The Bloxwich Telegraph is to suspend regular publication and go into ‘hibernation’ for an unspecified period, effective from today.

In a recent front page Leader column, Stuart Williams, the Editor and Publisher of the online news and local heritage magazine for Bloxwich, Leamore, Blakenall Heath and Birchills indicated that, due to increasingly heavy family and work commitments, the frequency of updates to the popular website would generally be reduced to weekly.

However Mr Williams, who founded the Telegraph in 2006 as The Bloxidge Tallygraph, has now decided to suspend publication altogether, until further notice.

Stuart said in his last Leader, which will be updated this evening:

“Particularly on the family front, of late I have found it necessary, as a carer, to considerably reduce my other activities. This has been a difficult but essential process. Family has to come first, I’m sure you will appreciate.

“I also have a great deal of other writing to do, outside my work in support of local history in general and Bloxwich history and news in particular. I need both time and space to deal with this and serious family matters. Inevitably, therefore, I have much less time to work on the Bloxwich Telegraph than previously.”

Mr Williams, who is Bloxwich-born and bred, and has resided in Bloxwich and Blakenall Heath all of his life, said at the time that he had no plans to close The Bloxwich Telegraph down.

But developments since then have meant that, for the personal reasons outlined, he now feels it necessary to take substantial time out from working on The Bloxwich Telegraph, and the website is therefore going into ‘hibernation’ until further notice.

Stuart will continue to keep an eye on Bloxwich and district as time permits, and on that basis will continue brief updates of news etc via The Bloxwich Telegraph’s Twitter account, which readers of The Bloxwich Telegraph and others are invited to follow.  To do this, simply join Twitter if you are not already a user, and follow our account via the following link:

https://twitter.com/BloxTelegraph

It is also hoped to offer a limited automated service via Twitter, which will be announced in due course.

In the meantime, we thank our readers for their support in the past and hopefully in the future.

The Mayor, Bloxwich Carnival Royalty and a very special coach and horses last year.

That time of year is fast approaching once more, when the selection of the new Bloxwich Carnival Queen for 2013, along with a new Princess and Rosebud, will happen.

And this year the Queen choosing event wiIl be even more prestigious than before, taking place in style at Bookmark Bloxwich Theatre (aka Bloxwich Library Theatre) in Elmore Row, Bloxwich, on Thursday 23rd May 2013 at 6pm.

The age categories (as of 23rd May 2013) for entrants are Rosebud 7-10 years, Princess 11-15 years, and Queen 16-24 years of age.

Contestants MUST live in the Walsall/Bloxwich area and their Parents/Guardians pay their Council Tax to Walsall Council.

The Carnival Queen, Princess and Rosebud will be required to attend the Carnival Day, where they will be crowned.  Winners, in particular, the Carnival Queen will be expected to attend at least 3 community events during their year including Carnival Royalty Selection 2014 and Senior Citizens’ Party. The Carnival Queen automatically becomes a member of the Bloxwich Carnival Committee and will be expected to attend regular meetings.

Winners will be representing the Bloxwich community as Ambassadors. Holders of similar titles in other towns/areas during the carnival year will not be eligible to apply as this could lead to conflicting commitments.

Previous holders of titles are not eligible to re-enter for the same category but may enter another group provided they qualify by age.

Bloxwich Carnival Queen Selection Poster 2013

Bloxwich Carnival Queen Princess and Rosebud Entry Form 2013

If you do not already have Adobe Acrobat Reader or equivalent on your computer, you can download it via this link: Adobe Acrobat Reader.

A Blakenall Heath furniture workshop was gutted by fire in the early hours of yesterday morning.

The blaze destroyed stock, fittings, buildings and a delivery van as it ripped through the yard and worksop at the rear of popular dealer Peggy’s Place in Barrack’s Lane around 3am.

All but the shop facing onto the lane, which remains open for business, was destroyed, leaving charred wood, furniture, materials and debris surrounding the van, which was rendered a write-off.

