One of the rides at last year’s Stirchley Fun Day.
Tomorrow will be the 6th year of Stirchley Fun Day. It’s beginnings stem from the then elected councillors (Timothy Huxtable, Rob Sealy, and Nigel Dawkins ) suggesting that should the Neighbourhood Forum apply for funding they would support the application. The funding was granted and the council helped a great deal in the early days, not only funding for the event but also sorting things like event licencing, permission to use the park and public liability insurance.
The first year was quite slow, probably because the only advertisement was posters in and around Stirchley. The next year was busier, flyers were printed and volunteers distributed them. That’s when things really began to take off. Last year a local sign maker was asked to make banners for the event, which he did for free, as he was happy to support local not for profit community events, even though his business is located in Cotteridge.
Last year the event was funded by The National Lottery Fund to the tune of just over £6,000, but this source of funding is a one off event. This year it has proved very difficult to obtain funds. This year’s funding is £1850.00, however, this hasn’t deterred the Neighbourhood Forum. To manage the shortfall in funding, the decision was made to change the name and the venue, the thinking was that if residents came along to Hazelwell Park expecting the same as last year that they would be slightly disappointed. This years event will take place on Saturday 6th September in Stirchley Park. For those who aren’t familiar, Stirchley Park is located at the rear of the Co-op and can be accessed from an entrance near Farm Foods and Bond Street. The park’s importance to the community will grow over he next few years, as it is directly behind Stirchley Baths.
The Bourne Brook which passes through Stirchley Park.One of the new benches as part of the recent improvements to Stirchley Park.
Nearly everyone who had stalls for the event in the past have rebooked for this year and the children’s rides will still be free.
Previous stall holders.
There will also be the return of the famous Stirchley raffle!
Neighbourhood Forum Chairman Peter Walker says:
‘I am still amazed at the generosity of local Traders and at how the word has spread further. We now have prizes from the hippodrome, Cadbury world, businesses in Cotteridge and even from the National Trust. I think over 70 prizes so far, have to thank Rowena Evans especially, without whom we would have no funding to start with plus she has done all the stall bookings for me, my wife Margaret, who has to organise and put up with me, and also the raffle. Brenda who also collects prizes and Di from Stirchley News Facebook & Twitter, who has received prizes from further afield (like the golf for two on the Lickey Hills).’
We hope Stirchley residents will enjoy the event this year and for many years to come!
A message about the Stirchley Baths restoration from Senior Site Manager Steve Marsh:
‘There’s been lots happening since [the recent restoration tours]. The traffic management that is in place in Bourneville Lane & Hazelwell St is to allow us to put up hoardings and scaffold the building from the footpath for brick and stone repairs. The corner of the building next to the library is now down and the giant boiler removed, the other big blue tank that was on the ground floor is also gone along with all of the old balconies from around the pool. Just out of interest the blue tank was a filtration system for the pool water and contained 23 tons of sand and gravel. As everyone can see we have scaffold the chimney and will be starting the repair’s this week, so plenty going on.’
There will be more updates in the coming months and further restoration tours will take place in due time. Watch this space!
The first World War began 28th July 1914 and ended 11th November 1918. More than 9 million combatants and 7 million civilians died.
Opened by the Prince of Wales in June 1923, The Hall of Memory was built to commemorate the 12,320 Birmingham citizens who died and the 35,000 who were wounded in the First World War. Inside is the First World War and Second World War Roll of Honour.
The battle on land was played out in trench warfare and poison gas became one of the most-feared and best-remembered horrors of the war. Tanks were first used in combat by the British in 1916, with only partial success. However, their effectiveness would grow as the war progressed.
At sea Britain began a naval blockade of Germany. The strategy proved effective, cutting off vital military and civilian supplies. German U-boats attempted to cut the supply lines between North America and Britain.The nature of submarine warfare meant that attacks often came without warning, giving the crews of the merchant ships little hope of survival.
In the skies Germany employed zeppelins for reconnaissance over the North Sea and Balticand also for bombing raids over England and the Eastern Front.
Ward at the University of Birmingham. (Photograph taken from www.birminghammail.co.uk)
In 1909 it was decided buildings at the University of Birmingham were to be used as a 520- bed hospital, should war mobilisation ever be needed. The first convoy of 120 casualties arrived on September 1st 1914. In October 1915 annexes were created in nearby schools. To avoid confusion with the area of Selly Oak, Selly Park annex was renamed as the Stirchley annexe. It had 225 beds, with tented accommodation in the gardens for a further 320 each.
