hatherton; being ten years before any dividend was paid. He was of the opinion that risk like this would not be taken under State control.
To check out Littleton Colliery I turn to the ‘trusted’ publication by the Cannock Chase Mining Historical Society (CCMHS) – ‘The Cannock Chase Coalfield and its Coal Mines‘ and an occurrence under Confrontations in 1912 caught my eye.
During the strike some 6000 men from Heath Hayes, Cannock, Hednesford and Chadsmoor marched to Littleton Colliery to demonstrate against the Company with regard to their grievance about money. Thousands of pounds of damage was done at the colliery; local police facing a barrage of missiles resorted to a baton charge to disperse the crowd.
Strike breakers working underground were ordered to the surface and accommodated at the colliery for the evening with a guard for their protection. The striking miners were seen as a threat to law and order so a Company of 500 soldiers was brought in to liaise with the police. The soldiers of the 1st West Yorkshire Regiment were stationed at Whittington were only in the vicinity for a short period 26 March to 6th April.
It is obviously difficult to tell the whole story in a couple of paragraphs, and so I turned to the ‘trusted’ local papers the Lichfield Mercury and the Walsall Advertiser for more detail, and quite a story evolves.
Littleton was a busy and important colliery for many decades. Image kindly supplied by Reg Fullelove.
The gathering was part of a national dispute. The crowd had gathered on learning that 80 stallmen were working underground while the management maintained that the men were only keeping the roads open, but were not believed. Several hundred women were in the crowd and they were among the noisiest. There were threats of violence and it was evident the police would be utterly powerless if the strikers got out of control. The pressure of the crowd was so great that 2000 were forced up to the pit head. A number of youths were stated to have threatened police, stones and other missiles were being hurled. The miner’s agent appealed for the crowd to be peaceful but was drowned in noise.
The Police Chief, Spendlove, said that the crowd later increased to 9000 and were armed with bludgeons, sticks, hedge sticks and stones. He advised that the men be kept down the pit as the crowd were around the pit mouth and he believed that the men’s lives were in jeapody. Troops were called the same night but within 48 hours everything was quiet. 33 policemen were injured.
It appears that 26 men were arrested but only 8 were sent to the Assizes, where one man was discharged and the remaining 7 were tried and found guilty by a jury. The jury had recommended mercy on account of their youth and the excitement that had prevailed at the time.
But Justice Horridge was having none of this, he would take no notice of character references given by the MP Mr. A Stanley, and stated that it was a terrible crime against society; it should be known throughout the length and breadth of the country that the law would not have violence and rioting accompanying any trade agitation. 3 men were given 6 months hard labour, and the others 4 months hard labour. The Mercury report that during the delivery of the sentences a young girl in the public gallery broke out into loud lamentations, and it was some time before she could be removed. But in the Cornishman the report differs by saying that it was the mother of one of the defendants who shouted out to her, ‘Don’t cry mother, it won’t kill us.’
Mr. Stanley (MP) wrote to the Home Secretary with a petition pleading for a reduction in the sentences, but the the Home Secretary found insufficient grounds for interfrence. Three of the convicted men asked for the right to appeal but only one was successful. At his appeal his sentence was quashed as the conviction had been on the evidence of one witness, and he had a credible alibi. The witness said that he had asked the defendant for a match but was told that the last one had been used to fire the cabin. It was also said that the witness had been overheard in a pub to say that he could get the defendant 5 years penal servitude!
November 1912, Chadsmoor….Two of the young men who on July 8th were sentenced to imprisonment for rioting at Littleton Colłiery, returned home on Saturday, and the occasion was made one of great rejoicing, the streets being gay with flags and bunting. At intervals of a few yards there were streamers hanging across the road, and flags were pushed out of many windows. Thousands of chrythanthemums of all colours had been used to add to the decorative effect. At Blackfords, a little distance away, were similar decorations.
[On the same page of the CCMHS publication it says that 1913 saw the opening of the Central Rescue Station at Hednesford, which had been financed by the Cannock Chase Coal Owners Association. According to the Mercury it was set up in order to comply with the provisions of recent mining legislation, and initially the cost was borne by the CCCOA]
A new chain and some forks and that could be good to go… The remains of the bicycle bomb planted in Coventry just before the war. Image courtesy of Coventry Police Museum.
An additional piece followed the original article I featured by John and Paul Anslow last week, on the subject of Walsall Wood and Pelsall wartime air raids – this one is about an IRA attack in Coventry right before the war that appears to have been all but forgotten.
Last week’s article was wonderfully well received and I’d like to once again thank the Anslow brothers for their time and generosity in contributing such wonderful material to the blog.
Thanks to John and Paul, and if you have anything to add, please do comment here or mail me: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com.
John Anslow wrote:
The devastation caused by the bomb: a forgotten atrocity. Image from HistoricCoventry.co.uk.
Here’s another footnote for your collection of wartime memories, Bob.
In the months immediately preceding the outbreak of the Second World War, the IRA launched a bombing campaign, now largely forgotten.
The only reason I know about it is because of a bricklayer called Jackie Morgan, who had a bungalow down Beech Tree Road, Walsall Wood. He used to drink with Dad in The Hawthorn Tree and The Horse and Jockey; in fact, Jackie often drank and played cards through the night at the Jockey and left for work from there at daybreak.
Jackie was working in Broadgate, Coventry at lunchtime on Friday 25th August 1939 when a bicycle bomb exploded, blowing him off his feet but leaving him with no serious injury. The blast killed five people. There’s a very well written account of this act of terrorism here: http://www.historiccoventry.co.uk/articles/s-shaw.php
Subsequently, two Irishmen involved in the plot were hanged, though the person who planted the bomb was never caught. These two, Barnes and McCormick, have entered the pantheon of republican martyrs.
War was declared on the 3rd of September and the German bombing raids just over a year later have pushed the terrorist attack out of public memory.
All the best, Bob.
John Anslow
Ellesmere Rangers ground, Beech Grove, is famous for it’s unusual dugouts. No shit. Image from Dovey1977.
Sorry to say Bill Shaw is still convalescing from his recent illness and was unable to attend yesterday’s (1st August 2015) away match at Ellesmere Rangers, which by all accounts was a bit of a stonker.
Bill kindly sent me the following message with some details, and pointed out that Walsall Wood FC are still in desperate need of some help in the kitchen…
Hiya Bob,
Still breaking the habit of a lifetime and being sensible by not going to football games, no information about the Ellesmere Rangers game other than the score, a 6–0 win for the Wood.
A hat trick from Joey Butlin and one each from Harry Harris, Luke Adams and Daniel Holgate completing the scoring and bringing to an end the friendlies for this term.
It’s the opening League game of the season next Saturday with Bardon Hill Sports the visitors to Oak Park, kick off 3.00 pm.
Now going back to my Perfichrome days in the 60’s can I use one of the best words I have ever heard can I make an ERJINT appeal again, for help in the kitchen, the earlier request has fallen on deaf ears and the situation is now looking desperate, so can someone out there please offer some assistance.
The appeal from June 25th, 2015 was as follows:
Is there any lady or gentleman out there aged 16 or over who would like to be involved in the ‘Wood phenomenon’? We are looking for someone to help in the kitchen on match days throughout the season which runs from Saturday August 8th to Saturday April 30th next yea. It’s mainly Saturday afternoon and Tuesday evening at present, initially on a voluntary basis, but that could change as the club moves forward.
It’s an opportunity to become an important part of the new community spirit being generated at Oak Park and have some fun in the process.
If you have a few hours to spare and think this is for you, either call into the club during opening hours or call Lynn on 07767 125582 for an informal chat.
Regards
Bill Shaw
Bill – do get well soon, from myself and the blog readers. Take all the time you need, after all, it’s… For the Good of the Wood!
