Ongoing research; last updated 2 February 2015
This volume continues the historical overview of Kings Heath Park; the earlier years having been reported in the previous decade chapters. Again the clippings, listed in the column on the right, contain the more extensive detail upon which it is founded - information from Council committee minutes, newspaper reports, etc.
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1951
Park Environment
Park Environment
With funds allocated from the Keep Bequest, 5 Teak memorial seats (costing £12. 13s. 4d. each) with bronze
plaques (costing 9/8d each) were obtained from Messrs. Barlow Tyric
& Co., and
located in the vicinity of the Park House.
(This bequest was made by Mr. A.W. Keep; and being of several thousand
pounds, it funded 190 seats allocated across a large number of parks.)
It was noted that, whilst the steep bank near to the railway
bridge had been fenced in 1950, the fencing
along the Avenue Road frontage to the Park had completely deteriorated, and
long lengths were missing altogether.
Given the unsightly appearance, and the intention of constructing a children’s
playground in the very near future adjoining this particular frontage,
replacement was thought desirable, not least as a safety precaution. 185 yards of 5’6” sawn oak fencing, and a pair
of double entrance gates to match, were purchased from, and erected by, John
Wright & Son (Redditch), for £200.12s. 6d.
In February, the General Manager announced that because of
bringing forward certain purchases before the start of the financial year, and
being unable to conclude others in it, there was a surplus in Departmental
funds which he recommended should be used to replace greenhouses in three or
four of the parks in order that there would be an economical supply of plants
grown in-house, rather than having to buy them in at ever increasing
prices. And so it was that Foster &
Pearson, Ltd., Beeston, Nottingham, were called upon to provide a replacement lean-to greenhouse, 75’ x
15’3” at the park, which they did for £1,004. 6s. 0d. Once again the greenhouse was constructed in
Siamese Yang, and was fitted with iron staging and supports, rainwater gutters,
ventilating lights and opening gear, and 24 oz. clear horticultural glass cut
elliptically on roof slopes, similar in all respects to the structure
previously erected by this firm. The
dismantling and removal of the existing greenhouse, which was beyond economic
repair, was carried out by direct labour estimated to cost £75.
Refreshment catering in
Kings Heath Park House continued on a temporary basis in the hands of the
Restaurants Department. The Estates
Department was asked to value the property for rental purposes. Previously the rental had been £86 per annum,
for rooms for both catering and residence.
However by this stage the letting only included two serving rooms and a
kitchen, for which a rental of £45 per annum was determined and charged, with
the tenants (the Restaurants Department) paying all outgoings and doing
interior repairs.
The wartime allotments site in the Park (on the Avenue Road
frontage) was relinquished on the 1st January, and the necessary
reinstatement and preparations for a children’s
playground began, as proposed and budgeted in the 1951/52 estimates. £432 was budgeted for the provision of a 40
ft. Slide, a Joy Wheel, a See-saw and a Plank swing. J. & J. Greig, Ltd., Stockport, were
given the contract for the work on the basis of their quotation of £435. 10s. 0d.
A 20ft. illuminated
Christmas tree was provided in the Park again for the Christmas and New
Year period. The height of 20 ft.
was chosen so that the trees erected by the Department were not bigger than
that erected in St. Philip’s Churchyard by the “Birmingham Post and Mail”,
which was 30 ft. (So no competition then!).
Finance
When the budget for 1951/52 had been drawn up, the Parks
Committee were required to trim £40,000 from their total estimate in order to
avoid the City Council having to increase the general rates. One of the items axed was the conversion of
rooms in Kings Heath Park House into four flats – a proposal tabled at the
end of 1950. Despite this, at the end of
July it was reported that £72. 6s. 1d. was expended on the Public Works
Department, who were asked to prepare plans for the conversion of the house
into flats.A purchase was made from the 1951/52
budget early in the year so that the equipment – a pneumatic 3 gallon sprayer with brass container (£10) –
would be available at the start of the new financial year / season. During the year 7 cwts. parks mixture Grass Seed was obtained from Ryder
& Son Ltd., St. Albans for £92. 15s. 0d.
By October of 1951, Miss
Grace Summers, who had given up her
(catering and residential) tenancy of the Park House in July 1950, was £143. 12s.
3d. in arrears with rent and other costs, and the Corporation had taken steps
to collect the outstanding money. However it
was reported that Miss Summers was in very difficult financial circumstances
and she had made an offer, which the Council accepted, to pay £4 per month
commencing on 1st November, until the debt was paid.
Once again, Mr. F.H.
Mapp acted as a marshal during the summer season of entertainments in the
park and he was paid an honorarium of seven guineas (£7. 7s. 0d.) to cover his
expenses during their seven week duration.
At the end of the year, the City Treasurer provided a
statement of the cost to the Parks Committee of the “Sons of Rest” Branch at King’s Heath Park for the year ended the
31st March, 1951. Heating,
Lighting & Water cost £33. 15s. 10d.
Maintenance wages were £13. 8s. 8d.
Contractors costs for Repairs, Alterations & Improvements were £49.
8s. 0d. Thus the total expenditure on
this Branch was £96. 12s. 6d.
Staff
With effect from 7th January, Ms. P.M.
