Moseley B13 Magazine November 2021 Issue 524

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B13 MAGAZINE

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NOVEMBER 2021 ISSUE 524

C O V D N A L A CE C LO IN 3

M SELEY

STEPHEN ‘PLANTY’ PLANTE FAREWELL TO A FRIENDLY FACE THE YOUTH OF NATURE

A THANK YOU TO MOSELEY PARK & POOL

MOSELEY SOCIETY HISTORY GROUP

THOSE WHO MARCHED AWAY

THE PLACE FOR PEOPLE PROJECT

LOW TRAFFIC NEIGHBOURHOOD SCHEMES

NEWSHOUND INVESTIGATES

PETS AND WILDLIFE ON NOVEMBER 5

MOSELEY B13 MAGAZINE

NOV21 EDITOR Mark Baxter (editor@moseleymagazine.co.uk) THE TEAM Ian Cook, David Isgrove, Stephanie Silk, Maria Arroja Ferreira, Tipton, Debbie Aldous, Max Jalil, Martin Jeffers, Jobe Baker-Sullivan, Izzy Knowles, Yonatan Yon, Alex Jenkins, Jenny Gwynne, Mitch Schofield DESIGN Andy Wickett (andywickett@gmail.com) CONTRIBUTORS David Spilsbury, Moseley Local History Society, Edwina Rees, Mike Bethel BUSINESS MANAGER Martin Jeffers PROOF READER Jane Barry SOCIAL MEDIA Maria Arroja Ferreira TREASURER Leanne Holloway (accounts@moseleyb13.com) ADVERTISING Yonatan Yon DISTRIBUTION Izzy Knowles,Martin Jeffers BOARD David Isgrove (Chair) Stephanie Silk (Editorial) PHOTOGRAPHER Position Vacant MAIL Moseley Publishing House Ltd. Moseley B13 Magazine, c/o: Moseley Exchange, 149-153 Alcester Road, Moseley, Birmingham, B13 8JP. ONLINE instagram.com/moseleyb13mag facebook.com/MoseleyB13Magazine twitter.com/MoseleyB13Mag COMPANY SECRETARY Position Vacant LEGAL STUFF Moseley Publishing House Ltd is a non-profit voluntary run company based in England and Wales. Company No. 07786560.

No part of this magazine may be reproduced, in whole or part, without express permission.

All material is believed to be correct at the time of going to print.

COVER IMAGE: Stephen 'Planty' Plante, photographer unknown

WORDS FROM THE

EDITOR

Many of you will have heard the sad news about the passing of Stephen Plante, nicknamed ‘Planty’. Stephen has left a big impression on Moseley locals, with even those who didn’t know him that well commenting about always seeing him engrossed in reading a book - recently outside M&S Foodhall - and greeting passersby with a big, warm smile. Planty graces our cover this month and we say a fond farewell on page seven.

We also have a six pages on The Place for People Project consultation on the Low Traffic Neighbourhood scheme (pages 10-15); the Moseley Society History Group commemorates Remembrance Day by researching the men from Coldbath Lane who lost their lives during World War I (16-17); and Newshound Investigates… opens up the casebook on the effect fireworks have on pets and wildlife (18-19).

Enjoy November and we’ll see you again for our festive - I know!

It’s too early to even think about it - issue in December.

Mark

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OUTLETS Farmers’ Market (Village Green) plus: A and R News (320 Yardley Wood Road) Aiden McDonnell Hair (56 St Mary's Row) Drinksville (23 Woodbridge Road) Greenhill Garage (89-91 Billesley Lane) Indigo Foods (50-52 St Mary’s Row) Maison Mayci (148 Alcester Road) Moseley Post Office (149 Alcester Road) Newslink (3 Alcester Road) Nima Deli (103 Alcester Road) One Stop (117 Billesley Lane) Oxfam Books and Music (101 Alcester Road) Palmyra (13 St Mary's Row), SS Grocery Store 215, Stoney Lane; O.A.K Superstore Ladypool Road; 5 a day fruit and veg stall, Moseley Village; The Mix Cafe , Old Print Works, Moseley Road and Moseley Exchange, 147153, Alcester Road

2021 PUBLICATION DATES

ISSUE Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

COPY

17 Feb 17 Mar 21 Apr 19 May 16 Jun 14 Jul 18 Aug 15 Sep 20 Oct 17 Nov

SALE

27 Feb 27 Mar 24 Apr 29 May 26 Jun 24 Jul 28 Aug 25 Sep 30 Oct 27 Nov

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12 INTHIS ISSUE

18

04

NEWSHOUND

07

STEPHEN PLANTE OBITUARY

08

THE YOUTH OF NATURE

10

REMEMBER, REMEMBER

12

PEOPLE PROJECT

16

IN MEMORIAM

18

NEWSHOUND INVESTIGATES

22

EDITOR'S CHOICE

25

MOSELEY MUNCH

28

MOSELEY MEMORIES

30

WORLD SERVICE

28

NO.83

To Be Continued...

BY MARK BAXTER

NEWSHOUND

Tipton, the B13 Newshound Twitter: @B13Newshound / Instagram: @tiptonb13

POPULAR MOSELEY ‘BRUNCH SPOT 'CLOSED FOR TWO WEEKS' IS NOW UP FOR SALE Lewis's cafe in St Mary’s Row which, according to its website was said to be closed 'for two weeks' in the summer, has recently gone up for sale.

Lewis's closed its doors at the end of July and a sign posted in the cafe's window stated it would be shut for two weeks to allow for staff holidays and to train up new team members. The same note was posted on the café’s website https://www.lewissdeli.co.uk/.

However questions were raised when the venue did not reopen in August as planned. Emails and phone calls by Newshound have not been answered.

However the popular brunch spot, which attracted dozens of five star ratings on Trip Advisor, has since been advertised for sale along with the remainder of the property lease. Lewis's is on the market for an undisclosed sum - with price on application - and the rent is listed as £31,200 per annum.

The listing reads: "The property is located in a very prominent position in the heart of Moseley village on the main A435, just to the south of the city centre of Birmingham. Behind the property is a large public car park making it easy for customers to take advantage of the premises and the wider trading centre.

