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M SELEY April 2020 ISSUE 506

B13 MAGAZINE

COVID-19 ADVICE AND SUPPORT: KINDNESS, CREATIVITY AND CONNECTION

THE NIGHT MOSELEY TREMBLED: WHAT HAPPENED ON OCTOBER 30, 1952?

LOCA L

SINCE AND VOCAL 1973

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MY LIFE IN 70S MOSELEY: STEVE AJAO

MOSELEY MEMORIES: LIFE AND OTHER TADPOLES

MOSELEY B13 MAGAZINE

APR20

EDITOR Mark Baxter (editor@moseleymagazine.co.uk) THE TEAM Ian Cook, David Isgrove, Stephanie Silk, Tessa Kate Lowe, Maria Arroja Ferreira, Tipton. Debbie Aldous, PHOTOGRAPHER Alexandra Merrick CONTRIBUTORS Jonathan Sandilands, David Spilsbury, Des Jennings, Nick Cuthbert, Kashmir Tutt. Moseley Local History Society, Tessa Lowe. PROOF READER Jane Barry DISTRIBUTION Peter Streets MARKET SALES TEAM Shakil Ahmed, Wendy Western, Mark Ashton, Gerry Meehan. ADVERTISING Debbie Aldous SOCIAL MEDIA Position Vacant TREASURER Position vacant DESIGN Andy Wickett (andywickett@gmail.com) PRINT Future Print 2020 (futureprint2099@gmail.com) MAIL Moseley Publishing House Ltd. Moseley B13 Magazine, c/o: Moseley Exchange, 149-153 Alcester Road, Moseley, Birmingham, B13 8JP. ONLINE facebook.com/MoseleyB13Magazine twitter.com/MoseleyB13Mag info@moseleyb13.com www.moseleyb13.com PHONE 0843 289 3665 BOARD David Isgrove (Chair) Stephanie Silk (Editorial) 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 Mark Baxter

WORDS FROM THE

EDITOR

We had intended for this issue to be

themed by the arrival of spring, but it has obviously taken a sea change in recent weeks. Schools, pubs and restaurants are closing at the time of writing and the reality of a very different type of Moseley is starting to become clear. COVID-19 is relevant to all of our lives and will require us to pull together as a community. You’ll find a two-page feature on

COVID-19 advice and support on pages eight and nine – if there is anything we haven’t included then do let us know, or if you have problems accessing any of the sources that are included in the

OUTLETS

guide.

AandR News (320 Yardley Wood Rd) Drinksville (23 Woodbridge Rd) Greenhill Garage (89-91 Billesley Ln) Indigo Foods (50-52 St. Mary’s Row) Moseley Post Office (149 Alcester Rd) Nima Deli (103 Alcester Rd) One Stop (117 Billlesley Ln) Select and Save (174-176 Alcester Rd) Marks & Spencer (Saint Mary’s Row) The Mix (500,Moseley Rd) Farmers’ Market (Village Green)

We will endeavour to make sure the magazine is published over the coming months and would like to do everything we can to help individuals, local businesses and support groups. Please do get in touch if we can provide assistance and raise awareness in any way. We also hope that the latest issue can act as a small comfort and distraction for those enduring self-isolation. The cover features the Newshound basking in front of the Red Carriage Bridge in Cannon Hill Park, and is a reminder of the beauty of a new season. Stay safe and stay connected. Better and more stable times await us somewhere down the line. - Mark

2020 PUBLICATION DATES

ISSUE COPY SALE Jan (no issue) Feb 15 Jan Mar 19 Feb Apr 18 Mar May 15 Apr Jun 20 May Jul 17 Jun Aug 15 Jul Sep 19 Aug Oct 16 Sep Nov 21 Oct Dec 18 Nov

25 Jan < 29 Feb 28 Mar 25 Apr 30 May 27 Jun 25 Jul 29 Aug 26 Sep 31 Oct 28 Nov

IN THIS ISSUE

NEWSHOUND

FARMERSâ€™ MARKET

COVID-19 SUPPORT

STEVE AJAO

LIFE & OTHER TADPOLES

GAP PROJECT

STORY OF THE ROAD NAMES

THE NIGHT MOSELEY TREMBLED

ACCRINGTON STANLEY (MASS)

WHO WAS AFRAID...

STEVE BEAUCHAMPE

MOOR GREEN HOUSE

26\ EDITOR'S CHOICE

A MOSELEY MINUTE

JUST TO SAY

B13 NEEDS YOU!

NEWSHOUND

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

HISTORIC QUEENSBRIDGE ROAD ‘DEPOT’ SET TO BE AUCTIONED, DESPITE COMMUNITY OPPOSITION A historic building in Queensbridge Road linked to the Cadbury family is set to be sold in a public auction, following a recommendation made by a key committee of Birmingham City Council. The recommendation that the Queensbridge Road depot be put up for auction will come as a blow to the Moseley and Kings Heath Shed, a community group who have repeatedly expressed a wish to occupy the depot building and seek a ‘community asset transfer’ by which the Council would lease the building to them. Queensbridge Road depot was built as part of the estate of Uffculme Hall, which was built by Richard Cadbury. The depot building was then inherited by Mr Cadbury’s daughter Helen. The building became Council property and was used as a vehicle workshop for the Council’s Parks department until 2010. It has remained empty since then. The depot is of historic interest because it is where Helen Cadbury founded the Pocket Testament League when she was a Moseley schoolgirl. The Pocket Testament League was responsible for printing and distributing 110 million pocket-sized bibles across the English-speaking world, and there is evidence that the first bibles for the League were actually printed in the Queensbridge Road depot, so many local historians regard it as a special site which should be saved. Moseley and Kings Heath Shed charity, the group interested in occupying the depot, has the objective of providing a community workshop for people over the age of 50, where they create and mend items, but also make new friends. The Shed is currently located in The Old Potting Shed, Vicarage Road, Kings Heath Park. Martin Mullaney, who is chair of the Shed, has said: “The Shed in Kings Heath Park is bursting at the seams since it is so popular. Every week there are sessions in stained glass construction, tile mosaics, furniture restoration, woodwork and drawing classes. If the Shed occupied Queensbridge Road depot, it would allow us to expand into extra

