Salt from grit bins in Walsall and Bloxwich is being stolen and then offered to residents to clear their driveways, say council transport chiefs. 

As the big freeze continues to hit the borough, residents in north Bloxwich have reported the theft to Walsall Council and the police. 

Residents living in the area have reported seeing young people aged around 18 to 20 stealing grit and then offering to clear icy driveways for a fee. 

Several homes were approached in the Stoney Lane and Ambergate Close areas yesterday, (Monday 21 January 2013). 

But Councillor Tom Ansell, portfolio holder for transport and the environment at Walsall Council Coalition said that grit bins are provided for highways only and appealed for residents to contact West Midlands Police.

“This has happened before and it amazes me that people will use this opportunity to make a few bob. Make no mistake about it. This is theft and people who are caught will be prosecuted.

“We’ve had problems with grit being taken from roadside bins over the past few days. We refilled our grit bins only the other day but it looks as if we’re having to do it again. 

“It costs us £100 a time to refill one bin.

“We have a zero tolerance of theft and are asking people to be vigilant and pass on any information of grit thefts to West Midlands Police.”

Grit bins are installed across the borough at critical points close to hills and sharp bends.

To report incidents of grit theft call West Midlands Police on 101.

Elishia Firth and Levi Cox taking blood pressures

Year 6 pupils from Leamore Primary School developed their knowledge of all things medical last week by taking part in the ‘Careers in Health’ workshop morning delivered by representatives from Classroom Medics.

After an introductory talk and demonstration the children split into groups and used a variety of medical equipment for a range of purposes and in the process measured their own health and fitness.

Queuing up for the Batek light reactor

Excited children from the popular Bloxwich Rd school were able to take their own blood pressure, pulse, heartbeat and temperature readings, used a rowing machine and a light reactor to measure strength and co-ordination.

They also performed resuscitation techniques, found out their lung capacity and wore a variety of goggles to see the effects on vision of various conditions including a stroke to name but some of the activities.

Classroom Medics are a team of medics, physiologists & scientists that visit schools and festivals to help pupils make more informed decisions about their health, careers and future ambitions.

They provide unique and memorable workshops and activities that inspire and engage school pupils and the general public.

Leamore teacher Mr Paul Mobberley said:

“The workshop was delivered superbly and really raised the children’s and staff’s awareness. It concluded with an interactive quiz and even at the age of 11 some of the children are considering a career in medicine as a result.”

Hildicks Bridge

A Bloxwich youth was attacked by three masked robbers as he walked along a canal towpath earlier this month.

The 17-year-old was confronted and threatened by the men near to Hildicks Bridge off Goscote Lane between 8pm and 8.30pm on Monday 7 January.

They demanded he hand over his mobile phone, which he did, and they then ran off towards the road.

Detective Constable Jon Baker, of Walsall CID, said:

“Fortunately the victim was not injured but was left very shaken up following the robbery.

“We want to hear from anyone who may have witnessed the incident or who saw three masked men in the area on the evening.

“If you have any information which could help our investigation, no matter how insignificant you think it may be, please contact us.”

Anyone with information about the robbery should call police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

New homes for Mossley

Plans for a £3.6 million development of 37 new homes at Mossley Estate, Bloxwich have been given the green light by planning bosses.

Walsall Council approved a planning application from leading local housing provider Walsall Housing Group (whg) to build twenty two-bedroom and seventeen three-bedroom homes at Fisher Road.

The development, due to start in February, will provide much-needed family homes.

All the homes will be available for affordable rent. This means they will be made available to tenants at up to a maximum of 80 per cent of market rent and allocated to those applying for homes via choose & move.

The brownfield site is going to be developed by contractor Willmott Dixon on behalf of whg, with the expectation of handing over the homes to new residents in March 2014.

Funding for the project comes from the Homes and Communities Agency and whg.

The scheme forms part of whg’s ambitious plans to provide around 255 homes by early 2014.

Mark Tranter, Head of Development at whg, said: “We know there is a strong need for more affordable homes in our area, and this scheme is one way we are looking to address that.

“We are committed to developing affordable housing to ensure people in need have access to quality homes.

“Following consultation events we have held with residents to discuss our plans, we know that local people are happy to be seeing the site, which has been derelict for a number of years, be developed into family homes.”