"The property is fitted to trade as a café/bistro. It has a pleasant road frontage on a sweeping curve overlooking the centre of the village. At the front the property is a bar area with seating, with the kitchen area and a further seating area at the rear.

Stairs rise to a third dining area on the first floor where the kitchen preparation area and customer toilets are located.

"There are a further two upper floors used for administration and/or storage. A full bathroom with showers is within the upper floors making [it] ideal for dormitory purposes for staff at the premises."

Those interested in the property should contact agents Paarl at 0121 369 2424

LAB FORTE MOVES TO ST MARY’S ROW In early October, Lab Forte finally opened in the former Pottery & Pieces site at 30, St Mary's Row. A note on their Facebook page on Tuesday October 5, as they moved from their former site at 134 Alcester Road, said: “It’s official. We are in at 30 St Mary’s Row. Please bear with us whilst phone lines etc are transferred over … We cannot wait for you all to see this incredible new space. It’s beautiful. Thank you all for your patience."

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LARGE GRANT FOR MOSELEY ROAD BATHS AS RENOVATION CONTINUES Moseley Road Baths has been awarded a £100,000 grant from the government's Culture Recovery Fund towards urgent repairs to parts of the building damaged in a fire in the 1990s.

The Edwardian swimming baths are the oldest of only three Grade-II listed pools still in use in Britain and have been on Historic England's Heritage at Risk register since 2005. Now run by the local community, Moseley Road Baths is one of 142 heritage sites to receive a share of a £35 million funding pot announced on October 22, which is designed to bring precious sites back to life. The money will pay for repair works to a fire-damaged upstairs caretakers flat and boardroom to bring them back into use as a community space.

Kat Pearson, trustee at the Moseley Road Baths Charitable Incorporated Organisation, which helped to save the pools from closure, said: "We're thrilled. Historic England has been a great partner of ours over the years and it's great that they are finding more money for us.

"Part of our building needs work to make sure it is secure. We have an upstairs caretakers flat and boardroom which have been out of public access for about 40 years which are in quite poor repair. There was a fire at some point in the 90s and we need to make them water tight to make it a space that we can use. We don't have firm plans for them yet but we have been doing art exhibitions, displays and yoga around the building so this is just more space that can be used by the community."

Moseley Road Baths first opened in 1907 and was used as a casualty station during World War II when it was hit by incendiary bomb. They are the only baths in the country built before 1914 to have continuously hosted swimming - apart from a few brief periods of closure - since they opened. The building underwent a major £800,000 revamp last year, which allowed members of the public to see the inside of the Gala Pool without scaffolding or debris for the first time in 17 years.

The site is significant because of its architectural quality and remarkably complete interior, with many of the rare fittings and fixtures still intact. These include an almost complete set of 46 private washing rooms, known as the 'slipper baths', the only complete set in the country. Oak ticket offices and attendants' kiosks also remain in place, along with possibly the only surviving steam-heated drying racks in a British swimming pool.

Kat added: "Generations of people love this building and use this building. We always get people saying 'I learnt to swim here'. "All the money being invested in Moseley Road Baths allows it to continue to be at the heart of our community."

Any leftover funds will go towards examining the state of the front of the building to identify any repairs.

Photo credits: Moseley Road Baths interior shot by Vivienne Harrison / Exterior shot by Ian Cook 5

TRIBUTES PAID TO FORMER MOSELEY COUNCILLOR AND DEPUTY COUNCIL LEADER Tributes have been paid to an “irreplaceable” former Birmingham City Council deputy leader and Moseley councillor who has died following a short illness.

Andy Howell was a former Labour councillor for Moseley and deputy leader of the council under Sir Albert Bore (Lab, Ladywood) between 1999 and 2003. The honorary alderman of the council passed away at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.

Mr Howell served as a councillor between May 1991 and May 2003, with other responsibilities including serving as chair of the education committee. Serving councillors have recounted stories of how he has continued to help and mentor until very recently, while city MP’s highlighted his work “combating the abuse by bad landlords”.

Mr Howell’s wife Kate Foley, director of housing at the Pioneer Group, said: “Andy was Birmingham to his core, although he also had a huge love of the hills and the great outdoors. He touched many lives across his wide range of interests including the arts, charitable and education sectors as well of course as the politics of the city. We are stunned at his passing and we know many people are deeply saddened.”

Council leader Cllr Ian Ward (Lab, Shard End) tweeted he was “shocked and saddened” by the news of the death of Mr Howell, son of former MP Denis Howell.

Cllr Ward said: “Shocked and saddened to hear of the death of Honorary Alderman Andy Howell after a short illness. A good Labour man who was committed to the people of Birmingham. My thoughts and condolences with his family at this very sad time. RIP.” Deputy leader Brigid Jones (Lab, Bournbrook and Selly Park) said: “Shocked and so very sorry that former Birmingham City Council deputy leader Andrew Howell has left us so suddenly.”

A number of Birmingham’s MPs honoured Mr Howell with tributes, with Jess Phillips MP, MP for Birmingham Yardley, posting: "If you grew up in the Birmingham Labour Party he was a permanent feature. Very sad news.”

Jack Dromey MP, MP for Birmingham Erdington, tweeted: “Andrew Howell was a towering figure in Birmingham for a generation. From his service to the people of our city on Birmingham City Council to combating the abuse by bad landlords of exempt accommodation, he was an inspiration and a joy to work with. RIP Andy.”

Respect for Mr Howell also came from other sides of the political spectrum, with Conservative group leader Cllr Robert Alden (Con, Erdington) tweeting: “Sorry to hear Honorary Alderman Andy Howell has passed away. Thoughts and prayers with his family.”

VINTAGE CLOTHING STORE COL8 OPENS AT OLD BOOTS SITE

Saltire Sky 1902

If you have visited Moseley’s pay and display car park recently you can’t have failed to have noticed the entrance to Col8 – a shop providing an eclectic mix of vintage clothing from vintage to new age streetwear.

