March 2020 - Pioneer Magazines

2020 Vision Of The Past

By Dick Scarlett, regular contributor to The Pioneer Magazine

Whilst throwing together ideas for my latest music video I thought it might be nice to have a few background images of some local landmarks from in and around Walsall & Birmingham. So I jumped on to the internet right away there were a few easy wins – some lovely photos of the War Memorial at the top of Barr Beacon, a few black & white shots of Walsall back in the day, including some highly nostalgic shots of the old ABC cinema and one in particular of the foyer there that brought back memories I thought had long since been consigned to the neural scrapheap. That feeling of trudging back out through the foyer, past the long closed snack bar, talking ten to the dozen with your mates about the film you had just seen and then all of you blinking and staggering almost drunkenly for a few moments as you step outside and your brain fights manically to adjust to the full on daylight after you’ve been sitting in near total darkness for two hours. Ah yes, electric shock therapy to your circadian rhythms – funny what you remember.

And that single shot of the foyer unlocking a whole flood of recollections did get me to thinking – what other memories of my early years in Walsall had I, if not completely forgotten about, certainly not recalled in years? In no particular order the following slowly percolated to the surface of my admittedly jam-packed little mind. I remember daring to venture into the deepest darkest corners of Grice’s bookshop to pull out huge books on astronomy or science. Admiring with envious delight the latest advances in pen and propelling pencil design at Millington York, doubly silly as not only couldn’t I afford them, but I have always been truly atrocious at art!

I have fond memories of the pick & mix in Woolworths and the small but always interesting toy section upstairs. The old Co-Op superstore in Bridge St. was seemingly endless – it seemed to have a dozen floors and all of them went on forever. Side note; was the layout of the Co-Op based on human anatomy? I seem to remember the shoes were in the basement and the hats were on the top floor? And there was flipping through the posters in Gadsby’s until we were thrown out and trying on school uniforms in Buxton & Bonnett. And then trudging all the way back up the market hill, going underneath an old building that was held up by huge diagonal timber joists that were sunken into the pavement, to retrieve the car from a weird split level car park that was the definition of a wasteland; modern four wheel SUV’s would struggle with it but my Dad’s old Cortina shooting brake made light work of it! And sitting in the backseat of the same car as it made its way up that stupidly steep road that used to be there going over the top of the town. They weren’t perfect but they were happy days.

Now of course every moment of everyone’s lives is recorded, photographed & posted online. We won’t need memories as we’ll have the Facebook Archives – they can be housed in disused libraries. And even the cinemas now have a fifty-yard walk-in gradually increasing light from the screen to the foyer. How times change!

The video for Still, containing the background images mentioned, can be found on YouTube!

Walsall Needs Volunteers

A Message From John Morris, Walsall Council

Promoting Neighbourliness and helping those who are isolated.

Can you or someone you know volunteer and support anyone in your neighbourhood who is in isolation or vulnerable, or could be in the foreseeable future?

In response to the current situation around Coronavirus (Covid-19), Walsall Council and partners are working together in readiness to support our community, especially the elderly and vulnerable residents.

If you as an organisation or an individual would like to help with this by volunteering (for example, shopping, picking up medications, etc.) or providing resources (for example, storage facilities, kitchen facilities, etc.), please contact me as soon as possible on the details below.

Please share this message with others who may also want to give their support.

Thank you.

John Morris
Locality Manager – East
Resources and Transformation
Walsall Council
Civic Centre – 1st Floor Zone 1b
Darwall Street
Walsall WS1 1TP

Tel: 01922 653711
Mobile: 07852 421421
Email: John.Morris@walsall.gov.uk

Website: www.walsall.gov.uk

Update From Aldridge Fire Station

Fire-Fighter Paul Wilkes gives us an update from Aldridge Fire Station.

Walsall Housing Group supplied empty properties for a realistic training scenario in Willenhall during January. Blue watch crews from Aldridge and Walsall were amongst those facing fires, casualties and a suspected cannabis factory. The exercise was just another way in which we work with our partners to help make communities safer. “We have a great relationship with the fire service and are always looking at how we can support them in their work,” said Director of Energy and Programme Management Paul Dockerill to the WHG website. “As these properties were standing empty, they were the ideal location for the firefighters to carry out a live exercise in a realistic environment. The day also gave us the opportunity to test our incident management plans.”

