BrownhillsBob's Brownhills Blog

Even on grey days, ice cream is a treat. Image of Norton Road, Pelsall, from ‘A Picture Tour of Old Pelsall, Russhall and Shelfield’ by John Sale and Bill Mayo.

I’ve got an intriguing one here I’d not heard before, from Jill Walters of Pelsall, who’s asking a very simple question – she posted the following in the Common People group for Pelsall earlier today, and I’m wondering if anyone can help?

We’ve mentioned the great ice cream sellers of Brownhills before – Selwyn Smith, the Pelari family – and recently the lost pedal cart of Mr. Pinchers that used to grace Walsall Wood. But what of Aggie Parton in Pelsall?

Jill posted:

We’ve been having a ‘do you remember’ afternoon, and have been talking about Aggie Parton’s ice cream in the 1950’s. does anyone else remember the beautiful taste of this lovely ice cream?

[It] was in Pelsall… We used to queue on a Sunday afternoon with our jugs or bowls to have them filled. Aggie went to her grave with the recipe for it.

[The shop] was roughly by the dentists or next to it. She had a grocery shop, but couldn’t serve from that, only the ice cream on a Sunday. Her Hubby used make the wafers in a gadget, which he had to rotate the handle to make it ‘pop up’ when it was done.

Jill has identified the ‘gadget’ as a Wafer Master (see this link here), and it’s a new one on me.

There has been speculation those Anslow boys may remember this… I do hope so!

You know what to do. Comment here, or mail me. BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com. Quick, lick that before it runs over your fingers…

Repairs are essential but a pain. But there’s joined up thinking with resurfacing the whole road after the job is finished – and it really does need it! Imager from Apple Maps.

As you may well be aware, the Peslall Road between the Fingerpost junction and Apex Road in Brownhills (just by the council depot) will shut to all traffic from this Sunday (19th July 2015) for seven weeks (until Sunday 6th September 2015) to allow water main repairs and resurfacing.

Obviously, this closure will cause problems on such a primary route, and it is to be welcomed that the work is scheduled for the summer school holiday, but nonetheless, traffic will be bad, particularly for the first few days while drivers find alternate routes.

Today (thursday 16th July 2015), there will be an information vehicle parked up on Pelsall Road opposite Stevie Ansell’s yard, just near the Council Depot in Brownhills, which will be open for all interested to go find out about this large project.

The van will be present from 12 noon until 8pm in the evening, and I recommend that if you rely on this route, you go see the display and find out more details.

The Walsall Advertiser has written a fine article on the upcoming works, and following that, I feature a note posted on Facebook by the wonderful Walsall Transport, regarding bus diversions over the period.

The Walsall Advertiser wrote:

Seven-week Walsall road closure for water supply improvement
By Walsall Advertiser | Posted: July 08, 2015

PART of a Walsall road will be closed for more than seven weeks whilst improvements are made to its surface and a water supply underneath.

South Staffs Water will be replacing the water mains along Lichfield Road, Pelsall to improve reliability and the quality of the water.

And once its work is completed, Walsall Council will step in to replace the aging road surface along Lichfield Road, and a short section of Pelsall Road.

But work to replace the water main – which will start on Saturday, July 19 and end on Sunday, September 6 – will result in the closure of the road between the junctions of Norton Road and Apex Road.

A spokesman for South Staffs Water said: ‘These are two major schemes which will benefit the areain different ways.

‘We would like to apologise in advance for any disruption this may cause and thank residents for their patience.’

Residents can visit a customer information vehicle to find out more about the work. It will be based at Lichfield Road, opposite Stevie Ansell Horse Stables on Thursday, July 16 between noon and 8pm.

After September 6, Walsall Council will begin its road surfacing work.

Further updates will be provided by the council nearer the time.

Residents can call South Staffs Water on 0800 389 10 11 or Gary Chalk, from Walsall Council, on 01922 654393.

Walsall Transport wrote:

During the road closure of A4124 Lichfield Rd (Finger Post jcn to Apex Rd) the following diversion for bus services 23/33/33A will take place. Thank you to Network West Midlands for the information.

Lichfield Road/Pelsall Road closure from 2100 hrs 19/07/15 until 2100 hrs 06/09/15.

Service 23 Bloxwich to White Horse Road

Normal line of route from Bloxwich to Wolverhampton Road then right into Foundry Lane, left into Mouse Hill, Hall Lane, Vicarage Road, Ford Brook Lane, Mill Road, left onto Lichfield Road, Walsall Road, Walsall Wood High Street, Lichfield Road up to Shire Oak, left onto Chester Road, High Street then right into Ogley Road and normal line of route and reverse of above for the return journey.

Service 33 Walsall to Rugeley

Normal line of route from Walsall to Pelsall Fingerpost then Norton Lane, Lime Lane right onto Watling Street, Chester Road North, Pelsall Road, Clayhanger Lane then normal line of route and reverse of above for the return journey.

Service 33A Walsall to Brownhills West

Normal line of route from Walsall to Rushall then continue along Lichfield Road, Walsall Road, High Street, Lichfield Road up to Shire Oak then left onto Chester Road, left into Friezland Lane then through Clayhanger and right onto Pelsall Road to the island at the top of Brownhills High Street then normal line of route up to Brownhills West and reverse of above for the return journey.

Street racers: Town Sparrows in Oldbury and Blackheath speed down postwar streets.

This is a remarkable piece of video that local historian and Sandfields Pumping Station champion Dave Moore alerted me to on the BFI archive earlier today – I’ve had to do some faffing about, because the BFI doesn’t embed, but you’ll find it below.

