THE BLOXIDGE TALLYGRAPH
The online Community News
and Local History Magazine
for Bloxwich & District - Edditid by a Bloxidge mon!
Pat Collins 150th Birthday in May
Pat Collins panel on "The Bloxwich Tardis", Elmore Green
Fans of "all the fun of the fair" - and Bloxwich folk especially - have cause to revere the name of Pat Collins, the legendary "Bloxwich Showman", whose 150th birthday is in May of this year, just ten days after that of Victorian comic author and playwright Jerome K. Jerome of Walsall.
Born in Chester on 12 May 1859, son of a travelling showman, Collins was destined to become the most successful showman of his generation both on and away from the fairground, as well as being a pioneer of cinemas in and around The Black Country - running three in Bloxwich alone!
The civic-minded Mr. Collins became one of the most famous of Bloxwich residents, businessmen and politicians, being in turn a Walsall Councillor, Alderman, Mayor and Liberal MP before his death in 1943.
Bloxwich Library and Walsall Local History Centre have now joined forces to set up a 150th birthday display for Pat Collins which will be on show in the library in Elmore Row in the next few weeks, and will probably run until September, when the library is expected to close for refurbishment. To coincide with the display The Bloxidge Tallygraph will publish a special feature on Pat.
D-DAY 12th MAY: The Pat Collins 150th birthday display is now expected to be on show at Bloxwich Library in time for Pat's birthday on 12th May.
Bloxwich Fountain Makes Historic Move
The work has been supported by the Friends of Bloxwich Parks Group, who witnessed the latest relocation (see colour photo above). It is being funded through cash from the Ibstock Corey Environmental Trust and Section 106 funding. As part of its restoration, the fountain will be re-cast and given a fresh coat of paint by specialist pump and restoration company Fordwater of Birmingham.
The Victorian fountain's original colour was a combination of marble and stone. Over many years it has also been white and pale blue as well as white, blue, green and red and since it was last restored the existing paint has been black and gold.
Chairman of the Friends of Bloxwich Parks, Ken Worley, said: "The people of Bloxwich are justifiably proud of the fountain after their ancestors paying for it through public subscription. The sum of £170 was a tidy amount back in 1891 and the people of the town did well to raise all that money. Records dating back to that era describe it as one of the finest in the West Midlands. Over the years it has sadly suffered and I am pleased that it is finally going to be restored. It should be well looked after."Councillor Louise Harrison, Walsall Council cabinet member for leisure, added: "The Friends group has worked hard towards getting this landmark restored and I am pleased to see that it is being removed for a much-needed makeover."
Ken Worley has been researching the history of the fountain in detail and an article by him on the subject will be published in The Bloxidge Tallygraph in due course.
SPECIAL NOTE: The Bloxidge Tallygraph is looking for old photographs of the fountain to help complete the story of this historic focus for the town. Please get in touch if you can help!
Rob Halford in Walsall Museum
Dateline: 18 November 2008
Today I attended the opening, by the Mayor of Walsall Councillor Tom Ansell, of a new permanent exhibition at Walsall Museum, which is housed in the Walsall Central Library in Lichfield Street.
The exhibition, which fills the Local History Gallery there, is entitled 'The Changing Face of Walsall' and celebrates, in artefacts, words and pictures, the history of the town and Borough of Walsall, England, from the 1200s to the present day. As part of my work at Walsall Local History Centre I had provided the Museum with many of the photographs used in the excellent new displays, but a great additional pleasure for me was seeing that my suggestion of including legendary British heavy metal band Judas Priest's lead vocalist Rob Halford, a local lad, in the Walsall Wall of Fame section of the exhibition had been taken up! Well done, Walsall Museum :O)
Rob of course spent his youth in Walsall, on the Beechdale Estate, part of Bloxwich, and still owns a house in Walsall. In fact most of the current classic line-up of the band came from nearby and in other Black Country towns (not to be confused with Birmingham; it is often said that Priest is a Birmingham band but that's not actually the case, despite the fact that Walsall is only about ten miles from Birmingham).
Anyway, Rob well deserves his place in the Walsall Wall of Fame, and I'm delighted to see the inclusion of the Metal God - a real local hero!
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THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING BOGS - REVEALED!
The current 'Bloxwich Bogs', High Street. Picture Stuart Williams.
Dateline: 13 September 2008
Bloxwich people were recently offered the chance to have their say on "improvements" to the town's public toilets and the surrounding area. Proposals for the toilets and the area at the north end of of the High Street are currently under development, and this week planning chiefs held a public consultation to gather feedback on the designs, with Council staff on hand in Bloxwich Library last Tuesday and today (Saturday) to talk to visitors about current proposals.