On a more serious note, a man was found dead in Erdington, Birmingham under hoarded piles of rubbish. It’s believed that between 2%-5% of the population may have symptoms of a hoarding disorder. West Midlands Fire Service visited approximately 300 properties during 2015 with severe, dangerous or excessive hoarding. Based on these figures, it appears that this is just the tip of the iceberg and there could be many more people out there that just haven’t come to the attention of the services yet. This illustrates the importance of multi-agency work in communicating through a hoarding framework.

At the start of March, there’s an On-call firefighters recruitment campaign. The West Midlands Fire Service doesn’t have any of these types of firefighters, who were traditionally known as retained. However, we do work alongside them when attended incidents in other brigade areas. For example, crews at Aldridge will have incidents in Burntwood, whilst many of the Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service work on an on-call system. If you know of anyone that lives in close proximity to a station with this staffing option, then it may be something of interest to them. Being an on-call firefighter means people become part of a close-knit team, gain a range of new skills, earn additional money which fits around existing jobs and commitments, while making a difference within the local community.

No Smoking Day is on the 11th March, so it’s the perfect time to finally kick the habit. Many people are aware of the effects on health that smoking causes, but few realise the cost implications to the country and fire services. 6.3% of all fires are caused by smoking-related and 26.1% of fire deaths are smoking-related. Tobacco is designed to stay lit so cigarettes and cigars can easily start an accidental fire, especially if you are sleepy or have been drinking alcohol. If you can’t persuade family and friends, or even yourselves to stop completely, then we urge smokers to Put it Out, Right Out!

Your local Fire Station can provide a free Safe and Well visit on request, where we provide smoke detectors, hearing impaired alarms and fire safety advice. You can book yours NOW by calling free on ‪‪0800 389 5525‪!

We look forward to more updates from Aldridge Fire Station.

For information on Aldridge Fire Cadets click here

We Do Not Need To Build On Great Barr Green Belt, Says West Midlands Mayor Andy Street

Advertising Great Barr Magazine — David Warburton WMCA Head Of Land And Development, Cllr Yvonne Davies Sandwell Council Leader, Julie Rossiter Head Of Property Development For Severn Trent, Andy Street Mayor Of The West Midlands, at the Friar Park Site in Wednesbury

Mayor Andy Street has pledged to protect the Black Country’s green belt – after open spaces around Great Barr were earmarked for possible development.

Mr Street, who heads up the West Midlands Combined Authority, insisted there is enough derelict brownfield sites – former industrial sites – to cater for new homes in our region, without having to build on cherished green belt.

He spoke after a report called the Urban Capacity Review claimed green spaces around Great Barr will need to make way for almost 27,000 new homes.

Great Barr areas identified in the report include: around Red House Park; either side of the M6, just west of Junction 7; west of M6 to the north of Holly Wood Nature Reserve and around Netherall Avenue.

Mr Street said the focus must be on regenerating brownfield sites – previously built-on land such as derelict factories – rather than building on cherished fields and parks.

He said: “I simply don’t accept this report and I will do everything I can to oppose its conclusions. There should not be a need to build on open spaces in Great Barr or anywhere else.

“We can and will find more brownfield sites to regenerate for homes and we can and will find more sites in town centres for housing.

“For years the easy option has been taken in too many cases with green fields sacrificed for building when brownfield sites have been left derelict. The Black Country and Birmingham are full of them – everyone knows a former industrial site that has just been left empty for years.

“Now is the time for us to reclaim them for development – we have the technology, the skills and the government is providing the money.”

The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has been buying up brownfield sites to prepare them to be brought back into use as new housing estates.

This has been possible thanks to the £350 million Housing Deal with the Government, which has given the WMCA the cash to regenerate sites such as the huge former sewage works at Friar Park in Wednesbury, where 750 homes will be built on land the size of 32 football pitches.

Friar Park is the biggest example of a former industrial site in the Black Country being reclaimed for housing.

Dazzling Dogs: Something to Celebrate

If the thought of wrestling Barker into the bath one more time makes your arms ache and your head hurt, it might be time to find a good dog groomer.

