Ongoing research; last updated 14 July 2011
16th January 1943 – Birmingham News
The Week’s News from the Districts
Selly Oak
Local Derby Won by Odd Goal – A keen local football derby at Selly Oak Park on Saturday resulted in a Birmingham Youth Committee League win for Oakbrook over the Stonehouse Gang.
Oakbrook were soon in the lead, and were three up before the Gang, playing men short, scored.
Stonehouse goals, however, then came in quick succession from Dennis Walker, Frank Jones and Bill Clarke, to level the score at 3-3.
Oakbrook, however, added a fourth in the closing stages to win by the odd goal.
Fred Bayliss, in the Gang goal, was specially commended in the referee’s report.
1st March 1943 – Parks Committee
The General Manager submitted the following report:-
Manual Staff – Wages
I submit for the Committee’s consideration the undermentioned recommendations for increases in wages of the Manual Staff, viz:-
Name Park Present Wages Increase Remarks
(including 15/6d. Recommended
War Bonus)
Tarr, A.R. Pk. Kpr. £5- 8- 9. 2/6 p.wk. 19/3d. deducted for
Selly Oak Pk. house, fuel and light.
Manual Staff – Wages
5063 Resolved:- That the increases in wages, to take effect from 28th March, 1943, as set out in the foregoing report, be approved.
5th April 1943 – Parks Committee
The General Manager submitted the following report:-
Staff Appointments
The following appointments have been made in order to fill vacancies:-
Name Park Nature of Commencing
Employment Date Wages
Hadley, W. Selly Oak Pk. Labr. 1.3.43 £3-11- 6d.
Staff Appointments
5078 Resolved:- That the appointments to fill vacancies on the staff, as set out in the foregoing report, be confirmed.
Sites taken over for Defence Purposes
Certain sites in various parks and recreation grounds, taken over for defence purposes have recently been de-requisitioned, and claims for compensation for restoration have been submitted to the appropriate authorities and settled as follows:-
Site Service Compensation Paid
Selly Oak Park Balloon Site £95
3rd May 1943 – Parks Committee
The General Manager submitted the following report:-
Damage to Parks and Recreation Grounds
I beg to report for the Committee’s information that numerous complaints are being received from the general public and the park-keepers regarding depredations and hooliganism in various parks, recreation grounds and street enclosures, mainly those from which the iron boundary railings and gates have recently been removed upon Government orders. The complaints and the depredations have become so serious that I recently again wrote to the Chief Constable and the Chief Education Officer on the matter, asking the former whether it was possible for him to arrange for the City Police to give further assistance, and the latter whether he could request the Head Teachers of the various elementary and secondary schools to give warnings to the school children against causing damage and destruction to the amenities provided and maintained by the Corporation for the public benefit.
My letter to the Chief Constable was based mainly on complaints received regarding repeated depredations to a Street Enclosure in Carlton Road, Handsworth, and he stated in reply that the Police would give all possible assistance in endeavouring to reduce the nuisance there.
The Chief Education Officer is inserting a paragraph in the next issue of the “Bulletin” which is sent to all schools, asking Head Teachers to impress on scholars the need for taking proper care of parks, recreation grounds, etc., and in particular shrub and tree plantations.
Many of the complaints received are in regard to hooliganism which prevails and the misuse of children’s playground apparatus at many of the smaller recreation grounds at night-times in many cases up to and after midnight.
Staff Appointments
The following appointments have been made in order to fill vacancies:-
Name Park Nature of Commencing
Employment Date Wages
Crow, J.T.. Selly Oak Pk. Pk. Labr. 19.4.43 £3-11- 6d.
Staff Appointments
5102 Resolved:- That the appointments to fill vacancies on the staff, as set out in the foregoing report, be confirmed.
Staff Resignations
Name Park Nature of
Employment
Hadley, W. Selly Oak Pk. Labr. Left own accord, 8.4.43
7th June 1943 – Parks Committee
The General Manager submitted the following report:-
Staff Resignations
Name Park Nature of
Employment
Myatt, G. Selly Oak Pk. Police Left own accord, 13.5.43 (ill-health)
5th July 1943 – Parks Committee
The General Manager submitted the following report:-
Staff Appointments
The following appointments have been made in order to fill vacancies:-
Name Park Nature of Commencing
Employment Date Wages
West, E.W. Selly Oak Pk. Pk. Labr. 21.6.43 £3-13- 6d.
Staff Appointments
5140 Resolved:- That the various appointments to fill vacancies on the staff, as set out in the foregoing report, be confirmed.
10th July 1943 – Birmingham News
“Gang” News – ……… Stonehouse Gang juniors have followed up their winning of the Birmingham Schoolboy Sports Gala Challenge Cup by a series of conclusive cricket victories.