Mossley Estate is a former Walsall Council estate constructed after the second world war.  The name dates back to at least 1840, and originates as an old farmer’s field name, Mosley (sic) Field, upon which the estate was built.

whg owns and manages around 19,000 mainly former Council properties across Walsall, including Bloxwich, Aldridge, Brownhills, Darlaston, Willenhall and central Walsall, housing almost 40,000 people.

Throughout February the National Fire Safety Campaign is concentrating on fires arising from cooking.

Indeed, many years ago the family of The Bloxwich Telegraph’s editor suffered a chip pan fire which destroyed their kitchen, but thankfully the house was saved by Bloxwich firefighters – so we know just how important this campaign is!

Somewhere around 60% of all accidental house fires begin in the kitchen and can be prevented by following simple guidelines.

• Take care if you need to leave the kitchen whilst cooking, take pans off the heat or turn them down to reduce the risk.
• Make sure saucepan handles don’t stick out – so they don’t get knocked off the hob.
• Keep appliances clean – keep oven, hob and grill free from a build up of fat and grease that can easily ignite and start a fire.
• Use a deep fat fryer rather than a traditional chip pan – modern fryers have thermostats that prevent the oil from overheating and are far safer than traditional pans.

If you should experience a fire in the kitchen turn off the heat if it is safe to do so. Do not attempt to tackle the fire yourself. Get out, stay out, AND CALL 999!

If you require any further advice, please contact your local firefighters on 0121-380 7552. If you would like a visit from us to discuss all matters of home safety, please call 0800 389 5525.

Why not also check out our Fire page with the latest campaign poster?  REMEMBER – being aware of the dangers of kitchen fires could save your home – and your life!

Click to download poster

The third in the remarkable series of new Walsall Mummer’s Plays written by local playwright David Calcutt, organised by Walsall Civic Society working with local groups, talented volunteers and Walsall Council and funded by a Heritage Lottery grant – ‘The Lovers and the Pirates’ – is all set for curtain up on its first open air performances this Saturday 16 February at noon, 1.30pm and 3pm in Walsall Marketplace, High Street, Walsall, just a short way down from the ASDA store – with FREE admission!

The successful series – commissioned specially as part of the historic  Walsall Bayard’s Colts Project – has brought a genuine revival of English street theatre to the town – not to mention much mirth, madness, music, mummery and mayhem!

And good weather or no, you’ll get a chance to see the play this weekend, for a special indoor performance is also taking place within the bounds of Bloxwich, at our very own Bookmark Bloxwich Theatre in Elmore Row, this Sunday 17 February at 2pm and 7pm.  Tickets for the Bloxwich performance cost just £5 – to book, call 01922 655900.

For more information, call Glen Buglass on 01922 653113, or check out the Bayard’s Colts Project website: http://www.bayardscolts.org.uk/

People from across Walsall borough will soon be able to find out about the history of one of our most historic local towns, Darlaston, in a public talk on Monday 4 March 2013 at Walsall Local History Centre.

The Essex Street centre is hosting one of Darlaston’s most noted local historians, Mr Terry Smitheman, who will present a fascinating slide illustrated talk all about that fine old Black Country town between 7.30pm – 9pm, and admission will cost just £2.00!

Darlaston has a long and varied history stretching at least as far back as the Domesday Book (1086) and was once an important industrial and engineering centre. Mr Smitheman is one of the leading experts of Darlaston Local History Society, and has many years experience of researching and writing about Darlaston and district.

Advance booking is essential, and tickets for the talk can be reserved now by telephoning Walsall Local History Centre on 01922 721305.

Walsall Local History Centre is the archives service and local studies library for Walsall Metropolitan Borough, and is part of Walsall Council. It is located in Essex Street, Walsall, WS2 7AS. Disable facilities and on-site parking are available.

Further details of the centre may be found online at http://www.walsall.gov.uk/localhistorycentre

This Saturday 9 March sees a unique charity arts event coming to Bloxwich’s popular Bookmark Bloxwich Theatre.

‘A Celebration of Life’, which features artwork, poetry and other readings, includes work from Pete Boot (former drummer with rock band ‘Budgie’), Willenhall Society of Artists, Ian Henery, Elizabeth Stoney and Stuart Williams.