Bridgewater (21), who had been working in the park as a Female
Worker since 12th April 1950, was regraded to Gardener 2nd
Class, and received a 7 shillings and 8 pence pay rise, taking her weekly wage
to £5. 12s. 6d.
On 22nd January, Mr. R.B.W. Lowndes
(25) commenced work as a Garden Labourer on a weekly wage of £5. 5s. 6d. From the 1st April he was regraded
as a Gardener 1st Class and his pay was increased to £5. 16s. 6d.
per week.
On 24th February, Mr. D.N. Wiggins (18) resigned his post of Garden Boy, which he had
held since August 1948.
On 24th March, Mr. A.J. Walsingham (47) resigned his post of Gardener 2nd
Class after three years of service.
In
the annual review of salaries, taking effect on 1st April, the Officer-in-charge at the Park,
Mr. A.A. Whiteley (now aged nearly 54 years, and with
over 19 years of service) was listed as being at the top of his salary grade -
APT.IV (£480 - £525) – earning £525 per annum.
(During this review it was pointed out that salaries across the
Department had become less competitive and an increased number of resignations
were being received.)
In December
it was confirmed that, with effect from 1st April, the wages of Mr. H.W. Evason, the Foreman Gardener at the Park, were £7. 0s. 0d. per
week.
Also with effect from 1st April, Mr. C.T. Carter (23), a Gardener 1st Class working with the Parks Department since August 1942, received one shilling
per week Improved Service Pay.
With effect from 13th May, Mr. T.G. Harwood
(40), a Propagating Gardener working with the Parks Department since
May 1946, received one shilling per week Improved Service Pay.
On 28th May, Mr.
J. McGovern (29) commenced work as a Garden Labourer on a weekly
wage of £5. 5s. 6d., but he resigned his post just a few days later, on the 1st
June!
On 6th June, Mr.
N. Slater (34) commenced work as a Park Policeman on a weekly wage
of £5. 19s. 6d.
Also on 6th June, Mr. B.N. Porter (19) commenced work as a Garden Boy on a
weekly wage of £4. 1s. 7d.
On 11th June, Mr. A.E. Carter (50) resigned his post as a Gardener 2nd
Class, with just over 12 years of service.
On 15th June, Mr. H.W. Bayliss (39) commenced work as a Garden Labourer on
a weekly wage of £5. 5s. 6d. He stayed
just two weeks, resigning his post on 29th June.
On 21st June, Mr. A. Lusher (68) commenced work as a Night Watchman during
the Entertainments season, earning 16 shillings per night. (Mr. Lusher had been the Superintendent of
the Trees in Streets Department in his earlier career.)
With effect from 22nd June, Mr. S. Dafforn (51), a Propagating Gardener with twenty years’
service, received two shillings per week Improved Service Pay.
On 2nd July, Ms.
A.B.A. Maynard (19) commenced work as a Female Worker on a weekly
wage of £4. 13s. 2d. She resigned her
post less than three weeks later, on the 13th of July.
On 6th July, Mr.
A. Henshaw (48) commenced work as a Garden Labourer on a weekly wage
of £5. 5s. 6d.
With effect from 9th July, Mr. J. Matthews (51),
who had been working in the park as a Gardener 2nd Class since 14th
April 1947, was regraded to Gardener 1st Class, and received a 4
shillings pay rise, taking his weekly wage to £5. 16s. 6d.
Also with effect from 9th July, Mr. H. Clemens (61), who had been working in the park as a Garden
Labourer since only 9th August 1950, was regraded to Gardener 2nd
Class, and received a 7 shillings pay rise, taking his weekly wage to £5. 12s.
6d.
On 17th July, Mr. T. Price (18) commenced work as a Garden Boy on a weekly
wage of £4. 1s. 7d.
On 31st July, Master G.L. Jones (15) commenced work as a Garden Boy on a
weekly wage of £2. 6s. 7d. He resigned his post on 28th September after just 2 months service.
On 16th August, Master D. Segewick (15) commenced work as a Garden Boy on a
weekly wage of £2. 6s. 7d.
On 3rd September, Miss S. Newall (17) commenced work as a Female Worker on a
weekly wage of £4. 1s. 7d.
On 3rd September, Mr. L.W. Bennett (32) commenced work as a Garden Labourer on
a weekly wage of £5. 5s. 6d. He appears to
have had a very quick pay increase. It
is recorded that with effect from 1st October he was regraded to Gardener 2nd
Class, and his weekly wage was increased from £5.12s.10d. (though he seems to have started on £5. 5s. 6d.) to £5.19s.10d.
He resigned his post on 16th November!
On 22nd September, Mr. H. Bourne (18), a Garden Boy was dismissed after 6 months in
post on account of “unsatisfactory service”.
With effect from 1st October, Mr. T.W. Gittus (73), a Garden Labourer with more than 10 years’ service, received six shillings per week Improved Service Pay.
On 19th October, Ms I.A. Chambers (18) commenced work as a Female Worker on a weekly wage of £4. 6s. 8d.
On 19th October, Ms I.A. Chambers (18) commenced work as a Female Worker on a weekly wage of £4. 6s. 8d.