Playing Birmingham Settlement at Selly Oak Park they scored 99 (Purdy 45, Mitchell 27), and dismissed the visitors for 34 (Mitchell five for 14, Purdy five for 16), winning by 65 runs. …………..
26th July 1943 – Parks Committee
The following report of the General Manager was submitted:-
10th July 1943 – Birmingham News
The Week’s News from the Districts
Selly Oak
“Gang” News – ……… Stonehouse Gang juniors have followed up their winning of the Birmingham Schoolboy Sports Gala Challenge Cup by a series of conclusive cricket victories.
Playing Birmingham Settlement at Selly Oak Park they scored 99 (Purdy 45, Mitchell 27), and dismissed the visitors for 34 (Mitchell five for 14, Purdy five for 16), winning by 65 runs. …………..
26th July 1943 – Parks Committee
The following report of the General Manager was submitted:-
Staff – Dismissals
Name Park Nature of
Employment
West, E. Selly Oak Pk. Labr. Unsatisfactory service, 1.7.43
Food Production – Proposed Cropping 1944
The proposed cropping for 1944 is set out below, and the Committee’s approval is desired:-
Site Area Cultivated Proposed cropping
including Headlands.
acres.
Selly Oak Park 7 Oats
25th August 1943 – Parks Department (Operations Card 26 M1)
Permission granted to Home Guard for erection of a shelter for storage of ammunition in the park on the site as approved.
28th August 1943 – Birmingham News
The Stonehouse Juniors and the Stonehouse Primary, the two junior movements associated with the Stonehouse Gang and the Stonehouse Venturers, celebrated their anniversary at the Corner House in Stonehouse Hill last week-end.
Formed a year ago, when the Corner House was opened, from the nucleus of the Paganel Road Sunday School which met in the local Council Schools, the two movements have experimented by dropping the name Sunday School and by trying to develop juvenile movements with a “comprehensive” programme.
The celebrations opened with sports at Selly Oak Park on Saturday afternoon, followed on Sunday by a Primary Service in the afternoon to which parents and friends were invited, and a service in the evening at which members of the Stonehouse Juniors “told in song and verse the story of their movement”.
(This long article continues – but without further reference to the Park.)
6th September 1943 – Parks Department (Operations Card 26 M1)
Requisition received for site for storage shelter.
14th September 1943 – Parks Department (Operations Card 26 M1)
W.D. (i.e. War Department) Land Agent suggests usual charge of 1/-d p.a. compensation.
18th September 1943 – Birmingham News
The Corner House, headquarters of the Stonehouse Gang and its Associated Activities, was crowded for a Sunday social which last week-end brought to a close the celebrations of the first anniversary of the opening of the buildings.
The week-end’s celebrations included a youth social on Saturday.
The Gang opend its Suburban League fixtures at Selly Oak Park the same day, losing 5-1 to an older and better team, Glendene United, despite some good work in goal by Fred Bayliss. Frank Jones, the Gang’s captian, netted the first goal of the match.
(Another long article continues - but without further reference to the Park.)
2nd October 1943 – Birmingham News
Gang Football – The Stonehouse Gang had three football teams out on Saturday. The senior team played in the Suburban League (see page 14).
At Sennelys Park two Gang teams were in opposition to provide a trial match for the second team, which opens its Youth Committee League fixtures at Selly Oak Park today.
The prospective League team, captained by Bob Purdy, won a 6-0 victory over eleven captained by Arthur Lowe. Whitehouse (4), Mitchell and Pettitt (own goal) were the scorers.
4th October 1943 – Parks Committee
28th August 1943 – Birmingham News
The Stonehouse System of Child Training
Anniversary Celebrations
By A “News” Correspondent.
The Stonehouse Juniors and the Stonehouse Primary, the two junior movements associated with the Stonehouse Gang and the Stonehouse Venturers, celebrated their anniversary at the Corner House in Stonehouse Hill last week-end.
Formed a year ago, when the Corner House was opened, from the nucleus of the Paganel Road Sunday School which met in the local Council Schools, the two movements have experimented by dropping the name Sunday School and by trying to develop juvenile movements with a “comprehensive” programme.
The celebrations opened with sports at Selly Oak Park on Saturday afternoon, followed on Sunday by a Primary Service in the afternoon to which parents and friends were invited, and a service in the evening at which members of the Stonehouse Juniors “told in song and verse the story of their movement”.
(This long article continues – but without further reference to the Park.)
6th September 1943 – Parks Department (Operations Card 26 M1)
Requisition received for site for storage shelter.
14th September 1943 – Parks Department (Operations Card 26 M1)
W.D. (i.e. War Department) Land Agent suggests usual charge of 1/-d p.a. compensation.