The aim of the event, which opens at 2pm and runs until 5pm, is to raise awareness of Parkinson’s Disease and to raise funds for the Neurological Research Unit at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Cancer Rezearch UK.

Walsall Councillors Sean and Dianne Coughlan will be present.

ADMISSION IS FREE – but donations will be welcomed towards the good causes above.

Click on the poster image above to download a larger jpeg poster.

Bookmark Bloxwich Theatre is part of the Bookmark Bloxwich Complex which also includes Bloxwich Library, and is located in Elmore Row, Bloxwich, Walsall, WS3 2HR.

For more info on events at Bookmark Bloxwich Theatre, check out the What’s On Walsall website and the Bookmark Bloxwich Theatre website.

Telephone Bloxwich Library on 01922 655900.

A special charity dance is set to take place on the evening of Saturday 23rd March in Aldridge, Walsall.

And the event, billed as ‘Dance Through The Years’, is sure to be popular, with five-piece band ‘Nostalgia’ ready to set toes tapping and bugs jittering with live music from the 1920s – 1960s!  To add to the fun, there will also be prizes available on the night.

The dance, which will be at Aldridge Social Club, High Street, Aldridge, is aimed at raising funds to support the work of the newly-expanded local branch of SSAFA Forces Help – the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association – a registered charity established in 1885.

Starting at 8pm on 23rd March, tickets for ‘Dance Through The Years’ cost just £8 and are available from the club or telephone 01922 866545.

The West Midlands North Branch serves the Black Country and is based in the Territorial Army Centre at Gordon House, Walsall.  The charity continually needs to raise funds for its volunteer efforts in supporting ex- and serving forces personnel and their families, vital work that is as necessary as ever with so many in need.

Please feel free to download the pdf event poster by clicking on the image above – we hope as many as possible will be able to help spread the word by printing the poster off and displaying it at work or in places where it can be seen – thank you!

North Walsall Area Partnership is offering a live web chat at this evening’s Area Community Meeting so that residents who are unable to attend in person can still ask questions via a live web chat.

The communities of Birchills, Leamore, Blakenall Heath, and Bloxwich are invited to attend the Question Time event where they can meet and directly ask senior managers from Walsall Council, West Midlands Fire Service, West Midlands Police, NHS Walsall and Social Landlord(s) any questions they have about community safety or anti-social behaviour.

The event, which is taking place today (Monday 18 March), will also include a digital section of the meeting to complement the traditional question time event. The live web chat will commence at 7.15pm and will last approximately forty five minutes.

Councillor Zahid Ali, cabinet member for Public Protection  at Walsall Council and Chair of Safer Walsall Partnership, said: “This is a great opportunity for local people to discuss with senior partnership officers any community safety concerns or issues.

“The live web chat will enable those who are unable to attend these meetings the opportunity to ask questions and engage with senior managers from the police, local council and our partner agencies.”

Officers in attendance will include Chief Superintendent David Sturman and Walsall Council’s Executive Director Jamie Morris.  Ward councillors will also be present during the event.

Borough Commander David Sturman, said: “Virtual neighbourhood meetings mean that we can conduct live web chats with members of the public literally by the touch of a button.

“There is the potential to reach hundreds of members of the public who traditionally never engage with partners or attend public meetings.”

The web chats are simple to use. Members of the public submit their community safety or anti-social behaviour queries or questions over the internet (using the link below) and the panel will answer as many of them as possible during web chat.

http://www.west-midlands.police.uk/np/walsall/findoutmore/live-chat.asp

Questions may also be viewable live on The Bloxwich Telegraph in a window below:

Local residents are being advised to stay in their homes and keep the windows closed following a fire at a furniture factory in Bloxwich.

Fire crews from Bloxwich, Walsall, Willenhall and West Bromwich were called to the single storey brick building at D.F. Jones in Willenhall Lane after the fire broke out just after midday today.

The blaze caused the road to be  closed in both directions between the Leamore Lane junction and the Fryers Road junction.

Five fire appliances and an hydraulic platform were called to the scene.  Thankfully, no one was in the factory at the time of the blaze and there have been no reports of injuries.