As soon as troops were deployed overseas, Cadbury began producing ‘chocolate for the troops’. These gifts were distributed throughout the the war and in total 20,000 parcels were sent to the front, and to those who were wounded and recovering at home or in hospital. Each box was packaged up with the message, ‘a present to our friends at the front, from the workpeople at Cadbury’s Bournville’. Many of these workers would have been local women, required to join the work force as men were conscripted. During this time, Cadbury had disbanded their bar on the employment of married women, meaning wives, daughters and mothers of Stirchley fighting men may have played a part.
Conscription resulted in the calling up of nearly every physically fit man in Britain – six of ten million eligible. Of these, about 750,000 lost their lives and 1,700,000 were wounded. Of those soldiers that did return many suffered shell shock and even more kept silent about their experiences. Most deaths were to young unmarried men; however, 160,000 wives lost husbands and 300,000 children lost fathers.
Below are the names and addresses of Stirchley men who fell in the Great War:
J IRVING Son of Thomas and Alice Irving, of 1620, Breedon Hill, Stirchley, Birmingham.
LEONARD GEORGE CHISWELL Son of Joseph and Phoebe Ellen Chiswell, of 45, Ribblesdale Rd., Stirchley, Birmingham.
SIDNEY GEORGE JONES Son of Thomas Henry and Mary Ann Jones, of Bournville, Birmingham; husband of Elsie Violet Jones, of 14, Victoria Road, Stirchley, Birmingham.
FORRESTER GREEN Father of Eveline Violet Green, of 1228, Pershore Rd., Stirchley, Birmingham.
ARTHUR THOMAS Son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas, of 237, Cartland Rd., Stirchley, Birmingham.
HORACE WILLIAMS Son of C. and K. Williams, of 1319, Pershore Rd., Stirchley, Birmingham.
JOHN ROBERTS Husband of Martha Roberts, of 43, Victoria Rd., Stirchley, Birmingham.
WILLIAM WESLEY EDWARDS Son of Job and Florence Edwards, of 10, Ash Tree Rd., Stirchley, Birmingham.
BERNARD HAROLD PITCHER Son of Thomas and Ruth Pitcher, of 70, Charlotte Rd., Stirchley, Birmingham. His brother Carl Rudolph also fell.
THEODORE HEMMING Son of Mr. and Mrs. T. Hemming, of 22, Warren Rd., Stirchley, Birmingham.
HOWARD SILVANAS HAROLD HUGHES Son of Hugh Thomas and Ellen Hughes, of 2, Newland Rd., Stirchley, Birmingham.
CYRIL HARRY JOHNSON Husband of Mrs. C. M. Johnson, of 62, Beilly Rd., Fordhouse Lane, Stirchley, Birmingham.
ARTHUR JOHN DAFFIN Son of William and Amelia Elizabeth Daffin, of 3, Dorset Cottages, Ashtra Rd., Stirchley, Birmingham.
SYDNEY TWINE Son of Josiah and Amelia Twine, of Birmingham; husband of Laura Twine, of 1, Newlands Rd., Stirchley, Birmingham.
ARTHUR JAMES FRANKS Son of James Franks, of Stoke Heath, Bromsgrove, Worcs.; husband of Lily Maud Franks, of 9, Norton Terrace, Warren Rd., Stirchley, Birmingham.
BRAITHET EUSTACE SIVITER Son of Thomas and Beatrice Siviter, of 41, Lea House Rd., Stirchley, Birmingham.
A ARCULUS Son of Thomas and Ellen Arculus; husband of Frances Eliza Arculus, of 45, Bond St., Stirchley, Birmingham.
CHARLES HENRY BANKS Son of Mr. and Mrs. Hry. Banks, of Pershore Rd. South, Stirchley, Birmingham; husband of Mabel E. Banks, of 8, Second Avenue, Selly Park, Birmingham.
JOHN WINZER HUTT Son of John Jephcott Hutt and Sarah Ann Hutt, of 42, Maryvale Rd., Stirchley, Birmingham.
C ELDER Son of Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Elder, of 21, Dog Pool Lane, Stirchley, Birmingham.
PHILIP GOODRICK GENDERS Son of Samuel and Annie Genders, of 239, Ford House Lane, Stirchley, Birmingham. Native of Northfield, Birmingham.
STUART McKENZIE BLOOMFIELD Son of Thomas and Clementina Bloomfield, of 49, Bournville Lane, Stirchley, Birmingham.
FRANK HENRY TAYLOR Son of Francis and Susan Emily Taylor, of 119, Pershore Rd., Stirchley, Birmingham. Born at Bromsgrove, Worcs.
WILLIAM HENRY WESTON Son of George Weston, of 35, Windsor Rd., Stirchley, Birmingham. Born at King’s Norton, Worcs.