On 16th November, Mr. B.N. Carter (19), a Garden Boy was dismissed after 5 months in post on account of “unsatisfactory service”.
Park use
Park use
It was confirmed that the Entertainments
in the Parks 1951 would again be held, but this year as part of the Festival of Britain celebrations. It was agreed that a summer theatre
would be erected in the Park for the seven-week period 25th June to 11th
August, thus confirming the decision made at the end of 1950.
Miss Millicent Jesson, Principal of the M’Lady Fair
Mannequin Academy (of Corporation Street, Birmingham) applied for, and was
granted, permission to present twelve-minute fashion shows in the Summer Theatre before the commencement of a
variety show or during its interval. Similar
displays had been staged by Miss Jesson at the Town Hall in aid of the
Birmingham Council for Old People. There
was a firm understanding that the fashion parades would involve no advertising
whatever of the Mannequin Academy or of the firms supplying the clothing
displayed.
In October it was reported that the New Dramatic Society had given a performance of Noel Coward’s play “Present
Laughter” in the Park during the Entertainments season, and it had been watched
by 223 people yielding £13. 15s. 6d. receipts.
The average attendance at the Entertainments at King’s Heath
Park (one of only 8 parks where they took place) in 1951 was 235 (exactly the same
as in 1950). In the light of those
attendances, and experience gained in previous seasons with regard to
attendances, deployment of equipment and also the available resources for 1952,
it was agreed that the Entertainments in
the Parks 1952 programme should be reduced by another week, and should
just run for six weeks, from 9th June to 19th July 1952.
Other park users included:-
On 10th and 24th June, and 26th
August, the King’s Heath Evangelical
Free Church held religious services.
On 1st July - using the summer theatre – the Birmingham and District Children’s
Service Union held a religious service. We learn in 1952 (when application was made again) that a children's service was held in the summer theatre in each of the 8 parks involved in the Entertainments in the Parks 1951 programme; and that a total of 2,400 children attended the 8 events.
A couple of serious accidents
occurred during the year, and in each case the patient was taken to hospital
for treatment:-
On 13h January, Neville
John Pearsall (17) sustained a suspected fracture of his left
forearm whilst playing football.
On 13h June, S.J. Carr
(28) sustained a suspected dislocated shoulder whilst playing cricket.
1952
Park Environment
The Report
& Control Centre which was constructed during the War still existed in
the Park (as similar ones did in many other parks). Since the end of the War they had fallen into
disuse and had been a constant source of trouble to the Parks Staff and Police,
not only from the point of view of trying to prevent damage by children and
youths, but the structures formed a dangerous playground for children who
continually climbed over the mounds of earth and the concrete entrances and
jumped down from a height of 8 or 10 ft.
Several children had sustained injury that way. It was announced that the Control Centres were
to be brought back into use for the purpose of training Civil Defence personnel
under the direction of the Home Office.
Following a suggestion made by the Parks Department at the end of 1951,
the Civil Defence Committee agreed to pay for the erection of a 5’6” high sawn
oak open pale fence around the building. The fence prevented access from the park, but
provided an independent entrance on the street frontage, so that the Control
Centre could be used after dark without the park being kept open to the public.
Remedial work was undertaken in the “Sons of Rest” shelter; 56 sq yds of a
jointless composition flooring was laid in place of the old linoleum, by
Byrne & Co. (Flooring), at a price of £58. 16s. 0d.
Back in July 1950 it had been agreed that a Senior
Horticulturist should be appointed and that his duties should include the
introduction and operation of a Departmental
Training Scheme for young gardeners.
That appointment duly took place and in March 1952 detailed training
proposals were put forward. The proposed
scheme included - i) An Apprenticeship
Scheme providing facilities for instruction for Juniors recruited from both
Secondary Modern and Grammar Schools; ii) Courses for the further training of
Adult Gardeners who have shown promise; iii) Specialist instruction from time
to time throughout the Department for particular reasons; and iv) Facilities
for the instruction of Apprentice Groundsmen.
It was proposed that training would be provided by the senior
experienced staff, and that a centre at King’s Heath Park would be established,
and a lecture room in the Park House provided.
(The very full details of the proposals – including criteria for
selecting trainees, training programmes, course syllabi, location, funding,
rewards, etc. - can be found in the 1952
clippings.) The proposal was highly
acclaimed, approved, and advanced with considerable energy. New equipment was purchased – 20 Tables, 30
Chairs, 2 Blackboards, Fruit Trees and bushes, Tools, an Epivisor and screen,
and Books for a Library – a package costing £757. 16s. 8d.
The Training Schemes started in September. The Training School was immediately oversubscribed
– 60 applicants vying for 28 places; and a request from a neighbouring authority
that two of their trainees be allowed to join the Training Scheme was rejected.
(It is interesting to note a commentary in
July - “At the present time, the Parks Department employs 71 juniors, of whom
47 are suitable for receiving training”.)
Now that it had been agreed to utilise part of the Park House in connection with the new
Horticultural Training Scheme, it was considered a matter of urgency that “the
present unsuitable gas lighting” be replaced by an electricity supply. It
appears that up until this time there was only a gas supply to the Park
House. It cost £320. 3s. 0d. to install
the new electricity supply. The other
users of the house - the “Sons of Rest”, the Civic Restaurants Department, and
Mr. Lusher, a retired Corporation employee – benefitted from the new utility.