Now a far bigger Col8 shop has opened in the old Boots store at 129 Alcester Road on the corner with Salisbury Road. The shop is still selling its vintage clothing, but now from a larger premises. We will bring you more details as soon as we get them

Ian Cook 6

STEPHEN PLANTE OBITUARY

Dominic Heatherington: So sad to hear this. I went to school with Stephen and he was always a nice guy. He used to have bleached funky hair cuts and was the coolest dude in school. Will miss having little chats, mainly about books . Rest in Peace Stephen.

Zanna Rovira: The saddest news. Thank you for always making me smile and feel safe walking home through Moseley. I will love and miss you always. Look after JR. Grace Pyne: What a lovely bloke he was. Always so polite and a pleasure to talk to.

Steve leaves behind his long term partner, Colette and his parents Stephen and Linda, and two brothers, Oliver and Tom.

Stephen Plante, known by most of us as ‘Planty’, passed away suddenly in early October. A former pupil of Park Hill Nursery, Infant and Junior Schools, and Moseley Secondary School, he lived in Moseley all his life. Most people connected with Steve while he was sitting outside the Co-op in Moseley, Sainsbury’s in Kings Heath, and more recently at the rear entrance to M&S Foodhall.

A crowd funder has been set up to build and install a book sharing library on the Moseley triangle in Steve’s memory. Additional donations will be given to Moseley Alternative Giving Campaign, a local charity that supports homeless and vulnerable people. https://www.gofundme.com/f/booksharing-library-in-memory-of-stephenplante?utm_source=customer&utm_ medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cf%20 share-flow-1&fbclid=IwAR37MSBKNKET_ ag45yxxYOCU1USC8xSFQJyMoArBDDWuJ9BvcyimNXM5Pg

Stephen was a keen reader, and would often discuss books with passers by. He especially liked George Orwell, his favourite book was Animal Farm, and he would talk at length about Russian authors, including Tolstoy and Dostoevsky. Stephen loved engaging with people. He had no prejudices and never had a bad word for anyone.

Izzy Knowles

He was a gentleman with a big heart, he didn’t ask for much and he dealt with the many challenges life threw at him with good humour and stoicism. A happy person who lived life his own way, Steve will be remembered as a Moseley character who brought a smile and touched the hearts of many of us.

Hundreds of tributes were made on social media and well wishers have laid flowers at the gates of Marks and Spencer and in Church Road. A book of condolences is open at the Moseley Exchange.

Tributes to Stephen outside M&S Foodhall 7

THE YOUTH OF NATURE: A THANK YOU TO MOSELEY PARK & POOL

Cameron Moon is a local filmmaker who has lived in Moseley for 15 years. He talked to Izzy Knowles about his latest production, a short film called ‘The Youth of Nature’ which will be premiered at the Moseley Exchange on 26th November in aid of two local charities, Arts all over the Place and Moseley Alternative Giving Campaign (MAGC).

be an absolute haven of serenity. A place to relax, reflect and really be in the moment.

The film is a huge thank you to the park and everyone who plays an active role in maintaining it for us all to enjoy!

“My latest film 'The Youth of Nature', which has already gained recognition and awards in the UK, India, France, Canada & Russia so far, came about over summer for two reasons. Firstly, I was really craving to create something. I was struggling mentally having not 'created' something in a long time due to Covid. I was writing a lot but wanted to do something physical both to get back into filming and to also re-ignite my creative flow, so I contacted my friend, cinematographer Gary Rogers and pitched the idea of shooting entirely in Moseley Park and Pool which he loved. Creative art therapy REALLY helped, I found.

“First and foremost, the film was always something for the residents of Moseley to enjoy and cherish! I even cast a Moseley resident, the brilliant Sofia Kokolaki as my leading lady in the film. The film is about childhood memories and how the great outdoors always leaves a lasting impression on us. It's warm and touching and I think it will really resonate with people as well as providing the opportunity to recognise various parts of the park!”

“Whilst, the film itself isn't necessarily about mental health it has its roots firmly based in mental health and art as therapy. The idea for Cameron Moon: “I've been in the business the film was always to give something back now for close to ten years having started out to Moseley so the plan is to have a screening doing extra work, then graduating to speaking at the Moseley Exchange on the 26th of parts and now making my own short films. As November with the aim of raising money via an Independent filmmaker, actor and model donations for 'Arts all over the place' and I've achieved worldwide recognition via my ‘MAGC’ which are both worthy organisations films produced by my own film production supporting local people. company 'Hazel Tree Pictures'.

“Secondly the film was also a sort of a love letter/thank you to Moseley Park and Pool.

I've spent SO much time there since the pandemic began, and it has and continues to

Tickets for the film screening, which includes a question and answer session with the filmmakers, and also refreshments, are free and can be booked via Eventbrite. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-youthof-nature-short-film-charity-screeningtickets-184225833427?fbclid=IwAR28F52oRuro7JjzedtdIO-cNJnRr29NFWUE3bYyxopueEhdCTPwxVVKY

“REMEMBER, REMEMBER

Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, T

This is the last day to have your say about the next LTN proposals affecting Moseley and Kings Heath to make them a ‘Place for People’, a project which aims to rethink the way traffic interacts with residential neighbourhoods, rerouting cars and encouraging people to change their travel habits.

to extend the cycle network through Moseley, with studies to look at making bus routes more effective, not forgetting the return of a local railway station, this is an amazing opportunity to do something positive that will impact Moseley and Kings Heath for generations. It could also be an example for the rest of the city.

LTNs are a Marmite case – some love it, some hate it, but it won’t go away. For this reason it’s so important to add your voice to the feedback. Take a careful look at the options and go online to be involved in the consultation or pop into Kings Heath Library.

There have been key issues raised during public consultations such as access for emergency vehicles, dangerous driving on roads where through traffic has been syphoned off, and increased pollution and congestion on roads where people have learnt to take short cuts. These latest ideas seek to try to deal with these, but a return to how it used to be is not an option. Each option is a guideline and is not set in stone: the end result could well be a modified version of two of the options.