Brownhills Gazette November 1995 issue 74 – a 24 page issue with Ray Myatt awarded for saving the life of his granddaughter Bethany, vandals were again plaguing the High Street, there was new woodland in Clayhanger, a special on Brownhills West JMI football team, school news, crime reports, and even a pullout advertising Christmas shopping in Walsall. Click for a larger version.
Completing the scans of the Brownhills Gazette – I present the final issue – number 74 – of the long lost freesheet, from November 1995 for you to peruse and download. I’ve had an incredible response to featuring these long, lost publications here on the blog.
I’ve held back a week or two from posting this one, as this post needed to say something, and I had to think about it very carefully. I’m still not sure I can put this exactly how I feel, but here goes…
The Brownhills Gazette appears to end with this issue: November 1995. There are no more in Brian Stringer’s collection, and I know of no others; but the publication dies with no notice whatsoever. This seems peculiar, but is probably entirely appropriate.
I have no idea why it stopped so suddenly, but the writing was on the wall; production had transferred from Brownhills to Birmingham, and some contraction was evident in the final twelve months. I honestly don’t think the journalism was as good, and it felt like a collection of items around adverts, rather than as previously, a cohesive publication with opinions and features. In the last twelve months, for example, the archive feature stopped.
The Gazette seemed to be dying, or at least, losing its way.
It’s sad and regrettable we lost the Gazette here. But better to have lost it than it become some shadow of glory days, like the Walsall Observer turned into when it went to a freesheet.
Having said that, it must not detract from what the Gazette was and achieved; under the stewardship of Brian Stringer and others whilst published by Baker Bond it was a remarkable and unusual thing. It campaigned, and got things done. It covered local issues that mattered to us in Brownhills. It started conversations, and arguments. It was essential reading.
It was a true hyperlocal. Before the internet. I don’t say that lightly.
But I will keep saying this: without the Gazette, this blog would never have existed. Certain things had a great influence on me and the way I curate this blog. The Gazette, particularly in the Brian Stringer years, was a massive, massive thing, along with that other great piece of lost Brownhills media, the Dave ‘Frostie’ Frost fanzines.
Yes Brian and Dave, this is all your fault.
I pored over the gazette 25 years ago. I studied it closely. I learned not only about local news, events and politics, but it sparked my interest in local history, a seed planted that germinated into this shambling, train-wreck of a blog.
As a service to the community and honour to the Gazette and it’s creators, I long dreamed of hosting every issue but could not work out how to get the back issues. A chance find by David Evans let to one of his famous chats with Brian Stringer, the two gentlemen subsequently worked their magic and my dream came to pass.
If I was to drop dead tomorrow, I would die happy that I’d been able to record and make available this bit of obscure local media journalism that so many remember and derive pleasure from. I’ll never better this as an achievement. I know it seems silly, but I’m very proud of it and the gentlemen whose generosity of time and spirit made it possible.
I’ve previously written about how the Brownhills Gazette came to exist thanks to the wonderful John Sylvester – if anyone has anything to add to the story of it’s passing, I’d love to hear it.
To John, Brian and all those who worked on it: thank you.
Also a hat-tip to Claridges, who advertised in every single issue. A full page advert, usually on the back page – that’s provided a nostalgic technological journey all by itself.
If you have any memories, questions or observations please do comment or mail me – BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com.
Brownhills Gazette issue 74 November 1995 – PDF format
Jill Waters recently asked a great question in the Pelsall group on Facebook and sparked some wonderful debate and memories about a lost Pelsallian ice cream seller who made wonderful treats remembered to this day by the kids she served.
I took the liberty of posting Jill’s query here, and the memories flowed in; but also on Facebook, too. For those interested, Jill has acquired a photo of Aggie and her husband which she’s kindly given me permission to share here.
Angie and George Parton: warmly remembered Pelsall characters. Image supplied by Jill Walters.
Jill said this about the image:
Well, I’m delighted to say I have a photo of the lovely PelsalliIce cream maker, Aggie Parton. Sitting on the settee, with her husband George, in the front room of the famous Pelsall artist Arthur Rushton.
She added, later:
My neighbour from when I was small found the photo, it was his uncle, Arthur Rushton, who the photo belonged to.
The whole thread can be read here – it’s well worth a read. Go grab a cup of tea and wallow in the warm, collective memory. I love this stuff.
Jill mentions Arthur Ruston, and indeed, he’s partially discussed in the Facebook conversation. What do we know about Arthur, and is his work available anywhere? I’d love to know more about him.
That ice cream research associate the young David Evans also had something to say about the ‘Wafermaster‘, the aid used by Aggie, which he realls in use by the great Brownhills ice-monger Welwyn Smith. No debt the Pelari family probably used one too, and maybe Mr. Pinchers on his round in Walsall Wood.
David said:
Hi Bob
Thrupenny and fourpenny wafers, Selwyn Smith style…
The gadget was set to one of two depths… shallow for threepenny wafer, deep for fourpenny wafers. A wafer biscuit was placed in the mould and then icecream was ladelled from the tub, using a wooden spatula, to be levelled off and a top biscuit placed to complete the delicacy.
A wafer master, from Bradford on Avon Museum.
This completed wafer was pushed on to a piece of paper and served to the dribbling young lad waiting patiently beside the ice cream van.
Selwyn Smith vanilla, served with a flourish, by Darwin.
Customer now had two choices, to lick the icecream from around the edge of the wafer…slower and risking icecream down one’s wrist or. biting atraight into the biscuit which was faster but risked a squirt from the edge of the delicacy.
Final task… licking fingers clean.
Real ice cream, 1950s style!
Regards
David
Thanks to David, as ever, for that! There’s plenty more memories of this, I’m sure.
You know what to do. Comment here, or mail me. BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com.
Ellesmere Rangers ground, Beech Grove, is famous for it’s unusual dugouts. No shit. Image from Dovey1977.
Saturday 1st August 2015
Walsall Wood away at Ellesmere Rangers
(That’s the Ellesmere near Oswestry in Shropshire, not the one in Cheshire!)
Kick off is 3:00pm
Ellesmere Rangers Football Club
Beech Grove
Ellesmere
Shropshire
SY12 OBT
Hopefully, a match report will follow…
For the Good of the Wood!
Check out Walsall Wood FC’s website here.
Also, a note from Bill Shaw:
Hiya Bob,
Sorry I haven’t been in contact earlier re: the Kidderminster game, whilst I’m improving slowly I’m not back to anything like my best yet, but here goes.
Walsall Wood 2 v 1 Kidderminster Harriers
From what I’ve been told it was a cracking game with both sides playing free flowing football, Joey Butlin continued on from last season to open the scoring in the first half, Luke Adams then added the second in the second half to put Wood in the driving seat.
An unfortunate clash of heads saw play delayed as one of the Kidderminster youngsters appeared to be badly injured, play did eventually continue with the visitors pulling a goal back with 10 minutes to go to make for an interesting last few minutes but Wood held out to record a victory.
With Harriers also playing up the A5 at Shrewsbury this was the Under 21 Academy squad, but as I said about the Pelsall game, you can only beat what is put in front of you.
So it’s off to Ellesmere Rangers on Saturday 1st August for the last friendly this term, with the long awaited season opener against Bardon Hill Sports a week later at Oak Park kick off 3.00 pm.
Regards
Bill Shaw
Cheers for that, Bill – and do get well soon. For the Good of the Wood!
Here’s a really, really great thing happening this weekend at Newtown, Brownhills from today (31st July 2015) – a two day festival with proceeds going to the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity featuring music and fun in memory of a much-loved local man who sadly passed away this year.
Cockfest runs over the whole weekend with camping available. It’s from Friday 31st July 2015 up until Sunday, 2nd August 2015 in a field just off the A5 at Newtown, Brownhills. There’s live music Friday and Saturday, food, a licensed bar, campfire and all manner of entertainments and fun, including an adult-sized bouncy castle…
A weekend pass is £20 for adults and just £5 for kids, and day passes are £12 and £3 respectively. You can book yours by calling 07966 611170, call in to the great Chase Inn or visit the event’s Facebook page here.