King’s Heath Park was one of the ports of call during the Parks
Committee’s annual inspection of their
parks on Friday, the 25th July.
During the summer, repairs (particularly to the roof lights)
and painting of the Conservatory
adjoining Park House was carried out. Foster
& Pearson Ltd., Beeston, Nottingham undertook the work at a cost of £202. 15s.
6d.
An illuminated
Christmas tree was provided in the Park again - illuminated from
Saturday, 6th December, 1952 to Saturday, 3rd January,
1953, between the hours of 4 p.m. and 11 p.m. on each evening. It was suggested that a permanent tree should
be planted (here and in other parks); but the Head Forester advised that Norway
Spruce trees, which are the real “Christmas trees” and the only type of conifer
suitable for decorative use, are most unsuited for transplanting into the town,
as they are essentially a tree of the mountains and cannot successfully be
moved from their natural environment to the polluted atmosphere of the
city. Furthermore, it is usual when
planting Norway Spruce for the trees not to exceed 10” in height, and
thereafter they grow at only about a foot per year. Thus, apart from the considerable risk of
their non-survival, the trees would take many years to reach the required
height, and the suggestion was therefore deemed impracticable.
In December it was announced that further funds
had been allocated from the Keep Bequest, and 4 more Teak memorial seats with bronze plaques were obtained from
Messrs. Barlow Tyric & Co., Leytonstone, London for the Park. (This second release of funds (£2,500) – the first
having been made early in 1951 - provided another 193 seats which were allocated
across a large number of Birmingham parks.)
Finance
In 1951 the rental for the rooms in Kings Heath Park House for Refreshment
catering was set at £45 per
annum. The Parks Committee had
agreed to attend to the interior repair and redecoration of the premises before
the Restaurants Department took on the catering contract. However that work was not carried out
immediately, but was scheduled to be done during the 1951/52 winter. So by the start of 1952 the catering had been
neither entirely successful nor economic, so the Restaurants Department sought,
and were granted, an allowance of £20 against the rent of £45 for the period 26th
August, 1950 to 1st January, 1952.
Early in the year, 230 yds of 4’ 6” Chestnut Fencing and 80 6’ posts were purchased from Grosvenor
Workmen for £62. 0s. 0d.
The Estimates for
1952-53 contained a specific allocation of £300 for repairs to the roof of
the conservatory and its snow guard.
In October 1951, Miss
Grace Summers, the former tenant of King’s Park House who had fallen on
hard financial times, had agreed to repay debts amounting to £143. 12s. 3d. in
monthly instalments of £4, beginning in November 1951. By October 1952 only one instalment had been
paid and it was agreed to distrain on her goods and chattels for the amount
outstanding. By December it was reported
that the Sheriff’s Officer had collected £10 of the arrears, and Miss Summers had
responded by offering to pay £5 per month; an offer the Parks Committee accepted,
with the proviso of Sheriff’s Officer’s intervention if she defaulted.
This year, Mr. W.T.
Cutts acted as a marshal during the summer season of entertainments in the
park and he was paid an honorarium of six guineas (£6. 6s. 0d.) to cover his
expenses during their six week duration.
Staff
With effect from 12th March, Mr. R.B. Lowndes (27), who had worked in the park as a Gardener 1st
Class since January 1951, was regraded to Gardener R.H.S., and received a 9
shillings pay rise, taking his weekly wage to £6. 18s. 4d.
On 14th March, Mr. A. Henshaw (54) resigned his post of Garden Labourer after
eight months of service.
With
effect from 27th March, Mr. W.G. Harper (58),
a Park Policeman who had worked with the Parks Department since March 1949,
received two shillings per week Improved Service Pay.
In
the annual review of salaries, taking effect on 1st April, the Officer-in-charge at the
Park, Mr. A.A. Whiteley (aged
nearly 54 years, and with 20 years of service) was listed as being at the top
of his salary grade - APT.IV (now £530 - £575) – earning £575 per annum.
In March
it was confirmed that the wages of Mr. H.W. Evason, the Foreman Gardener at
the Park, were increased from £7. 7s. 4d. to £7. 12s. 4d. per week.
On 21st April, Miss B. Field (31) commenced work as a Female Worker on a
weekly wage of £5. 18s. 4d. There is a
report in November that she was regraded to Gardener R.H.S., that her weekly
wage increased to £6. 18s. 4d., and that this was back-dated to 21st
April.
With
effect from 13th May, Mr. T.G. Harwood (40),
a Propagating Gardener who had worked with the Parks Department since May 1946,
received four shillings per week Improved Service Pay.
On 16th May, Mr.
G.F. Glover (37) resigned his post of Park Policeman after thirteen months
of service.
On 27th May, Mr.
J.B. Cooper (26) commenced work as a Garden Labourer on a weekly
wage of £5. 18s. 4d. With effect from
21st July he was regraded to Gardener 1st Class with a weekly wage
of £6. 9s. 4d.
