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.RichardShepherdMP Continue reading

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 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 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 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 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.
Untitled 7 Continue reading

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 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 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 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 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 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 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 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 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 , , , , , , , , , , , | 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 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 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 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 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 , , , , , , , , , , | 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 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 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 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 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 , , , , , , , , , , , , | 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 , , , , , , , , , , , , | 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 , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 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

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Local politics, planning, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

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

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Just plain daft, Local politics, planning, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

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 , , , | 6 Comments