ALHS OLD NEWS DIARY

 

OCTOBER 2000

 

There was no meeting this month as we had our first Annual President's Luncheon at The Masonic Hall Aldridge on Sunday 8th October.

The luncheon was well attended by 87 members and friends and was followed by an after dinner speech by Geoff Foster a local estate agent. Geoff recalled his life as a boy in the 1930's and punctuated his tales with Enoch and Eli Black Country humour.

We received many words of thanks for such an enjoyable event and some even asked if it could be made a monthly occasion-- but I think not, too much work to organise !

At the luncheon we were very proud to announce the launch of this new web-site. This was met with surprise and pleasure by the members. Many of our more mature members were quick off the mark to show off their IT skills and visited the web site as soon as it went live on the 11th October, sending their comments to us via e mail. Within just a few days we received an e mail from Canada -- Help! Can we cope with this international interest ?! But joking apart , we really do hope that the web site will be used by families whose origins were in Aldridge and students for research , as well as by our members.

Please do try to log on to this page from time to time , as we will endeavour to update it regularly with what 's happening or has happened during the month.

Hope to see you all at the next meeting on November 13th.

Hazel

 NOVEMBER 

This month saw the annual Remembrance Day parade at which we were represented. A wreath was laid on behalf of the society at the Cenotaph to remember those that died in the wars. The parade marched from the community centre to the Green and back and consisted of Councillors, British Legion, representatives of various local organisations, army cadets, scouts, guides and brownies.

The meeting this month was well attended with an audience of 70. Mr Trevor Antill gave a most interesting and entertaining talk on " The Monarch's Way " illustrated with some outstanding photography. The Monarch's Way is a long distance walk of 610 miles, using footpaths and bridleways, following the escape route of Charles II after the battle of Worcester in 1651. Mr Antill's talk concentrated on the Midlands section from Worcester to Stratford via Boscobel.

We look forward to inviting Mr Antill back in order to cover the other sections of the Monarch's Way at a later date.

We are now looking towards our December meeting which will be the AGM and Quiz night on Dec 11th. Tickets cost £2.50 and include a jacket potato and mince pie supper. All that remains to do now is to set some questions that you all have a chance of answering! So Tarrant and his sidekick (that's me) are working all hours to come up with the ' Quiz of the Century '. Sorry but the funds just won't stretch to one of you becoming a Millionaire !!!

A big thank you to everyone for their kind remarks, both individual and at the meeting, regarding the President's Sunday Lunch and the Website. By popular demand the luncheon will be repeated next year in October.

I look forward to seeing you at the next meeting.

Hazel

 

DECEMBER

The end of the year sees us hold our Annual General Meeting and Christmas social event . In the past we have had skittles evenings and slide shows and around 50 members usually attend.

This year we decided to have a quiz night with a jacket potato supper and 90 tickets were sold. We were overwhelmed by this excellent response and decided, even though it was short notice, that with such numbers attending the event would be better held at the Aldridge Social Club.

The room was decorated for Christmas and we all had an enjoyable evening.

We are grateful to Portobello Restaurant, Plough & Harrow, Irish Harp,

Lazy Hill Fish Bar, Herbarium, Stan and John who all donated prizes for the raffle.

The formal part of the evening was soon over. The existing committee were re-elected for a further 12 months.

A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all our readers

Hazel & Andrew

 

January 2001 - A Happy New Year to All our Readers

Last November our committee decided that it would be useful for the Society to own a digital camera. The benefits being that we would not have to ask members to use their personal cameras to record events for us. We are very grateful to those who have carried out photography for the Society, but this does have the associated delay of waiting for the whole film to be exposed and subsequently developed. Images from a digital camera are of course available immediately and do not require a whole roll of film to be used. Furthermore images from a digital camera can of course be easily added to this web site.

Some research before Christmas identified a Minolta camera that would fulfil our needs and which was within the budget allocated. We decided however that it might be worth waiting for the January sales. A visit to the shops after Boxing Day resulted in the purchase being made, which was just in time for us to take some pictures of the quite heavy snowfall that occurred between Christmas and the New Year.