Once again, on 5th June, Mr. A. Lusher (69) commenced work as a Night Watchman
during the Entertainments season, earning 16 shillings per night. His
duties ended on 20th July. (Mr.
Lusher was a resident in Kings Heath Park House.)
On 14th June, Mr. N. Johnson (18) resigned his post of Garden Boy after nearly
three years of service.
On 15th August, Ms. I.A. Chambers (20) resigned her post as a Female Worker after nine
months of service.
On 17th August, Mr. F.A. McCoy (40) commenced work as a Park Policeman on a
weekly wage of £6. 5s. 6d.
On 19th August, Ms. D.E. Acres (24) commenced work as a Female Worker on a
weekly wage of £5. 18s. 4d.
On 22nd August, Mr. B.B. Wilkes (17) was dismissed from his post as a Garden Boy after
one year on the basis of “unsatisfactory service”.
On 15th September, Ms. E. MacGregor (23) commenced work as a Female Worker on a
weekly wage of £5. 18s. 4d.
With effect from 17th November, Mr. GT. Carter (24), a Gardener 1st Class who had worked with the Parks Department since August 1942, received two shillings per week Improved Service Pay.
On 15th December, Mr. A.E. Raison (20) commenced work as a Garden Boy A on a weekly wage of £5. 16s. 5d.
With so many staff changes recorded (assuming they all were reported) it is difficult to envisage the staff structure at the Park. It is therefore interesting to know that in July the staff establishment for King’s Heath Park was formally listed as – 1 Officer-in-charge; 1 Foreman, 6 Gardeners; 3 Garden Labourers; 3 Garden Boys; 2 Park Policemen; 1 Games Attendant; 3 Female Gardeners; and 1 Relief Officer-in-charge. A total of 20 staff, and one relief.
With effect from 17th November, Mr. GT. Carter (24), a Gardener 1st Class who had worked with the Parks Department since August 1942, received two shillings per week Improved Service Pay.
On 15th December, Mr. A.E. Raison (20) commenced work as a Garden Boy A on a weekly wage of £5. 16s. 5d.
With so many staff changes recorded (assuming they all were reported) it is difficult to envisage the staff structure at the Park. It is therefore interesting to know that in July the staff establishment for King’s Heath Park was formally listed as – 1 Officer-in-charge; 1 Foreman, 6 Gardeners; 3 Garden Labourers; 3 Garden Boys; 2 Park Policemen; 1 Games Attendant; 3 Female Gardeners; and 1 Relief Officer-in-charge. A total of 20 staff, and one relief.
Park use
The Entertainments in the Parks
1952 ran for six weeks, from 9th June to 19th
July 1952.
In October it was reported that the Birmingham Theatre School had given a performances of “All over the
Town” by R.F. Delderfield, which was watched in the Park during the
Entertainments season by 268 people, who paid £13. 7s. 3d. to do so. L.H.D
Productions had given a performance of Rose Franken’s “Claudia” which was
watched by 160 people yielding £9. 18s. 6d. receipts.
The average attendance at the Entertainments at King’s Heath
Park in 1952 was only 199, compared with the 235 in 1951 and 1950. In the light of this continuing downward trend
it was agreed that the Entertainments in
the Parks, 1953 programme should be reduced by another two weeks, and
should run for just 4 weeks from 15th June to 11th July. An application from Mrs. C.M. Baker, of Grange
Road, King’s Heath, to hold a Baby Show
and Children’s Fancy Dress Parade in the Summer Theatre at the Park during
the 1953 Entertainments Season was turned down.
Other park users included:-
On 17th May,
the Birmingham Boy Scouts
Association held their Wolf Cub Sports.
On 14th and 15th June - using the
summer theatre – the Birmingham and
District Children’s Service Union held a religious service.
On 15th and 29th June, the Kings Heath Evangelical Free Church
held Religious Meetings.
On 24th August, the King’s Norton Constituency Labour Party held a Political Meeting.
A couple of serious injuries
occurred during the year, and in each case the patient was taken to hospital
for treatment:-
On 19h March, Annette
Scott (10) sustained an injury to her ankle when she feel down whilst
running.
On 5th July, Noel
Hughes (13) fractured his collar bone when he fell from a cycle.
1953
Park Environment
Changes were made in the living accommodation in King’s Heath Park House. Mr. Lusher, a retired employee of the Parks Department, who had been living in rooms there, moved to a prefab in Warstock, Birmingham. The vacated rooms, in need of some renovation, were then allocated to Mr. V.G. Collings, the Department’s newly appointed Senior Technical Assistant (Architect). But before he moved in a new kitchen, bathroom and w.c., new fuel saving fires in certain of the rooms (all subjects of reported special order puchases), and electric lighting was installed, before redecorating was undertaken; and by these changes (costing £450) the accommodation became self-contained and on the first floor, rather than as previously divided between the ground and first floors. The rent set for the new accommodation was £1. 1s. 0d. per week, with Mr. Collings paying all rates and being responsible for inside decorations.