There are three types of traffic – through traffic, essential journeys, and non-essential journeys. Throw in the need to reduce traffic and pollution; the need to change our habits to protect our health and environment; and the fact that at present a quarter of car journeys in Birmingham are one mile or less … we must do something! Add to this the plans

This consultation is a real chance to reflect on the changes we all need to make to 10

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R the 5th of NOVEMBER ….”

Treason and Plot. Whose Plot? improve the places we live in, and to look seriously at the future of transportation in the city.

5. What about access to supermarkets for those who HAVE to use cars? M&S, Asda and Lidl?

Here are some guidelines to help your approach to the consultation.

6. What about the 34 Bus Route that meanders through the side roads

1. Recognise that you can never please all the people with any change

7. Non-essential traffic: Which options encourage people to stop those short journeys? What about cycle routes?

2. Through traffic: at the moment this is via the A435, Billesley Lane and Yardley Wood Road. The best options should enable traffic to move slowly with fewer stops (which would increase pollution with idling traffic). This involves changing the road environment by effective traffic calming measures.

So go to www.birminghambeheard.org.uk/ economy/kingsheathpfp/ or visit Kings Heath Library … and also look at the plans for the new schemes shown over the next few pages.

Remember November 5th is the closing deadline.

3. Also think of the effect on surrounding road junctions. For example, Option D with Billesley Lane closed means that traffic on Yardley Wood Rd doubles. What happens with its junction with Wake Green Rd or Swanshurst Lane? Should there be a roundel at the junction of Billesley Lane and Wake Green Rd?

There are many more questions, but we will have to rethink how we move on both small and large scales if we want to continue to be a forward-thinking city. Now is the chance to grasp the nettle and plan for our future. It’s in your hands.

4. Essential traffic: Oxford Road has suffered: here it’s proposed to be blocked.

David Isgrove

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Moseley and Kings Heath: Th Consultation has opened on a new set of proposals for the Low Traffic Neighbourhood schemes around Moseley and Kings Heath. The ‘Place for People’ project, which has been running since last year, aims to rethink the way traffic interacts with residential neighbourhoods, rerouting cars and encouraging people

to change their travel habits.

Systems such as Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, or LTNs, can improve road safety and free up spaces previously dominated by traffic for more local use, as seen on York Road. Moreover, as the problem of pollution only increases, such changes are

necessary to protect the health of individuals and the environment itself. Making our city greener is essential, and at present a quarter of car journeys in Birmingham are one mile or less, trips which could potentially be taken by more sustainable methods.

he Place for People Project Schemes like the LTN are naturally never perfect, so Places for People have begun a second phase of the project, including four options for traffic calming measures alongside opportunity for feedback and discussion with our local community. The four options are divided up into a pair

of schemes for the west of Kings Heath High Street and a second pair for the east side.

They aim to refine the current plans while learning from the last year of measures.

At the first live briefing session the team behind the scheme were very positive while remaining

open to suggestions and improvements for the new plans. They addressed concerns over issues like access for emergency services; assuring attendees that ambulances and other emergency vehicles hold keys for LTN bollards. Feedback gathered from emergency responders also found that

the quieter side-streets are now the easiest way for them to navigate their routes. Additional elements like extending existing cycle paths to connect directly to Moseley, and a new bus lane at a key junction on the 50 route are also being worked on and will complement the LTN by making alternative travel easier.

While some main roads

have undoubtedly increased their traffic levels under the current scheme, the hope is that as people adjust their habits, these roads will also see the benefits of a more modern approach to transport.

Birmingham as a whole has recently announced plans to encourage further active travel and public transport use, and we will have to rethink how we move on 14

both a small and large scale if we want to continue to be a forward thinking city.

This consultation is a real chance to reflect on the changes we all need to make to improve the places we live in, and to look seriously at the future of transportation in the city. Full details of the new schemes, the drop in sessions and the feedback forms www.moseleyb13.com

are all available at www. birminghambeheard.org.uk/ economy/kingsheathpfp/ and the plans for the new schemes are shown over the next few pages. Consultation will close on 5 November, and for those without easy internet access, feedback forms can also be found at Kings Heath Library.

Option A retains the current layout for the west side of the

high street with no changes to the current modal filters.

Option B is a new layout uses diagonal filters to create several one way areas with access either from Avenue Road or the High Street Option C is one of two potential options for the east side change from the current measures. This option creates a one way loop around 15

Heathfield and Institute Road, whilst introducing calming measures on Billesley Lane Option D is another new scheme, with a key difference of removing Billesley Lane as a through road, instead using it as a cycle route. Residents can access the area via Springfield Road.

Alex Jenkins

Moseley Society History Group

Those Who Marched Away In Memoriam Lane tram route, lived at 1 Coldbath Road. He enlisted in the 1/8 Royal Warwickshire Regiment and was killed on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916, aged 25.

Coldbath Road lies

The parents of Private Harry Cecil Mills, a bricklayer, lived at no. 50. He was in the 166th Machine Gun Coy defending a post at HellFire Corner, Ypres when he was injured and died from his wounds several days later on 21

between Wheelers Lane and Yardley Wood Road in Moseley.

The boundary of Moseley Golf Club borders the entire north-eastern side. In 1891, Coldbath Lane, as it was then known, was home to just five households, but by 1911 this had risen to seventy-five.

During the course of WWI, seven men from this road lost their lives.

Corporal Arthur Archibald Plant, a conductor on the Stoney

Coldbath Road in the 1950s 16

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Corporal Arthur Plant

Harry Bunce lived at no. 80, with his wife Rose and three children. On 27 October 1914, Harry, a Birmingham Corporation Tramways worker, enlisted as a Private in the 9th (Service) Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment. The regiment, after assisting the evacuation of troops from Gallipoli, was posted to Mesopotamia to relieve the siege of Kut, but arrived too late. Harry died in Deltawa near Baghdad on 26 June 1916, aged 24.

Reginald Charles Bendall, a fruiterer, lived at no 85. He served as a rifleman with the 9th Battalion Rifle Brigade. He was just one of 350 ‘other ranks’ killed in the advance on Flers and Lesboeufs on 15 September 1916.

He was just 20 years old.

Edwina Rees To read more about the lives of these men on the Moseley Society History group’s website go to: https://moseley-society.org.uk/local-history/ projects/ww1-project/

June 1917. He was 26 years of age. He left a widow and two children.