HARRY BARR Son of Benjamin and Mary Ann Barr, of Birmingham; husband of Ethel Elizabeth Barr, of 80, Newlands Rd., Stirchley, Birmingham.
GEORGE DAVIS Son of Mrs. Maria Davis, of 21, Regent St., Stirchley, Birmingham. Native of Bearley, Stratford-on-Avon.
ALBERT HERBERT MIDDLETON Son of Albert and Alice Middleton, of 1555, Pershore Rd., Stirchley, Birmingham.
C E DERRINGTON Son of Mrs. Fanny Derrington, Back of 1324, Pershore Rd., Stirchley, Birmingham.
J C H V MALLETT Son of George and Louisa Mallett, of Tavistock; husband of Eliza Mallett, of 38, Oxford St., Stirchley, Birmingham.
CYRIL FINLAY KITCHEN Son of Edward and Rosina Kitchen, of go, Brent Rd., Stirchley, Birmingham. Born at Leafield, Witney, Oxon.
CHARLES JESSE DAVIS WELLS Son of the late Charles and Emma Wells; husband of Ruth Wells, of 50, Twyning Rd., Stirchley, Birmingham. Born at Cheltenham.
F CARTER Son of the late John and Susannaha Carter, of Hawkridge, Berkshire; husband of Elsie Carter, of 173, Cartland Rd., Stirchley, Birmingham.
JAMES BOLSTRIDGE Husband of Emily Bolstridge, of 42, Ripple Rd., Stirchley, Birmingham.
WILLIAM TULK Son of Arthur and Liza Tulk; husband of Edith Annie Dale (formerly Tulk), of 2, Ashbrook Grove, Stirchley, Birmingham. Born at Yardley.
WALTER WARD Son of Herbert and Martha Ward, of 25, Rowheath Rd., Cotteridge, King’s Norton, Birmingham; husband of F. E. Ward, of 2, Plymouth Rd., Stirchley, Birmingham.
HARRY PALMER Son of Charlotte Palmer, of 10, Regent St., Stirchley, Birmingham.
H STANTON Son of Albert and Rose Stanton, of 45, Windsor Rd., Stirchley, Birmingham. Born at Selly Park, Birmingham.
JAMES DAVIS Son of William and Maria Davis, of 21, Regent St., Stirchley, Birmingham.
L QUIGLEY Son of Thomas and Louisa Quigley, of 72, Charlotte Rd., Stirchley, Birmingham.
ALBERT EDWARD BUDD Son of Mr. and Mrs. Budd, of 116, Umberslade Rd., Selly Oak, Birmingham; husband of Gertrude A. Budd, of 50, Mary Vale Rd., Stirchley, Birmingham.
JOHN HAROLD DOWNING Son of John H. and Clara Downing, of 305, High St., Stirchley, Birmingham.
ERNEST HANDSCOMB Son of Ernest C. Handscomb and Nellie Handscomb, of 50, Ribblesdale Rd., Stirchley, Birmingham. Native of Birmingham.
S STEPHENS Husband of Catherine Stephens, of 1079, Pershore Rd., Stirchley, Birmingham.
WILLIAM QUIGLEY Son of Thomas and Louisa Quigley, of 72, Charlotte Rd., Stirchley, Birmingham.
FREDRICK A. BOX Son of Jesse and Rosina A. Box, of 59, Dogpool Lane, Stirchley, Birmingham. Native of Ladywood, Birmingham.
F PULLIN Son of Alfred and Harriet Pullin, of King’s Heath; husband of Gertrude Pullin, of 21, Bond St., Stirchley, Birmingham.
A SODEN Son of Mrs. E. Soden, of 78, Oxford St., Stirchley, Birmingham, and the late Mr. Soden.
FREDERICK WILLIAM WELLS Son of Mr. T. D. Wells, of 5, Norton Terrace, Warren Rd., Stirchley, Birmingham.
DOUGLAS NOEL EUGENE MASON Son of Abishai and Elizabeth Mason, of 1322, Pershore Rd., Stirchley, Birmingham.
JOSEPH ARTHUR RICHARDS Son of James and Anne Richards, of 45, Cartland Rd., Stirchley, Birmingham. Native of Shustoke. Birmingham.
CARL RUDOLPH PITCHER Son of Thomas and Ruth Pitcher, of 70, Charlotte Rd., Stirchley, Birmingham.
DANIEL WESTON BOULTON Husband of Mary S. Godding (formerly Boulton), of 51, Windsor Rd., Stirchley, Birmingham. Native of Lechlade, Glos.
ARTHUR WALDRON PROVERBS Son of Thomas and Harriet Jane Proverbs, of 28, Oxford St., Stirchley, Birmingham.