This looks like a professionally run event now in it’s second year (don’t know how I missed the one in 2014), and some of the bands look terrific – and it’s for charity and in memory of a great chap, so what’s not to love?
It’s apparently called “Cockfest’ because it’s on a chicken farm…
This looks brilliant!
There’s a really good article on Nativemonster which I’ll quote here:
Brownhills music bash to honour late friend FRIDAY 24TH JULY 2015
A Brownhills music festival is making a welcome return – and will be raising charity funds in memory of a well-known father who died unexpectedly.
The next Cockfest – inspired by the organiser’s passion for poultry – is set to be double the size it was in 2014 and will be dedicated to Carl Findon-Kent.
Friends and family were left in shock when Mr Findon-Kent from Brownhills suffered heart failure and passed away on April 24.
The 46-year-old dad-of-two and stepdad-of-three who worked at Anchor Garage was an immensely popular man who helped set up the inaugural charity fundraiser last year.
Around 50 people attended the event, enjoying a BBQ and live music on the Saturday night, which raised £500 for good causes.
But this year, support and enthusiasm for the second Cockfest has grown to new heights after organisers Keryll Jenkins and fiancé Martin Payton said a stage would be named after the late Carl.
A popular and well liked man: Carl Findon-Kent. Image from Nativemonster.
Miss Jenkins, said: ‘Carl loved a good party. So this year we said we would build a stage in his memory and name it after him.’
More than 12 artists and bands will perform at the event, which will be held in the couple’s back garden on Watling Street, Newtown, from July 31 to August 2.
Anyone interested in going along has been advised to contact Miss Jenkins on 07966 611170 in advance to buy tickets or visit the Chase Inn.
Weekend wristbands which include camping cost £20 for adults and £5 for children.
Day passes cost £12 for adults and £3 for youngsters.
Still no further forward.
Many of you have asked me for updates on the situation with Ravens Court, the decaying, derelict shopping precinct that lies deserted in the centre of Brownhills – you’ll remember that way back in November 2014, Walsall Council issued an ultimatum to the owners that if they didn’t submit a planning application within six months, they’d initiate legal proceedings to force the landlords to tidy it up.
The precinct – which is owned privately by a Mayfair-based company called Lightquote Limited – is in a shocking condition, and has slowly continued to decay since Tesco pulled out of a plan to build a new store here in 2012. Lightquote fully expected to sell Ravens Court to Tesco and make an effort-free killing – but were left with an unfortunate white elephant when the retail behemoth’s economic fortunes went south.
It was good news week in the Express & Star, Wednesday November 26th 2014.It all seems to have gone a bit Pete Tong.
At the time that Walsall Council issued the ultimatum, officers and other interested parties were at the end of their tethers, as being in private hands, there is very little the authority can do to force the owners to act. Legal action is expensive and lengthy, and there’s no guarantee of winning. Such action can only force a tidy up.
In more jovial humour at the time, Brownhills UKIP Councillor Steve Craddock, naiveté dripping from behind his ears, followed the owners down to the Fearie Glen and swallowed the story that there was some kind of plan, and that all would be revealed if we sat tight and trusted him and his oppo, Tory group regeneration wonk Adrian Andrew.
The hapless kipper went to the press and announced jovially that they’d all been working together and things were being pushed forward. Forward so far, they appear to have fallen off a cliff without trace.
Last Friday – 24th July 2015 – the rear block toilets had been broken open again, with evidence of drug use and possibly squatting – a regular occurrence.
Since then, nothing has happened in the ground except more ASB, more break ins, and more decay. We had an election, after which the Tories regained control of Walsall Council, winning back control following the loss of outgoing Brownhills Councillor Barbara Cassidy’s seat to a tory, who’d been campaigning on the street by telling everyone the Tories were sorting out Ravens Court.
This must have particularly stung UKIP, who appear to have been nothing more than useful stooges to restore the Mike Bird status quo.
I had periodically reminded readers that the clock was ticking for action on Lightquote by the Council, but the current position seems a little uncertain. Naturally, I think the Authority is still hoping a deal can be sought.
I had been alerted through various contacts that action might be imminent on the part of developers, so I hung on and gave them time. Six months was up in May. I gave it until June. Another whisper. Nothing.
Since then, I’ve had contact from the only politician seemingly happy to speak frankly on the matter, Brownhills Labour Councillor Steve Wade. Steve has issued the following statement, on several issues:
Hello Bob
I have a statement from the council with the very latest update of four major issues that relate our area. As you can see, and contrary to what other ward councillors have recently advised the community, these are still very much active and are ongoing.
Regarding Ravens Court and The Warrener’s Arms, I and ex councillor Cassidy, have battled to keep these issues at the top of the regeneration agenda for a number of years in an effort to get the council, owners/developers to the table to try and thrash out some viable proposals for development. I will continue to do this for as long as I am a councillor, and indeed beyond.
I’m also trying to get the council to obtain the land owned by Tesco for community activities and the possibility of a return of Brownhills market in some guise.
Unfortunately, the wheels of local government run extremely slowly and this is perhaps the most frustrating aspect of trying to get things resolved. I will keep you posted on any developments.
Steve Wade
The statement from Walsall Council Steve cites is as follows:
Cllr Wade
As promised, an update on the matters you requested.
Ravenscourt
No further update has been received since officers from the Planning Department provided comments to the agent on the draft scheme that was submitted earlier in the year. In contacting the agent to seek an update and remind them of the six month date that Cabinet agreed to hold off from serving a S215 Notice, it was confirmed that the agent/contact no longer works on this scheme – an alternative contact is therefore being sought.
[So, there has been a ‘draft scheme’m of some kind submitted by the owners, which hasn’t been made public. I’ve heard it wasn’t very detailed. Planning – as is their job – advised upon it, to no avail. Now the people who were dealing with it for the landlords are no longer concerned with it. Sounds just topper that. – Bob]
Warreners’ Arms
No further progress has been made by the land owner since the sale of the land to the former proposed developer fell through in 2014. As Planning Committee resolved that the planning application – demolition of the former PH and construction of 58 flats – be granted subject to conditions and a S106, officers will need to report back to a future Committee to recommend for refusal as the S106 remains undetermined.
[So, no change at the Warreners then – despite rumours. Thanks for clearing that up – Bob]
Land fronting High Street (Tesco)
This land is owned by Tesco and it is understood that they have identified this parcel of land surplus to their requirements and available for disposal/sale. Officers therefore continue to endeavour to make contact with Tesco to progress the proposition of the Council negotiating acquisition of this land to provide a civic space on the High Street for events and market opportunities. The progress of engaging Tesco has been hampered by continuing changes in personnel, which we understand is the result of recent redundancies within the organisation. A new contact has been provided by the store manager which officers are pursuing, together with other potential avenues of contact that others hold for Tesco.
[This came as a bit of a surprise, and I support this wholly – Bob]
I thank Councillor Wade here and now for his openness and honesty on this matter – it’s nice to see someone trying to push things along. Thanks for keeping us informed, please stay in touch. I like the idea to get that waste ground into some kind of use; it’s long been needed.
Back to the matter in hand, I think it’s quite clear Lightquote are stalling, and the agents who were representing them are no longer doing so. This reeks of commitment, I must say: in my continued research I can find no evidence that Lightquote are anything more than a land banking operation with no obvious evidence of previous development experience.
I have repeatedly requested Lightquote issue a statement. Why on earth would they not do so? They own a large, crumbling edifice in our town (miles from their registered offices) – and even if they bought in good faith, hoping for a quick turnover and commercial gain – they owe it to Brownhills to at least show good intention. That they seem unwilling to do even basic clean-up tasks is quite shocking, really.