Lance Sergeant William Frederick Hunt lived at no. 53. He enlisted in the 7th Battalion Duke of Cornwall Light Infantry. He was wounded in the Battle of Langemarck near Ypres on 16 August 1917 but did not make it back to the British front line. He was posted as missing, believed dead. He was just 20 years old.

The mother of Corporal Joseph Herbert Smith lived at no. 63. Joseph, a gardener, enlisted in the 1st Brecknockshire Battalion South Wales Border Regiment. He was posted to Aden, arriving there on 3 July 1915.

Following a route march the following day he died from heat stroke, aged 36.

Ernest George Parker, a gold beater, lived with his parents and siblings at no. 72. Soon after the declaration of war on 3rd August 1914, he enlisted as a Private in the 2nd Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment and was killed in the Battle of Festubert in the Artois region of France on 18 May 1915, aged 23. His body was never found.

Private Harry Bunce 17

NEWSHOUND INVESTIGATES....

a result, I’ve opened the Newshound Investigates casebook to take a look at how damaging our celebrations can be for our feathered, furry and fishy friends, and what we can do to avoid causing such carnage in the future...

The New Year incident in Rome is evidence of how fireworks can end the lives of birds in the sky or those nesting in trees. Birds can suffer panic attacks and die of shock, or be hit outright by fireworks. They can end up flying into buildings or abandoning nests, leaving their young vulnerable to predators. It can also cause fear and chaos for animals on terra firma.

REMEMBER, REMEMBER, PETS AND WILDLIFE ON THE FIFTH OF NOVEMBER Many of you will have seen the footage of a “massacre” of birds in Rome at the start of 2021. Fireworks and firecrackers had been let off in the capital on New Year’s Eve, leaving hundreds of birds mostly starlings - lifeless on the ground.

A ban on personal fireworks had been imposed to help keep people, animals, and the city’s archaeological heritage safe, but it was largely ignored.

Bonfire Night is a hugely popular time in Britain and Moseley has firework celebrations all throughout the year, so I’m not looking to be a party pooper; I’m house trained after all and never poop at parties (Well, there was that one time I consumed too many ‘Bottom Sniffer’ dog friendly beers and couldn’t find my way to the back door, but that’s another story). However, it appears we’ve all given little thought to the effect these displays have on those who live in our natural habitat, as well as the toll it can take on domestic and farm animals. As

Fireworks can cause animals to flee to unsafe areas such as roadways, or abandon their dens and babies. A zebra born during lockdown died in a zoo near Bristol last November after being “spooked” by fireworks. The foal named Hope bolted and smashed into the wall of the enclosure during nearby firework celebrations. There have been other reports of animals being hurt, lost or dying (usually running into walls, similar to the tragic death of Hope, the baby zebra) over the last few years, including horses, cats and dogs. Many animals have much more sensitive hearing than humans so the explosions of fireworks can cause loss of hearing and tinnitus.

Bees - a species already in danger in 18

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the nocturnal foxes and the Moseley owl of the night shift. Whenever we shoot frightening rockets and explosions into the sky, we are creating damage and trauma for them all.

Whatever you choose to do this November 5, I hope your celebrations don’t go off with a bang, but with something much quieter and much kinder. our time - can become so disorientated that they don’t go back to their hives.

The chemical particles of fireworks can also be dangerous for animals and fish if debris is ingested.

Videos on social media over the last few years have shown shaking dogs cowering during Guy Fawkes celebrations, and there have been accounts of the trauma having an adverse effect on the health of “man’s best friend”. The Dog’s Trust advised owners to “build a safe den where they can hide away from the nastiness outdoors” and make sure you walk them early in the day so they’re tired before dark. Companion animals are also at risk of suffering anxiety and panic attacks.

Calming products are available to help pets through the firework season.

Tipton, the B13 Newshound Search online or ask in shops for silent, quiet or low noise fireworks. Calming products to help anxiety during fireworks season are available at Kings Heath Pet Centre and other outlets.

So what can we do to avoid such unnecessary stress and suffering for our animal pals? Well, low noise fireworks are available, having been around for some time, and are equally beautiful. I’m guessing they would still create issues for wildlife, but will at least help to reduce the panic and trauma created by the incredibly loud screeching and explosions of standard fireworks.

The town of Collecchio in Italy passed a law in 2015 stating that all firework displays must be quiet. Perhaps Moseley (being a progressive type of place) could follow suit and join Collecchio in being more thoughtful and protective of our wild animals and pets? We live in a green and leafy suburb full of wildlife, be it the birds in the trees on Wake Green Road and their delivery of the dawn chorus, or 19

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Getting to know your child as well as we pos and tailoring our approach to his or her partic

Inspiring your child to learn and deve O pen in g in J an u ar y 2 0 2 2 i n t h e he ar t o f M o se le y

R e g i s t e r you r i n t e r e s t no w! g strong partnerships with parents, families and 4 Oxf or d R o ad, M os e l e y, Bi r m i n g ha m, B1 3 9 E H

Our ethos at Norfolk House Nursery is built on the following principles:

Open 7a m - 7 p m

Placing the safety and wellbeing of your child at the very centre of nursery life

Getting to know your child as well as we possibly can enquiries@norfolkhouseschool.co.uk and tailoring our approach to his or her particular needs Inspiring your child to learn and develop Developing strong partnerships with parents, families and the wider community

use Nursery

Op en 7 am - 7 p m enquiries@norfolkhouseschool.co.uk

on, Birmingham, B15 3PS Norfolk House Nursery 3 Norfolk Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 3PS

28 Harborne R

Norfolk House Nursery

28 Harborne Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 3AA

n nhnursery.c h n u r o.uk s ery.c o. uk

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will be reunited with the band. DJs will be playing Fleetwood Mac and more classics from their era all night long. Go as your favourite Mac member/era! And of course Christine McVie went to the Moseley School of Art.

EDITOR'S

CHOICE: THE BEST OF NOVEMBER’S

A Certain Ratio, Tuesday, 9th, 19.30.