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activities such as pottery, metalwork and toy steam engines. The outside would be available for horticultural projects and we would provide space for the volunteers of Highbury Orchard. We would also be interested in converting the front hall section of the building into a community theatre space. “From our external and partial internal examination of the building, we believe the cost of repair would be appropriately £100k, which we would seek to fund via various grants available to us. Even if refurbishing this building was too much for the Shed to do, it would be great to see some community organisation take it on. I’m afraid that the depot will most likely be bought by a property developer, who will demolish the depot and build houses there.” A petition to save the depot was set up two years ago and is at https://www.change. org/p/birmingham-save-queensbridge-roaddepot-buildings-the-historic-site-of-thepocket-testament-league. So far 66 people have signed it.

Martin Mullaney MOSELEY MAN CHARGED WITH DOUBLE MURDER As we went to press a Moseley man had been charged with the murder of two women in Belle Walk on Monday16 March. Tamer Moustafa, from Belle Walk, was charged and appeared at Birmingham Magistrates Court on Wednesday 18 March where he was remanded to appear at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday 20 March. The 40-year-old is accused of killing his wife, 43-year-old Nelly Moustafa, at their home address and their 52-year-old neighbour Zahida Bi. Nelly Moustafa was found with stab wounds at her home in Moseley. Post mortem examinations have been carried out Anyone with information is asked to contact West Midlands Police by calling 101 anytime. Please quote log number 1212 of 16 March. ebds MORE THAN 500 CANNABIS PLANTS FOUND IN CHURCH ROAD CUL-DE-SAC A “cannabis growing facility” with more than 500 plants has been discovered in Grayfield Avenue, a cul-de-sac off Church Road in North East Moseley. The discovery of the drugs was made by staff working for the UK Immigration Service. The plants were at various stages of growth and discovered in the loft of the premises. Investigations are ongoing. In another drugs related investigation in Moseley, West Midlands Police reported “a positive result” after executing a drugs warrant assisted by Operational Support Unit on an address in Anderton Park Road. A large amount of controlled drugs and cash were seized. Investigations are also said to be on-going. At time of going to press there were no further details of either of the two drugs related incidents.

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MOSELEY IN BLOOM SEEKS VOLUNTEERS AND MORE GARDENS IN NORTH MOSELEY Moseley in Bloom (MiB), the charity that helps to keep Moseley looking lovely, is keen to hear from anyone who has a few hours to spare. They are particularly looking for someone who is a whizz at admin., and commitment levels would be entirely up to you. The group says it will take any time you can spare. Helping MiB is a great way to be part of the local community: there are loads of different initiatives going on and it is an opportunity to meet new people. You don’teven have to be able to garden, you just have to want Moseley to remain an attractive place in which to work and live.For further details please contact Amy Maclean, Co-Chair, Moseley in Bloom, on 07712 877689 or email her at amy.maclean@moseleyinbloom.org.uk. Moseley in Bloom is excited to announce that this year’s Open Gardens event will take place on the weekend of June 27 and 28. They are aiming to introduce some new gardens this year and are particularly looking for gardens in North Moseley, in Woodstock Road, Queenswood Road, Bloomfield Road, Sandford Road, Merton Road, Mayfield Road and Anderton Park Road. They already have the offer of a never-before-opened garden in Cadbury Road but need another two in the vicinity to make a coherent destination for visitors.MiB stresses it is not looking for “show gardens”. Rather, this is a community event which aims to reveal something of the great variety of gardens, large and small, to be found in Moseley. An individual garden would be open on one of the two days between 1.00 pm and 5.30 pm. Full support from MiB includes ticket sales, publicity and volunteer assistance on the day as well as liability insurance to cover any claims for damage. If you are interested and would like further details please contact Kate Stocks on 07853 244917 or email her at kate@moseleyinbloom.org.uk.

MUSACH IS ON THE MOVE One of Moseley’s most long-standing businesses, Musach Beauty and Nail Salon, which has been based in its present premises at 144 Alcester Road for around 20 years, has moved. The salon is now based at a new location in Balsall Heath at 28 George St. The phone number remains the same – 0121 449 0358. Ian Cook Moseley B13 Magazine

COMMUNITY

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MOSELEY FARMERSâ€™MARKET UPDATE CANCELLATION OF THE MARKET DUE TO COVID-19

We have now come to the sad decision that we have no option but to CANCEL Moseley Farmers Market this month and for the forthcoming months. This is due to: *Government advice is changing daily - almost hourly - and it is very likely we will be locked down anyway - so we want to give you enough warning so you can concentrate on other ways to promote your business. *Sketts and other markets have made the decision not to open which is setting a precedent across the industry. *We are reliant on volunteers to run the market and if one of us is sick or unable to attend we would struggle to find suitable alternative cover. * We are under growing pressure from some of the community not to open. If there were any incidents or we were unable to manage queues it could have a info@moseleyb13.com

harmful effect on our reputation. We have desperately tried to come up with innovative ideas to be able to support you all whilst keeping farmers, stall holders and the public safe but we have realised it is too big a risk . For those of you who are eligible for help to businesses promised by the government there are more details here: https:// www.gov.uk/government/publications/ guidance-to-employers-and-businessesabout-covid-19/covid-19-support-forbusinesses We will be using the time and tapping into the skills of some of the Moseley community to try to set up ways we can support you - whether it is through online ordering or helping with drop off points for orders or deliveries. As soon as we have set this up, weâ€™ll be advertising how it will work. David Isgrove COMMUNITY

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Moseley CDT is a registered charity no. 1087949 and company limited by guarantee registered in England no. 4163271