Burnt out delivery van at Peggy’s Place – Ian Morton-Jones

Owners believe the fire may have been started deliberately in the workshop area before spreading to other parts of the courtyard.

Co-owner Matthew Cooper has said that around £10,000 – £15,000 worth of stock has been destroyed in the incident.  Apparently the yard has been targeted by thieves and vandals in the past, with tools being taken.

Peggy’s Place – still open for business!

Firefighters from Bloxwich Community Fire Station and Fallings Park attended following the alarm being raised by neighbours, and worked for more than four hours to put out the blaze, concluding that work around 7.30am yesterday.

They have not yet been prepared to comment on the precise cause of the fire as an investigation is underway, with investigators examining the scene in detail for clues. Police were also due to attend later.

If any report is forthcoming we will update this news item in due course.

Special thanks to Mr Ian Morton-Jones for supplying the exclusive photographs of the aftermath of the fire above and to Peggy’s Place for the picture of the shop.

Bloxwich Level Crossing, photo courtesy John M

A Bloxwich level crossing could be closed as part of a plan to create almost 1,400 jobs in the West Midlands through better rail links.

A footbridge could replace the crossing point at Reeves Street with a package of measures to improve adjacent road crossings funded by Network Rail could take shape.

Transport bosses have urged Walsall Council to take an informed decision on the request which has been made by the rail infrastructure operator, Network Rail.

A survey of users has revealed that 40 per cent of users would be unaffected with more than 20 per cent saying closure would result in a drastic impact.

Cllr Tom Ansell, portfolio holder for transport for the Walsall Council coalition, said: “We need to take a very careful look at this. There are economic benefits of the line from Walsall to Rugeley being electrified which could see Walsall connected with direct trains to London.

“Centro research says that electrification of the line will lead to 1,370 new jobs in the West Midlands.

“This could also lead to more local services stopping in Bloxwich and at Bloxwich North rail stations and better inter-city services from Walsall Station.

“However, we do need to very carefully weigh this up against the impact of the closure of the level crossing, which we shall do.”

Walsall Council transport officers are to look at how the proposed level crossing closure could affect residential roads in the area. A report is set to go to the authority’s regeneration scrutiny.

A further report will go to the authority’s cabinet on the advantages and disadvantages of the scheme.

The survey of users was carried out by Walsall Council and gives a snapshot of the views of crossing users.

More than 80 per cent say a footbridge is needed if closure goes ahead and 62 per cent of people said they would use it.

More than 60 per cent would use a strengthened road bridge at Central Drive. 

Network Rail have asked for the level crossing to be closed in order to improve speeds of trains passing through Bloxwich.

At present, speeds for trains are limited to 20 mph going over the level crossing which could be increased and would pave the way for more trains to be routed.

The level crossing could be kept in future but this would see the barriers down for long periods in future to allow for more trains.

The road network already gets busy when the crossing is closed and traffic would have to re-route if it was closed more in future, Walsall Council transport bosses say.

But there are fears if the closure does not take place now the barriers would still be down more in future but without the cash boost from Network Rail to help cope with demand.

Network Rail would also fund a pedestrian crossing at Reeves Street which would be cycle and wheelchair friendly if closure went ahead.

Edwardian London is being held to ransom – and who can rescue the capital from arch-villains ’The British League of Underhanded Scoundrels, Traitors, Extortionists and Rapscallions?’

Only one man – the world-famous detective Sexton Blake, ‘The Prince of the Penny Dreadfuls’, can save the day!

In Sexton Blake Strikes Back!, the latest live on stage theatrical production by legendary professional theatre company Don’t Go Into The Cellar, presented by Bloxwich Library Forum, theatre-goers can expect derring-do, last-minute escapes, narrow scrapes and fates worse than death in this affectionate homage to the way heroes used to be.

Stuart Williams, Vice Chairman of Bloxwich Library Forum, said:

“Sexton Blake is one of the great literary adventure heroes of the 19th-20th century, standing proudly alongside such mighty figures as Sherlock Holmes, Denis Nayland Smith, Biggles and Hercule Poiroit.