EVENTS Music Best of the Hare and Hounds (Alcester Road, Kings Heath) gigs:

Post-punk survivor of Tony Wilson’s Factory Records era.

Jane Weaver, Friday, 5th, 19.30.

Peggy Sue , Sun, 21st, 19.30.

Jane Weaver began her career in the 1990s in the band Kill Laura and has now built up an amazing solo back catalogue including her latest album Flock. Why not spend an alternative November 5 with Weaver’s brand of psychedelia, dream-pop and electronica.

Other venues

Brighton’s brilliant Peggy Sue brings their brand of indie pop/indie folk to the Hare.

Prince of Wales, Alcester Road, Moseley: The Edgar Marcias Quintet: Buena Vista Social Club 25th Anniversary Sunday, 7th, 16.00.

Forget the November drizzle in Moseley and find a bit of Havana heaven in the Prince.

The Nightingales, Thursday, 4th, 20.00.

The Nightingales were formed by a few members of The Prefects, “Birmingham’s original punk group”, following the band’s demise in 1979. The band’s frontman Robert Lloyd was recently the subject of the King Rocker documentary. The film also features comedian Stewart Lee and Birmingham’s long lost King Kong statue.

Billesley Rock Club, Brook Lane, Kings Heath: Vice City: Fleetwood Mac Special, 6th, 22.30.

Fleetwood Mac have been everywhere with ‘Dreams’ featured in TikTok videos while someone or other drinking cranberry juice.

There’s also the eternal “will they, won’t they” drama of whether Lyndsey Buckingham 22

Dementia Aware Festival Brum Part Two, Saturday, 13th, 15.00.

Be a totally excellent dude for a good cause.

Castle and Falcon, Moseley Road, Balsall Heath: www.moseleyb13.com

Rooney played Father Dougal’s wayward friend Father Dammo so any patrons probably need to think about - Father Ted episode spoiler alert - leaving their whistles at home.

Birmingham from the early 70s and running until its closure in 2004. Rarities and fascinating finds from the extensive Pebble Mill archives.

Art and Creativity Folk Like These:

This is the Kit, Tuesday, 16th, 20.00.

Drink & Sculpt, Saturday, 20th, 18.00.

The Paris-based band fronted

by Brit Kate Stable will arrive on the Moseley Road after the success of their albums Moonshine Freeze and Off Off On.

Cinema Cinema at the MAC, Cannon Hill Park is screening the Square Eyes TV Festival in November. Here are some of the highlights:

Square Eyes: A Celebration of Father Ted with Joe Rooney, Sunday, 7th, 18.30.

Drink? Sculpting? The creative brilliance of Folk Like These?

What’s not to like?

Social Square Eyes: Recorder - The Marion Stokes Project + Panel , Wednesday, 10th, 20.30.

Documentary film on the obsessive world of Marion Stokes, who recorded over 70,000 VHS tapes worth of TV footage to form an astonishing historical record, starting in 1979 with the Iranian Hostage Crisis at the dawn of the twenty-four hour news cycle, and ending on December 14 2012, the Sandy Hook school massacre playing out on television as Marion passed away.

Square Eyes: The Enduring Legacy of Pebble Mill, Saturday, 13th, 10.00.

A golden age of television and talent took place at BBC Pebble Mill studios in 23

Moseley Hive: Plastic Free Takeaway Night, Wednesday, 3rd, 18.30.

Delicious, environmentally friendly and a chance to make new friends.

Market Moseley Farmers’ Market, Saturday, 27th, 9.00-14.00 Start buying your Christmas gifts and you can also get our December/January edition while you are there!

Full details and pricing are available online. All details are correct at the time of going to press.

MOSELEY B13 MAGAZINE IS LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS FOR OUR SALES TEAM Enjoy the atmosphere of the Moseley Farmers’ Market, meeting new people and helping to support your local magazine? If so, we need you!

We’re looking for volunteers to help to sell the magazine at the market (last Saturday of every month). You can pick any slot or slots between 9am-2pm (if you can only manage one hour then that’s a massive help).

The magazine is a non-profit, voluntary run company so helping to sell each edition is an important aspect of the process and the sales we make go back into the costs of producing the next issue.

Moseley Farmers’ Market is always a vibrant occasion and offers a great opportunity to raise awareness about Moseley B13 Magazine The magazine is about to go into its 49th year and can only do this with the continued support of our volunteers and readers.

If you’d like to get involved, please email the Editor for more information. editor@ moseleymagazine.co.uk 24

www.moseleyb13.com

MOSELEY

MUNCH

Waiting on a

Trend

eighties seemed to love “clever dips and starters”, cheese and pineapple animals, devilled eggs and sour cream concoctions tossed in odd bread bowl receptacles. The nineties loved pasta bakes yet annoyingly everything else was frighteningly zero fat (Eeek!). And in the early 2000s I don’t think I ever went to a party without a vat of hummus and a restaurant that loved serving bizarre miniature versions of comfort food such as “sliders”.

Past popular food items may have been somewhat pre-determined by branding, but since the grip of social media, trends are more unpredictable and ever changing, with us, the consumer as the influencer. Anyone can go on Tik Tok and make a feta pasta bake that the entire world is aware of. And although there are some slightly absurd trends (eensy weensy 2 cm pancakes? Puh-leese!), there is a greater push towards the world, being sensible, and taking a more ethical, no waste and seasonal approach to food. Our horizons are rapidly broadening.

Here is a little round up of some great cooking food trends: The Italian deli: Nduja, Mortadella and Burrata – a funkier chorizo, a superior bologna and a pimped-out cream filled mozzarella. It is hard to go on any food blog without seeing these deli items pop up in recipes.

Trends of the past play a significant role in so many of our nostalgic memories. As a child of the eighties, I can visualize my crimped hair in a side bedazzled scrunchy pony, wearing a tight shiny aqua unitard with an oversized pale pink shoulder padded sweatshirt. And even when I romanticise it, a synthesizer and saxophone solo is totally playing somewhere in the background. Of course, food is also memory, and it is transcending to reflect on pop cuisine of the past few decades.