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employees in the last month (something many of us already suspected) and will struggle with life in the current circumstances. 14+ hour shifts are a reality for those working in healthcare and supporting our most vulnerable people, and this will make childcare and filling the fridge even harder. Spare a thought for them as they will not have the option of working from home. Key workers will continue to be out on the frontline as other sectors go into lockdown. Launched by the Eden Project Communities, Nextdoor's The Community Action Response has been created to encourage everyone to do what they can to support neighbours and the vulnerable and isolated people during the Coronavirus pandemic. The project has listed five things you can do during the crisis: Think of others, consider your actions and be kind: People in every community will face the challenges of Covid-19 in some way â€“ from needing basic provisions to help while they are unwell. Connect and reach out to your neighbours: as self-isolation increases, we need to find new ways to stay connected and check in on one another for our physical and mental wellbeing. Share phone numbers and stay in touch. Make the most of local online groups: Keep up to date, share information and be a positive part of your local community conversations using platforms like Nextdoor. Support vulnerable or isolated people: different groups in our communities are at increased risk and social isolation and loneliness are key concerns for all ages. There are things you can do like volunteering for local support services or donating to food banks to help. Share accurate information and advice: Support anyone who may be anxious about Covid-19. Sign post them to the correct advice from Public Health England and encourage people to follow info@moseleyb13.com

the correct hygiene practices. Local businesses and employees will also suffer as a result of the Coronavirus outbreak and various crowdfunding campaigns have been set up on social media to help their survival. Little Blackwood had to close on March 17 but are now offering a delivery service via their usual suppliers. Meat, fish, veg, cheese and wine are available to order - just email owners Ben and Zsofia at hello@littleblackwood.co.uk and they will deliver to your home (See page 20 for the price list for this service). Other cafes and restaurants are also offering a similar service through wholesalers or by managing to operate as takeaway/delivery businesses. Check individual social media accounts/ Everything Moseley Facebook group for more information, and Independent Birmingham's website has a list of indie businesses that offer take-away or collection services. All this serves as a partial solution to the empty shelves in supermarkets. Advice and support is available for Kings Heath businesses on the enjoykingsheath.com website. Folk Like These is another local business to prove its creativity and invention beyond closure and is offering live workshops on Instagram (as shown on BBC's Midlands Today). This will help parents struggling with educational and recreational content for their children since school closures. Kindness, creativity and connection, as well as making sure our actions are responsible, will be the basics in helping to keep everyone in our community strong and safe during the Coronavirus outbreak. - Mark Baxter

After graduating from the Lanchester Polytechnic Arts Faculty in Coventry, I was back in Birmingham. It was 1973 and I headed straight to Moseley where I knew I would soon find kindred spirits. Before going to Art College I had been at Moseley Art School in the ‘60s, so to me, Moseley seemed the obvious choice. I had been playing lead guitar with my Dad’s band, largely to support myself when I was a student, and I was eager to form a bluesy rock band. Back then, Birmingham had numerous venues, pubs, clubs and university gigs and it was fairly viable to make a living. I soon ended up jamming with all kinds of musicians, and formed bands such as 'The First Band' and the 'Wide Boys' around that time. For a short while, I had a single room in St Albans Road, in Moseley. It was pretty rough there so I often used to eat cheaply in the canteen at Margaret Street Art College in town. I wasn’t a student there, but I had a Hendrix inspired image - afro, flares and beads - so I fitted well into the scene, every day. Back then, most art students looked as if they had just got back from Woodstock. I soon met a few new friends, and we would talk about art and music, and generally all the things enjoyed by hippy types. I remember meeting a very young, clean-cut painting student at the college - Dave Hinds - who years later became the lead singer and founder member of Steel Pulse. He was friendly, but I felt that he was a little wary of me and thought I was some kind of wild man because of my appearance! Strange that might seem, if you look at him now. COMMUNITY

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Stan, one of my new friends, invited me to move into his shared rented house as there was a spare room. The house was at 39 Chestnut Road, Moseley, and my room was in the rear of the ground floor flat. Stan, a painter, lived in the front, surrounded with his paintings. On my first morning there I woke up to see a mouse leap off my blanket and dash behind the fireplace. It was a typical Victorian terraced house, and the inside was rough, but in a very cosy, rustic way. The five of us who lived there customised our rooms with tatty furniture (Moseley was full of large houses which had been empty for years, and were great sources of furniture) - shelving, lighting and art works. After a while, the mice seemed unperturbed by us humans; they went about their business and we went about ours. Every day was spent painting, playing instruments or

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talking well into the early morning hours. In fact, it was quite common for us to walk up to the dairy in Woodbridge road, not long after dawn, to get cool fresh milk and yoghurt. The house had a small garden at the front, which was planted with coriander and you could smell it as you approached. Our Asian neighbours smelt it too, and would pick a little of it. To show their gratitude, they would give us bowls of delicious homecooked curry and chapattis. They would shout over the fence “Hey hippies, you want curry?” The rear garden was wonderful. It was completely cultivated, like an allotment. Row after row of tall cane frames with beans, tomatoes, and all kinds of edibles, were tended to by all housemates. Upstairs, John, an abstract painter, and his wife, Kate, would often announce that the bread they had just made was ready, should anybody want some. Who could resist that? The smell and flavour of that bread was delightful, and the home-made garden-jam, or garden-pickle was perfect with it. We lived there throughout the 70s, and in all that time our food bill was negligible.