“Created by Harry Blyth in 1893, Sexton Blake adventures appeared in a wide variety of British and international publications (in many languages) from 1893 to 1978, running to over 4,000 stories by some 200 different authors.

“Blake was also the hero of numerous silent and sound films, radio serials and a 1960s ITV television series which many remember fondly.

“Now the legend that is Sexton Blake is coming to Bloxwich, in a play by the invariably excellent Don’t Go Into The Cellar – so adventure, excitement and huge fun can be expected in equal measure!”

Sexton Blake Strikes Back! is live on stage for one night only – this coming Saturday 20th April 2013, at Bookmark Bloxwich Theatre, Elmore Row, Bloxwich, Walsall WS3 2HR.

The play starts at 7.30pm. 

Ticket prices are £8.00 or £6.00 concessions.  Tickets can be purchased from Bloxwich Library and reserved by telephone on 01922 655900.

Click on the mini-poster at the top of this item for a larger version.

Reports are coming in of what appears to be a Black Diamond bus which has crashed in Sneyd Lane, Bloxwich, near the Mossley Estate.

First reports began to arrive via Twitter around 5pm this afternoon that the bus, operating on the 301 route from Walsall to Mossley Estate via Bloxwich, had hit the railway bridge and was partially blocking the A4124.

The West Midlands Ambulance Service reported that two rapid response vehicles were on the scene.  This was followed up by Walsall Police, who said that one passenger aboard the single decker was being treated for minor injury.

The vehicle was badly damaged, smashing the front grille, passenger door and side panels where it struck the bridge.  The vehicle has now been recovered and removed.

London Midland, the train operator, reported two hours ago that trains were now running normally.

There have been no official reports via Centro or Diamond Buses so far.

If we hear more we will update this report.

Details courtesy of Tom Stokes, travel broadcaster on Free Radio http://twitter.com/thetomstokes and our special thanks to Wulfey in Willenhall for the photograph above:  http://twitter.com/thewulfran

Members of Bloxwich Library Forum are getting ready to offer visitors to the library not just a free book for World Book Night, but the chance to hear readings from selected books and more during the afternoon of Tuesday 23rd April.

In a special informal daytime event at the Bookmark Bloxwich complex in Elmore Row, Bloxwich which will also include book readings by local author Stuart Williams, the Forum will make available, while stocks last, a small selection of free books provided by World Book Night for the event.  And admission is free of charge.

Stuart Williams, who is Vice Chairman of Bloxwich Library Forum, said:

“World Book Night is an annual celebration of reading and books which sees tens of thousands of passionate volunteers gift specially chosen and printed WBN books in their communities to share their love of reading.

“We usually run an evening event on this occasion but this year the Forum decided it would be be more accessible to many to hold an afternoon book giving session combined with readings, especially now the splendid new Bookmark Cafe is open at Bloxwich Library.

“The 23rd of April is also Shakespeare’s birthday and St George’s Day, so what better day to pop into Bloxwich Library for a free book (or to borrow one!), buy a cuppa and a cake and listen to some great stories?”

Readings will take place in Bookmark Bloxwich Theatre between 12.30pm – 1.30pm.  The theatre will be opened into the Bookmark Cafe, which will be open as usual from 10.30am – 2.30pm with a standard menu.  In addition to this the Cafe are serving a St George’s Day menu from 12pm – 2pm.

World Book Night is about giving books and encouraging reading in those who don’t regularly do so.  But it is also about more than that: it’s about people, communities and connections, about reaching out to others and touching lives in the simplest of ways, through the sharing of stories.  Bloxwich Library Forum and Bloxwich Library are delighted to give the event their support.

Bloxwich Library Forum is a volunteer group of members of the local community who manage the Bookmark Bloxwich Theatre in partnership with Bloxwich Library.