By 1953 there were three rooms on the top floor of Kings Heath Park House which were capable of conversion into a flat, and eventually plans were brought forward for the work. The living room (14’ x 18’3”) was provided with a new fireplace, an extra window, and a French door with access to a steel wall ladder fire escape. A kitchen (8’9” x 14’6”) and bathroom (5’6” x 14’6”) were created by dividing the existing central room. Cupboards and a sink unit were provided in the kitchen. The bathroom was given a new window, doorway, w.c., bath, lavatory basin, and airing cupboard. The bedroom (13’6” x 15’3”) was fitted with new cupboards and an electric wall fire. A screen and a door were installed at the head of the stairs to make the flat self-contained. And finally the flat was decorated throughout. The entire project was completed for no more than £300. The flat was then allocated to Mr. D.W. Moore, of the Head Office Staff (Clerk’s Department) (- one detects after a degree of special pleading, reluctantly approved by the Parks Committee) at a rental of 17 shillings and 6 pence per week (Mr. Moore also having responsibility for the rates and internal repairs).
It was reported in March that the B.B.C. (Midland Region) had Children’s Hour Gardening Plots in eight Birmingham Parks, including King’s Heath, during 1952, and that King’s Heath Park had featured in both sound and television broadcasts. It was agreed that the gardening plots would continue through 1953.
During the autumn a survey of the state of the tennis courts in the City parks was made. King’s Heath Park was reported as having 4 grass courts, in poor condition after moderate use. It was observed that “there will always be a demand for good quality grass tennis courts, as these give a combination of essential playing characteristics which are not found in any other type of court, but the overwhelming desire on the part of the players in the parks is for hard all-weather courts as these can be played on without much delay after wet weather, and also during the winter months”. In deciding its policy for the tennis courts, the Parks Committee minuted its intention that, as and when financial circumstances allowed unserviceable grass tennis courts should be replaced by All-Weather Courts. Until such replacement the methods used in the maintenance of grass courts were that baseline areas which suffered from excessive wear and tear were returfed in the autumn. However, if the court was then played on to a similar extent the following year, they were not sufficiently robust, deteriorated rapidly, and the worn area increased. The solution of this problem was seen as resting courts on a rota basis after returfing, and prohibiting play completely for one season to give the turf time to settle down and become established. For the older courts, where over a number of years compaction had resulted, the solution lay in ploughing up and reconstructing the court - a method which had been trialled on one of the courts at Handsworth Park in 1952. The trial had been successful and it was decided to roll out the practice to other parks. And so it was that two of King’s Heath Park’s grass tennis courts were to be closed during the 1954 season and completely renovated by ploughing up and reseeding, so that they would then be ready for play at the beginning of the 1955 season.
An illuminated Christmas tree was provided in the Park again - illuminated from Saturday, 5th December, 1953 to Saturday, 2nd January, 1954, between the hours of 4 p.m. and 11 p.m. on each evening.
Training School
When the budget for 1953/54 was drawn up, an allowance was included to provide laboratories in King’s Heath Park House for the School of Horticulture. As preparations were being made for this an examination of the roof space revealed physical deterioration of some of the timbers, and that their method of connection with metal spikes was structurally weak, conditions exacerbated by the ingress of damp over a number of years through numerous defects in the roof coverings. It was decided, in view of the otherwise reasonably sound condition of the property and of its use in addition to a training school, as living accommodation, “Sons of Rest” quarters, and as a restaurant, that the roof covering, flashings, gutters, downpipes, vertical hangings and the like should be repaired; and subsequently this was done by Messrs. J. Broomfield & Son at a cost of £188.
The contract for the supply of benches equipped with gas, water and electric service points, and certain incidental items of furniture, for the chemical and botanical laboratories for the Horticultural School, was awarded to Messrs. Mutter & Hall, a firm specialising in such items; the equipment cost £736.
£567 was expended with F. Evans & Sons Limited for the provision of central heating at the Horticultural School.
In August there was a meeting to select the new cohort of apprentices for the Training Schoolfor its second year, and arising from that it was decided that places would be allocated to any suitably qualified ladies (only males had been recruited in the first year). As a consequence of this decision it was resolved that “the General Manager be instructed to ensure that the necessary separate lavatory accommodation is made available for girls admitted to the departmental training scheme”.
The Parks Committee’s annual inspection of parks on 31st July included a visit to the Training School at the Park.
By March 1953 the Training School had been operating for 6 months, and an interim report on the progress of the Scheme was presented to the Parks Committee. From this report we learn that Mr. A.A. Whiteley, the Superintendent at the Park, lectured on ”Vegetables”, and that two of the apprentices in the first cohort of 25 worked at King’s Heath Park under his supervision. These apprentices received the following reports:-
Mr. A.J. Grace was - “Punctual and obedient. Always to be found at his work, but I must say he is slow, and not particularly interested. He is not keen to ask questions or show enthusiasm and vitality. He is a good type of boy, and I am hoping he will improve.”
Mr. J.E. Knight was – “keen, inquisitive, enthusiastic and works vigorously. I think this boy will develop into a skilful and useful gardener. He is punctual and tidy in his person. Gardener speaks highly of him.”
In the end of term tests Mr. Grace was placed 13th, and Mr. Knight 17th, in the class of 25 students.