It seemed we knew everyone in Moseley Village; we liked to drink in the Prince, the Fighting Cocks (where I often played upstairs) the Bull’s Head, the Malt Shovel, the Moseley Arms, the Barrel Organ (another favourite venue) and the Golden Eagle in town. There were legendary Moseley parties most weekends, before extended licensing in pubs became the norm. Nobody ever needed an invitation. Eventually, we all went our different ways. John and his wife found an ancient stone cottage near Bala in Wales. They lived there, austerely, with no electricity or gas, with a well for water and a hole-in-the-ground for a loo. It was pretty tough staying at theirs! Others moved into the old Victorian homes done up into flats by Moseley and District Church Housing, or went to live in Bristol or London. I stayed in Moseley at various addresses over the years, before moving up the road to Kings Heath. For the most part, I thoroughly enjoyed my life in ‘70s Moseley and it has had a profound effect on me. - Steve Ajao COMMUNITY

MOSELEY MEMORIES

Life and Other Tadpoles

Big city life was not always the way it is usually portrayed on television. We may not have mixed with pigs, sheep and cattle, but we knew a little about biological life from direct experience. Cannon Hill Park seemed so far away, with the long walk down Salisbury Road and the longer one back uphill. One major attraction was seeing real anglers fishing for carp and other big fish in the two large pools. The anglers resisted our interest in their catches and showed contempt for our little dipper nets, used to get tiddlers for our jam jars. Another disincentive was the park keepers’ protection of The Golden Lion, the old Tudor inn that had been rebuilt there when the City Centre expanded. Uffculme Park was altogether different. Established by a family originally from 12

Uffculme in Devon, a few miles from Tiverton, Uffculme House and grounds were gifted to the City in the nineteenth century for public use. A later City Council repaid the benefaction by renaming the park Highbury, as part of its promotion of Joseph Chamberlain’s house as a business and wedding attraction. At the Queensbridge Road end, an open-air school was built for the many Birmingham children suffering from respiratory diseases, particularly tuberculosis. We would see them, laid out on simple beds under blankets to enjoy the presumed healing power of fresh air as we went on our exploration. One was my sister’s best friend Diane. Uffculme House became a tea room and display centre. The attached walled garden, with its pool, originally built to www.moseleyb13.com

provide fish for the kitchen, was closely tended, and there was a stable yard housing a couple of horses and pieces of agricultural machinery, such as a wide mower. The rest of the parkland was given minimum maintenance, to our pleasure. Nearby was a small pond surrounded by trees, which every spring was full of frogspawn. Jam jars hung on carefully tied string were trailed across the surface, then taken home and put on the kitchen window sill. By the time the tadpoles had hatched and grown four legs, and their gills and tails started to shorten, interest had waned and Mom’s fear of frogs hopping

36 bus to the Maypole where there were fields, some containing cattle, where we would roam, picking hedgerow flowers to take home to our mothers. A hundred yards or so down Bell’s Lane, though, was a working smithy. Usually, the smith was making or repairing pieces of farm machinery or things like heavy hinges and handles for gates, but occasionally we would be fascinated as he shoed a horse, seeing and smelling the smoke rising as he pressed a red-hot horseshoe onto a hoof. Mostly, they were rich kids’ ponies or light field horses, but once we saw him tenderly handling a huge carthorse, which

about the house meant they were either taken back to the park or flushed down the outside toilet. Life’s casual cruelty. At the bottom of the slope at Uffculme was a much larger pool with a stream going out under Moor Green Lane. Its great attractions were the sticklebacks and other tiddlers and the ever-attentive ducks. It had a naturalness lacking at Cannon Hill, especially in the trees, bushes and bullrushes surrounding it. Before the last one in 1952, we usually travelled on trams, but they only went to Alcester Lane's End. We' caught the

could have broken his back with a single kick. It patiently allowed him to hitch up a massive leg between his as he worked. The horse knew it was beneficial. As our limbs grew, we stopped being tadpoles and moved out of one element to explore another. The jam jars on the kitchen window sill no longer held frogspawn or stick insects, but concentrated solutions of alum and copper sulphate to grow specimen crystals. Secondary seriousness took over from junior excitement. -David Spilsbury

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2020 VISION: YOUNG THEATRE WRITERS

The GAP is embarking on an ambitious and exciting year of story and theatre at our home in Balsall Heath, courtesy of Arts Council England project funding. Our 2020 VISION project seeks to put the stories and experiences of the local community right at the very heart of our work and creates a wide range of high-quality creative opportunities for young writers and theatre makers to be involved. The 2020 Young Theatre Writers Scheme will see up to six young Birmingham playwrights mentored and supported by established playwright Chris Cooper, who will work with you both as a group and individually. The scheme is a central element of the 2020 VISION project as a whole, with the twin aims of developing local young artists and generating new writing of relevance to Balsall Heath. Collaborations The programme will focus on structure and storytelling. In particular, you will explore the features and potential of the monodrama form (not to be confused with the monologue). You will learn how to develop new work using the first-hand experiences and stories of local people as a stimulus, working from a range of source material gathered via The GAP’s 2020 VISION oral history element. As well as also working practically on dramatic texts and attending theatre performances, the scheme also offers new playwrights the opportunity to collaborate with The GAP’s Basement Theatre Ensemble, a collective of emerging actors, designers and theatre makers, to test out your writing in practice at The GAP’s Theatre MIX scratch nights. Commissions Each of the writers completing the scheme will be commissioned to write a short exploratory dramatic text, for which you will receive one-to-one mentoring and support from Chris Cooper. There is, in addition, potential for these pieces to be developed in production for public performance. Details  Young Birmingham-based writers, 18-30 yrs  An interest in developing writing for community theatre  Ideally with links to, knowledge of or interest in the Balsall Heath area and community.  Scheme starts late April and runs to December 2020  Involves 6-10 days commitment plus self-guided writing time  Commissions: £500 available for each writer completing the scheme To apply Please email ceri@thegapartsproject.co.uk with 2020 YOUNG THEATRE WRITERS in the subject heading, stating your age and postcode, outlining a bit about yourself and your interest in the scheme and attaching a short piece of dramatic writing (ideally) or a piece of creative writing. Deadline: applications will be accepted up until 6 April. NB: The GAP positively welcomes applicants from all communities and backgrounds, including those with English as a second language. COMMUNITY

