More than 100 people joined us on December 12th 2012 at the Community Centre to celebrate the launch of our book ‘Great Wyrley Reflections Over The Years’. It was a pleasure to celebrate the result of three years hard work and research from numerous people with colleagues, friends and members of the community. Thanks to the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund, we have been able to produce 240 pages of reflections of the changing faces of our community.

The Society Chairman, Gary Smith, introduced the evening celebration and welcomed our guest speakers, Patrick Corfield and Fred Pritchard. Patrick Corfield, Staffordshire County Councillor surprised, and entertained, even the most ardent ‘Heritage’ minded person with facts about the quality and range of heritage features in Staffordshire. The picture below shows Patrick during his address.

Patrick handed over to the Society Honorary President, Fred Pritchard, who welcomed the book as a means of ensuring future generations being able to see what life was like in the community through the ages, especially after the Second World War. At conclusion, Fred asked everyone to join him in a toast to the Society. Finally, the Society Chairman invited the book authors and Society Management Committee members to join him on stage and thanked everyone for their contributions.

At the end of the evening, attendees were delighted to know the initial stock of books were available for purchase, if preferred. The picture at the end of this article shows people awaiting their books.

A number of shops and Organisations have kindly agreed to act as distributors to personal callers at their premises. The book can be purchased for £8 from Sparkles (on the A34 next to the Sports and Social Club), Dave Preece, Newsagents in Bridgtown, Landywood Voluntary Centre (on the A34 below The Swan heading towards Cannock), Bargain Booze and / or Kelchers Opticians on the Quinton precinct or the Parish Council office at the Community Centre. For further information, please give Gary Smith a call on 01922 418546.

With Thanks to the Chronicle for featuring the book launch.[/caption]

It has taken more than two years of dedicated commitment by a number of people in our society to realise our goal, our book ‘Great Wyrley Reflections’. We are particularly pleased with the result and hope it will be a pleasurable read for everyone. It would not have been possible without the many voluntary contributions provided by colleagues in our community and nearby areas. We want to express our thanks for the support you have all given us, aswell as the support and funding from the lottery.

We hope as many of you can accept our invitaion to join us for a celebratory drink at the book launch on December 12th at Great Wyrley Community Centre. The doors will be open at 7.30pm, starting at 8pm so please come along, we look forward to seeing you. Our book ‘Great Wyrley Reflections‘ is priced at £8, but will be available at the book launch for £6.50.

On the 20th September the our Society along with Cheslyn Hay and Bridgtown Societies held a musical evening at Great Wyrley Sports and Social Club in with which around 90 people came to see the show. Compere for the evening was Kath Perry. In the first half three young female singers that had appeared on ‘Wyrley’s Got Talent’ opened up the evening followed by three speakers from the societies, Tony Newell from Wyrley, Bob Brevitt on behalf of Cheslyn Hay and Dave Battersby from Bridgtown on a music theme from their areas. Other speakers were Vaughan Smith and Terry McGrath from the High School Community Band and visiting jazz band respectively. The second half of the show we were entertained by the Sheila Fawkes Quintet led by Terry McGrath.

On the 27th September we were invited to Cheslyn Hay’s Society open day, we had a good day with people buying our Review and enquiring on the forth-coming book on Great Wyrley. On Thursday 9th October an invite was given to us to attend a meeting of all societies at Chasewater Heritage Railway, it was very informative and suggest all of you members visit it. We also visited Bridgtown’s open day on the 14th October at Bridgtown Club with our own exhibition. 

On Saturday 30th June 2012 even the weather couldn’t spoil what was to be a memorable day in the village.

I have never witnessed such a sight, with rain pouring down my neck and having to shield my camera lens I was part of this happy throng. An estimated 10 to 15 thousand people was said to have lined the Walsall Road from Churchbridge to Holly Lane, Great Wyrley. People, young and old spilt off the pavements in anticipation of seeing the Olympic Torch coming up the main road. As the torch was making it’s way towards The Star Pub Field, where I was standing, people were cheering and clapping at every passing police car and motorbike. Even with such an heavy presence of the law the crowds were allowed to encroach into the road. Finally the cheers could be heard coming from further down the road signalling the torch coming closer, outriders and transport carrying the following runners that were to take the torch on its journey, the noise announced the torch bearer was with us. The runner looked so proud in carrying this torch. People clapped, waved flags and cheered as he came passed us, hundreds of cameras attempted to seize the moment and then he was gone, you could hear the cheers as the runner made his way up the village and on to the next town. It was worth all the planning and the road closures. Myself and many thousands of people are proud to say that they were there to see the torch being carried and would go away and say to ourselves we were there when the torch came through Great Wyrley.

Did you enjoy the Queens Diamond Jubilee celebrations? The scenes from London were superb – patriotism, happiness and huge crowds. Members of the local community were among the throng along the Mall and near the River Thames. Did any members take any pictures? Could you please share them with us and let Sue Challenger have a copy for our archives?

The television had pictures of ex-pats in Sydney celebrating the jubilee? Did any of the Society members in outlying locations do likewise? Could you send us some messages of your events and any pictures you may have, please?

In Great Wyrley, we had typical English weather – incessant lashing rain on the day of the floating pageant along the Thames. Many volunteers braved the elements to install gazebos, tables and chairs before welcoming upwards of 400 people to the Community Centre for an afternoon of celebration before finishing with rousing renditions of Land of Hope and Glory and the National Anthem.

As a Society, we are embracing the joy of the nation. Look out for descriptions and pictures from the Coronation and other celebrations in our summer magazine.

The Olympic Torch is travelling through our community on June 30^th. We are the only community in South Staffordshire that is celebrating in this way and the Carnival is being held on the same day. If the weather is good, huge crowds are expected. The Society will be fully participating and has a manned stall at the Carnival.

Society members also kindly agreed to make a donation that has enabled a number of sporting events to be arranged in the community and neighbouring areas in celebration of the Olympic Torch passing through our community. They are being held at different venues in June and July and Society members will be at the head of a celebratory walk that will be formally led by our own Torch Bearer, Elaine Mills, on July 21^st.

One week earlier, (July 14^th) we are holding our annual Open Day at the Sports and Social Club situated on the A34. Last year’s event was very well supported and we are hoping members will come in large numbers to enjoy the vast library of items that will be on display.

We have many more scheduled events and others are being planned. More details will be forthcoming in the next update. Our book is on schedule to be published later in the year and we will be updating the members at our A.G.M. to be held on June 21^st.