But finding the right groomer can be as hard as finding the right hairdresser. The latest research from price comparison website Money Expert revealed that British dog owners spend an average of over £236 each month on essentials for their pets, such as food, insurance, flea and worm treatments, and pet sitters. The canine care market is rapidly expanding with dog grooming businesses appearing everywhere so which one to choose? We want our pets to look their best, but we also want to know that they are safe and happy whilst this is achieved.

Local salon Dazzling Dogs can certainly say that this is the case; they threw open their doors 10 years ago with their Aldridge salon and have customers who have remained with them ever since. Dog-loving owner Lynn Rudd decided to become a groomer 21 years ago, following her experience with her own German Shepherd and the lack of professional grooming facilities locally. She trained with the UK’s leading Training Academy ‘Groomers of Market Drayton’ and set up her first salon at home, continuing to grow her experience and customer base. It wasn’t long before she realised more space was needed and opened Dazzling Dogs in Great Wyrley, followed by the Aldridge salon in 2009 and Great Barr in 2015.

“To instil customer confidence, I wanted them to see what we do, not hide the dogs in the back,” explained Lynn. “I want each salon to be the best locally: friendly, open-plan, hygienic and professionally equipped to cater for all breeds and temperament. With the increase in many new popular breeds such as labradoodles, cocker-poos, shi-poos, cavi-poos, cavi-shons etc, we have had to move with the times!”

Lynn now oversees Great Wyrley and is fortunate to have a fantastic highly-experienced Salon Manager in Laura at Aldridge, who has been caring for customers’ dogs for 10 years, grooming for 14 and has not yet been defeated by any dog – regardless of temperament! Laura is supported by Assistant Salon Manager Hollie, who has nearly 5 years’ service at the salon having completed her City & Guilds in-house under Laura’s careful guidance. They personally oversee the team of groomers, ensuring that standards are maintained and customers are completely happy with the result.

It is very much a family business; Lynn’s daughter Rachel opened the Great Barr Salon with a team of three fully experienced groomers. Rachel now works as Head Groomer alongside Lynn at Great Wyrley whilst Shauna has taken the position of Head Groomer at the Great Barr salon.

“I need my staff to love dogs as much as I do so they all need to be dog owners,” Lynn explains. “Some of the dogs who come to us initially have had a bad dog grooming experience and are very nervous. It can take time to gain an animal’s trust and a lot of patience is needed.

“It’s very rewarding when they’ve visited a few times and are clearly happy and comfortable with the experience,” she added. “My staff have the same respect for customers’ dogs as they do their own.”

Each dog has its own record card which includes details of any health problems they may have had. This is updated each visit and therefore if any problems are detected during treatment the owners are informed straight away. A dog will usually be in the salon between 1 ½ – 2 hours and owners can either stay or collect their pets after treatment.

There are four grooming tables in the salon, with an extra on separated from the others should a nervous dog feel more comfortable with this. The dog will be checked for general health issues including ears, eyes, skin and nails. Knots will be removed with a brush or comb and clippers used if necessary. A large dog bath accommodates all breeds and, following its wash with tried and tested quality products, the dog will be dried and styled. The salon practises hand stripping on breeds such as terriers.

Let’s Celebrate

In preparation for their 10-year anniversary, the Aldridge salon had a makeover last year and was freshly decorated throughout with new air conditioning and lighting installed. A new staff uniform completed the look. And to reward existing customers across all three salons they have introduced Loyalty Cards alongside a ‘Refer a Friend’ scheme. They have also introduced a new upgrade package of Nose & Paw Balm which is a fantastic way to keep nose and paws naturally supple.

The care for their animals is obvious and the dogs who were being groomed were very contented in their surroundings. Further testament to this is their Facebook page containing hundreds of reviews and pictures of the freshly groomed dogs back at home. So give yourself and your pet a treat – head to your nearest salon and join Dazzling Dogs in their very well-deserved celebrations.

Pelsall Methodist Church 50th Anniversary

Between April and October 2020 Pelsall Methodist Church will be celebrating the 50^th anniversary of the opening of its church building. This church building replaced the old Wesleyan Church on Chapel Street and the chapel in Paradise Lane.

There are lots of events planned for the celebrations and they hope the local community and businesses will join them to mark this special milestone in the life of the church and the wider Pelsall village. For example, they will be running a competition for children to design their posters; they are also planning to decorate the village clock with knitted spring flowers (and have already started recruiting local crafters to make knitted and crocheted flowers for this display). Events will include concerts, a carnival stall with children’s activities, a memories exhibition, and a flower display.