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STORY BEHIND THE ROAD NAMES

Moseleyâ€™s road names record its history and researching them makes walking around a lot more interesting. We begin with the cattle and sheep who were the important inhabitants for many centuries, enjoying their plant-based diet, grazing the heaths, commons and leys, until ready to be driven down grassy lanes to the beast market in Birmingham; examples being Stoney Lane, Billesley Lane and Moor Green Lane. The Ordnance Survey first series maps show the pattern of these lanes before the arrival of housing. A croft and a close were small fields, after they had been enclosed from the common land. From the 1700s, turnpike roads were built, which allowed neighbouring towns to be reached by reliable coach services, with the roads having the names of their destinations; Stratford, Pershore and Alcester Roads. At some point, the first section of Alcester Road acquired the name Moseley Road, because it led to Moseley village, from the High Gate over the Balsall Heath. As residential development took place, names recorded features of the former info@moseleyb13.com

landscape - Park, Prospect, Highfield, with the less obvious Chantry and Grange. Prominent families are remembered, including Grevis and Anderton. I guess that names like Alder and Chestnut refer to trees planted along these roads. There are no 'streets' in Moseley, because that word was associated with the crowded old town, which people escaped by moving to the new suburbs. The railway companies were leading players in the mid-1800s. They sought to publicise the upmarket places you could now visit by train: Oxford, Brighton and others, and we see that these roads lead to the local stations, an experience we shall have again as soon as our lost stations reopen. Trafalgar Road, however, refers to the pub at the end of it, and the naval theme is continued in the side roads off it. We can be grateful that names for roads were chosen to preserve the memory of what was already here, before Moseley became part of the City of Birmingham. John Newson

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THE NIGHT MOSELEY TREMBLED What did happen on October 30, 1952?

attempt to discover what really happened on the night of October 30, 1952...

The Moseley Players werenâ€™t your run-of-the-mill amateur dramatics group. Performed in local churchyards and public houses in the 1950s, their shows were often hard-hitting and controversial. The group are alleged to have inadvertently caused panic in the suburb when rehearsals for a new production went very wrong. With the help of an archive article from a 1980s edition of Moseley B13 Magazine, we COMMUNITY

Cashing in on the B-movies of the time, The Moseley Players mounted their biggest show in the shape of the science fiction drama, The Battle of The Planets (written by group member Clifford Irving). The script followed Britainâ€™s first fictional manned spaceflight aboard the RKO281-Unicron vessel and the craft being followed back to Earth by invaders 16

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from Mercury. Costumes, scenery and a large UFO structure were created and Moseley Park was selected as the location for the show, which would begin its run on October 31, 1952. Rehearsals with costumes and props in the park took place on the night of October 30. The evening was selected to test the special effects - lights had been rigged up on the UFO and dry ice was used to create fog around the landed spaceship. It has been generally believed that a Salisbury Road resident witnessed the events and, unaware of the planned show, panicked and headed into the village, spreading stories of a Martian invasion. Although there have been claims that the events of the night were exaggerated by The Moseley Players director, Charles Kane (in an attempt to gain publicity), a 1982 issue of Moseley B13 Magazine interviewed an eyewitness from 30 years earlier. Birmingham 13 (as the magazine was then known) spoke to Harry Lime, a 38year old Billesley resident who claimed to be the individual that started the alleged panic in 1952. “I was eight years old at the time and looked out from our back window on Salisbury Road. I could see the UFO - it was lakeside - and a lifeform walking out from it,” Mr Lime told our reporter. He went on to explain the series of events as he remembered it. “Of course I feel like a fool now but how was I to know it was just a rehearsal for a show? I’d recently seen The Day the Earth Stood Still at the Imperial Cinema on the Moseley Road so I was terrified, thinking an invasion was actually happening. My parents were out and I was only with my older sister - I can still hear her screaming - so we ran into Moseley Village. We spoke to a park keyholder who laughed at our story but, in the end, went in to check. He could see the UFO surrounded by lights and smoke and looked terrified as he ran out of the park. He informed drinkers in the Prince of Wales and I’ve heard it said that info@moseleyb13.com

they locked themselves in the cellar until sunrise. There was also a vehicle collision on the Alcester Road as people tried to get away from the area.” Mr Lime featured once again in the magazine when, in 1984, he claimed to have discovered the childhood diaries of JRR Tolkien, kept while the writer was living in Sarehole. This later turned out to be a fake so it is necessary to take Mr Lime’s other claims with a pinch of salt. This leaves us where we began, with an enigmatic mystery. What did happen on the night of 30 October,1952? Was there widespread panic in Moseley? Perhaps we’ll never know, but it’s certainly a story that is “out of this world”. Mark Baxter

MOSELEY ACCRINGTON STANLEY SUPPORTERS’ CLUB (MASS) ‘Accrington Stanley? Who are they?’

local Lancashire pub and street) took the town name on the demise of Accrington and thus was born the legend that is Accrington Stanley FC. Composer of the team’s new anthem, Y’Bongo Mike, was due to be there on the day singing with the MASS Choir under the musical direction of virtuoso Steve Ison (read more about Steve in this month’s A Moseley Minuite). There would have been the opportunity for all supporters, old and new, to join in with the full unexpurgated version of ‘Accrington Stan’. Steve Ison is himself well known in Moseley. He is often seen walking a dog while sporting his own version of the Accrington Stanley flatcap. MASS is on a mission to reclaim the flatcap for its team as it has recently been hijacked by local Peaky Blinder types who are for some reason fans of Birmingham City FC. *Originally Accrington Stanley played at Peel Park from 1919-1966 **Their current ground is named Wham stadium. Anonymous John (A.J.)