By November the first annual report from the Training School had been presented, giving considerable detail of activities. The report confirmed that Mr. Whiteley, the Park-keeper, was one of the lecturers at the college; with his contribution to the syllabus being on vegetables. At the end of year examinations, the King’s Heath apprentices had changed places; Mr. Grace was then 16th in the class, whilst Mr. Knight was 15th. Their reports were now:-
Finance
When, at the beginning of the year, the 1953/54 budget was drawn up, an allowance was included for the following specific items for the Park:- i) tar-spraying the playground and path (£50); ii) repairs to playground (£25); and the following repairs, alterations and improvements – iii) laboratories for the Horticultural Training School (£2,600); iv) the installation of electric light in the cellar of the Park House (£25); and v) a new ¾ span greenhouse (£750). However before the estimates were finally approved it became necessary to trim £70,000 from the total Parks Budget, and in order to do so the budget for the laboratories was reduced to £1,600, and the electric lighting (£25) and the new greenhouse (£750) were deleted from the planned expenditure. Whilst the new greenhouse was lost, a further sum of £1,000 was allocated as a contingency item for repairs to greenhouses generally (across all the parks, not just at King’s Heath).
In 1951 the rental for the rooms in Kings Heath Park House for Refreshment catering was set at £45 per annum. The Parks Committee had agreed to attend to the interior repair and redecoration of the premises before the Restaurants Department took on the catering contract. However, that work was not carried out immediately, but was scheduled to be done during the 1951/52 winter. By June 1953 there was still unfinished decorating work impeding trade, so once more the Restaurants Department sought an allowance of £20 against the rent of £45, and were granted an allowance of £15 for the period to 31st March 1953.
For his second year, Mr. W.T. Cutts acted as a marshal during the summer season of entertainments in the park and he was paid an honorarium of four guineas (£4. 4s. 0d.) to cover his expenses during their four week duration. Mr. T. Day acted as a voluntary sound and lighting operator during three weeks of the entertainments and he too was paid an honorarium, of three guineas.
Staff
On 7th January, Ms. E. MacGregor (24) resigned her post as a Female Worker after only 3 months of service.
On 9th January, Mr. J. McAleer (38) resigned his post as a Garden Labourer after just 6 months of service.
On 14th January, Mr. A.J. Hughes (59) commenced work in the Park as a Garden Labourer on a weekly wage of £6. 2s. 0d.
On 19th January, Mr. S. Garner (23) commenced work in the Park as a Garden Labourer on a weekly wage of £6. 2s. 0d.
On 27th February, Mr. T.W. Gittus (75) was dismissed from his post as a Garden Labourer after more than 12.5 years of service, the reason for the dismissal being given as “unsatisfactory service”.
On 9th March, Miss J.A. Green (20) commenced work in the Park as a Female Worker “A” on a weekly wage of £6. 6s. 8d. (later reported to have been £5. 19s. 8d.). With effect from 26th May she was regraded to Gardener 2nd Class and given a weekly wage of £6. 9s. 0d.
In the annual review of salaries, taking effect on 1st April, the Officer-in-charge at the Park, Mr. A.A. Whiteley (aged nearly 55 years, and with 21 years of service) was listed as being at the top of his salary grade - APT.IV (now £550 - £600) – earning £600 per annum.
On 10th May, Mr. H.J. Millington (45) commenced work in the Park as a Park Policeman on a weekly wage of £6. 9s. 2d. It appears that he resigned his post on his first day at work!
With effect from 19th May, Mr. S.C. Freeman (63), a Games Attendant who had worked in the Park since May 1950 was awarded two shillings a week Improved Service Pay.
With effect from 1st June, Mr. J.B. Cooper (27), a Gardener 1st Class (earning £6. 13s. 0d. per week), having worked in the Park for almost a year, was regraded to Gardener 1st Class (RHS) and his wage increased to £7. 0s. 0d. This was the staff member included amongst the second cohort of apprentices joining the Training School at the start of its second year (see above). He appears to have been a very willing employee – both in terms of training and extra duties (see immediately following).
Mr. T.G. Harwood (a Propagating Gardener), Mr. J.B. Cooper (a Gardener 1st Class) and Mr. D.S.H. Clements (a Gardener 2nd Class) were called upon for extra duty to assist with the firework display in the Park on Coronation Day (2nd June), and for this they were each paid a special remuneration of £1. 10s. 0d.
On 22nd June, Mr. S. Watson (37) commenced work in the Park as a Park Policeman on a weekly wage of £6. 9s. 2d. He resigned his post on 17th October after just 3 months of service.
On 3rd July, Mr. T. Wall (49) resigned his post as a Garden Labourer after just 3 years of service.
With effect from 7th July, Mr. A.E. Raison (21), a Garden Boy “A” who had worked in the Park since August 1946 was awarded two shillings a week Improved Service Pay. This was the date from which he was also regraded from Garden Boy (earning £5. 19s. 8d. per week) to Gardener 1st Class (earning £6. 13s. 0d.).
On 29th September, Mrs. D. DeMain (62) started work in the Park House as a Cleaner on an hourly rate of 2 shillings and seven eighths of a penny per hour.
With effect from 25th October, Mr. T. Price (21), who had worked in the park as a Garden Boy ‘A’ (earning £6. 3s. 8d. per week) since July 1951 was regraded to a Gardener 2nd Class and his weekly wage was increased to £6. 13s. 0d.