(See Aldridge in the SNOW)

 

At our January meeting we were provided with a most informative talk by Ann French about the 'Lost Buildings of Walsall' In addition to the many pictures of often impressive buildings, including some of the interiors, Ann gave a most detailed history of the building concerned. If you missed this presentation, do look out in the local press for other dates and venues, it is worth seeing. Ann has also produced a book on this subject and the talk is often billed from the title of the book - 'It aye ere ar kid'

OBITUARY

It is with great sadness that we have to announce the death of Glenda Harber who passed away 25th December 2000

Glenda served the Society as Secretary since its formation, until the onset of her illness in December 1999

Our condolences go to John and the family

 

  

February 2001

This month's meeting proved to be very popular with the members as Stan and John did a long awaited slide show. The show comprised of old and more recent photographs of Aldridge with a taped commentary by Stan and research by Don Heitzman.

Bookings for next month's Radio Days and 40's night were brisk and this promises to be a very popular evening. Don't forget to book your tickets if you wish to join us at the Aldridge Social club and remember 40's dress is optional.

We have also started taking bookings for the trip to York and Eden Camp Museum in April. Please book early for this to avoid disappointment. In ' flight ' drinks and entertainment courtesy of Hazel.

This month saw the sad death of one of our founder members and respected members of Aldridge village, Reg Hilditch. Reg played an integral part in the Society giving useful background information on a variety of topics, helping at events and even buttering the scones at the cream tea when the heavy manual work of moving tables became too much. Our condolences to his family.

Please check out our extended gallery of photographs, some only recently acquired by the society.

The development at Anchor meadow is now well underway as can be seen below. This has been a somewhat controversial project. There are many residents who claim that this land was left for the people of Aldridge to enjoy and was therefore subject to a restrictive covenant. It seems that if a covenant did exist then it has been removed (or breached) to allow the sale of a portion of Anchor Meadow adjacent to the old Station site to be used for the building of a Hospital. The plans for a Hospital have been scaled down resulting in the new Medical Centre which now houses the former Northgate and Portland Road Surgeries. The surplus land has now been sold on again for residential development.

 

 

This will be the view that some of the new residents will have

 

 

SPRING/SUMMER 2001

At last we have found time to update the news page. It has been such a busy time and the months just fly by.

All of the monthly speakers have been excellent and very entertaining with audiences averaging around 60 members per meeting.

The main event of the season was the annual trip…this year to the city of York.

Members were given the choice of either a full day to take in the sights of historic York or to visit Eden Camp, with its exhibits and nostalgic look at the World War 2 era. The weather was kind to us and everyone enjoyed their day .

Everyone outside the coach for a group shot please!

 

 

Aldridge has been extremely colourful this summer with some local fields sown with meadow flowers and grasses.

 

OCTOBER 2001

Today Sunday 7th October saw the second annual President's lunch at the Masonic Hall , with guest speaker Alison Beardwood.

The lunch was well attended by 88 members and guests and we all enjoyed the talk given by Alison on Friends along the Way, during which she told us of the many and varied international friends she had made through various circumstances during her lifetime. Many of those friends experiencing a life with less freedom of speech and actions than we are used to in our country.

As you can see from the photographs below , a good time was had by all at the meal , especially Neil. What had he had to drink???!!!

Even Mr and Mrs Roberts remembered to come this time!!! ( Sorry Edna , I couldn't resist it! )

 

 

 

Ps. Don't forget to order your tickets for the Band Concert next month.

 

NOVEMBER 2001

 

On Saturday 3rd Nov the Staffordshire Band entertained us at the Youth Theatre. They gave an absolutely magnificent performance; they just get better and better. If you have not seen them yet they are well worth hearing.

Our interest in the Band is that their origins can be traced back to the WalsallWood Temperance band and the Aldridge silver prize Band. Read a history of the Band in the articles section . BAND.htm

On this occasion the Society has donated all of the proceeds of the event to the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal. Bob Mycock from the legion was presented with a cheque for £400.00

The Society will participate in the Remembrance Sunday parade and lay a wreath at the cenotaph

 

ALHS participated in the Local Fair held at Walsall Town Hall last month. Here are some pictures taken at the event by Stuart Williams of the Local History Centre

 

 

Hazel

ANNUAL REPORT - 2002

 

I am pleased to present this report on the activities of the Society during the last 12 months.

2002 marked our 10th anniversary and our Society still continues to grow. Membership has increased to 135 and monthly meetings continue to be well attended with audiences now regularly around 80 in number. A ballot held on a possible alternative meeting venue to accommodate our growing numbers was inconclusive.