The inaugural meeting of MASS ( Moseley Accrington Stanley Supporters’ Club) was scheduled to take place on Wednesday April 1st but has, like many other events,had to be cancelled. However, if members of the newly founded club have their way, there will be no excuse for anyone in Moseley to ask the infamous question or to receive the scurrilous answer: ‘Exactly!’ At long last, hitherto unacknowledged local songwriter Y’Bongo Mike (see Just To Say, Moseley B13 Magazine, February 2020) has had his football anthem ‘Accrington Stan’ officially adopted by the Lancashire club. There was just one condition - he must delete the following verse: Accrington Stan / Laugh while you can Cloth cap and whippets / There you will stand The club feels it is not in keeping with their modern image, having recently peeled* off any negativity by gaining promotion to League One. They are Wham** up to date. Tommy Stanley, oldest living grandson of one of the original founders of the club would’ve been at the event to open proceedings. As there are now compostable dog bags in all the dog poop bins in nearby Moseley Park (see last month’s issue) it was hoped that supporters bringing whippets, and other canine fans, would’ve made good use of them. Accrington was one of the twelve original founders of the Football League in 1888. They resigned from it after five short years. Another team which existed at the time, Stanley Villa (named in honour of a 18

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PRIMARY SCHOOL GARDENING PROJECTS

Moseley in Bloom (MiB) has now launched a new round of funding to help primary schools in the B13 area to green-up their school sites. Since 2018, with monies from MiB, pupils, teachers and parents have worked together, creating a willow dome, peace garden, bug hotels, a sensory garden, and raised beds for flowers, herbs and vegetables. The projects have encouraged pupils to design planting schemes, learn about nature and the environment, understand the cycles of growth and work in teams. Pupils have also prepared exhibits of their projects, for display at our annual Open Gardens event. Projects can be a discrete phase in already developing initiatives, or a new initiative. However, they must be achievable within the new academic year, 2020-21. We want to encourage schools to involve parents as well as pupils and staff, so that our schoolsâ€™ projects are real community endeavours! All primary schools with a B13 postcode are encouraged to apply for grants up to ÂŁ500. We have now sent invitations to all the eligible schools, and posted Guidelines and Application forms on our Moseley in Bloom website. Marci Green More more information visit: www.moseleyinbloom.org.uk

LITTLE BLACKWOOD HOME DELIVERY PRICE LIST email your order to: hello@littleblackwood.co.uk

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WHO WAS AFRAID OF THE BIG BAD JORGE?

February saw storms Ciara and Dennis doing their worst and we waited for the natural order of things to introduce us to Ellen, the next anticipated contender, to see what she was made of.

farmers are made of sterner stuff. Some were already on the road loaded up with goodies when the call came to cancel. They declared they would keep calm and carry on regardless. They would sell from their vans. The Best Farmers' Market in the UK thus laughed in the face of the Spanish invader and did what it does best: improvisation.

Meanwhile, Storm Jorge huffed and puffed his way across Spain causing Francis, Gerda, Hugh, Iris and Jan to leave the contest so he could arrive in Britain on Moseley Market Day. So puffed up with pride was he that he forced the people who usually arrive to erect the stalls before full light of day to contact organisers at 5am to say they could not do it.

The Spirit of Moseley Community blew steadily on. Outside Palmyra Restaurant, Moseley B13 Magazine set up its headquarters on the small coffee table. Brockleby Pies erected the blackboard announcing that its highly seasonal Wild and Wet Beaver special was there for the catching. Bernie of Yum and intrepid Laura of Moseley Exchange dreamed up a suitable sort of awning so the perfected pastries should not drown and the show went on.

The Arts Market was duly blown away but

Jorge skulked off and left Moseley and the sun to shine. He knew when he was beaten. Tessa Kate Lowe

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Sad death of Moseley Road Baths activist

Steve Beauchampe

Moseley swimmers and the wider community will be saddened by news of the recent death of campaigner, writer and broadcaster Steve Beauchampe at the age of 61. HISTORY

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One of the longstanding members of the Friends of MRB (Moseley Road Baths), Steve helped the group produce a virtual tour of the building, wrote a book about the Baths called Pool of Memories and conducted guided tours during open days. As well as authoring Pool of Memories and chronicling the Baths’ long history, Steve was eagerly looking forward to the next steps for the regeneration of the building, and his enthusiasm and knowledge of both the architecture and social history of the much-loved Baths will be a great loss to the continuing campaign to save them Architect and urban designer Joe Holyoak paid tribute to Steve’s life and work in helping to preserve one of the area’s most important heritage sites. He said: “Steve was a colleague in Friends of Moseley Road Baths. We also had affinity as local historians. I think that his book for the Friends, Pool of Memories, is a remarkable document. On one level it is an excellent history of a remarkable work of architecture, written with skill and insight and with a great attention to detail. But what makes it different to other architectural books is that it is at the same time a social history of great importance, making the connection between a building and the lives of people who have inhabited it. This is very rare.” As well as his work in preserving Moseley Road Baths, Steve was also known as a football enthusiast and mourners have paid tribute to Steve’s love of the game. Steve was involved with the Birmingham City fanzine Tired and Weary and regularly appeared info@moseleyb13.com

in the media talking about the club’s often turbulent times. He was a passionate advocate of supporters’ rights and challenged the perception, prevalent at one time, that anyone who attended a football match was an inarticulate thug. He also chronicled other sports and local venues. Along with co-author Simon Inglis, Steve wrote the 2006 book Played in Birmingham , taking the reader on a fascinating trail around the historic sites that put Birmingham on the international sporting map. The book mentioned some wellknown venues like Villa Park, the National Indoor Arena and Edgbaston Cricket Ground. Played in Birmingham also took readers to the back garden of a house in Edgbaston, 'the Belgravia of Birmingham', where the first-ever experimental game of lawn tennis is believed to have taken place between a magistrate’s clerk and a Spaniard on a croquet lawn. The book also talked of a Hockley back street where the 23

world's first Football League was formed in 1888 and the nearby Jewellery Quarter's abundant production of medals and cups for Victorian and Edwardian sports clubs and tournaments. Among the artefacts that were 'Made in Birmingham' and chronicled in the book are boxing's famous Lonsdale Belts and, from the works of J Hudson & Co, the world-renowned Acme Thunderer referee's whistle. Shortly after his death TV and radio presenter Adrian Goldberg tweeted movingly about Steve Beauchampe’s footballing connections: “Sad to break the news that one of my best mates Steve Beauchampe has passed away. Fanzine pioneer with Off The Ball, fighter for supporters’ rights with @WeAreTheFSA , brilliant writer, #BCFC fan and all round good egg. Many happy gig and football memories. RIP my friend.” Steve Beauchampe 1959-2020 - Ian Cook