West Midlands Fire Service have said that part of the building has collapsed.  Gas and electricity supplies have been isolated by the utility companies.

West Midlands Fire Service also alerted Walsall Council’s pollution control officers as some cement asbestos material from the roof, believed to be a lower risk type, has blown over footpaths, roads and garden areas.

Specialist contractors are in the process of clearing this material away this evening and residents, who have all been given a letter of advice, will be told when it is safe to leave their properties.

Councillor Mike Bird, portfolio holder for Public Health with Walsall Council, said:

“I understand asbestos material from the roof of the factory has blown over footpaths, roads and garden areas.

“Officers have advised that this appears to be a lower risk type of asbestos which is commonly found in industrial-type buildings.

“We are asking residents to stay in their homes while this clean-up is carried out and expect it to be finished later this evening.”

The cause of the blaze has not yet been reported.

The Health Protection Agency is aware of the incident.

Revd. Roger Williams

At this Easter season it seems only appropriate to cover a church-related story which is also important to local families.

Revd. Roger Williams is well-known to the people of Bloxwich as the affable, approachable and very active Rector of All Saints Church.

In the modern parlance of the church, he is very much the ‘Team’ Rector, and does a lot of work to support not only local people but also his team at All Saints which includes Curate Monica Arnold and the team Vicars of Holy Ascension, Lower Farm (Kareen Lowther), St Thomas, Mossley (Carlton Turner), and the smallest C of E church in Bloxwich, St James in Old Lane.

Roy Burley

Also part of the team is the energetic part-time Family Worker, Roy Burley, who has been working at All Saints since 2010, when Bloxwich Parish raised sufficient funds to support his post for three years.  In that time, Mr Burley has become an indispensable part of the life and work of All Saints.

Roger Williams said of Roy:  ”He has helped and supported many families, through their struggles and joys. At the same time he has enabled us to found a new family-friendly service on Sunday afternoons, to develop a youth club, and to reach out to a wide range of local people that had no link to church before. It’s been brilliant!”

Now Roger is stepping out to support the post by walking the Two Saints Way, a pilgrimage route from Chester to Lichfield, to raise funds to help keep Roy’s work going for another three years, and is asking for the support of Bloxwich folk.  Funds raised by the walk, which is 87 miles long (see map below) will supplement some of the church’s money and some grants.  Click on the map for details of the Two Saints Way.

The Two Saints Way

There are various ways to support Revd. Williams’ walk.  A sponsorship form is available from the church in Elmore Row, and payment can be made in advance or afterwards.  Internet-savvy sponsors can also donate via Justgiving.com where Roger’s fundraiser name is Roger-Williams4:

See:  http://www.justgiving.com/Roger-Williams4

You can also sponsor Roger via your mobile phone by texting ROGW58 £10 (or £1, £2, £3, £4, or £5) to 70070.  Or simply send him or give him cash, or a cheque made out to All Saints’ DCC.

For further information on the walk, Roy Burley’s work or sponsorship: contact Revd. Williams on 01922 476598 or email to:  williams.roger@gmail.com – you can also find out more about the Parish of All Saints on the official Bloxwich Team Parish website: http://www.bloxwichparish.org.uk/welcome.htm

Happy Easter!

On Saturday 6^th April, Bookmark Bloxwich Live Music will once again be staging Across The Borderline as a follow up to the previous show’s sold out performance last October. The show features three great acts, offering an international line-up from Canada, U.K. and France.

Starting off the show, Canadian Country Singer/Songwriter Chuck Micallef will step up to the microphone joined by multi-instrumentalist Dave Luke with their interpretations of great country songs written by Hank Williams, Gordon Lightfoot, John Prine and The Carter Family to mention only a few. These works stand comfortably along side Micallef’s self penned tunes in a “gather ‘round the back porch picking style of performance” that audiences have appreciated up and down the country.

Next up will be well known Folk Singer/Songwriter/Comedian/ Raconteur Tony Barrett, who brings a vast variety of material to the Bookmark stage. Barrett’s cheeky stories interlaced with song parodies, well delivered covers and original compositions have helped make him a well respected performer on the U.K.’s music and festival circuit.