FREDERICK THOMAS HUTCHINS Son of Thomas Hutchins; husband of Caroline Hutchins, of 54, Twyning Rd., Stirchley, Birmingham. Born at Reigate, Surrey.
W RICH Son of Sydney and Annie Rich; husband of Ethel Rich, of 2, Victoria Rd., Stirchley, Birmingham.
W T ATKINS Son of William and Clara Atkins, of 8, Lea House Road, Stirchley, Birmingham.
HAROLD FREDERICK GOUGH Husband of Lily Gough, of 48, Newlands Rd., Stirchley, Birmingham.
JOSEPH BAMFORD Son of Mrs. Elizabeth Carrington, of 30, Bewdley Rd., Stirchley, Birmingham.
MARK BOLSTRIDGE Son of Samuel and Clara Bolstridge, of 42, Ripple Rd., Stirchley, Birmingham.
THOMAS HENRY BALLER Son of Henry Baller, of 69, Leahouse Rd., Stirchley, Birmingham; husband of Florrie Pritchard (formerly Baller), of 15, Laurel Rd., Cotteridge, King’s Norton, Birmingham.
WALTER WATSON Son of Elizabeth Watson, of Dog Pool Mills, Ten Acres, Birmingham, and the late William Watson; husband of May Watson, of 5, Twyning Rd., Stirchley, Birmingham.
WILLIAM HENRY BAGLEY HOBBS Son of Mrs. L. Hobbs, of 85, Dog Pool Lane, Stirchley, Birmingham.
FRANCIS HENRY HARTLES Son of John and Ellen Hartles, of Warrens Rd., Stirchley, Birmingham; husband of Margaret Fountain (formerly Hartles), 91, Pontefract Rd., Barnsley, Yorks.
THOMAS RICHARD JEYNES Son of Thomas and Elizabeth Jeynes, of 3, Ivy Rd., Stirchley; husband of Alice Jeynes, of 9, Ivy Rd., Stirchley, Birmingham.
THOMAS PAYNE Son of the late Thomas and Jane Payne, of Woodgate, Quinton, Birmingham; husband of Lucy Florence Payne, of 30, Twyning Rd., Stirchley, Birmingham.
JAMES WILLIAM ROSE Son of William and Caroline Rose, of 1161, Pershore Rd., Stirchley, Birmingham.
THOMAS REYNOLDS Son of Mrs. Sarah Ann Reynolds, of 80, Windsor Rd., Stirchley, Birmingham.
ALFRED WILLIAM ERNEST SMITH Son of Mrs. R. E. Smith, of 242, Fordhouse Lane, Stirchley, Birmingham.
ELI NASH Son of Eli and Elizabeth Nash, of 55, Bournville Lane, Stirchley, Birmingham.
H P PITTAWAY Son of Mrs. Stoker (formerly Pittaway), of 21, Hunts Rd., Stirchley, Birmingham.
CYRIL SMITH Son of John and Rosina Smith, of 37, Twyning Rd., Stirchley, Birmingham.
GEORGE PERCY BOX Son of Jesse and Rose Box, of 54, Dogpool Lane, Stirchley, Birmingham; husband of Lily Box, of 57, Queen St., Sparkbrook, Birmingham.
HENRY ALFRED GOODMAN Son of Mrs. Goodman, of 9, Ivy Rd., Stirchley, Birmingham.
Site manager Steve Marsh, explained how the large pool will be preserved but covered so it can be used as a main hall for sports or social events. This is similar to when boards were put down, to provide a temporary venue for dancing in the 1950s. The pool is 3ft at the shallow end and 6ft at the deep end and there will be a peephole so that the bottom of the pool is still visible. Although at present changing cubicles from this hall have been removed, some will be restored and returned.
Some of the steel on site will need replacing and this room will eventually become a kitchen area.The site manager, Steve is convinced the chlorine tank was included in a refurbishment that took place in the 60s/70s.This room will eventually be used as a small cinema. Community film nights should be a regular event. The tiles will be restored in this room and throughout the site where possible. Tiles will be sourced in situations where they’re too damaged.As you can see from the pipe lines on the walls, this room once housed slipper baths and will be converted into an office. Rented units such as these will provide the community centre with a sustainable income.The foyer was where people would pay to use the pool and baths.The timber will be rescued so that this reception area retains it’s authenticity.
The enormous boiler will be chopped into pieces to make it possible to remove it from site. The basement is filled with Roman-like channels, for water from the baths and rain water to circulate. I eventually got my bearings when I could hear the clunk of the drain cover motorists drive over outside the co-op on Hazelwell Street.
Thank you to Karen Cheney for arranging the tour. There will be more opportunities for residents to take a look at the work in progress at the baths in upcoming months.