Look out for information of the different events in The Pioneer Magazine, posters around the village and on their Facebook page.

Anvil Chorus: Musical Magic

If you take a stroll past Grove Vale School in Great Barr at 7.30pm on a Tuesday evening, you might notice a little musical magic hanging in the air. The sweet sounds of harmonised voices drift out of the school as the members of Anvil Chorus go through their vocal paces, trying to achieve a kind of magic that only comes from singing in the barbershop style.

“There’s something about the way the barbershop style works that is quite magical,” explained member Colin Roper. “The way the different voice parts combine to form a chord is very distinctive and different from the way choirs or other vocal groups sing.

“It’s like there’s a ‘sweet spot’ you can hit, if you get the sound just right. We always say that if you can sing in a barbershop style, and we can get the hairs on your arms or back of your neck to stand up, we’ve got you!”

Anvil Chorus was established in 1977 in Sandwell but is now based in Hamstead, off the Newton Road. No one is completely sure where the group’s name comes from – some believe it may have originated from a pub, others that it may represent the metal industry that once dominated the locality.

But 42 years later the club is going strong, and its 35 members are among the 2,500 men and 3,500 women who regularly sing in barbershop groups across the UK today.

“We are one of 150-odd barbershop clubs across the country,” Colin explained, “and our official name is West Midlands Barbershop Harmony Club when it comes to entering contests.”

The group are regularly placed in the top ten of the 40 or so men’s choruses that compete at annual British Association of Barbershop Singers Conventions.

“There is a huge national network, and there are actually more women than men that sing barbershop in the UK,” Colin added.

The barbershop style began in America, in the early 20^th century in enormous barber shops where men would go to be shaved daily. The shops quickly become a place to gather, drink coffee, smoke and socialise. As many Afro-Americans found jobs in them after the end of slavery, the musical style that developed in the barber shops where they worked was influenced by their traditional spiritual singing style, creating the harmonies that that can be heard in many other parts of the world including Europe, Scandinavia, Australia and New Zealand.

But don’t expect the members of Anvil Chorus to fit the stereotypical view of the Barbershop Quartet.

“We do not wear straw boaters or striped blazers,” Colin laughs. “People still associate that old-fashioned costume with barbershop singing, but it’s not something that modern barbershop groups wear.”

What has been retained from the singing style’s early days is the legendary camaraderie found in barbershop groups.

“Everyone is welcome,” Colin said, “Just turn up and have a listen. We are very friendly.

“We want to encourage people to come and see what we do and then come back and sing with us.

“While the barbershop style is becoming popular among University singing groups, in the wider population it is an older person’s sport and we need to encourage younger people to become involved with our clubs.”

Colin is quite evangelical about the benefits of singing in a group too.

“The simple truth about singing is that it is good for you,” he said. “It has been proven that it gets your endorphins going, gets your brain working, is good for your breathing and your general well-being.

“Having to learn songs and be coordinated with other singers is very good for the brain, as it’s a challenge. It can seem a little daunting at first, but it’s the same as anything – once you get into it, it is extremely enjoyable.”

The pay-off for all that hard work is the buzz of singing in front of other people, at numerous engagements around the area.

“We do try to get out and sing to other people as much as we can,” Colin said. “You put the hard work in, and when you get on stage, it’s brilliant.

“Because it is acapella, and we don’t need instruments, we can perform anywhere, in any size group. As long as you have one each of the four voice parts, you have got a quartet. A lot of barbershop is based on quartets, but you can have as many in a group as you like, as long as you have a balanced sound.”

As usual, Anvil Chorus was busy in the run-up to Christmas with gigs in all sorts of places including Old Oscott Residential Village, Mere Green Memory Café and numerous fund-raising fayres.

Their huge repertoire takes in music from the start of the 20^th Century up to the likes of the Beach Boys and Billy Joel, all performed in that barbershop style – while international barbershop rules state that there shouldn’t be any song that’s political, religious, or contentious in any way.

However, new members shouldn’t expect to find 21^st Century chart-toppers on the set list. “That kind of material often doesn’t translate well into what we would call proper Barbershop Harmonies,” said Colin.