You can download the World Book Night event poster in pdf form via the link below:

World Book Night Poster

For more information about Bloxwich Library:

Bloxwich Library

There’s an amazing range of entertainment coming up soon at Bookmark Bloxwich Theatre, part of the Bloxwich Library complex in Elmore Row, Bloxwich.

The little theatre with the big heart is such an incredibly versatile venue that just about anything can happen there – and frequently does!

Managed by Bloxwich Library Forum in partnership with Bloxwich Library, the theatre, opened in 1964 and rebuilt in 2009-10 together with Bloxwich Library, the complex being relaunched as Bookmark Bloxwich, is completely reconfigurable and also boasts a Library Cafe, shared with the library during the day and usable as a bar in the evenings when events are on.

Hot evening events on the horizon at Bookmark Bloxwich Theatre are listed below – click on each title to view full details on the What’s On Walsall website:

Musicians For Life in conjunction with Bookmark Bloxwich Forum invite you to come and play….

Free Entry.  Time 7.30pm doors  8.00pm show.  Email Bruno On open.mic.bookmark@gmail.com  to Book a slot. Normally 15 min or 3 songs.

Sat 20 April 2013

Don’t Go Into The Cellar presents… Sexton Blake

The British League of Underhanded Scoundrels, Traitors, Extortionists and Rapscallions holds Edwardian London to ransom in this jolly fine play!

Time: 7.30pm Ticket price: £8.00, £6.00 concession. Tickets can be purchased from Bloxwich Library: 01922 655900.

26 April 2013

Youth Open Mic Night

 

 

Fri 10 May 2013

Open Mic Night

 

Musicians For Life in conjunction with Bookmark Bloxwich Forum invite you to come and play.

Time 7.30pm doors  8.00pm show.  Free Entry.  Email Bruno On open.mic.bookmark@gmail.com  to book a slot. Normally 15 min or 3 songs.

Sat 11 May 2013

Vera Van Heeringen

Debut album from Dutch bluegrass guitarist/singer Vera van Heeringen promises much and delivers in spades.

Tickets £5.00. Call 01922 655900.

See:  www.veravanheeringen.com/_/Welcome.html

Fri 24 May 2013

Youth Open Mic Night

 

 

Bookmark Bloxwich and IYPSS invite you to come and play…

Time 6.00pm doors  6.30pm show.  Free Entry.

Call Dan 01922 712069 for info and to book a slot

Sat 20 July 2013

Don’t Go Into The Cellar presents…  Dracula Walks the Night

 

 

Count Dracula, has returned to exact a dreadful vengeance on his nemesis, Van Helsing in this show with real bite!

Time: 7.30pm Ticket price: £8.00, £6.00 concession. Tickets can be purchased from Bloxwich Library: 01922 655900.

Sat 26 October 2013

Don’t Go Into The Cellar presents…  ’Warnings to the Curious’

 

Have your spines tingled and your bumps goosed with this atmospheric adaptation of the creepiest Edwardian ghost stories…  Spooky!

Time: 7.30pm Ticket price: £8.00, £6.00 concession. Tickets can be purchased from Bloxwich Library: 01922 655900.

And there’s more…

More events will be added as they are booked – don’t forget to check at Bloxwich Library or on the Bookmark Bloxwich web page:

https://sites.google.com/site/bookmarkbloxwich/

 

 

The host of purple crocuses recently spouting around Bloxwich, planted by the Rotary Club of Bloxwich Phoenix – most notably around the memorial oak tree in Bloxwich Promenade Gardens – are part of a national Rotary campaign to raise awareness of Rotary’s efforts with others in the global initiative to eradicate the disease Polio.

Just 50 years ago hundreds of people, mostly children, died each year here in the UK from this terrible disease.

With the advent of an oral vaccine and a vaccination programme the disease has now been eradicated from most countries worldwide.

Rotary’s efforts and it’s mass vaccinations in the remaining endemic countries have helped to get us to the point where now only three countries worldwide remain Polio endemic.

The purple crocus flower was chosen to promote the campaign as the purple colour is used to mark the fingers of vaccinated children when vaccination programmes take place overseas.

