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Tag Archives: Doug Birch
Brownhills School: driven to distraction
The ongoing issue of Brownhills School’s withdrawal of community access to it’s facilities rumbled on this week, as the Walsall Advertiser published another excellent report about how the Spotlight Youth Theatre Group were told they’d have to move from the school last December.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills School, club, community, Doug Birch, Express & Star, facilities, football, governors, Head, Headmistress, Helen Keenan, history, lessons, Letter, Lichfield, Local Committee, Local politics, mining, Report, Richard, School, Shepherd, Silly, Sir, soccer, swimming, trust, Walsall Advertiser, withdrawal
14 Comments
Brownhills School: Express & Star catches up
Just a quick note to point out that the Express & Star have finally got around to covering the Brownhills School community facilities withdrawal story, with a few extra details.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills School, club, community, Doug Birch, Express & Star, facilities, football, governors, Head, Headmistress, Helen Keenan, lessons, Letter, Lichfield, Local Committee, Local politics, Report, School, Silly, soccer, swimming, trust, Walsall Advertiser, withdrawal
3 Comments
Brownhills School: News of community facilities withdrawal spreads
Recently, as many readers will be aware, I covered the shocking story of how Brownhills School – formerly Brownhills Community School – has elected to stop all community access to its facilities, resulting in a large degree of disquiet in the town.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills School, club, community, Doug Birch, facilities, football, governors, Head, Headmistress, Helen Keenan, lessons, Letter, Lichfield, Local Committee, Local politics, Report, School, Silly, soccer, swimming, trust, Walsall Advertiser, withdrawal
24 Comments
Brownhills Canal Festival this Sunday
I notice yet again that it’s time for the Brownhills Canal Festival. Always a great event, it takes place this Sunday, 26th June, from 10am till 4pm, and I’m keen to support it however I can. Despite offering free promotional … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local music, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills canal festival, Brownhills Canal Festival 2010, Brownhills Canal Festival 2011, Brownhills events, Brownhills local history, Canal, canal boats, canal festival, Doug Birch, Express & Star, planning, Silly, Things to do, Walsall
8 Comments
Odds and sods
One of the things about compiling the weekly old pictures post that irritates is that there are some really interesting old images floating about that you just can’t fit into a post. One or two-offs that don’t really fit in … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Features, Followups, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills High Street, Brownhills island construction, Brownhills local history, CK Electronics, Derelict, Derelict mill, Dorothy Holyman, Doug Birch, Features, Grove Colliery, Hillards, Hoofbeats, Lime Lane, Local History, Mill, New Photos, Petrol and Pantry, Pubs, Ravens Court, Redevelopment, Staffordshire, Station Hotel, Tesco, Tesco Development, The Terrace
15 Comments
Sign o’ the times
Sign recently erected on the A461, Lichfield Road, Sandhills, just before the Barracks Lane junction. 4:10pm Wednesday, 26th January 2011. I see the childish posturing and infantile one-upmmanship over the Staffordshire Hoard still continues. I’ve made my feelings known … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, Local politics, Panoramio photo discussions, Shared media
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills Hoard, Brownhills local history, Brownhills parish map, Doug Birch, Hammerwich, Hammerwich parish map, Local History, Local politics, Ogley Hay, Sandhills, Shire Oak, Signs, Silly, Staffordshire, Staffordshire hoard, Sue Lote, Warrenhuse, West Midlands
13 Comments
Another glimpse into the past
I thought I’d make a bit of a weekend thing of featuring old pictures. There are so many to share, particularly from the recently acquired work ‘Around Pelsall & Brownhills’ by David F. Vodden. I really suggest that anyone interested … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Interesting photos, Local History, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills Secondary School 1968, Chester Road North, Coppice Lane, Doug Birch, Local History, New Photos, Palace Picture House, Ravens Court, Regent Cinema, Rose Villa
49 Comments
A new glimpse into the past
I’ve just managed to get hold of a new book of photographs of Brownhills. Entitled ”Around Pelsall & Brownhills’ it’s part of the huge ‘Britain in old photographs’ series, compiled by David F. Vodden and published by Sutton Publishing Limited … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Around Pelsall & Brownhills, Britain in old photographs, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Clayhanger, Cunningtons, David F. Vodden, Doug Birch, Local History, Mallard, New Photos, Pelsall, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, Walsall Wood, Walsall Wood Colliery, Walsall Wood Pit
14 Comments
Pictures from the 7th Annual Brownhills Canal Festival
As usual, I attended the 7th Annual Brownhills Canal Festival today, as plugged here a couple of days ago. Once again, a great time was had by all, the event was well organised and there were plenty of activities for … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local media, Panoramio photo discussions, Panoramio updates, Shared media
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills canal festival, Brownhills Canal Festival 2010, Brownhills events, Canal, canal boats, canal festival, canal festival photos, Doug Birch, Express & Star, local blogs, New Photos, Panoramio, Walsall, Walsall Council
6 Comments
Brownhills Canal Festival 2010: This Sunday!