“If people come along and like it, and want to do it, it really doesn’t matter which songs you sing – it’s all about the singing and making it sound right that is the pull.”

The club covers a patch stretching across Walsall, Sandwell, Great Barr and Sutton but have a few long-standing members who travel from as far away as Worcester. They are hireable for events such as weddings, funerals, anniversaries and parties but will also offer their services for free to support fund-raising or community activities.

It’s all part of that friendly, social history that can be traced back to the barber shops of America.

After 42 years, the Anvil Chorus are still hitting that ‘sweet spot’ – and making the hair on the back of your neck stand up!

The Anvil Chorus meet at Grove Vale School in Great Barr, B43 6AL, on Tuesday nights at 7:30pm. Everyone welcome at any time to come and have a listen – and possibly join in.

Win £50 In Our Facebook Competition

You have the chance to win £50 to spend with one of our advertisers.

Go to our Facebook page, and answer the questions about our new community website. All you need to do is simply message us from Facebook with your answers. Closing date is midnight on 8th March.

Local Methodist Minister, the Reverend Bev Boden will be selecting the winner at random from the entries received by the closing date.

Good luck.

Aldridge Fire Cadets: Sparking A Connection

Youngsters with a burning ambition to learn about life as a firefighter are being offered the opportunity to take part in special six-month courses.

Every Thursday night, between 6.15 and 8.45pm, Aldridge Fire Cadets are put through their paces at Aldridge Fire Station under the gaze of former Watch Commander Andrew Dickson assisted by a small dedicated group of fellow volunteer instructors.

“To some of the young people, it can be quite a life-changing experience” he told Pioneer. “Parents sometimes comment on how much more confident, assertive and outgoing their children are after they’ve been on the course.

“But that’s because we teach them discipline and structure and expect them to take responsibility for themselves and their colleagues on the course. We even have a ‘no mobile phone’ policy, when they are here.

“It’s great to see how they develop new social skills over the time they are with us.”

There are 20 boys and girls currently on the course, aged from 11 to 15, who dutifully attend each week and support extracurricular activities.

The course has been running in Aldridge since 2008, initially under the auspices of The Young Firefighters Association and latterly rebranded as Aldridge Fire Cadets in line with the National Fire Cadet scheme.

After an initial three-month course proved a success it was extended to six months, and ever since hundreds of youngsters from Aldridge and the surrounding areas have taken part in a scheme which allows them to experience much of what real firefighters do every day.

“The cadets have their own room at the Fire Station and even their own road-worthy fire engine, which is an older one that is now no longer up-to-date enough for fire crews to use on the front line,” Andrew said.

Andrew, who is 60, retired from the brigade in 2010 following more than 33 years’ service. He has retained his involvement with the cadets and, having kept up his HGV licence, drives them to events in their fire engine.

Those events include appearances at carnivals and fayres, as well as providing support as parking marshals at places like Aldridge Transport Museum.

“We are always out and about helping to raise funds with car washing and bag packing,” Andrew said, “which really helps the cadets develop a sense of community.”

But perhaps the most challenging – and exciting – aspect of the course is the firefighter training that the cadets take part in.

“The cadets get a real taste of life as a firefighter,” Andrew said, “learning drills and how to use the hoses, ladders and pumps.

“Underneath the station is a tunnel that the firefighters use for breathing apparatus practice, and we have created some light-weight plastic sets that the children can wear so they can experience it too.

“They love the challenge of going into the pitch black and finding their way through the tunnel using touch only, wearing the apparatus and full mask.”

The cadets also act as casualties in major training exercises for firefighters.

But safety is the number one priority for the cadets whenever they are engaged in training of any kind.

“Out on the yard, it is paramount that they are doing things safely,” Andrew said. “In fact, I purposely have a downtime for 10 minutes every week where they have time to have a chat and a joke around and socialise.

“That way we know that when it’s time to be serious and concentrate they are ready.”

Andrew is very passionate about the scheme, which he describes as ‘shaping young people for adulthood’.

“It teaches then teamwork, builds self-esteem, and also provides an NVQ qualification in Understanding Firefighting, so they have mini lectures and do a little workbook,” he explained.

The course is even set up to accommodate youngsters who do not read and write well, still allowing them to get the qualification and certificate.