So, where does this all go from here? I wish I knew. The Council has not the money to compulsorily purchase Ravens Court; the £3 million this is estimated to cost is just not available in these times, although I’m sure Walsall would facilitate a deal if one was on the table. Purchasing the site speculatively would be hugely costly and not solve the issues.
Here’s the complexity of the ownership of Ravens Court. Walsall Council have agreed that they’d concede the central area to aid development if necessary.
With the owners seemingly unwilling to develop, I think the only likely outcome right now is demolition – and I’m not sure that would be a bad thing. The site is an unfortunate shape, and marooned by surrounding car parking. It’s long and narrow, and about the only thing I could see it practically hosting would be some kind of drive through – but the cost of the land to do that would seem prohibitively expensive. At least demolishing the place would remove the blot on the landscape, and make the High Street less dismal. But it’s a long shot, and would require action on the part of the owners.
Don’t hold your breath.
Walsall Council can only – and I hope they do – press on with court action to force the precinct to be cleaned up; but even that, if successful could take a year or more, and will to actually solve the problem.
I doubt Brownhills is unique in this position – I think this situation is being repeated up and down the land in unremarkable towns like ours, where property speculation has failed and left communities with vacant, derelict sites money can’t possibly be made back from. All we can hope is that the Walsall Housing Group projects locally generate more trade and drive some degree of investment.
If they don’t, we’re stuffed.
Just a quick post to highlight that friend of the blog and queen of the Brownhills Full English San Brett will be live on 2ndcityradio.net tonight (Wednesday 29th July 2015) from 7-9pm – tune in on line at the link below.
2ndCityRadio.net – listen along live here
San’s show is on tonight and every Wednesday!
San, of course, owns San’s Kitchen in Silver Court, a popular local cafe where she engineers a fine butty, but San is also a great laugh and is sure to be hugely entertaining on air, whilst also playing a whole variety of music.
Tune in if you can, San’s a star!
Sounds like a great show!
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 are fighting to save 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 (30th July 2015) there is a public progress meeting for the Lichfield Waterworks Trust charity, formerly the Friends of Sandfields Pumping Station group.
It takes place at the Duke of York pub, Greenhill, Lichfield from 7:30-9pm.
Dave wrote:
Dear Brownhills Bob,
Monthly Progress Meeting of the Lichfield Waterworks Trust, formerly known as the Friends of Sandfields Pumping Station.
Thursday 30 July 2015 at 7:30pm – please note the new venue
The meeting place is;
Duke of York
23/25 Greenhill
Lichfield
Staffordshire
WS13 6DYT: 01543 300 386
The Lichfield Waterworks Trust is a Community Incorporated Organisation, registered with the charities commission who are fighting to save the Grade II* listed building know as Sandfields Pumping Station for the benefit of the community.
The unique 190 Hp Cornish Beam Engine and building area magnificent monument to the lives of the people who died in the black Country during the mid ninetieth century due to the cholera epidemics. It also celebrates the achievements of the Victorian water engineers who gave clean water to the nation.
English Heritage has designated Sandfields Pumping Station as a building that has ‘more than special interest’, hence the reason it has been listed at Grade II*
Unfortunately, what some see as Lichfield’s most significant pieces of Industrial Heritage, a true hidden gem form the past is now a building at risk.
All are welcome to become involved in this challenging but rewarding project.
Dave Moore
Do pop over to Dave Moore’s blog and check out the history of Sandfields Pumping Station, an almost forgotten gem – the group also has a Facebook page.
Dave is, of course, one of the leading lights of Lichfield Discovered, along with Kate ‘Cardigan’ Gomez from Lichfield Lore.
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.
Always a cracking event. Get the kids down there!
Summer holidays, eh? Kids already driving you mad already? This Wednesday 29th July 2015, between 10:30am and 4:00pm there will be an opportunity to get them off that games console and out into the fresh air with the annual summer fun event at the ever popular Holland Park in Brownhills.
The event will be free, but some activities may be chargable. These events are very popular. It looks like being a great day for it this year.
If you can’t make this fun day, there’s loads of others going on at other parks in the borough which you’re welcome to attend.
If you need more details, please call Walsall Council Greenspaces on 01922 654893.
There’s every chance the young fellow in the cap is still with us. Any ideas? Image from ‘Hope Springs Eternal’ filmed by Edgar Pritchard and shared with the blog by Reg ‘Aer Reg’ Fullelove.
Here’s something I’ve been planning to share with you readers for a very long time, but I had to choose my moment; I needed time to prepare the video for the web and I thought this would fly best on a wet, grey Sunday evening.
Today seems perfect. Ahem. [Tips rainwater out of hat]
I present here, at the foot of this post, ‘Hope Springs Eternal’ a lighthearted 1930s film made by Brownhills chap Edgar Pritchard, brother of Sid (whose diaries, transcribed by Bill Mayo and David Evans are currently selling out their second print run at Brownhills Library – if you haven’t got your copy get in quick). It’s about eight minutes long, and tells the story of a man doing the football pools, a practice that seems to have died out since the advent of the National Lottery.
Edgar also created the 1934 Brownhills Carnival film that has proven so popular. He was clearly some photographer and filmmaker, and obviously a bit of a geek in his own time. We’d all love to know more about him.
The film is part of the wonderful tranche of material Reg ‘Aer Reg’ Fullelove has donated to the blog, and once again I thank him most profusely for his felicity, generosity and wonderful spirit. Reg, you remain an inspiration.
David Evans has spoken to Reg at some length about Hope Springs Eternal, and had this to say:
Hi Bob
This amazing silent black and white film, Hope Springs Eternal, was made by a local Brownhills man and award-winning filmmaker and photographer, Mr Edgar Pritchard, who lived with his brother Sid in their house in Brickiln Street many years ago.
He made the Brownhills Carnival film which has been featured on your blog. This film is quite amazing, and has been offered by our own Mr Reg Fullelove BEM. One of the characters in the film is Edgar’s gardener, Reg’ s father David, and we see Edgar’s own sports car, a BSA Scout. There is a shot of Great Charles Street and Ogley Road.
I am sure that your readers will identify some other shots, and a certain sporting occasion!
This film features some advanced camera techniques for the day… late 1930s, I believe.
Sadly, the vast store of still photos that Edgar Pritchard took during his lifetime seems to have been lost. This is one of three of Edgars films that are known to still be in existence.
I would like to thank our own Reg Fullelove for his part in rescuing this film, and for his kindness in offering it for your many blog readers to enjoy…We may even identify the two mani characters in this film!
Kind regards
David
Pelsall Villa: Bested the Woodmen to some degree on Tuesday last. Image from the club website on Pitchero.
Well, you can’t keep a good man down, and never was the adage more true than with Walsall Wood FC’s Bill Shaw, who’s been struggling with a bad chest of late and not been able to catch the matches he’d like.
First of all, Bill, get well soon – we’re all rooting for you.
This, coupled with some confusion as to which games are bing played where and when has meant we missed a couple of match reports. I’m keeping it together as best I can while the season gets back into the swing so please bear with me.
Bill sent me the following
Hiya Bob,
Thanks for the message of support, still struggling with the chest problem sadly.
Anyway I’ll try and bring you up to date with action on the field, the Young David Evans sent you a report on the Pelsall Villa loss on Tuesday, I think I said early in July that with us running an under 21 team this season the friendly games would contain a mix of them and senior players, sometimes having a fixture clash.
The team at Pelsall was predominantly youngsters with a sprinkling of senior players and a couple of triallists, taking nothing away from the Villa it would appear that we huffed and puffed but didn’t pull up any trees. Well done Villa anyway, you can only beat what’s put in front of you.