Previously announced proposals under discussion included the installation of new railings, bollards, litter bins, benches and hanging baskets at the north end of High Street.
However, The Bloxidge Tallygraph can now reveal, having looked at the plans which have been on display in the library foyer throughout the week, that current proposals not only include new street furniture as outlined above as well as four different suggested designs for changes to paving and road layout and parking at the rear of the toilets and in front of the Bulls Head pub, but also options for the complete demolition of the present public toilets and replacement with a new facility.
Undeniably, the present toilets are in a poor state internally, due to vandalism and long-term neglect. Either a new facility or a significant upgrade to the current lavatories is essential and long past time coming.
The bad news for Bloxwich residents, shoppers, the travelling public and bus drivers who depend on the present toilets is that proposals outlined in the consultation this week include the replacement of the present 'Bloxwich Bogs' with a much smaller facility, offering at best only one WC each for disabled, ladies and gentlemen, and no urinal at all.
INADEQUATE
This proposal, involving as it does around a 75% reduction in facilities, is clearly totally inadequate for a town the size of Bloxwich, and it is to be hoped that planners will think again. Even Pelsall, a village with a much smaller population than Bloxwich, has superior and more capacious facilites than are currently proposed for the entire Bloxwich town centre!
Fortunately, according to Council staff present at today's consultation, plans are not yet set in stone, despite the fact that options for larger toilets are not included in the current consultation, so The Bloxidge Tallygraph strongly encourages the people of Bloxwich to stand up for their town's essential facilities and write to Walsall Council and also to their local Councillors asking for either new larger toilets or if the Council is strapped for cash, a major refurbishment of the present facility.
If you have a consultation form ready to fill in, remember to include your additional comments on the design and size of the actual lavatory complex itself. After all, would you like to be queuing outside in the rain and snow, or waiting desperate for a pee for someone to vacate the single cubicle to which you would have access?
Bloxwich folk will not, it is hoped, take the possible downgrading of their public lavatories sitting down!
Anyone with questions relating to the scheme should contact Steven Edwards, senior transport planner at Walsall Council, on 01922 653614 or email edwardssteven@walsall.gov.uk
Contact details for Bloxwich Councillors may be found here.
The Tallygraph would also be interested in your comments - email The Edditer, Stuart Williams: the.edditer@thebloxidgetallygraph.com
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More Bloxwich pubs go extinct
W'im shut! Bloxwich pubs are fading away - why?
Dateline: 27 August 2008
The demise of grand old Bloxwich pubs is continuing apace, it seems. Reports have been coming in of the recent closure of The Sir Robert Peel in Bell Lane, and just today signs have been spotted in the windows of the Spring Cottage in Elmore Green Road saying 'Closed until further notice'.
What is going on? Pubs have been closing across the country apparently, presumably due to a combination of the economic situation, the high price of beer in pubs and the smoking ban, but this seems to have reached ridiculous proportions in Bloxwich over the past year.
The Bridgewater (Lower Farm, demolished!), The Bulls Head (Park Road), The Prince of Wales (High Street), The Spotted Cow (Wolverhampton Road), The Sir Robert Peel and now, it seems, the Spring Cottage have all gone or appear to be in the process of going. Let us hope this worrying trend does not continue, and indeed reverses before these pubs are knocked down for yet more unaffordable housing! The only good news at the moment is that The Station Hotel, which had been closed, should hopefully be open again very soon, under new management.
Historic pubs, of which Bloxwich once had more than any other part of the borough, are an important part of the life of our town. Please support your local. Don't let them all disappear!
GOOD NEWS - Dateline 4 October 2008
Since this report was published, The Station Hotel and The Sir Robert Peel have re-opened! But if they are to stay open, they need YOUR support - why not drop in for a pint today?
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Bloxwich BOG STANDARDS TO BE RAISED
The legendary 1950s 'Bloxwich Bogs', High Street. Picture Stuart Williams.
Dateline: 28 August 2008
Bloxwich people are being given the opportunity to have their say on improvements to the town's public toilets and the surrounding area.
Proposals for the toilets and the area at the north end of of the High Street are currently under development, but planning chiefs are set to hold a public consultation to gather feedback on the designs.
Residents will have the chance to comment on the design of the toilets at two events being held in the foyer of Bloxwich Library on 9 September , from 9am - 5pm, and 13 September, 10am - 4pm.
Proposals under discussion include the installation of new railings, bollards, litter bins, benches and hanging baskets at the north end of High Street.
Cllr. Anthony Harris, cabinet member for transportation at Walsall Council, said: "We want to give residents the chance to have their say and influence the design of the existing toilets in the High Street. It is important that they have their say on the proposals by going along to one of the consultations. These events will help us to understand the needs of of the local area and identify what is most important to the people who use the town regularly.."