Moor Green House and Belgian Refugees

MOSELEY LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY

MOOR GREEN HOUSE

Moor Green House stood in a thirteen-acre estate enclosed by the current Moor Green Lane and Yew Tree Road. The original Moor Green House was occupied from 1868 by Mr Thomas Clemont Sneyd Kynnersley (b. 1803), a lawyer, Stipendiary Magistrate in Birmingham, JP for Warwickshire, Deputy Lieutenant for Warwickshire, JP for Worcestershire and Staffordshire, Deputy Chairman of Warwickshire Quarter Sessions and Recorder of Newcastleunder-Lyme. TC Sneyd- Kynnersley was interested in Reformatories, Industrial Schools and Prisoners’ Aid Societies. The house and land were bought by Sir John Holder of nearby Pitmaston. In 1899 he gave it to his son, Mr Henry C Holder, who built a new Moor Green House. Henry Holder carried out considerable demolition work and his new residence cost £8,000. It was approached by a long carriage drive from Moor Green Lane and had an ornamental lodge, tastefully laid out grounds and gardens, COMMUNITY

an extensive walled garden, a peach house, several greenhouses, motor houses to accommodate the then ‘new-fangled’ petrol engine vehicles and a 6-tie cow house, fodder store and calf pen. Henry Holder lived there briefly with his wife Evelyne and their three daughters and one son and eight staff, including a cook, four maids, a nurse and governess. Sir Henry Holder died on 3 August 1945. As a private residence, Moor Green House was little used, and it acted as a hostel for Belgian refugees, including Rev. Father G. Veracx, during the First World War. It later became a military hospital, as an annexe to Highbury, and was designated the 4th Auxiliary Hospital, Moseley. After that the house once again became vacant. After the Great War, Moor Green House was purchased by the Britannic Assurance Company at an auction sale at the Grand Hotel on 13 May 1920, and the house and grounds were adapted to serve as a centre for recreational activity. Bathrooms and www.moseleyb13.com

Moor Green House partly demolished

changing rooms were incorporated, on the first floor for ladies and on the ground floor for men. Infinite care was taken throughout the remainder of the building to preserve its original character and its country house atmosphere. Converting the grounds was a more formidable task. Volunteers from Broad Street corner toiled Saturday after Saturday to provide new levels for turf for a cricket square, tennis courts and a bowling green. The official opening was on 25 May 1921 and during the next ten to fifteen years Moor Green was the scene of intense social and sporting activity. Moor Green was virtually closed down during the

Second World War and the various sports sections were gradually re-established in later years. The building of the new chief office of Britannic Assurance began in 1959, with the following report in a 1960 edition of The Britannic Magazine: ' The Moor Green House will be dwarfed by its new neighbour but will continue to provide a recreation club house as it has done so well for the past 39 years'. Moor Green House was demolished during April of 1970. Its site was needed for an extension to house the stationery and printing departments, and to provide new changing rooms and an area for recreational activities. Janet Berry Next month: The history of The Britannic Assurance New Chief Office at Moor Green If you have any memories of Moor Green House and Estate, please contact us at moseleyhistory@gmail.com See our website for more information on Moor Green House and its occupants: moseley-society/local-history.org.uk

Moor Green House before the New Chief Office was Erected

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COMMUNITY

EDITOR’S CHOICE ME, MYSELF AND I: A GUIDE TO SELF-ISOLATION It seems strange to be finally arriving at the first warmth of spring with the knowledge that many of us will have to withdraw into a type of hibernation. Even Hollywood star and Aston Villa fan Tom Hanks is having to endure self-isolation (this is no time for jokes, Bluenoses). How can we cope with the restrictions of four walls as the sun begins to shine at what should be the celebration of Easter? Here’s my guide to a very Moseley selfisolation...

its recent sequel Middle England follows the same set of characters through Trump and Brexit. If you’re looking for something brand new, the memoir Broken Greek by music journalist Peter Paphides is getting rave reviews. The memoir details Paphides’s life growing up above family chip shops in Acocks Green and Olton, and his obsession with music. Peter also remembers signing a petition to save Moseley Bog but does admit to initially believing it to be a campaign to preserve a toilet. Paphides is married to fellow Midlander and journalist Caitlin Moran. Moran’s semi-autobiographical sitcom Raised by Wolves also remembers a childhood in the region, but it was reimagined in modern times. Peter will be at Moseley Folk & Arts Festival as part of the promotion for Broken Greek. On the subject of Moseley Folk Festival, you could always download and get to know some of the artists featured in

There’s always the books we never get around to reading (you all claim to have read the complete works of The Lord of the Rings as Tolkien-territory residents, but have you really...?) so this could be your opportunity to race through them. Did you know that Jonathan Coe’s The Rotters’ Club includes Moseley in its vision of 1970s Birmingham? The book appears to hold the record for the longest sentence in the English language (13,955 words) and

Photo by:Nicolò Campo/LightRocket via Getty Images COMMUNITY

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To complement the beautiful music, the saying “Andrà tutto bene” is something the Italians have repeated during their darkest hour. The English translation is “everything will be fine”, and these are good words to remember while we are enduring difficult and uncertain times. Mark Baxter

this year’s line-up. The festival includes local legends The Wonder Stuff, Stephen Duffy and The Nightingales, and I highly rate Dana Gavanski, The Staves and Gruff Rhys. The Waterboys are also a fantastic headliner but I’m left forever connecting the band’s The Whole of the Moon with Graham’s Norton’s annoying and hyperactive priest Noel Furlong in Father Ted. With so much live music having to be cancelled, it’s crucial to support artists by purchasing their work. Music reminds me of those glorious scenes of self- isolating Italians, appearing positively connected and in harmony with their neighbours, singing and playing instruments on balconies. Sadly, I don’t think we can expect the same in this country but as we are a suburb full of musicians, perhaps we can have window and garden gigs and fill B13 with the sound of ukuleles and singing...? However you reach out to others, whether it’s through the medium of music or whatever it is you have to give, please be kind and supportive (if you are able to do so based on your circumstances). info@moseleyb13.com

COMMUNITY

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A MOSELEY MINUTE WITH

Do you have an annual festival that’s held on a roof? “It’s called Music on the Roof and started in 2013 with a live set from The Strangest Feeling. We (members of Musical Connections) used to hang around together and stayed over at Pete’s house in Balsall Heath. The following morning had a beautiful bright start to the day as I looked up at Pete’s roof and said that would be a great place for a festival. This comment must have sparked something in Pete’s imagination because he went ahead with it and made the festival happen. “Since then it has grown and we now have three gardens that are involved; it’s a festival not to be missed. The next one is on August Bank Holiday, you can find the details by checking social media where it is widely advertised.”

