At the April coffee morning, Gary and Pam will be confirming the final details for the visit to the Houses of Parliament scheduled for May 13th. It is suggested that anyone unable to attend the coffee morning arranges to speak directly with Gary or Pam, as best suited.
Paul Ford is giving an address at the Senior Citizens Centre, Broadmeadow Lane on 28th April starting at 7.30 pm costing £1. The generic title is ‘Walsall During the Great War’. Paul recently commented ‘it is not about munitions factories or saddles for the cavalry. It is three tales from the home front in Walsall. One considers a school and how the war exacerbated their running problems. Another concerns a food-hoarder and the legal expertise used to defend the hoarder. The final tale displays community spirit when a lady loses her mother and daughter in a military aeroplane accident. Communities and their approaches to commemoration are standard aspects’. It promises to
be an interesting and informative evening. It is hoped that members and their guests join us for the event.
Much detailed research on the Great War project is being undertaken by the Society team. We are extremely pleased that Paul’s extensive expertise is linking with the project team to provide specialism and further impetus to our efforts. At the same time, it has been identified that more inter-action is needed by the team with people who can contribute their family history in and around the time of the Great War. To facilitate this, a couple of Facebook pages should be installed in the near future.
Larry Scarfe provided a different and absorbing address at the March Coffee Morning about his time, and experiences, working in the Law Courts, as displayed right.
The speaker at the April Coffee Morning is Sue Plant who will be speaking about the life and times of her dad, Jack Plant and the speaker at the May Coffee Morning is scheduled to be Reg Fullalove.
At the February Coffee Morning, Ron Mattison and Dave Dunham spoke about the training huts on Cannock Chase. We have since received the following message ‘With regard to the offer from Ron and me to open up the hut especially for the Great Wyrley Local History Society. It would need to be during daytime during the week and not during school and bank holidays. Between us, Ron and I will give an overview and demonstrate the exhibits and items on display. Photographs can be taken and we will try to answer any questions that might be put. We suggest an hour or so and refreshments are available in the main Marquis Drive centre nearby.’
Are members interested in a visit? Gary and Pam will ask for feedback at the April Coffee Morning and next steps will be taken after the response has been received.
Great Wyrley had a community / friendship link with Quiliano, an Italian community. As part of this link, a number of artefacts were exchanged and displayed in the Community Centre. Examples are visually displayed below.
They have now been formally transferred to the Society storage area and will be bought to future Open Days / Annual events and exhibitions, as appropriate.
The annual St Georges Day fete is being held on April 19th. The procession starts from Harrisons Club at 12 noon and the Society will be in attendance at the club. Members are asked to support this community event.
Can anyone help Mr Patrick Hogan? He called in to the March Coffee morning. Does anyone know of a murder in the 1930’s / 40’s in New Horse Road, Cheslyn Hay? Could you please let Gary know with any information / anecdotes or inferences?
Summary – Events Calendar
April
17th – Coffee Morning -Â AÂ talk by Sue Plant
19th – St Georges Day procession & fete (See Note 1)
28th – ‘Walsall during the Great War’ address by Paul Ford (See Note 2)
May
13th – Visit to Houses of Parliament
15th – Coffee Morning A talk by Reg Fullalove
18th – St. Thomas More fete
June
19th – Coffee Morning – AGM & a talk on Landywood Farm by Gary Smith
28th – Great Wyrley Carnival
July
17th – Coffee Morning
August
3rd – Peace Games (see Note 3)
14th – Coffee Morning
September
6th – Walk for Health
18th – Coffee Morning
October
16th – Coffee Morning
November
15th – Annual Event/open day
20th – Coffee Morning
December
18th – Coffee Morning
Note:
1. Procession starts at Harrisons Sports & Social Club at 12 noon.
2. Starts at 7.30pm at Senior Citizens Centre, Broadmeadow Lane. Cost £1
3. Starts at 10am at Wyrley Juniors club, Long Lane.