Wednesday night saw us take on Willenhall Town at Bilston, goals from Drew Aiton and Leon Taylor giving us a 2–0 win.
Saturday lunch time at Coventry Copsewood a Daniel Holgate penalty saw us come away with a 1–1 draw. Followed at 3.00pm by a trip to Ashby Ivanhoe, Leon Taylor put us ahead with an opportunistic strike after a defensive mix-up on 30 minutes. The home side deservedly equalised on 64 minutes, Dan Stevenson heading home from a left wing free kick. Both sides had chances with the home side having the better of the play, but Wood stole the win right on time when from a right wing free kick to beyond the far post Anthony Juxon ghosted in to power a header across the keeper and into the far corner of the net.
It’s now Kidderminster Harriers at Oak Park on Tuesday night kickoff 7.45 pm and on Saturday 1st August we go up the A5 to Ellesmere Rangers (the Shropshire one just outside Oswestry).
The season starts with a home game against Leicestershire newcomers Bardon Hill Sports on Saturday 8th August kickoff 3.00pm followed on Tuesday 11th with a visit to Highgate United one of the fancied teams, who of course last year won Midland league division 1.
I now have the revised fixture list for the season (for what it’s worth) it’s already been changed twice so don’t hold me to it ,I have attached last season’s results for anyone who is interested and will send you the season’s fixture list soon.
Regards
Bill Shaw
Thanks, Bill – Here’s the fixture list embedded from Google Drive (apologies for any corruption):
Bill, I thank you wholeheartedly for your thorough, entertaining and popular match reports – I’ll always have a soapbox waiting for you here!
The young David Evans also sent some pictures and a brief review of the Pelsall Villa match as Bill noted above… All pictures and captions are David’s own work.
Hi Bob
Bill Shaw was not able to be at this match this evening.
Pelsall Villa 1 v 0 Walsall Wood
A friendly match of football where Pelsall showed greater appetite to win than Walsall Wood, who had the advantage of the considerable slope on the pitch in the first half. However, it was Pelsall who parried numerous attacks by the Woodmen, eventually breaking through a momentarily slightly un-coordinated defence to score the only goal of the match.
It was goals that were lacking, and causing some frustration as Pelsall showed some fine incisive moves and passes; more so than the visitors.
Both sides brought on a few substitutes throughout the match and this new composition for both sides, seemed to affect the fluidity of play.
There were frequent off-side moves, by both sides.
Pelsall Villa will be pleased with their well-deserved win. Walsall Wood will have some head-scratching and post-match de-briefing to do behind closed doors, I expect.
David
Cheers to David and Bill for the help – after all, it’s all For The Good Of The Wood!
It’s always a joy to feature articles here by the wonderful Anslow brothers; over the years John and Paul have contributed so much to our local history knowledge, from everyday but special weddings, to sneaking into fetes and even recalling lost Pelsallian ice ream vendors.
Well, the lads have been busy again, and I have this article and a followup to share with you in the coming days. When I asked for memories of air raids and the like (I’m still interested in anything you have, by the way) I never expected something like this; this is a wonderful, beautifully written, all-encompassing ramble through wartime Pelsall and Brownhills, and I think it’s rather brilliant.
Thanks to John and Paul, and if you have anything to add, please do comment here or mail me: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com.
John Onslow wrote:
Norton Junction, the sidings just off the Pelsall Road at Highbridges, was busy during the war. Image from the South Staffordshire Rail Group.
Hello again Bob.
You recently asked for wartime memories of the local area. Paul and I were born after the war but used to play in and around the air-raid shelters and the like; we also heard stories from parents and grandparents.
What follows is something of a ramble, but I hope there will be bits that are of use.
At the outbreak of the War, Dad was living with his widowed mother and brother at 122 Walsall Road, Walsall Wood, more or less where Select Windows and Doors stands today. His brother, who had served pre-war in what he called ‘The Militia’, was posted abroad, while Dad was conscripted into the REME.
Dad took every opportunity to get back to look after his mother, who did not enjoy the best of health. When stationed at Whittington, near Lichfield, troops were forbidden to travel beyond Muckley Corner, where Red Caps were positioned as sentries; Dad used to avoid them by walking along the canal towpath and across fields. When he was posted further afield, he used passes from a book he had somehow obtained, signing them himself as ‘Captain Palmer’.
At home one night, he heard a stick of five German bombs fall without exploding. Paul remembers one of these being discovered in the working marl hole behind what is now Baron’s Court in 1968. The book ‘Memories of Old Walsall Wood’ by Bill Mayo and John Sale records that the unexploded bomb caused the closure of the road on 9th April 1968, also noting that one other bomb had been found previously. If Dad was right, and no others have been found since 1968, there are still three awaiting discovery!
I bet that made the driver’s eyes bulge a bit. And in the world of local journalism, all bombs tick, obviously. Brilliant stuff from Memories of Old Brownhills by Clarice Mayo and Geoff Harrington.
Once when Dad was home without permission he was told by a neighbour that the Red Caps had been out looking for a deserter; mistakenly thinking they were after Dad, the neighbour had sent them on a wild-goose chase over the Jockey Fields away from Dad’s house.
Bombs fell around High Bridge in Pelsall: whether the enemy was aiming for the shunting yards or just getting rid of bombs following a raid on Birmingham I don’t know, but a house was destroyed and my mother, then a teenager, recalled walking from Brownhills with other people to have a nosey at the damage the following morning. The house was never rebuilt, and High Bridge Row had a gap in the terrace until it was finally demolished.
I recall that as children we used to play in the tunnel-like air-raid shelters that were dug at the southern end of the shunting yards. They wound into the bank and back out, presumably to enable railwaymen to run in during a raid but to deflect the shock waves from the blast. It was always a dare to navigate through these tunnels without a torch.
In the fields between York’s Foundry Bridge and the railway line was a huge crater that was not the result of enemy action, though I recall that some children called it ‘the bomb hole’. It was, in fact, the result of a mining collapse in the 1870s or thereabouts. A few yards from that hole there was what appeared to be a genuine bomb crater: circular, about 12 feet across and 3 feet deep.
Paul was talking recently to a gentleman who had been at school in Pelsall during the War. He described air–raid drills in which all the children with their gas masks were marched to the shelters that had been dug between Church Road and Slate Row, north of the Labour Club. These had been bricked up by the time Paul and I were old enough to play out, but they remained as hillocks until they were finally cleared for a public garden in the 1970s.
I remember two other air-raid shelters, one in the back garden of the Stokes’s house on Hall Lane opposite the church, and the other that must have been somewhere between what is now Braeside Way and Hall Lane, dug into a steep bank. (Hence Braeside?)
Paul recalls public shelters in Shelfield, possibly on that triangle of land between Four Crosses Road and Lichfield Road, and another set in Pelsall between the “Senior School” (now Pelsall Village School) playing fields and Wolverhampton Road.
High bridge Row, as remembered by John and Paul Onslow. Image from ‘A Picture Tour of Pelsall, Russell and Shelfield’ by John Sale and Bill Mayo.
Now for a final couple of oddments.
First, I once heard a tale of a Pelsall man who at the time of conscription had recently bought himself a top-of-the-range motorcycle, something like an Ariel Square Four. When he received his call up papers, he did not want the machine to be used by irresponsible relatives so he dismantled it, packed it with grease, wrapped it in tarred paper and buried it in the garden of a house in Mount Road, or thereabouts. Whether he ever returned to dig up his treasure I do not know, though the storyteller seemed to imply that he did not.
Secondly, Paul recalls that a Mr Archer, who worked for Aldridge Brick and Tile, had received special training in 1935 or 36 for the new process of manufacturing Utopia bricks. This process was German, and so technicians came to Walsall Wood from Germany to train the workforce. Paul speculates that these technicians might at that time have been gathering information on the location of possible targets.