STEVE ISON How Long Have You Been Living in Moseley? “I have been living in Moseley for just over two years now. I was asked to leave previous accommodation in Acocks Green. Luckily, I have a friend called Kate who offered me the chance to come and live in with her for a very reasonable rate. I have always visited Moseley even when I was living in Acocks Green - it's where my heart belongs. What I enjoy about Moseley is the music, its Bohemian nature and the aesthetics - its old houses and churches.”

Who are your musical influences and would you like to meet them? “Ray Davies and Pete Townshend and all the music from the sixties. Also Nick Drake and Paul McCartney “No, I wouldn’t like to meet them, I don’t hero worship anyone and they are all Sirs now - what’s that about? I thought they were all supposed to be anti-establishment so what are they doing with 'Sirs'?”

Tell Me About Musical Connections. “Musical Connections is a network for vulnerable and isolated adults including those with specific needs, or physical disabilities, and mental health service users, and is coordinated by Quench Arts (www.quencharts.co.uk). The project, based in Birmingham and Solihull, provides creative musical opportunities. I have been involved in Musical Connections for over 18 years now. “It’s all about helping people in the mental health service to become involved in music and to create their own music which they can perform. I am currently the music support worker for older members. I help people that I know well to get bands together and that’s how ADSD and The Strangest Feeling (two local bands) were formed. The fact that I performed in both of these bands actually comes from my involvement with Musical Connections “I think that Musical Connections helps people because it’s fun being involved with music. Without it I would go insane. There is also a community amongst the people who go and they have “Brainstorm” which is a monthly event held at the Spotted Dog. You can turn up and have a go at performing yourself - it’s always on the third Wednesday of the month.” info@moseleyb13.com

How do you find being a vegan in Moseley? “It’s really easy being a vegan in Moseley as it is in most places nowadays. There are lots of places to eat here that I enjoy and I especially like the food in Damascena and Sorrento Lounge. I enjoy the centre of Moseley; I enjoy just sitting in a café, just having a coffee. It’s because the people of Moseley are accepting, unlike other places I have lived where I felt like an outsider.” Is there anything you would like to change in Moseley? “I am sure there is - I should have thought of this before (pause while thinking). Yes, I would like to see more appreciation for original music. Jack (Goodall) doesn’t get enough gigs. The people and the venues of Moseley should be more appreciative of original music and not just cover bands.” Do you prefer dogs or cats? “That’s a really difficult question. Kate who I live with has two cats and I walk my friends’ dog. I love both cats and dogs for different reasons. This is the politically correct answer.” - Interview by Debbie Aldous 29

JUST TO SAY... LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

The Things I Love

A Poem By Katerina Chamberlain

I love butterflies I love my mum, family and all I love cats and dogs I love all creatures great and small I love Halloween, birthdays and all I love Christmas and Santa Claus I love baking and warmth I love the sea, stars and moon I love teaching I love helping I love you I love this poem It has no ending It has no start It’s just love. Editor’s Note: Thank you for sending in the poem, Katerina. I think your love of life and optimism is wonderful and something we all need to hear at the moment. This opens up the debate about featuring poetry/creative contributions in the magazine. What do you think, readers?

Clue (Across): Puzzling Person Wanted for Local Magazine

Are you crossword crackers? A sucker for sudoku? A word search wacko? Er, yeah... you probably get the picture. Moseley B13 Magazine is looking for a contributor for Moseley themed cryptic content! If you could create a crossword based around mind-boggling Moseley matters or other B13 brain-teasers then we’d love to hear from you. Puzzlers should contact (without using anagrams): editor@moseleymagazine.co.uk

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Moseley B13 Needs You! Are you the go-to person in Moseley for gossip? Are you passionate about Moseley community events and initiatives? Are you new to Moseley and just want to get stuck in? We are looking for volunteers for the following roles…

Business Manager (new role)

Treasurer

Tasks

• To have an overview of the functioning and development of the magazine. • To facilitate the smooth running of the various non-editorial business functions, liaise with the volunteers responsible for advertising, finance, market sales and distribution, and support with volunteer recruitment and induction. • Report to monthly editorial meeting. • Organise and report to quarterly business meeting, including prepare agenda and take minutes. • Monitor post. • Send a copy of each magazine to the British Library (quarterly).

• Bank cash from magazine sales at farmers market and other retail outlets. • Raise sales invoices for advertising in accounting software (setting up new customers where required). • Post purchase invoices for supplier payments. • Pay expenses when incurred by the team (on supply of valid receipt). • Liaise with accountants to provide information for annual accounts. • Report to B13 team on outstanding debtors and ensure follow-up to chase payment. • If available to do so collect post from Moseley Exchange. • File annual confirmation statement on Companies House.

Requirements • Enthusiasm for and interest in Moseley. • Ability to use or learn Microsoft Word and Excel, Facebook and Dropbox. • Good communication and problemsolving skills with keen eye for detail and ability to see the ‘bigger picture’. • Business, management or journalism experience not essential.

Requirements • Experience and knowledge of above financial procedures. Time commitment • As much or as little as you want – average minimum requirement 1 hour per week, depending on the time of year. • Attend quarterly business meeting, usually a Tuesday evening.

Time commitment • Approximately 5-8 hours per month including: • Email and Facebook management - 1-2 hours per week. • Monthly editorial meeting - 2 hours. • Quarterly (often bi-annual) business meeting - 3 hours. info@moseleyb13.com