You do not have to look too hard to see that the seventies rarely saw a household without a bell bottomed, fondue pot gathering. The 25

pepper flakes, za'atar, kimchi and chilli crisp to the forefront. Now I regularly toss them into the simplest of meals.

Eggs, Mediterranean style: From ‘cilbur’, a Turkish dish with poached egg in warm yogurt to Shakshuka, eggs baked in a pepper and tomato sauce – making a grand Mediterranean style meal out of an egg is extremely in.

Fancy tacos galore: Peace out Old El Paso - more and more people are making fancified tacos like ‘El Pastor’, The Roman pasta: Pasta will always serve as a wonderful meal and great food porn pork tacos made with caramalised onion and pineapple and ‘birria’, slow cooked beef tacos but more specifically Roman pastas (cacio e served with the jus for dipping… and I am pepe, carbonara and all’Amatriciana to name personally loving it. a few) seem to be everywhere in the cook’s forum as they lend themselves to the notion Slurpy noodle soups: Whether it's that you can make something extremely ramen, udon, pulled noodles, pho or some luxurious out of a few basic ingredients. kind of fusion, comforting large meals in a beautiful hot bowl are here to stay.

Breaking bread: Everyone seemed to have a sourdough starter baby brewing in their kitchen somewhere over lockdown. Mine was Globally fried: I do not know if there was ever a time when fried chicken was not called “Bruce” - he died a slow, stinky death. popular, but every country has their version, and these are happily being showcased. There International ingredients: Chefs is Keralan, Karaage, Mochiko and Korean just such as Yotam Ottolenghi and David Chang to name a few. have brought some beautiful specialty ingredients such as miso, harissa, Aleppo Beans beans the magical fruit: More and more people are turning to vegetarianism and veganism in an effort to be more sustainable, and more and more chefs are coming up with amazing ways to cook these protein packed, flavour absorbing nuggets.

All in all, in a world of constant influence, the influencers are not thinking about what’s trending really, they are just trying to put forth something great. So even though our past “fashionable” selves might make our present selves cringe a bit, I don’t really mind.

The world is turning, I am learning, and life is great that way.

Here is my recipe for beans two ways. A base that can be devoured in it’s beautiful broth and one with a seasonal spin. All of this can easily be made veggie or vegan by simply omitting the obvious elements…it will still be amazing.

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A Great Bean Base: 500g beans (such as butter or haricot) 1 whole garlic head cut crossways 1 white onion peeled and quartered 1 shallot peeled and halved ½ lemon 2 sprigs coriander, 2 sprigs parsley, 1 sprig basil 2-4 pieces of bacon or pancetta 1 parmesan rind 200 ml extra virgin olive oil 3 Tsp. sea salt ¾ Tsp. bicarbonate soda Place the beans in a large bowl and cover with 1.5 litres water. Leave to soak at room temp overnight.

Preheat the oven to 150 C. Drain your beans, place them in a Dutch oven along with 1.5 litres of fresh cold water and the bicarb soda. Now toss in the rest of the ingredients and heat over medium, mixing gently and bringing it to a bare simmer.

Transfer the beans to the oven uncovered and cook for 35-75 minutes depending on your bean*.

Now that your beans are ready, they can be eaten as-is or stored in your fridge for several days and made into various ways. Or you can make my seasonal recipe here:

In a separate pan add your beans, broth and the squash on medium high heat. Add the parmesan and melt it into the broth, cooking for about a minute or two. Now pour off about ¾ of the broth into a bowl and reserve.

Continue to cook and allow the beans to absorb the rest of the broth. Season to taste.

Plate the reserved broth, the beans and squash, the crisp sage leaves, the fried egg (if using) and drizzle the brown butter on top. *How do you know when a bean is done?

According to Samin Nosrat of “Salt, Fat Acid, Heat” – you should check five beans. If even one bean seems underdone, keep cooking and test another five again.

Beans in Parmy Broth with Butternut Squash, Sage and Brown Butter Serves 2 3-4 ladles of your bean base plus a ladle of the broth 1 small butternut squash peeled and cut into 2cm cubes ½ Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil 1 Tsp. Agave syrup or honey 50 grams butter 5-6 sage leaves 25 grams parmesan plus more for garnish 2 fried eggs ( optional) Preheat the oven to 200C. Place your squash in a roasting tin, add the olive oil and agave, some salt and pepper and toss. Roast for twenty minutes until tender.

In a small frying pan add the butter and melt, add the sage leaves and fry until crispy (1 minute). Set the leaves aside on a paper towel and continue to heat the butter until it's nutty brown, set aside.

This “base beans” method is inspired by a recipe from Cook This Book by Molly Baz.

Jenny Gwynne Jenny is “The Salty Chilli” an obsessive cook and food writer who lives in Moseley. To read more check out her Instagram @thesaltychilli, her blog www.thesaltychilli.com .

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Moseley Village in the 1940s-50s was a place still profoundly affected by two wars: what had originally been The Great War, but was by then World War I, and, of course, WWII, so wellremembered by those of us who had lived through it.

Frequently, along The Parade or St. Mary’s Row, you saw women in ‘widow’s weeds,’ long grey or black coats and black cloche hats, which had been fashionable in the 1920s-30s. Sometimes, bleak-looking men in grey, with black squares, sewn diamond-fashion, on a sleeve, wandered alone.

They were in perpetual mourning for loved ones lost in The Great War, or dying from injuries after years of pre-antibiotic agony, or the 1919 Spanish Flu pandemic.

No ordinary person knew that the new lethal mutation of a familiar illness actually originated on the great plains of middle America, thrived amongst recruits in New York State, prior to embarkation for “over there.” It was only when Spanish doctors independently identified what was killing so many across Europe that American medics breathed a sigh of relief when the misnomer spread as quickly as the pandemic.

Apart from a few Zeppelin raids on Hull and London, there was no ‘home front.’

Like all previous wars, it was characterised by patriotic or inducted troops going out to fight some sinister foreign enemy.

WWII was different. The Luftwaffe bombed targets

Moseley Memories: Majo all over the country, so ‘civilians’ became targets, especially people in factories, docks and any transport which might help the war effort. Mourning loved ones became communal. No one in the street displayed their personal grief. A shrug and “I just carry on” was enough.