Anyone with questions relating to the scheme should contact Steven Edwards, senior transport planner at Walsall Council, on 01922 653614 or email edwardssteven@walsall.gov.uk
Story: Walsall Observer
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NEW Centre Spread - with 3D Slideshow!
Our new 3D Slideshow via PicLens - truly spectacular!
Dateline: 21 August 2008
As of today our new Centre Spread photo gallery is active - just click on the nav bar link to go there! The Centre Spread is organised in a series of albums - simply click on the cover photo for each Album to go to the album itself. You can then either click on a thumbnail image to get a larger photo on your screen or you can view using the slideshow option, which is available in either flat or 3D modes - see below!
The Gallery currently includes a selection of the best images from the 2008 Bloxwich Carnival and the Bloxwich United AFC v Tividale football match on 9 August 2008.
SLIDESHOW
For a more interactive view, try out the new View as Slideshow option, and click on Full Screen, or for something truly spectacular, View as Slideshow then click on "view this in 3D" to install the free Cooliris PicLens 3D slideshow add-on to your browser! With this you can move about the pictures using your mouse, dragging around the 'video wall' then clicking on the photo of interest and zooming in with the mouse scrolling wheel. A double-click on the zoomed-in photo will give you a full screen view and pressing the esc key on your keyboard will take you out of zoom and then out of the slideshow viewer. PicLens also works with Google image searches. This really is an amazing tool - enjoy!
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Bloxwich Carnival - Simply Amazing!
Carnival 2008 Report Now Online
SCOOP! Our full feature, packed with amazing photos, is now online - hit the Bloxwich Carnival 2008 button on the nav bar (left) or click this link now!
SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL - The Carnival Queen and her entourage.
Despite the usual hiccups, unpredictable weather and a shortage of trucks for the Procession, Bloxwich Carnival went ahead in style on Saturday 2 August, marking a real high point in the Bloxwich year.
Ken Worley, Chairman of Bloxwich Carnival Committee, said: "The event was a huge success and I think everyone really had a great time. It has to be one of the biggest carnivals in the area and around 5,000 people enjoyed the carnival and the entertainment. I would like to thank everyone who supported it and made it such a great success."
Find out more and see dozens of photos (plus albums to follow) in our special Bloxwich Carnival 2008 feature, which is bigger and better than ever before!
Special note to Carnival participants: If you are the Carnival Queen, Princess, Rosebud or past Queen, or represent an organisation which had a float or any other display, please contact the Edditer, Stuart Williams, by email if you read this.
Bloxwich Carnival is Here!
The 56th Bloxwich Carnival takes place today Saturday 2 August, starting at 12.45pm with the traditional crowning of the Carnival Queen (Samantha Footman), Princess and Rosebud, and the presentation of medals to the young School Ambassadors, all at the Bloxwich Promenade Gardens, High Street.
But be sure to get there in good time to find a place to see the grand ceremonies!
The subsequent procession will move off at 1pm and will follow a route taking it along Bloxwich High Street, Field Road and Lichfield Street.
King George V Playing Fields is the traditional venue for the afternoon's activities between 1.30pm and 4.30pm, where Pat Collins Fun Fair, the Voluntary Sector Village, the NHS Health Fair and food and refreshments stands will set off star performances like the startling Stannage Brothers Hi-Dive and the amazing Titan the Robot!
This year's theme for the Carnival is 'Encouraging Healthy Lifestyles'.
Entrance to the afternoon event costs £1.50 for adults, 50p for children up to 16 years of age, and under 5's free. Be there or be square!
The Edditer
Carnival Ambassadors for the Day!
Dateline: 1 August 2008
Eleven Lucky children from seven Walsall schools have been chosen to act as ambassadors for Bloxwich carnival.
The
11 youngsters were selected by their head teachers for their
outstanding efforts and achievements during the past academic year. On
the big day - Saturday, August 2 - the children will be awarded with
medals and will join the parade in an open top bus.
The 2008 Bloxwich Carnival Ambassadors
are Adam Hill, Charlie Wellings, Bethany Matthews, Liam Rounds,
Millicent Matthews, Joe Worrallo, Aidan Spragg, Lawson Screen, Sophie
Lees, Christopher Green and Emma Till.
Former Mayor Champions London Rail Link at Carnival
Dateline: 24 July 2008
A former Walsall mayor and transport chief has been chosen to champion a new rail link to London.
Richard
Worrall is the new community liaison officer for Wrexham and Shropshire
Railway service to London Marylebone - giving Walsall a direct link to
the capital.The ex-mayor has long been a supporter of public transport,
famously travelling to public engagements on his bike, and is the
former Chairman of the West Midlands Transport Authority.
His
new job will see him promoting the train service to community groups,
local businesses, public sector organisations and individuals.