 

A varied program of meetings was organised as follows:-

Dec : AGM + Musical Evening June : Mrs Pinder - Royal Encounter

Jan: D & L Perry - Pub Signs July : White Hart Caldmore

Feb: Dr M Johnson Rocks Around the Block Aug: no Meeting

Mar Trevor Antill - Monarchs Way Sept: Sue Genge Street Children - Romania

April: J Hill - Canal Scene Oct: Presidents Sunday Lunch - Mr Fullelove

May: National Local History Week Nov: Mr Coxhead Sutton Wild Life

Stan John & Sid - Slide Show

 

In addition to the monthly programme, the following additional activities have take place during the year:

Spring outing to Pembridge & Hereford with Lunch

Summer Outing to Llandudno

Jubilee & 10th Birthday Celebration. - Commemorative spoons to all members

Display of Society’s Photographs and Material at Longwood boat club , Shire Oak School Victorian Day & Walsall Local History Fair . We are grateful to John Sale who continues to provide us with new material so that we can vary our display. This year we have featured past coronations & jubilees

Committee invited by Mr Henery to view the Moot House

The application for development at the Parish Church has caused much debate. Because of mixed opinion amongst our members the committee has chosen to recommend that each member lodges their own personal response to any further applications that may be lodged

The Society has been pleased to assist in answering enquiries received , with information drawn from the resource of our members. We regular receive emails from around the globe from people who find our website

The Society is always willing to support other organisations within the community with Stan & John attending as guest speakers when requested. . The Society supports the Royal British Legion and participated in the Remembrance Sunday Parade.

Thank you to all members for your continued support which enables the Society to continue to develop as a significant group within the local community.

 

ANNUAL REPORT - 2003

 

I am pleased to present this report on the activities of the Society during the last 12 months.

 

2003 has proved to be another successful year for our Society. Membership has increased to 140 and monthly meetings continue to be well attended with audiences regularly of around 80 in number. A record number of 110 members and guests attended the Presidents Lunch this year. 78 enjoyed the spring outing to Oxford and Blenheim and 43 went 'back in time' on the Severn Valley 40's Weekend. Our first 'Open Day' in the summer, when we were joined by our friends from Brownhills LHS, was also a huge success with visitors attending throughout the day

 

Our varied program of monthly meetings was as follows:-

 

Dec : AGM + Musical Hall June : Mr Atkin - Lichfield Town Crier

Jan: Brenda Knight - Lichfield July : Barrie Sims - The role of a Magistrate

Feb: Beryl Ellerslie - Middleton Hall Aug: no Meeting

Mar Trevor Antill - Monarchs Way Pt3 Sept: Nigel Wiggin - Old Hall Stainless Steel

April: David Tideswell - Garden Birds Oct: Presidents Sunday Lunch - P Chapman

May: Andrew Lound Nov: Bill Mayo - Stafford Gaol

Astronomy

 

In addition to the monthly programme, the following additional activities have take place during the year:

 

Spring outing to Oxford and Blenheim Palace

Summer Outing to 40's Weekend - Severn Valley Railway

ALHS Open Day

Display of Society’s Photographs and Material at 'Art for Aldridge' .

We are grateful to John Sale who continues to provide us with new material so that we can vary our display. This year we have featured pictures of the Queens Coronation celebrations

 

The Society has been pleased to assist in answering enquiries received , with information drawn from the resource of our members. We continue to receive emails from all corners the globe from people who have an interest in Aldridge and who find our website. www.btinternet.co,/~aldridgelhs

 

The Society is always willing to support other organisations within the community with Stan & John attending as guest speakers when requested. This year we have supported a Primary school initiative to establish a 'Local History Trail' on the Croft . The Society supports the Royal British Legion and again participated in the Remembrance Sunday Parade.

 

This success story only happens because of the continued support of our membership, which enables the Society to grow and flourish as a significant group within the local community.

It follows that the running of a thriving Society also becomes a greater task and I thank our committee members who continue to give their time to assist in the administration of the Society .

 

Members may wish to be aware that Ron Smith, who has recorded Society events over the years on video, has produced some compilation videos which are available for purchase. Full details are available on his website mysite.freeserve.com/www.aldridgevideos A 2004 Calendar from the John Sale collection is also now available. Contact Stan Brookhouse or John Sale for details

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