As the French connection component of the show takes the stage, EnChante’s performance intersperses French Classics from the 1950s & 60s by Brel, Barbara, Trenet, and Piaf. Lead singer Jocelyne Thompson adds her unique song writing skills to round off the night in an authentic style that has been denoted as “Chansons a Texte.” Backed by Nick Thompson on double bass and Ron Thomas on classical guitar, the trio brings the atmosphere of a Parisian Café into the intimate theatre for a night to remember.

Tickets are £5 and can be reserved by calling 01922 655900 or visiting Bloxwich Library in Elmore Row.

Doors open at 7.30 pm for an 8:00 pm show.

Thanks to the generous support of local businesses, clubs and organisations as well as Walsall Council, Bloxwich families can look forward to a most eggcellent public Easter event in the village again this year – all set for tomorrow, Saturday 30th March!

The event will run from 11am to 3pm and leaflets and posters have been distributed to promote the family fun!

Confirmed activities include:

• Reach Up Tower in Park Rd by the toilets (free activity)
• Easter Bonnet Workshop at Bloxwich Market (free activity)
• Face Painting at Bloxwich Market (free activity)
• Donkey Rides in Park Rd by the toilets (small fee charges)
• Walkabout Acts including The Mad Hatter, Stilt walker, and balloon modeller – promoting an Egg Trail Competition
• Easter Bonnet Parade Competition at 2pm for 2.30pm in the Market Place for children up to 12 years of age
• Easter Egg Team Hunt in King George V Playing Fields from the Play Area off Stafford Rd at 10.30am (see poster below).
• Visit from the Easter Bunny and Easter Chick

The events are also of course aimed at increase the footfall into Bloxwich, and therefore supporting both a healthy business community and jobs. Activities organised to hopefully assist business and local organisations include:

• The Egg Trail competition
• Business Offer leaflet and promoting activities
• Charity Stalls on Bloxwich Market

The Egg Trail competition starts at 2pm from the Market Place and offers the chance for families to track down up to ten letters, each in a different business in the village centre.

The event has been organised by the ever-energetic Nikki Rolls of Walsall Council, working with Bloxwich Business Partnership to support local trade, organisations and the people of Bloxwich.  For more about the event check out the Partnership’s Facebook page via the above link and click on the link below to download the PDF event poster.

Easter Eggstravaganza

Labour campaigners busy collecting signatures in Bloxwich last year

Bloxwich Labour Councillors and supporters will be around and about in Bloxwich tomorrow, Saturday 30th March, to collect signatures from local residents on a petition in protest against the Tory/LibDem Coalition Government’s increasingly unpopular “Bedroom Tax” which was proposed by Chancellor George Osborne in his recent Budget and is expected to hit the most vulnerable hardest.

According to a press release from the Walsall Labour Group, the number of unemployed in Walsall is now higher than when the coalition government took power and they say that evidence shows that the number is likely to climb as manufacturing industry reports a fall in output.

Walsall Labour Group spokesman George Makin said:

“On the same day the chancellor, George Osborne, announced his budget, the Office for National Statistics revealed that the number of people claiming job seeker’s allowance in February rose to 10,565,  compared to 9,533 in July 2010 when the government introduced its austerity measures.

“They follow the publication earlier this month of figures showing manufacturing industry nationally reported only 0.1% growth in the last quarter – sparking fears of a triple dip recession since the government took power.”

Describing the latest figures as ‘deeply worrying’ Labour group leader on Walsall council, Cllr Tim Oliver, said:

“We are facing a bleak future with no sign of a light at the end of the tunnel. For every job centre vacancy there are five people claiming job seeker allowance.

“Manufacturing industry in Walsall accounts for approximately 13 per cent of jobs in the borough so the fall in output hits us badly, while over 30 per cent are in the public sector which is being savaged by the government’s austerity programme. In retail we have the second highest rate of void shops in the country – the only growth is in the number of payday loan firms and pawnbrokers who are opening premises in the borough.  Nothing that the chancellor has announced will tackle these problems.

“Both in national government and in Walsall Council we have Tory/Lib Dem coalitions that refuse to accept their polices are not working or even to accept that their cuts are making matters worse not better.”

“We believe that instead the government should invest in growth, and that support should be given to those who are being hardest hit by the economic downturn. Scrapping the bedroom tax and looking again at the costs to families of all the benefits changes should be a priority before giving tax cuts to the richest people in the country.”

