It’s such a lovely sight to see in Great Wyrley and Cheslyn Hay, villagers coming together for the annual scarecrow competition. The Great Wyrley and Cheslyn Hay Scarecrow competition has been running for five years, starting in 2020. The event was initiated by Sally-Anne Ashford to celebrate what should have been Great Wyrley Carnival day, but it was cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic. In 2025, the competition marked its 5th anniversary, with the theme being “Days Out”. Villages proudly displayed their weird and wonderful scarecrows, there was so many creative ideas from local schools, care homes, churches, business, pubs, groups and homeowners all getting involved. Held over two days, this years winners was ‘1st Great Wyrley Scouts’ ahead of The Swan Inn and Vogue Hairdressers.

The festival culminated on Sunday, with a fair organised by Great Wyrley Carnival Committee outside Harrisons Sports and Social Club. featuring food stalls and entertainment. Carnival Committee member Pauline Kelsey said ‘It’s been a great weekend and the weather was great, which always help for a successful event.” Around £370 was raised and will be put towards Great Wyrley carnival on Saturday 28th June 2025, which will be held on the back of The Star Inn ground, on the Walsall Road.

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Our guest speaker – Stefan Wild, has write a book called ‘Longest way up, shortest way down’ on his life as a mounted policeman. He came and gave a cracking talk about the time he spent has a mounted copper in Birmingham City Police. Copies of his book was available on the day to purchase. I have the book its a great read and surprisingly he lives in Cheslyn Hay!

Stefan Wild – ‘Longest way up, shortest way down’ Book is available to buy from Amazon.

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Tonight 8th May 2025, We marked 80 years since World War II ended, it was great to see so many people from the village and surrounding areas come together for the VE Day celebrations. On the Quinton Shopping Centre, in front of the Quinton Surgery, an area was setup with entertainment. On this day, the entire nation, along with our friends and allies around the world, came together to mark 80 years of peace. This is more than just a commemoration it’s a joyful celebration of reconciliation, unity, and the lasting peace that has brought us together. On this day 80 years ago, Winston Churchill announced the war was over.

We mark this occasion not only to celebrate the end of the war but to remember and pay tribute to the many millions that died and sacrificed so much for the freedoms we all enjoy today. VE Day 80 will be all about bringing the peoples, families and communities of our great nation together in a spirit of celebration and peace.

The evening entertain started with Councillor Kath Perry MBE giving an opening introduction, followed by The Reverend Marie Meredith relaying a message from Buckingham Palace. It was a cheer to listen to Cheslyn Hay Community Choir by musical director and founder, us they sang a collection of songs, followed by The Bevin Boys by Catherine Care. Then Councillor Kath Perry MBE entertained us with many songs from the 1940s, so many people joined in on the singing. It was great to then listen to Cannock’s Salvation Army Band ‘I Vow to thee my Country. The evening ended with the procession to Beacon and the lighting Ceremony.

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It’s great when somebody writes about their old haunts, no more so than this guy, Richard Foster, Born at Spion Kop but now living in Burnham on Sea. His book on growing up in Great Wyrley will be a pleasure to read for residents and locals alike no doubt,  Here is preamble from Richard on
his book 

Rich Foster was born at the Spion Kop, also known as Harrison’s Buildings in Gorsey Lane, Landywood, in 1956. He attended Landywood Primary School and Great Wyrley Secondary Modern, later to become Great Wyrley High School.
The Foster’s roots are well established in the village. Rich’s grandparents owned Fosters shop in Gorsey Lane and his Granddad Foster was a local councillor for many years. Rich’s brother, Trevor, continues to live in the village. Parents Harold and Margaret Foster died in 2019. Rich, a former lawyer, moved to Burnham on Sea, Somerset with his wife, Lynne, on retirement in 2020.

Rich’s debut book, Spion Kop, is based on a true story about his life growing up in the mining community of the ‘Kop’ and the secret about his identity kept by his family and villagers for 18 years. Set in the 1950’s to the 1970’s, Spion Kop is a ‘warts and all’ account of life on the Cannock Chase coalfield and reflects the culture of the period. The book has been written as a tribute to his family and the community of which he was part .Although based on a true story, the book is a personal response to his memory of those times; some people may therefore have different recollections of the people and events included in his work. Parts of the book and some characters have also been fictionalised.

Spion Kop, by Rich J. Foster can be purchased through the Amazon website and with thanks to Richard and his publisher’s in their permission with using this extract.

Click here to from Amazon:
www.amazon.co.uk/Spion-Kop-Rich-J-Foster/dp/1835307035