"Our direct service to London is the easy and cost effective option for passengers. It makes sense for local people to travel with Wrexham and Shropshire as it avoids the need to go into Birmingham and change train."
Richard Harper, commercial manager for the train operator, said: "I am delighted that Richard will be talking to the local community about our service and explaining the benefits of our direct trains.
"He is committed to public transport and has supported improvements in train services over many years."
One of Mr Worrall's first tasks is a series of promotional events using a red London Routemaster bus to highlight the service.
The iconic vehicle, which is recognised around the world, will be on display on Wednesday, July 30 at Willenhall Market; Thursday, July 31 in Aldridge; Friday, August 1, in Park Street, Walsall; Saturday, August 2 at Bloxwich Carnival and Sunday, August 3 Bescot Market.
Story courtesy of the Walsall Advertiser
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Mystery Features Appear in King George's
Dateline: 24 July 2008
The past couple of weeks while walking my dog in King George's playing fields I've noticed the mysterious arrival of a fascinating - and fun - series of features which appear to be playing frames. Mysterious because I've not seen any official announcement of these in the local papers, or heard anything from the Council!
It's great to have a positive story to report in a Bloxwich park, they are so often forgotten, and these mostly wooden features - some climbing frames, and of remarkably varied designs - are a great addition. Located around the circumference of the park, from a distance they merge with the trees and bushes because of their environmentally friendly construction. I do hope the local children will enjoy using them!
The Edditer
MYSTERY SOLVED
Dateline: 30 July 2008.
After talking to Ken Worley of the Friends of Bloxwich Parks today, I can now inform you that the mystery features are elements of a new Health Trail which the Friends have organised and provided, with additional financial support from the Blakenall & Bloxwich LNP and New Deal!
The idea is that adults and young people can use these various features for healthy exercise and play in the fresh air. Well done to them all - and now we know the answer to this particular Bloxwich mystery!
The Edditer
The new play/exercise frames which form part of the Health Trail:
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Football Comes Home to Bloxwich
The new Bloxwich United AFC football team made its formal debut in Bloxwich on Friday 11 July in a spirited friendly game against a Walsall FC XI at The Old Red Lion Ground in Somerfield Road. Your Edditer was there on the night to photograph this historic event.
Match report and more photos can be found on our all-new Sports Page!back to top
Queen for the day!
A new carnival queen has been crowned ahead of Bloxwich Carnival.
Seventeen-year-old
Samantha Footman is the lucky teenager who was picked during auditions
at St John's Methodist Church in Victoria Avenue, Bloxwich. Samantha will lead the carnival parade in
an open-top car and carry out a range of other regal duties on the day.
All cash from the carnival will go to the Bloxwich senior citizens party, a social event for pensioners across the area.
Story: Walsall Advertiser
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Bloxwich Library Revamp Announced
Bloxwich Library, Elmore Row, June 1962 (before the theatre was added)
Money has been secured to revamp Bloxwich library in Elmore Row after a £1.2 million windfall from the Big Lottery Community Libraries Award.
A children's reading garden, cafe, display and performance areas will all be included in the ambitious plan. A First Stop Shop where council staff will be on hand to provide help on a range of issues will also feature in the scheme.
Councillor Louise Harrison, cabinet member for leisure and culture, said: "We are absolutely delighted to have secured the money and this will make a massive difference to what is a popular-library. "The building dates from the 1950s and was starting to look a little tired. As I am sure people can appreciate from the artist's impression, this will give a fresh look to the building.
"There will be an improved entrance and the building will be lit to act as a real landmark at night."It is inside the building where the big changes will be and I am sure people will enjoy what they see."
The 130 seat theatre will also be improved as part of the project with the raked seats replaced to allow the room to be used as a rehearsal space as well as for performances.
Sue Grainger, head of libraries, said the news was good for the people of Bloxwich.
She said: "We want this building to be a genuine community space which will reflect and respond to the needs of Bloxwich people and offer new and exciting opportunities and experiences."
Meeting rooms and relaxed reading areas are also planned as part of the grand design with work set to start next year.
"Theatre performances will continue in the newly upgraded building but they can now be programmed alongside visits from well-known authors and artists.
Public community meetings, clubs and societies and other events can be staged in the revamped building."
More information on Bloxwich Library from Walsall Council: BLOXWICH LIBRARY
Outside Story Links
Six people arrested in series of drugs raids
Swann on song against Bloxwich
Factory workers in burns horror
Trapped pensioner killed in house fire
Future's bright for Geddes
Everyone a winner as Bloxwich return
Model joins tribute to brave Emily
Milford back in style
Love and respect last for 70 years
Wednesbury claim derby dominance
New £9M complex for oaps opens
Donation bears fruit for Rotary
Queen for the day!
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