Bloxwich Labour Councillors are expected to set up in Bloxwich Market Place and will also likely be seen up and down the High Street tomorrow.

Walsall Labour Group spokesman George Makin said:

“Labour party councillors and supporters dressed in pyjamas braved the freezing cold and snow to protest against the bedroom tax which comes into affect this week. Over a dozen campaigners met on Bloxwich High Street on Saturday (30^th March) to collect signatures for a petition against the Government’s cuts in housing benefit which will force low paid and unemployed people to pay up as much as an extra 25% in rent.”

Labour councillors and party members from Bloxwich, Blakenall, Leamore and Short Heath were highlighting the plight of over a thousand families in their wards who have unoccupied bedrooms. The protest came as the borough’s biggest social landlord Walsall Housing Group (whg) failed to give an assurance that tenants who fall into arrears will not be evicted.

Blakenall councillor, Anne Young, said despite the cold and snow the response from the public had been fantastic.“People understand the injustice of this tax coming in, as it does, on the same day as the government are giving thousands of millionaires a tax cut of £100,000 a year.

“Walsall has nearly 4000 households who will be hit by the bedroom tax; over a quarter of whom live in our four wards.  The Tories and Lib Dems’ Bedroom Tax tells you all you need to know about this Government. It’s hitting families of soldiers serving our country who will have to find extra money for their son or daughter’s bedroom.

“It’s making disabled people in council and housing association homes pay more when they need more space due to their disability and divorced parents whose kids come to stay are being affected. Labour are the only political party on Walsall Council fighting this.”

Labour’s Darlaston South councillor, Doug James, said the bedroom tax would lead to evictions. “Officers the 19,000-home Walsall Housing Group, estimated it has 3,476 under-occupiers who will receive a combined £2.4 million reduction in benefit payments if they remain in their homes.

“My enquires to the borough’s biggest social landlord, WHG, failed to obtain an assurance that it won’t evict tenants because of this evil tax. his is not WHG’s fault. When the council’s housing stock was transferred over to it ten years ago, the vast majority of homes were designed for families. It therefore has very little one or two bedroom properties it can move people into.

“The Government is hitting households with the bedroom tax despite admitting there aren’t enough smaller properties for tenants to move to. Instead, the Government expects families to pay extra rather than move house. This won’t solve under occupancy, but will hit low income working families, disabled people, and families of soldiers who are serving their country.

He added: “The situation has been made worse by the fact that at the last full council meeting local Tories and their Lib Dem partners voted down a Labour amendment to increase discretionary housing payments by £600,000 which would have helped families avoid losing their homes.”

Labour councillors will now present the petition at full council on April 8^th as part of their continuing campaign for greater help to families.

UPDATED 17.50 1 April 2013.

A very special book about the men on the Elmore Green School Great War Memorial is now available again at a very special price (see below), exclusively from Blakenall Village Centre – but hurry, time is short!

Sorrow into Pride tells the story of the social and military history of the ‘old boys’ of Elmore Green School, Bloxwich, who went off to fight in the First World War.  Written by two retired teachers and local historians, Barry Crutchley and Ken Wayman (pictured, above, at the launch), the book reveals the search for a ‘lost’ war memorial, the stories of the commemorated lads and its re-adoption by the original school.

Sorrow into Pride

Elmore Green School Old Boys’ Association war memorial was unveiled in the school hall in 1922.  It commemorated the sacrifice made by former pupils of the school in the Great War of 1914-18, listing sixty-seven ‘old boys’ of what was then Elmore Green Central School, later High School, who gave their young lives in “the war to end all wars”, some not passing away until 1919.  It had been moved from the school in 1958 when the secondary functions of Elmore Green High School were transferred to the new T.P. Riley Comprehensive, not far away in Lichfield Road.

The memorial quietly became part of the life of the new school until, in 2001, T.P. Riley was demolished and replaced by the present Walsall Academy, which opened in 2003.  It was around this time that the finely carved marble sculpture by Bloxwich-born Frederick T. Perry “disappeared” from the public eye.  In fact, it had been put into storage because it was not required by the academy, but for a long time this was forgotten.