Dave Moore explains:

Bob

I thought you might like this film (embedded below).

This has to be the most priceless classic film I have seen for some time now. Filmed in and around Oldbury and Blackheath by a filmmaker called Frank Wakeman, capturing the daily activities of everyday people in a post war era.

The film is silent, but it speaks volumes…

I would love to learn more about the people, the places and their lives.

Regards David Moore

Here’s the film. There is no audio, but these kids are remarkable. The faces – no real difference to kids today. The grimness of the environment is in stark contrast to much of the dewy-eyed mawk we hear so much, but these kids are bright, vital, and show that children don’t chance much.

The BFI, who published the film, first made in 1949, have this to say about it:

Frank Wakeman captures some wonderful images of fading Victorian streets unchanged since the industrial revolution. His camera follows children recording an Oldbury in decline. See the girls on their way home from school who pick flowers along the canal towpath. Modern parents may wince at the sight of a boy climbing over a dangerous looking spiked fence but it was a way of life when your environment was also your playground.

In detaching the film, I have no intention of denying ownership, either by the BFI or The Wakeman Estate, more to offer easier access. I wish some of these archives would do the sensible thing and use an embeddable system.

Please, if you can add anything to this film – locations, names, whatever – please do comment or mail me. BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com.

Thanks to Dave for sharing a beautiful, illuminating thing – very much appreciated.

‘My other sister Joan Lewis (Twin) centre front same year. I am sure some people will recognise someone’. Image kindly supplied by Beryl Marklew.

While I’ve been busy today with hardware difficulties and preparing some stuff in the background (more on that later tonight), Beryl Marklew sent the following wonderful Ogley Hay Girls School images from the early 1950s, via Facebook.

From the trophies and clothes, I assume they’re all sports teams. Netball, perhaps? Hockey? Any ideas?

Beryl is interested in putting exact dates to the pictures, and identifying as many to the girls as possible.

If you can help, please do comment here of mail me: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com. Thanks…

‘Another group of Ogley Hay Girls School same year. Do you know them?’ Image from Beryl Marklew.

‘Ogley Hay Girls School early 1950s Betty Lewis centre front row next to Jean Jackson. Can anyone name the others?’ Image kindly supplied by Beryl marklew.

A late one just in from Becky Weeks, of Walsall RSPCA.

It’s their Summer Fayre this Saturday morning (11th July 2015) at Pelsall Community Centre, in Station Road, Pelsall.

The fair runs from 11am until 2pm, is free entry and there will be a host of stalls and all the usual stuff. All proceeds in aid of the branch.

I’m a sucker for a summer fayre….

The great Reg ‘Aer Reg’ Fullelove: a great man and true Brownhillian.

I’m pleased to share with readers this film of Reg Fullelove, great friend and contributor to the blog, for all to enjoy.

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.

My immense gratitude is due to Reg for sharing it with David Evans, who uploaded it for me. In the length it’s uploaded, it’s a shade over 15 minutes. Hopefully the man himself can clarify when he’s passing if this is the entire video, or if the recording ends abruptly in complete form.

Thanks to Reg and David: I’m sure readers will love it.

Sadly, I was busy and couldn’t make it to the Walsall Wood family fit ‘n’ fun day at Oak Park, but thankfully, reader and certified Walsall Wood Mon™ the young David Evans was on hand to see what all the fuss was about – he caught the event as it was setting up.

David took some excellent pictures, which he’s kindly send to me to share with readers. My thanks to him, and our gratitude to everyone who took part an organised such a splendid community event.

Cheers to David, and if you’ve been to an event and would like to review it for the blog, feel free. Contact me at BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com. Cheers.

All pictures courtesy David Evans

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 2nd 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!

No, not that Joan Collins. Image kindly supplied by Reg Fullelove.

Reg ‘Aer Reg’ Fullelove continues to donate remarkable personal material to the Brownhills Blog – the chap is a dynamo, despite his advancing years, and the local historical record would be far the poorer without his generous contributions to it.

Today, I feature scans of a remarkable artefact – the program for the 1939 Brownhills Carnival, featuring a huge amount of content. You can browse the gallery of pages at the foot of the post, or download a PDF copy from the following link:

Brownhills Carnival 1939 – Official Programme – PDF version 7 megabytes

Clearly this is a well thumbed document that’s suffered some wear and tear, but I’ve cleaned up the scans and straightened them where possible.

David Evans had this to say about the program:

Hi Bob

Please find attached the scanned images from the 1939 Brownhills Carnival programme, which are offered with kind permission of Mr Reg Fullelove BEM, whose battered original, he scanned and bound into a booklet some while ago.

My sincere thanks are extended to dear Reg for his ongoing generosity.

kind regards
David

What is revealed is a witty, erudite document of a community at play the year the Second World War broke out – yet there’s little to indicate such an event was to occur. The advertisements, as ever with this kind of thing, are totally wonderful.

Note the advert for the Central Cafe. Does that make it the longest-standing shop in Brownhills?

This sits well alongside the 1934 carnival footage featured here before, again donated by Reg Fullelove.

My heartfelt thanks to the young David Evans for facilitating this and doing all the running around, and of course I thank Reg, to whom I owe a considerable debt at the moment. I must get that chap some beer!

I’m still looking for Brownhills Carnival material, no matter what the year. It’s a real gap in our collective history, so if you have anything at all, please comment or drop me a line: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com. Thanks.