I’ve just noticed that the Brownhills annual canal festival is taking place this Sunday, 27th June, from 10am to 4pm. It takes place on Silver Street, by the canal opposite Tesco. There will be the usual mix of stalls, activities … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Events, Express & Star, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Just plain daft, Local media, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Council
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills canal festival, Brownhills Canal Festival 2010, Brownhills events, Canal, canal boats, canal festival, Doug Birch, Express & Star, Walsall, Walsall Council
16 Comments
Hoard oeuvre
I’ve not really mentioned the Staffordshire Hoard here on the Brownhills Blog. It’s not that I’m not interested in it – it’s a fascinating, huge discovery – it just seems to me that so much has been broadcast, written and … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, Local politics, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Council
Tagged Allric, Bad Science, Brownhills, Brownhills Hoard, Brownhills local history, Castlefort, Doug Birch, Express & Star, Jean Dean, Local History, Local politics, Mike Bird, Ronnie Carleton, Shire Oak, Silly, slote, Staffordshire, Staffordshire hoard, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Warrenhuse
20 Comments
Am I missing something here?
Since Dan and the folks up at Walsall Council’s press office helpfully include me on their mailing list, I receive a steady trickle of low-level press releases from Walsall Council, which I keep a weather eye upon for anything useful … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Express & Star, Followups, It makes me mad!, Local media, Local politics, Panoramio photo discussions, Walsall Council
Tagged Brownhills, Councillor Mike Flower, Derelict, Doug Birch, Express & Star, Fly tipping, grafitti, Litter picking, Local politics, Panoramio, Politics, Pubs, Railway Tavern Bently, rubbish, Silly, Vandalism, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Street Pride
15 Comments
Brownhills market relaunches tomorrow!
Just thought I’d flag that up. After my previous stuff about the Market’s demise and subsequent rebirth, I thought I’d bring it to readers attention. Of course, you’d have to be living under a rock not to have heard about … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Express & Star, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local politics, Shared media, Walsall Council
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills Market, Brownhills Market Relaunch, Doug Birch, Express & Star, Local politics, Market, Redevelopment, Silly, Sppok Erection, Tesco Development, Walsall, Walsall Council
2 Comments
Everyone act normal – they’re watching!
I don’t really know how much of the reader comment that is contributed to Brownhills Blog is read by my regular readers, but I receive a steady stream of interesting, supportive and often very witty feedback. I’ve written an eye-watering … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Local media, Local politics, planning, Walsall Council
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills bypass, Doug Birch, Express & Star, Local politics, planning, Ravens Court, Redevelopment, Tesco, Tesco Development, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
4 Comments
Is it me?
I’m having a little trouble adjusting my horizontal hold today. Everything seems to be a little out of line, just a tad asynchronous or maybe even a bit disjointed. At times like this you need the stability of the normal, … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Express & Star, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local politics, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Council
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills Market, Doug Birch, Express & Star, Local politics, Mike Bird, Politics, Silly, Social Services, Tesco, Tesco Development, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
6 Comments
It’s OK, Big Brother isn’t watching you…
…but someone is clearly planning something. Whilst out and about toward the end of the week before last (around the 4th July) I noticed some odd cameras had appeared, attached to lamp-posts around the town. The first one I spotted … Continue reading
Brownhills Tesco development – wheel fallen off?
I received a statement yesterday from Walsall Council iterating the official view on the Tesco redevelopment in Brownhills, and it looks like the project may be hitting the buffers. In the original PR puffs in the Express & Star, outline … Continue reading
Brownhills Market not quite doomed?
I spotted an article tonight on the front page of the Walsall Express and Star – unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to be available online, so I’ve scanned it below, mistakes and all: in it, I assume that the reference to … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Local politics, Walsall Council
Tagged Brownhills Market, Doug Birch, John Bird, Tesco Development
6 Comments
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