Over the following years, various people including Bloxwich local historians Edna Marshall, Barry Crutchley and ex-T.P. Riley history teacher Ken Wayman, had tried to find and raise the profile of the missing memorial and eventually, following convoluted enquiries via the Academy and within Walsall Council departments, in late 2010 it was tracked down to the premises of monumental masons A. Walker & Sons of Cannock, who had been storing it safely since the demolition of T.P. Riley years ago.

Following work done by Walsall Council officers Mike Gaffney and the now late Elaine Box, funding was found from the Council to have the memorial returned to its original home in March 2011, when it was mounted on the wall of the school hall by the masons who had preserved it.  On Armistice Day that year, a special service of re-dedication was held at the school, truly bringing the memorial home.

Barry Crutchley (left) and Ken Wayman ponder the men on the memorial.

Sorrow into Pride traces the families and experiences of the lads named on the alabaster memorial, as well as one Old Boy who for some unknown reason was omitted from the list. In addition, the events leading to the deaths of ten servicemen closely related to those commemorated are examined, showing how the war affected their wider families; moreover, a number of related servicemen who fought in the Great War have been bound into the tale.

Now re-adopted by the school community from whence it came, the war memorial has re-invigorated the local community and brought forward numerous descendants of the Old Boys, furnishing invaluable information, precious photographs and memorabilia.

The authors owe a debt of gratitude to the present school community and its enthusiastic head-teacher Jane Humphreys, staff and pupils – following the hard work of local historians and council officers, they gave the war memorial’s story an unexpected happy ending.

New Horizons Community Enterprise, which runs the Blakenall Village Centre and a number of local projects and activities, is proud to have sponsored the publishing of the book, which adds an important chapter to the history of Bloxwich and its people.

The 458-page profusely illustrated softback book is published by Tommies Guides under the Reveille Press imprint with the ISBN: 978-1-908336-44-6.  

BARGAIN BOOKS

The normal retail price is £18.99 plus postage, but for a short period – until the end of April 2013 – signed copies of the books can be obtained for just £11.40 each or 2 books for £20, exclusively from Reception, Blakenall Village Centre, Thames Rd, Blakenall Heath, Monday-Friday 9am-5pm.  Please note – cash purchases only.

For further information and to order Sorrow into Pride, please contact Terri Wall, Service Manager of Blakenall Village Centre  – email terri.wall@nhce.org.uk or telephone 01922 714900.

The host of purple crocuses recently spouting around Bloxwich, planted by the Rotary Club of Bloxwich Phoenix – most notably around the memorial oak tree in Bloxwich Promenade Gardens – are part of a national Rotary campaign to raise awareness of Rotary’s efforts with others in the global initiative to eradicate the disease Polio.

Just 50 years ago hundreds of people, mostly children, died each year here in the UK from this terrible disease.

With the advent of an oral vaccine and a vaccination programme the disease has now been eradicated from most countries worldwide.

Rotary’s efforts and it’s mass vaccinations in the remaining endemic countries have helped to get us to the point where now only three countries worldwide remain Polio endemic.

The purple crocus flower was chosen to promote the campaign as the purple colour is used to mark the fingers of vaccinated children when vaccination programmes take place overseas.

The world-wide Rotary International charity and its partners are so very close to completing the task.

Find out more about the campaign and its history at http://www.endpolio.org/ where you can take part in the world’s biggest commercial.

There’s an amazing range of entertainment coming up soon at Bookmark Bloxwich Theatre, part of the Bloxwich Library complex in Elmore Row, Bloxwich.

The little theatre with the big heart is such an incredibly versatile venue that just about anything can happen there – and frequently does!

Managed by Bloxwich Library Forum in partnership with Bloxwich Library, the theatre, opened in 1964 and rebuilt in 2009-10 together with Bloxwich Library, the complex being relaunched as Bookmark Bloxwich, is completely reconfigurable and also boasts a Library Cafe, shared with the library during the day and usable as a bar in the evenings when events are on.

Hot evening events on the horizon at Bookmark Bloxwich Theatre are listed below – click on each title to view full details on the What’s On Walsall website:

Musicians For Life in conjunction with Bookmark Bloxwich Forum invite you to come and play….

Free Entry.  Time 7.30pm doors  8.00pm show.  Email Bruno On open.mic.bookmark@gmail.com  to Book a slot. Normally 15 min or 3 songs.