What we only gradually learned was that many of the older staff were WWI veterans who had been appointed when the school was founded.

Some had physical injuries which they hid, while others bore mental scars which manifested themselves in ways we barely understood.

We knew that the headmaster Even after the war ended, was a veteran, but not how more than a million served, he had distinguished himself some as volunteers who had in that hellish conflict. When few good memories of preBirmingham City Council war civilian life, others called needed to convert the former up for National Service, which Congregational seminary of only ended in 1964. Military Spring Hill College into the uniforms were a familiar much-needed new Moseley sight, so when we ‘grammar Secondary School in 1923, grubs’ started at Moseley recruiting Major Ernest Harold Grammar School in 1950, it Robinson was no problem. seemed only natural to see They may not have known older boys wearing them and that he had been awarded parading and drilling on the two Military Crosses and two Junior Quadrangle, or to see Distinguished Service Orders rifles and Bren light machine for his bravery under fire, guns taken from the former getting several injuries in the air-raid shelter nearby.

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Ben’s desk.

or Ernie’s Men of Action process, but they knew there would be no problems with discipline. That was one of their biggest concerns across the City.

Partly from trust in their reliability, but also out of compassion, Ernie Robinson appointed mainly veterans of the trenches as his staff.

Charlie Hill had become a major by the end of the war (see Moseley Memories ‘Drawing a Line on a Wall’ from last month). ‘Gabby’ Woodhouse, by contrast, was a sad victim of shell-shock (PTSD). Although he often shook so much that he could barely hold a paint brush, he showed occasional acuity as an art teacher (Moseley Memories ‘Options and Closures’, November 2020).

The mock-soldiers we saw were officially the 4th./5th.

Battalion, Royal Warwickshire

Regiment, commanded by Major ‘Gunky’ Jones (don’t ask) who never taught my forms. ‘Joe’ Starling (think USSR) and ‘Wuffy’ Waugh were captains under him. In 1954, Bob Shaylor, a WWII veteran joined us as captain.

After I left, he became a major and took command of the ACF. One WWI veteran remains a mystery. The unfortunately named Benjamin Christian Smith (‘Holy Ben’) taught Scripture, but was incapable of commanding an unruly class. He was given the room closest to the headmaster’s study, so Mr Robinson could intervene if things got too out of hand. The only occasion when my form needed that was over our group solidarity in refusing to identify Roger Wharton as the source of a stink-bomb artfully dropped and crushed underfoot by 29

Holy Ben lived at Toc H, a hostel for war veterans at 6 Wake Green Road (now Lench’s Close). He was very much an outdoors man with his heavily tanned skin and sun-bleached shock of hair, cycling to school whatever the weather. The only time I saw him wearing a tie was that Tuesday morning in 1952, when he escorted us, in silence, to the Main Hall.

All the staff were wearing full academic dress and Mr Robinson even wore a mortar board, like teachers in comics, when he came to announce the death of King George VI. Toc H was radio-signallers jargon for Talbot House, the rest house established by Philip Bayard and ‘Tubby’ Clayton at Poperinge, in Belgium, in 1917. Shell-shock was common and when a Toc H was set up in Birmingham, it had a warden to give advice and comfort. Presumably, that was why Holy Ben was there.

We gained a lot from being cadets and it is interesting that the modern-day Spring Hill College has been selected to have a Police Cadet Force, as part of an experimental scheme promoted by West Midlands Constabulary. Not military cadets, but civilians.

David Spilsbury Photo: Officers of the Birmingham Home Guard 1941, commanded by Lt. Colonel Robinson (centre: black forage cap), flanked

by Major Charles Hill (dark forage cap) and “Gunky” Jones (khaki Tam o’ Shanter).

World Service at The Gap 9th October 2021 Review by Mike Bethel on the double bass

Now then: I have never been afforded the opportunity to review my own gig before but, as unaccustomed as I am to writing this sort of guff (and with Frank Zappa in my head reminding me that “writing about music is like dancing about architecture”), I’d be a fool to pass it up!

seeks to support young people who may have “fallen through the gap” between education, employment and training. Some amazing visual art, photography, film, music and poetry is produced as a result.

We were there as part of the “Balsall Heath Second Saturday Shindig”, a monthly festivalstyle event supported by the Cultural Activity Zone and designed to celebrate the rich diversity of our local arts. The theatre performance earlier had been part of it, but there were also craft workshops, talks, demonstrations, taster sessions and exhibitions. The next one will be on Saturday 13th November, where they intend Having not performed together since pre-Covid to have live hip hop and other delights. times (remember them?), and never as a trio, we were apprehensive about how tonight’s gig Having set up and sound-checked, we found would go – or if anyone would come! ourselves chatting to people who had arrived early. I was struck by the warm friendly vibe The Gap, our venue for tonight, is at the that was generated; there seemed a real sense front of The Old Print Works in Balsall Heath. of community in our happy buzz of anticipation.

I arrived with our time management expert This was as much to do with the affable venue [drummer] Paul Carroll and his stripped-down, staff as the relaxed feel of the cultural art space. almost jazzy, drumkit. The ‘Park Bench Plays’, Thank you for letting us all feel so welcome! featuring members of the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, had just finished and some of their We spent a very enjoyable two hours romping audience were in the courtyard to reflect on the through our World Service set – each song an performance. immaculately crafted and universally relatable gem plucked from Andy Wickett’s long and We were met by Ian, a friendly Australian prodigious history of incredible music. expat with a passion for local history, who offered to give us a guided tour. Had we not got Of course, the gig was brilliant. If you weren’t a gig to set up for, we would gladly have taken there, you should have been..! up his offer. Maybe next time…

The venue operates as a café during the World Service will play next at The Shed in day and is run by The Gap Arts Project, which Cotteridge Park from 2pm on Sunday, 7th November World Service is a vehicle for the songs of Andy Wickett (who wrote early versions of Girls On Film and Rio for Duran Duran when he was their frontman). He performs with such a wild passion for the music that it is impossible for both band and audience not to get swept up in the charming exuberance.

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