The world-wide Rotary International charity and its partners are so very close to completing the task.

Find out more about the campaign and its history at http://www.endpolio.org/ where you can take part in the world’s biggest commercial.

A very special book about the men on the Elmore Green School Great War Memorial is now available again at a very special price (see below), exclusively from Blakenall Village Centre – but hurry, time is short!

Sorrow into Pride tells the story of the social and military history of the ‘old boys’ of Elmore Green School, Bloxwich, who went off to fight in the First World War.  Written by two retired teachers and local historians, Barry Crutchley and Ken Wayman (pictured, above, at the launch), the book reveals the search for a ‘lost’ war memorial, the stories of the commemorated lads and its re-adoption by the original school.

Sorrow into Pride

Elmore Green School Old Boys’ Association war memorial was unveiled in the school hall in 1922.  It commemorated the sacrifice made by former pupils of the school in the Great War of 1914-18, listing sixty-seven ‘old boys’ of what was then Elmore Green Central School, later High School, who gave their young lives in “the war to end all wars”, some not passing away until 1919.  It had been moved from the school in 1958 when the secondary functions of Elmore Green High School were transferred to the new T.P. Riley Comprehensive, not far away in Lichfield Road.

The memorial quietly became part of the life of the new school until, in 2001, T.P. Riley was demolished and replaced by the present Walsall Academy, which opened in 2003.  It was around this time that the finely carved marble sculpture by Bloxwich-born Frederick T. Perry “disappeared” from the public eye.  In fact, it had been put into storage because it was not required by the academy, but for a long time this was forgotten.

Over the following years, various people including Bloxwich local historians Edna Marshall, Barry Crutchley and ex-T.P. Riley history teacher Ken Wayman, had tried to find and raise the profile of the missing memorial and eventually, following convoluted enquiries via the Academy and within Walsall Council departments, in late 2010 it was tracked down to the premises of monumental masons A. Walker & Sons of Cannock, who had been storing it safely since the demolition of T.P. Riley years ago.

Following work done by Walsall Council officers Mike Gaffney and the now late Elaine Box, funding was found from the Council to have the memorial returned to its original home in March 2011, when it was mounted on the wall of the school hall by the masons who had preserved it.  On Armistice Day that year, a special service of re-dedication was held at the school, truly bringing the memorial home.

Barry Crutchley (left) and Ken Wayman ponder the men on the memorial.

Sorrow into Pride traces the families and experiences of the lads named on the alabaster memorial, as well as one Old Boy who for some unknown reason was omitted from the list. In addition, the events leading to the deaths of ten servicemen closely related to those commemorated are examined, showing how the war affected their wider families; moreover, a number of related servicemen who fought in the Great War have been bound into the tale.

Now re-adopted by the school community from whence it came, the war memorial has re-invigorated the local community and brought forward numerous descendants of the Old Boys, furnishing invaluable information, precious photographs and memorabilia.

The authors owe a debt of gratitude to the present school community and its enthusiastic head-teacher Jane Humphreys, staff and pupils – following the hard work of local historians and council officers, they gave the war memorial’s story an unexpected happy ending.

New Horizons Community Enterprise, which runs the Blakenall Village Centre and a number of local projects and activities, is proud to have sponsored the publishing of the book, which adds an important chapter to the history of Bloxwich and its people.

The 458-page profusely illustrated softback book is published by Tommies Guides under the Reveille Press imprint with the ISBN: 978-1-908336-44-6.  

BARGAIN BOOKS

The normal retail price is £18.99 plus postage, but for a short period – until the end of April 2013 – signed copies of the books can be obtained for just £11.40 each or 2 books for £20, exclusively from Reception, Blakenall Village Centre, Thames Rd, Blakenall Heath, Monday-Friday 9am-5pm.  Please note – cash purchases only.

For further information and to order Sorrow into Pride, please contact Terri Wall, Service Manager of Blakenall Village Centre  – email terri.wall@nhce.org.uk or telephone 01922 714900.