At the end of the six-month period, the cadets have a Passing Out parade, where all their family and friends are invited, along with the Mayor of Walsall, and dignitaries from the Brigade. There is also an award for the best cadet on the course.

But perhaps the clearest evidence of the course’s success is the number of cadets who have gone on to become real firefighters.

“There are some that enjoy the six-month experience for what it is,” Andrew said, “and then others who actually develop a real passion for joining the brigade.

“I have had a few that have gone through the course, and then when they have reached 16, have been invited back to be junior instructors, then become adult instructors with me, and then applied to the brigade and become firefighters.

“I follow their pathway, and some of them that have done the course are well into their twenties now and serving as firefighters.”

It seems that while all of Andrew’s cadets are reshaped in some way by six months under his tutelage at Aldridge Fire Station, for a few the experience sparks a connection with firefighting that simply can’t be extinguished.

Further information:

andrew.dickson@wmfs.net

07989143388

Frank Chamberlain: A Lifetime of Inspiration

Brierley Hill Frank Chamberlain — Brierley Hill Author, Frank Chamberlain

Brierley Hill author Frank Chamberlain has always wanted to be a writer. As a teenager growing up in Walsall, he would often start crafting a story, but his creative juices would dry up and the writing stop.

It was only when he began to draw upon the places and characters of the Black Country that inspiration struck – resulting in a new locally-based novel that will resonate with locals.

His new book, ‘Misconception’, was inspired by a lifetime of living in the Midlands. The 49-year-old writer first fell in love with the character and history of the area as a nine-year-old schoolboy on a trip to the Black Country Living Museum.

“I remember the school trip really well,” he said, “Back in the 1970s The Black Country Living Museum was only just starting off, but even then it was quite an incredible place.

“Over the years, as it has grown and grown and I have been on lots of visits there, I guess this story had started to grow with it – it inspired a lot of the settings and places.”

The 1941 thriller is set in a fictional town made up from the DNA of the Black Country as a whole, with influences stretching from Aldridge Transport Museum to the Rock Caves and houses of Staffordshire. The action is set around a town similar to Brierley Hill, as it would have been during the war.

But while the story is set during the war years, Frank was determined that it would be more than just a tale about soldiers and conflict.

“I wanted a strong female lead,” he explained, “and I also didn’t want people to pick it up and think ‘oh, this is a blokey war book’. So, this isn’t a book about the war as such, but more about people living during the war in the West Midlands.”

The plot follows Justine Page; a young woman who sets out on a quest, when she wakes up after an air raid to discover that her friends and her lover Harry have vanished. She is helped along the way by a passing company of Australian soldiers and their colourful Aboriginal scout, Jarli.

“The book has something for everyone,” Frank explained. “There is local history, humour and at its heart It’s a good adventure story.

“Everyone who knows the Black Country and surrounding areas will recognise the humour and the places and people that it’s based on. I was determined not to write a boring old history-based war story – it’s intriguing and colourful.”

The story places memorable characters in local locations that Frank researched in great detail, to ensure that the book accurately reflected wartime life in the Black Country.

“I felt that it was vital that I did some serious research to give the book real grounding in local history,” he said. “All the locations are based on real buildings, tunnels and hidden spaces that I have either visited or studied diagrams and archives of.

“If I haven’t been able to visit a place because it is inaccessible, I have looked at old blueprints, or spoken to people that have been there. It’s all based on the real streets of Brierley Hill and Stourbridge.

“All the vehicles featured in the book are vehicles that exist at the Aldridge Transport Museum, too.”

With ‘Misconception’ now published, Frank has plans to expand the wartime world he has created in the Black Country, turning the book into a series with prequels and sequels.

The book forms the middle part of a series of novels following the lives of key characters Justine, Harry and Jarli, along with their families over 11-year cycles, beginning in 1919 and ending in 1963.

When finished, the ambitious series will follow their lives over the years through the changing landscape of the Black Country and beyond.

And Frank hopes that the characters who populate his story will resonate with readers, just as they have inspired him.

“To be honest, this book wrote itself when the characters came to life and made decisions of their own,” he said.

‘Misconception’ is available as a paperback or download from Amazon. You can discover more at www.FrankPages.Net or follow him onwww.facebook.com/FranksPages.

Month: March 2020