Sat 20 April 2013

Don’t Go Into The Cellar presents… Sexton Blake

The British League of Underhanded Scoundrels, Traitors, Extortionists and Rapscallions holds Edwardian London to ransom in this jolly fine play!

Time: 7.30pm Ticket price: £8.00, £6.00 concession. Tickets can be purchased from Bloxwich Library: 01922 655900.

26 April 2013

Youth Open Mic Night

 

 

Fri 10 May 2013

Open Mic Night

 

Musicians For Life in conjunction with Bookmark Bloxwich Forum invite you to come and play.

Time 7.30pm doors  8.00pm show.  Free Entry.  Email Bruno On open.mic.bookmark@gmail.com  to book a slot. Normally 15 min or 3 songs.

Sat 11 May 2013

Vera Van Heeringen

Debut album from Dutch bluegrass guitarist/singer Vera van Heeringen promises much and delivers in spades.

Tickets £5.00. Call 01922 655900.

See:  www.veravanheeringen.com/_/Welcome.html

Fri 24 May 2013

Youth Open Mic Night

 

 

Bookmark Bloxwich and IYPSS invite you to come and play…

Time 6.00pm doors  6.30pm show.  Free Entry.

Call Dan 01922 712069 for info and to book a slot

Sat 20 July 2013

Don’t Go Into The Cellar presents…  Dracula Walks the Night

 

 

Count Dracula, has returned to exact a dreadful vengeance on his nemesis, Van Helsing in this show with real bite!

Time: 7.30pm Ticket price: £8.00, £6.00 concession. Tickets can be purchased from Bloxwich Library: 01922 655900.

Sat 26 October 2013

Don’t Go Into The Cellar presents…  ’Warnings to the Curious’

 

Have your spines tingled and your bumps goosed with this atmospheric adaptation of the creepiest Edwardian ghost stories…  Spooky!

Time: 7.30pm Ticket price: £8.00, £6.00 concession. Tickets can be purchased from Bloxwich Library: 01922 655900.

And there’s more…

More events will be added as they are booked – don’t forget to check at Bloxwich Library or on the Bookmark Bloxwich web page:

https://sites.google.com/site/bookmarkbloxwich/

 

 

Members of Bloxwich Library Forum are getting ready to offer visitors to the library not just a free book for World Book Night, but the chance to hear readings from selected books and more during the afternoon of Tuesday 23rd April.

In a special informal daytime event at the Bookmark Bloxwich complex in Elmore Row, Bloxwich which will also include book readings by local author Stuart Williams, the Forum will make available, while stocks last, a small selection of free books provided by World Book Night for the event.  And admission is free of charge.

Stuart Williams, who is Vice Chairman of Bloxwich Library Forum, said:

“World Book Night is an annual celebration of reading and books which sees tens of thousands of passionate volunteers gift specially chosen and printed WBN books in their communities to share their love of reading.

“We usually run an evening event on this occasion but this year the Forum decided it would be be more accessible to many to hold an afternoon book giving session combined with readings, especially now the splendid new Bookmark Cafe is open at Bloxwich Library.

“The 23rd of April is also Shakespeare’s birthday and St George’s Day, so what better day to pop into Bloxwich Library for a free book (or to borrow one!), buy a cuppa and a cake and listen to some great stories?”

Readings will take place in Bookmark Bloxwich Theatre between 12.30pm – 1.30pm.  The theatre will be opened into the Bookmark Cafe, which will be open as usual from 10.30am – 2.30pm with a standard menu.  In addition to this the Cafe are serving a St George’s Day menu from 12pm – 2pm.

World Book Night is about giving books and encouraging reading in those who don’t regularly do so.  But it is also about more than that: it’s about people, communities and connections, about reaching out to others and touching lives in the simplest of ways, through the sharing of stories.  Bloxwich Library Forum and Bloxwich Library are delighted to give the event their support.

Bloxwich Library Forum is a volunteer group of members of the local community who manage the Bookmark Bloxwich Theatre in partnership with Bloxwich Library.

You can download the World Book Night event poster in pdf form via the link below:

World Book Night Poster

For more information about Bloxwich Library:

Bloxwich Library