My father and his brother survived the war, but my mother lost a brother. I think I have mentioned him to you before, Bob: he was Sidney Walter Newbould, a professional soldier in the 3rd Battalion Coldstream Guards. Born at Dairy Farm, Walsall Wood in 1918, he served in Palestine during the Arab Revolt, escaped capture at Tobruk, returned to play his part in the defeat of the enemy in Tunisia and Italy but was killed in London on Sunday 18th June 1944 when a V1 flying bomb destroyed the Guards Chapel at Wellington Barracks. He is buried in Aldridge Cemetery and his name appears on the war memorials in Aldridge and Walsall Town Hall.
Well, Bob; it’s been a bit of a car-boot-sale of a piece, but I hope some of the junk might be usable. Thank you for organizing what, if I may say so, is the very valuable exercise of collecting these memories together before they disappears forever.
All the very best,
John Anslow
Shame I did;t know about this sooner!
I’ve just noticed via Facebook that there’s a showing of a unique Burntwood Wakes archive film at St. Anne’s Church, Chasetown this afternoon (Saturday, 25th July 2015); showings start every 20 minutes from 1pm until 4pm – it’s free.
I know little about this, but it looks like a cracker – get up there if you can!
St. Anne’s in Church Street, Chasetown was, of course, the first church in the UK lit by electric light, and its history is very closely intertwined with the mining industry in the area. It’s well worth a visit for that alone, so do pop along!
The Burntwood Wakes Archive Film Project posted the following on Facebook:
First ever film showing Today! Come to St. Anne’s, Chasetown. 1.00 today. Film being shown every 30 minutes until 4.00. FREE ENTRY. All Burntwood’s Wakes Memories over 150 years. Where it all began !
Check out the project Facebook Page here.
Back by popular demand – Steel Threads are a great gig.
The Chase Inn at Newtown, Brownhills goes from strength to strength – there’s not only great ale and a warm, welcoming atmosphere, but great live music most weekends, too – and there’s a couple of great acts on this weekend.
Over the weekend you can catch top rated acoustic folk rock band Steel Threads making a welcome return tonight (Saturday 25th July 2015) from 9pm, and in the afternoon slot tomorrow (Sunday 26th July 2015) a duo I’d definitely like, Americana blues pairing The Paul Parker Duo play from 4-7pm.
The pub was in the doldrums for years, but now under new management, the buzz around the Chase Inn has been building. The recent real ale and cider festival was a real hit – it’s so good to see a local pub revived.
Why not get down there? You’re guaranteed a great night…
For the satnav folk, the address is: 6 Watling Street, Newtown, Brownhills WS8 6JS
You can contact the pub on: 01543 899568 or visit their Facebook page.
I love a bit of Americana, me.
Here’s a really, really great thing happening next weekend at Newtown, Brownhills – a two day festival with proceeds going to the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity featuring music and fun in memory of a much-loved local man who sadly passed away this year.
Cockfest runs over a whole weekend with camping available. It’s from Friday 31st July 2015 up until the following Sunday, 2nd August 2015 in a field just off the A5 at Newtown, Brownhills. There’s live music Friday and Saturday, food, a licensed bar, campfire and all manner of entertainments and fun, including an adult-sized bouncy castle…
A weekend pass is £20 for adults and just £5 for kids, and day passes are £12 and £3 respectively. You can book yours by calling 07966 611170, call in to the great Chase Inn or visit the event’s Facebook page here.
This looks like a professionally run event now in it’s second year (don’t know how I missed the one in 2014), and some of the bands look terrific – and it’s for charity and in memory of a great chap, so what’s not to love?
It’s apparently called “Cockfest’ because it’s on a chicken farm…
This looks brilliant!
There’s a really good article on Nativemonster which I’ll quote here:
Brownhills music bash to honour late friend FRIDAY 24TH JULY 2015
A Brownhills music festival is making a welcome return – and will be raising charity funds in memory of a well-known father who died unexpectedly.
The next Cockfest – inspired by the organiser’s passion for poultry – is set to be double the size it was in 2014 and will be dedicated to Carl Findon-Kent.
Friends and family were left in shock when Mr Findon-Kent from Brownhills suffered heart failure and passed away on April 24.
The 46-year-old dad-of-two and stepdad-of-three who worked at Anchor Garage was an immensely popular man who helped set up the inaugural charity fundraiser last year.
Around 50 people attended the event, enjoying a BBQ and live music on the Saturday night, which raised £500 for good causes.
But this year, support and enthusiasm for the second Cockfest has grown to new heights after organisers Keryll Jenkins and fiancé Martin Payton said a stage would be named after the late Carl.
A popular and well liked man: Carl Findon-Kent. Image from Nativemonster.
Miss Jenkins, said: ‘Carl loved a good party. So this year we said we would build a stage in his memory and name it after him.’
More than 12 artists and bands will perform at the event, which will be held in the couple’s back garden on Watling Street, Newtown, from July 31 to August 2.
Anyone interested in going along has been advised to contact Miss Jenkins on 07966 611170 in advance to buy tickets or visit the Chase Inn.
Weekend wristbands which include camping cost £20 for adults and £5 for children.
Day passes cost £12 for adults and £3 for youngsters.
Incisive and tenacious historian Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler has been quietly continuing his investigations into the Old Hednesford Colliery Disaster, the 1911 accident that was brought to our attention when Reg ‘Aer Reg’ Fullelove donated a poem he’d come to have in his collection to the blog.
Peter recently continued is exploration with a long and detailed article regarding the huge and brave part played by Thomas Stokes – and further research seems to indicate some nastiness in the local press of the day, which is shocking but unsurprising.
Always question accounts of historical events however worthy the source; motives and confirmation bias creep in all the time – as we’ve shown before.
My thanks, as ever to Peter and all the other wonderful contributors for their work and patience.
Peter wrote:
The Old Hednesford Colliery Disaster – from the wonderful HeathHaesHistory.co.uk
Hi Bob,
Firstly thanks for publishing the article concerning Thomas Stokes and the Old Hednesford Pit disaster of 1911. The reason for the article was the disappointment at the lack of recognition for Thomas Stokes by the modern historians of the Cannock Chase Coalfields. However, in the Comments, Andy Dennis has added some press references that led me to look more closely at the local coverage and I have unearthed more interesting facts of the aftermath, not least the age-old nastiness of the Press.
Andy Dennis is right that the story of the two medals for Thomas Stokes and Henry Merritt, being the Edward medal and the Carniegie certificate, were big news. Their names appeared in many newspapers from Dundee to Portsmouth. The Edward Medal is now considered one of the rarest British Gallantry awards, and only 77 first class were awarded. The medal was discontinued in 1971 when the surviving holders were given the option to exchange for the George Cross.
The recommendations for the Edward Medal came from the Coroner, the Mines Inspector, Professor Cadman and the MP Mr A Stanley, and it was around the end of April of 1912 that confirmation was received. Mrs Stokes preferred a private ceremony and this was held at the residence of the MP Mr A Stanley and attended by the Earl and Countess of Dartmouth, who were ‘visibly affected and their sympathy for the widow was apparent.’ In July Henry Merrit, accompanied by Mr Beacon of the Colliery, would travel to Buckingham Palace to receive the award personally from the King.
The Colliery Company had presented Merritt and Stokes with testimonials, engraved and framed in gilt, along with two purses of 10 guineas.
Henry Merrit and Thomas Stokes were both brought to the attention of the Carniegie Fund by the Deputy Coroner and received the Carnegie Certificate in June of 1912. Merrit was presented with a cheque for £25 and Mrs Stokes received an allowance of 10s per week, subject to conditions. At the presentation Johnathon Hunter spoke on behalf of the Coalowners of Cannock Chase, saying that they ‘were always desirous to do everything they could for the safety of their workmen….’ but it seems the Carnegie Fund were more generous.