18th September 1943 – Birmingham News
Stonehouse Gang’s Celebrations
The Corner House, headquarters of the Stonehouse Gang and its Associated Activities, was crowded for a Sunday social which last week-end brought to a close the celebrations of the first anniversary of the opening of the buildings.
The week-end’s celebrations included a youth social on Saturday.
The Gang opend its Suburban League fixtures at Selly Oak Park the same day, losing 5-1 to an older and better team, Glendene United, despite some good work in goal by Fred Bayliss. Frank Jones, the Gang’s captian, netted the first goal of the match.
(Another long article continues - but without further reference to the Park.)
2nd October 1943 – Birmingham News
The Week’s News from the Districts
Selly Oak
Gang Football – The Stonehouse Gang had three football teams out on Saturday. The senior team played in the Suburban League (see page 14).
At Sennelys Park two Gang teams were in opposition to provide a trial match for the second team, which opens its Youth Committee League fixtures at Selly Oak Park today.
The prospective League team, captained by Bob Purdy, won a 6-0 victory over eleven captained by Arthur Lowe. Whitehouse (4), Mitchell and Pettitt (own goal) were the scorers.
4th October 1943 – Parks Committee
The General Manager submitted the following report:-
Glasshouse Heating – Restrictions on use of Fuel
Referring to my reports submitted to you on the 3rd May and 7th June last, it now appears that under the various Fuel Control and Glasshouse Heating Orders your Department will only be able to obtain permits for fuel for glasshouses not used for food production purposes to the extent of ten per cent of the total cubic contents of the glasshouses under their control. Applications for permits are, therefore, being made accordingly.
In this connection, it has been necessary for a schedule to be prepared of the sizes and cubic capacities of the glasshouses and heated frames in the various parks and cemeteries, and a copy of this schedule is laid upon the table for the Committee’s information and for recording upon the Minutes.
In accordance with a suggestion made by the Town Clerk, an application was made to the Non-Edible Plants (Fuel) Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society for a certificate that certain plants in the glasshouses at Cannon Hill Park were of national importance, and that a special allowance of fuel might, therefore, be obtained in respect thereof. The Royal Horticultural Society sent two members of this Committee to Birmingham to inspect the plants in question, but a notification from the Society has now been received stating that such plants cannot be considered as being of national importance. The expenses of the representatives’ visit to Birmingham amounting to £3-8-5. were paid by your Department.
Sizes and Cubic Capacities of Glasshouses and Heated Frames in Various Parks and Cemeteries
Glasshouses
Situation Ground Dimensions Cubic Contents (feet)
Selly Oak Park, 12’ x 8’ 574
Gibbins Road,
Selly Oak
(Compilers note: This was the smallest glasshouse in the entire list of 78 units)
Use of Parks
The use of parks has been granted as follows since your last meeting:-
Date Park Organisation Purpose
21.8.43 Selly Oak Mr. F.D. Anderson, Stonehouse Juniors’
26, Kingsdown Road, Sports at 3 p.m.
Northfield, 31.
Selly Oak
Gang News - ………………………
The Stonehouse Gang’s Youth Committee League football team opened its League fixtures at Selly Oak Park on Saturday, losing 2-7 to Hazelville Juniors, despite a good performance by Tony Wassall in goal.
The senior team, as reported on another page, lost to an Army eleven by eight clear goals.
Today the gang will have four teams engaged.
23rd October 1943 – Birmingham News
The Week’s News from the Districts
Selly Oak
Gang News – The score of 7-6 by which the Stonehouse Gang’s Youth Committee League football team beat Birmingham Settlement at Selly Oak Park on Saturday is an indication of the keen competition which the game evoked. Stonehouse scorers were Albert Contressor (3), Les. Jones (2), Philip Brown and Bill Chadburn.
Although that particular section of the League caters for players up to 16 years of age, a 13-year-old Gang player, Norman Poston, was chosen for special commendation by the referee.
The Gang’s junior team, playing away at Witton Lakes, drew 2-2 with the Settlement’s schoolboy team. Norman Poston and Les Mitchell scored for the Gang.
As reported on another page, the Gang’s senior team lost 0-3 to an R.A.F. eleven.
6th December 1943 – Parks Committee
The General Manager submitted the following report:-
Staff Resignations
Name Park Nature of Employment
Ferkins, H. Selly Oak Pk. Labr. Left own accord, 30.10.43
25th December 1943 – Birmingham News
The Week’s News from the Districts
Stonehouse
Gang News - …………………….
Gang football teams had hard luck last Saturday. In the morning the junior team, after securing the lead within a minute of the kick-off, lost by the odd goal of nine to local rivals, Oakbrook. The Gang captain, Norman Poston, scored three of the Stonehouse goals, and John Willis the other. As reported elsewhere, the senior Gang team, were only beaten by an orphan goal in a cup-tie match against Olton Sports, at Selly Oak Park, in the afternoon.
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