2023 has been a generous year for Great Wyrley Local History Society so far. Since the lockdown finished at the back end of 2021, our society has grown insomuch as if anymore were to join, they would have to bring their own chairs, as we would not have enough chairs for our Coffee Mornings. We have made new members every month since the start of the year and long may it continue.

Complimentary to our morning meetings, we hold Open Evening meetings four times a year for people that can’t get to us on the fourth Thursday, for our Coffee Mornings. We are finding this is taking off. This year we have evening speakers on two occasions. the first on Thursday 18th May 7-9pm – John Homer Black Country Tales and another on Thursday 28th September. We have a great trip arranged, which we will be visiting the Black Country Museum which is now SOLD OUT.

Hope you like our website, administered by Soeli Thomas. We are trying to use the website as a source of information, keeping you informed of what’s happening in the society. Also we are prominent on Facebook, our official page is www.facebook.com/greatwyrleyhistory even though there are other pages & groups on Facebook that use ‘Wyrley’ in the title, we are NOT associated with them.

We like to be present at as many events as possible in Great Wyrley, recently being St Georges Day celebrations at Harrisons Club and next will be at the Great Wyrley Carnival, on Saturday 24th June. We are eight strong, on the committee running the Society, with upwards of 80 members and more joining each month. We have given in excess of £700 to local charities over the last two years. We are constantly thinking about new ways to play our part in the community and inform people about the vibrant history of the village we live in and long may it continue.

What an enjoyable morning we had with Kath Reynolds, talking about the “old school days”. It bought back many memories – good and bad. It was all chalk and talk back in the day. Now it’s all white boards and laptops.

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The liberty bodice with suspenders was one item that will remain with me for a long time.
In the United Kingdom they were well known for decades, with some older women still using them in the 1970s. A liberty bodice was a simply shaped sleeveless bodice, often made of warm, fleecy fabric, usually with suspenders  attached. It might be straight or slightly curvy, and sometimes had buttons to fasten on other underwear: drawers (knickers or US panties) or petticoat/slip. A vest might be worn underneath. The bodices had no boning, unlike corsets, although some had firm cloth strapping which might encourage good posture. read more…

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It is with great sadness that we report of the death of Chris Myatt, on April 14th 2023, after a long illness, wife of Ron Myatt. Ron was on the Committee of the Society from the early days, and helped giving us a secure financial framework. Chris Myatt – Centre Chairman and Secretary, With her ‘can do’ attitude and eternal optimism she was instrumental in developing and maintaining www.landywoodvoluntaryhelp.co.uk for 40 years & was a well loved person in Great Wyrley. Chris’s voluntary work in the community will live on. We send our deepest sympathy to Ron Myatt & family, she will be greatly missed.

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Do you have a story to tell? that involves GREAT WYRLEY, either the place or a person? We’d love to hear your story and print it in our magazine.

Any school stories or photos? workplace stories, scouts, girl guides, football team stories?

Please email any stories or photos to: photos@greatwyrleylocalhistorysociety.co.uk

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Have you heard an interesting Speaker’s recently? We are always interested in different speakers. Please email: diane@mstolley.plus.com

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I thought this was an appropriate photo, given last months talk. It is of Landywood School, I counted at least 46 pupils, how did the teachers cope with such a large number?  Exact date unknown.                                                                      

On Thursday 22nd of April we had our monthly coffee morning, and once again we had full attendance of members, also new members attended which was great to see. We had our monthly speaker in the form of Joan Lockley who gave an enthralling talk about her work and dedication to rescuing hedgehogs, both abandoned and injured, she told us that she is the only one remaining in the West Midlands area that continues to rescue these fantastic creatures. Everyone was impressed with her presentation and following the talk she showed all there, a rescued hedgehog that she had brought along with her. All of us at the Society wish her well with the rescue and long may it continue.

We also had our Handcraft Table Sale at the meeting which proved to be very popular, and this was also available on our stand at the stand at the St George’s day held at Harrisons on the 22nd of April, A huge thankyou to everyone that purchased from the craft table, we made a sum of £62.50 which will go into our Society funds.

Can’t wait to see you all at Harrisons Sports & Social Club on Saturday 22nd April for St- George’s Day. On our stall we will have special offers on our selected books. Great Value & a Great Day out for all the family. 12noon – 5pm

The new dates for our open evenings are :- Thursday 22nd June 2023, 7pm-9pm and Thursday 28th September 2023, 7pm-9pm. Everyone is welcome to come along for a cuppa and a chat, and find out what we are all about, you will receive a warm welcome and have the opportunity to meet new friends. 

Our next tabletop craft sale, will be this Thursday 20th April 2023, at our Coffee Morning, held at the Senior Citizens Centre, Broadmeadow Lane. We will have a tabletop craft sale every coffee morning in the future. Our first tabletop sale was on the 16th March, which was a great success. Thankyou to each and everyone that donated their crafted items and to the people that contributed by purchasing from the craft table, a huge thank you because we made a total of £75.00, all of which has gone into the Society funds for future projects.