The Lichfield Mercury re-reported an article that had featured in the South Staffs Times after a visit to interview Merrit about his visit to Buckingham Palace.
After asking reasonable questions of the visit the interviewer asked Henry Merrit his opinion of the agitation which was existent amongst miners at the fact that Archie Harley, ‘who is said to have saved 9 men on the occasion of the disaster,’ had received no public recognition.
Henry expressed regret at any unpleasantness, but would say nothing further about the incident. ‘I was in another district, and know nothing of what occurred except where I was. I never said anything to anybody about getting a medal. I never said a word about the affair at all. It was simply Mr Johnson, the Coroner and Mr Saint that said I was justified the awarding of the medal. I could not have stayed in the workings many seconds longer, the smoke was so dense.’
Shame on the South Staffs Times, and shame on the Lichfield Mercury for reproducing without any opinion.
Lucy and the Scrap Barn Team celebrate their first birthday in 2013.
Fancy doing some voluntary work for the Lichfield Scrap Barn shop at Chasewater Innovation Centre? Friend of the blog and top Phoenix Hospital Radio DJ Lucy Wood has dropped me a line to let me know that they have some great positions available.
If you haven’t popped in to The Scrap Barn, do check out their store at Chasewater; this brilliant project takes clean business waste – everything from wooden crates to fabric offcuts – and uses them to make great crafting materials for the general public to browse and buy.
It really is an Aladdin’s Cave.
What’s really neat is all the cash raised goes back to support the project – so when you buy stuff from them it helps the community. It’s been running for very nearly four years now and the creativity and fun it engenders is really contagious.
This is a fine project backed by the remarkable and wonderful Saxon Hill School in Lichfield, and I’m proud to support it, too. In the seemingly harsh and uncaring world we currently inhabit, it’s nice to see that these excellent people still give a damn.
Opening Hours
WED: 10:00 – 14:00
FRI: 10:00 – 14:00
SAT: 10:00 – 14:00
Who We Are
The Lichfield Scrap Barn is a low cost Arts and Craft provider, they also provide opportunities for young people with a disability to gain valuable work based experience, skills and training by being involved in a friendly working environment at the heart of the community.
These skills developed whilst at Lichfield Scrap Barn can be utilised later in life when applying for full or part time employment in the wider community
For more information on these opportunities, please email admin@lichfieldscrapbarn.co.uk.
The Lichfield Scrap Barn – A Crafting Experience
Volunteer Charity Shop Assistant
The purpose of the role is to assist in the day to day running of The Lichfield Scrap Barn, a Arts and Craft supplier, that uses donations of clean business waste into creative items to the community.
Main Activities/ Tasks:
Qualities/ Experience/Skills
Good communication and customer care service skills are essential to fulfil this role. Being able to work as part of a team environment and with the general public is essential.
Training
Full in-house training will be given of operational procedures during your Induction Period.
Volunteer Warehouse Assistant
The purpose of the role is to assist in the day to day running of The Lichfield Scrap Barn, a Arts and Craft supplier, that uses donations of clean business waste into creative items to the community
In your role as Warehouse Assistant, you will be help create and develop a brand new organisation process that will monitor and track the deliveries to our small store.
Main Activities/ Tasks:
Qualities/ Experience/Skills
Good communication and strong organisational skills are essential to fulfil this role. Applicants must be willing to work as a team but have a strong ability to work on your own initiative.
Training
Full in-house training and support will be given of operational procedures during your Induction Period.
Volunteer Collections Assistant
The purpose of the role is to assist in the day to day running of The Lichfield Scrap Barn, a Arts and Craft supplier, that uses donations of clean business waste into creative items to the community
In your role as Collections Assistant, you will be required to work alongside the team to ensure that deliveries of stock are collected and moved from our suppliers to our store.
Main Activities/ Tasks:
Qualities/ Experience/Skills
Good communication and strong organisational skills are essential to fulfil this role. Applicants must be willing to work as a team but have a strong ability to work on your own initiative. A willingness to help maneuverer stock is essential.
Full training will be given for this role and there will be opportunities to progress further within this role.
These opportunities will be based at Chasewater Innovation Centre,
Unit 7,
Chasewater Country Park,
Pool Road, Brownhills, WS8 7NL.
For more details on either positions contact Maria on 01543 371 200 or
admin@lichfieldscrapbarn.co.uk
Just a quick post to highlight that friend of the blog and queen of the Brownhills Full English San Brett will be live on 2ndcityradio.net tonight (Wednesday 22nd July 2015) from 7-9pm – tune in on line at the link below.
2ndCityRadio.net – listen along live here
San’s show is on tonight and every Wednesday!
San, of course, owns San’s Kitchen in Silver Court, a popular local cafe where she engineers a fine butty, but San is also a great laugh and is sure to be hugely entertaining on air, whilst also playing a whole variety of music.
Tune in if you can, San’s a star!
Sounds like a great show!
Photos and captions courtesy David Evans
The friendly season continues, and Saturday last (18th July 2015), Bill Shaw was at Brownsfield Lane to watch the Woodmen in action against Lichfield City in an entertaining score draw.
My best wishes to Bill, who’s been a bit under the weather this last week or two. Take it easy and get well soon to the chap with the notebook!
Bill wrote:
Lichfield City 1 v 1 Walsall Wood
An entertaining contest between two very different footballing styles, Lichfield were pumped up after the defeat of Stafford Rangers but for the first 30 minutes they hardly saw the ball as Wood once again turned on the style, but only had one goal for their dominance.
After a quiet opening Drew Aiton collected the ball from a right wing throw before feeding Joey Butlin who powered inside and hit a low drive just wide. A minute later Steven Hayles went on a left wing run, played the ball neatly inside to Aiton to lay back to Anthony Juxon to fire first time narrowly wide. Then on eight minutes a neat interchange wide right between Butlin and Lewis Taylor Boyce saw them release Aiton in on goal, his low drive bringing a full length save from keeper Clough.
On 14 minutes Hayles from wide left crossed to beyond the far post, Butlin played the ball back into the path of Aiton to fire first time wide. A minute later Butlin held the ball up right of centre, played the ball back to Luke Adams whose ball over the top was collected at pace by Max Black, keeper Clough saving bravely at his feet.
On 16 minutes a rare City incursion into the Wood half saw Ricardo Richards release Tony Clarke into the left of the box only for him to fire a cross shot wide.
Normal service was resumed when on 21 minutes Adams attacked wide right, played a neat ball inside to Aiton, his ball beyond the far post found Corey Currithers who took one touch and fired a shot wide of the far post. Wood deservedly went ahead on 23 minutes, an incisive run by Aiton through the centre saw him release Butlin into the box, under intense pressure he drilled the ball inside the left hand post. Five minutes later a left wing corner was cleared out to Aiton, his first time low drive from 40 yards was saved at the second attempt by Clough.
City put Wood under pressure for the last 10 minutes with Clarke looking dangerous, twice he made space in the left of the box but each time Luke Wright cut out his low cross. From a central free kick on 38 minutes a scramble ensued and Clarke forced home the equaliser from close range. The last action of the half saw Richards race into the right of the box, keeper Dale Faultless saving bravely at his feet.
On 47 minutes Taylor Boyce hit a 50 yard crossfield ball to the left of the box, Currithers mugged his marker but Clough clawed his rising drive from out of the top corner. It was Taylor Boyce crossing from wide right, Butlin’s header well held by the keeper on 61 minutes before nine minutes later a powerful run into the left of the box and low cross from Currithers was just missed by Butlin.
As in the first half City dominated the last 15 minutes, on 75 minutes Fellows got clear and raced into the left of the box, his low cross in front of everyone. Then on 82 minutes he made space wide left again and his ball inside found Tom Evans who was quickly closed down by Wright. With two minutes left Kyle Minto raced into the left of the box and went down under an untidy challenge – penalty. Up stepped Ravenhill and justice was down when he fired the spot kick high over the bar, so it finished 1-1.
It could have been an embarrassing defeat for Wood, some subline football at times but it was the Achilles heel – scoring goals that again made them vulnerable to a late strike. The other game at Great Wyrley saw a young Wood side go down 2-0 to Wolverhampton Sports.
Bill Shaw.
Walsall Wood F.C.
Thanks to Bill for the report – For the Good of the Wood!
Walsall Wood Football Club are a top local side with a big-hearted faithful who know how to have a great time supporting their lads, and welcome all comers to come enjoy great local soccer. The boys from The Wood have been at the heart of the local community for a century or more, so please do go check out a match or two if you’re curious.
Apparently, surveyors are such delicate wee flowers that these steps are needed for them to get down the bank. I’ve ridden down steeper inclines offload on a road bike.
In the last couple of weeks, I’ve noticed a workboat moored at the back of European Heathyards on the canal just near Clayhanger Bridge – since there’s a lot of decaying and falling brickwork on the towpath, I was hoping it was finally being tackled.
Sadly, this isn’t the case.
The safety of the public is clearly of lesser importance than that of surveyors.
Over a few days last week, a flight of wooden framed, ballast filled steps has been built of the canal towpath down into the the marsh copse between the big house and new pond. The area is not crossed by footpaths, and is mostly bog. I know a lot of wildlife takes refuge there, as humans don’t generally have access.
Despairing it might be some kind of nature trail or other scheme, I swung past yesterday morning hoping to catch the work crew, who are from the Canal and River Trust. I was fortunate enough to see them to ask about the purpose of the steps.
They have been installed, the crew informed me, in order that surveyors can get to the foot of the embankment to survey it’s condition.
Several instances of cavities like this between Pier Street Bridge and the Black Cock Bridge have been repeatedly reported for two years. To no response whatsoever.
Yes, you read that correctly. A week of work, to put in steps. So surveyors don’t have to scramble down a bank. Meanwhile, 10 metres away, a trip hazard still lurks unfixed at the drain sluice, and nearby, there are foot-swallowing fissures where the edging brickwork has fallen away from the bank.
The Canal and River Trust keep complaining they have no money for repairs and maintenance. I can actually see why now. This is risible.
Since I spoke to the crew, a handrail has been installed. I hope it’s been sanded, because splinters are painful.
This workboat has come and gone for around a week.
They’ll need to sweep that down a bit. Trip hazard.
I’ve had a load of enquiries about an accident tonight up by the M6 toll slip road island just off the A5195 and Ogley Hay Road north of the A5 between Chasetown and Hammerwich – as luck would have it, there’s a fairly full report on the West Midlands Ambulance Service newsfeed which I post in full below.
My sympathies to those involved.
West Midlands Ambulance Service said:
Image from West Midlands Ambulance Service and posted on their newsfeed.
Car Collides with Street Signs
Sunday 19th July 2015 – 9pm – Steve Parry
A woman has been airlifted to hospital after the car she was driving collided with several street signs in Brownhills this evening.
The crash happened at the junction of the M6 Toll exit with the A5 at about 7.15pm.
Two ambulances and a community paramedic were joined at the scene by a paramedic area support officer and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Tatenhill in Staffordshire.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: ‘On arrival, crews found a car that had collided with several street signs, resulting in significant damage to the vehicle.
‘The driver, a woman in her forties, was treated for a head, leg, back and pelvic injuries.
‘She was immobilised and given pain relief before being airlifted to the Royal Stoke University Hospital.
‘A female passenger in her twenties received wrist and facial injuries. A male child aged 6 years suffered head injuries. A man in his twenties received neck pain.
‘All three patients were taken by ambulance to New Cross Hospital for further assessment and treatment.’
Brownhills Councillor Steve Wade has been in touch recently on a number of local issues, and I’m very glad to see him developing an online presence and keeping us informed of stuff he’s dealing with – and I’m very grateful for the positive moves he’s made to communicate with me and the blog – there’s more to come from Steve later this week.
One of the issues concerning Steve at the moment is flytipping. He’s reported personally in the last couple of days loads of rubbish tipped at Coppice Lane and on the Holland Park car park.
The loads dumped are clearly the result of cheap rubbish clearance cowboys, and such incidents seems to have been a growing issue in recent weeks.
Steve wrote on Thursday:
This is what I saw on my way to work this morning in Coppice Lane in Brownhills… Tyres, chairs, a couch and other rubbish.
Reported it to environmental health and they’ve been out and removed it straight away, so just like to say thanks to them for their speedy response. This is the second time in a fortnight this area has been targeted so we’re all going to have to be vigilant to catch the buggers in the act!
And posted again on Saturday:
Unbelievable! Took my son to football training with the Brownhills Colts this morning and what do I find, more Fly Tipping, this time in Holland Park! Shocking!
Third time in two weeks I’ve come across rubbish dumped by scumbags. On to environmental health again to get it cleared.
Oh to catch these people in the act would be great…
Steve asks that we all be vigilant, look out for people who might be dumping stuff, and not to use unlicensed rubbish removers.
The lads with the pickups are out, now punting for rubbish removal (presumably, the tatting market is becoming too crowded). They charge a small fee, then dump your waste in lay-bys, industrial estates, car parks and anywhere they can’t be seen. This leaves you as well as the dumpers open to prosecution, as giving waste to and unlicensed carrier is an offence and councils do prosecute.
If you need rubbish removal, either call Walsall Council for bulky waste collection, or employ a reputable firm. Ask to see their waste transfer license, and ask for, and keep the relevant paperwork. No genuine carrier will be offended by your asking for proof of their validity.
We all hate flytipping and the nuisance it causes. Please think carefully about who you give your waste to – and that includes scrap metal collectors who patrol the streets. By encouraging them, you’re perpetuating metal theft and other environmental crime.
If you have any idea who these flybynights are, please do contact the council’s street pride unit on 01922 653344 or better still, the police.
Image from the Imperial War Museum.
A week or so ago I raised the somewhat vexed question here of the number and effects of air raids over our area during the Second World War, and asked what readers knew, and the things they had heard.
Well, I had an excellent response to that, and I’m still after more, so please do pop back to that post and check it out. Blog readers have been busy on related material, and hopefully when this busy spell passes I can get some of that material up on the blog.
Meantimes, there’s this wonderful piece of Second World War ephemera supplied by the wonderful Reg Fullelove, via the dogged and dedicated young David Evans, who’s been mining a whole bunch of great stuff lately.
David went to chat with Reg, who donated a wonderful booklet – a manual for the civilian air raid warden – which has been scanned in full and made available for download at the foot of this post.
David explains how Reg came to have the manual in his collection:
The Air Raid Warden
Image courtesy Reg Fullelove/David Evans. Click for a larger version.
Another enjoyable afternoon chat with blog contributor Mr. Reg Fullelove BEM who had kindly offered these artefacts from World War 2. Reg’s father, David was an Air Raid Warden in Brownhills during the conflict, and this is the medal he received after the war had ended. The box in which it was posted is equally intersting..On His Majesty’s serivce, is intact and bears David Fullelove’s address in Browonhills.
It was quite a poignant moment for me when I saw this medal, as my father had been an Air Raid Warden locally, and, with the passing of time his medal had gone.
Image courtesy Reg Fullelove/David Evans. Click for a larger version.
The other artefact is the little pocket-sized handbook, .
I would like to thank Reg for his ongoing generosity and kindness.
David
You can download the whole booklet in PDF form from the link below:
The Duties of an Air Raid Warden – PDF format – 4 megabytes
If you have anything to add, please do: you know the (air raid) drill: comment here, or mail me – BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com. Cheers, and my undying thanks to Reg for being such a top bloke and contributor. A most generous, kind hearted and fascinating gentleman.
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