In November it was recorded that Mr. A.A. Whiteley, the Park-keeper, had once again been one of the judges in the annual Municipal Tenants Gardens Competition, and for this he received an honorarium of £3.
Permission was granted for a number of groups to use the park on Coronation Day (2nd June) especially for children’s activities:-
Park Environment
Changes were made in the living accommodation in King’s Heath Park House. Mr. Lusher, a retired employee of the Parks Department, who had been living in rooms there, moved to a prefab in Warstock, Birmingham. The vacated rooms, in need of some renovation, were then allocated to Mr. V.G. Collings, the Department’s newly appointed Senior Technical Assistant (Architect). But before he moved in a new kitchen, bathroom and w.c., new fuel saving fires in certain of the rooms (all subjects of reported special order puchases), and electric lighting was installed, before redecorating was undertaken; and by these changes (costing £450) the accommodation became self-contained and on the first floor, rather than as previously divided between the ground and first floors. The rent set for the new accommodation was £1. 1s. 0d. per week, with Mr. Collings paying all rates and being responsible for inside decorations.
By 1953 there were three rooms on the top floor of Kings Heath Park House which were capable of conversion into a flat, and eventually plans were brought forward for the work. The living room (14’ x 18’3”) was provided with a new fireplace, an extra window, and a French door with access to a steel wall ladder fire escape. A kitchen (8’9” x 14’6”) and bathroom (5’6” x 14’6”) were created by dividing the existing central room. Cupboards and a sink unit were provided in the kitchen. The bathroom was given a new window, doorway, w.c., bath, lavatory basin, and airing cupboard. The bedroom (13’6” x 15’3”) was fitted with new cupboards and an electric wall fire. A screen and a door were installed at the head of the stairs to make the flat self-contained. And finally the flat was decorated throughout. The entire project was completed for no more than £300. The flat was then allocated to Mr. D.W. Moore, of the Head Office Staff (Clerk’s Department) (- one detects after a degree of special pleading, reluctantly approved by the Parks Committee) at a rental of 17 shillings and 6 pence per week (Mr. Moore also having responsibility for the rates and internal repairs).
It was reported in March that the B.B.C. (Midland Region) had Children’s Hour Gardening Plots in eight Birmingham Parks, including King’s Heath, during 1952, and that King’s Heath Park had featured in both sound and television broadcasts. It was agreed that the gardening plots would continue through 1953.
During the autumn a survey of the state of the tennis courts in the City parks was made. King’s Heath Park was reported as having 4 grass courts, in poor condition after moderate use. It was observed that “there will always be a demand for good quality grass tennis courts, as these give a combination of essential playing characteristics which are not found in any other type of court, but the overwhelming desire on the part of the players in the parks is for hard all-weather courts as these can be played on without much delay after wet weather, and also during the winter months”. In deciding its policy for the tennis courts, the Parks Committee minuted its intention that, as and when financial circumstances allowed unserviceable grass tennis courts should be replaced by All-Weather Courts. Until such replacement the methods used in the maintenance of grass courts were that baseline areas which suffered from excessive wear and tear were returfed in the autumn. However, if the court was then played on to a similar extent the following year, they were not sufficiently robust, deteriorated rapidly, and the worn area increased. The solution of this problem was seen as resting courts on a rota basis after returfing, and prohibiting play completely for one season to give the turf time to settle down and become established. For the older courts, where over a number of years compaction had resulted, the solution lay in ploughing up and reconstructing the court - a method which had been trialled on one of the courts at Handsworth Park in 1952. The trial had been successful and it was decided to roll out the practice to other parks. And so it was that two of King’s Heath Park’s grass tennis courts were to be closed during the 1954 season and completely renovated by ploughing up and reseeding, so that they would then be ready for play at the beginning of the 1955 season.
An illuminated Christmas tree was provided in the Park again - illuminated from Saturday, 5th December, 1953 to Saturday, 2nd January, 1954, between the hours of 4 p.m. and 11 p.m. on each evening.
Training School
When the budget for 1953/54 was drawn up, an allowance was included to provide laboratories in King’s Heath Park House for the School of Horticulture. As preparations were being made for this an examination of the roof space revealed physical deterioration of some of the timbers, and that their method of connection with metal spikes was structurally weak, conditions exacerbated by the ingress of damp over a number of years through numerous defects in the roof coverings. It was decided, in view of the otherwise reasonably sound condition of the property and of its use in addition to a training school, as living accommodation, “Sons of Rest” quarters, and as a restaurant, that the roof covering, flashings, gutters, downpipes, vertical hangings and the like should be repaired; and subsequently this was done by Messrs. J. Broomfield & Son at a cost of £188.
The contract for the supply of benches equipped with gas, water and electric service points, and certain incidental items of furniture, for the chemical and botanical laboratories for the Horticultural School, was awarded to Messrs. Mutter & Hall, a firm specialising in such items; the equipment cost £736.
£567 was expended with F. Evans & Sons Limited for the provision of central heating at the Horticultural School.
In August there was a meeting to select the new cohort of apprentices for the Training Schoolfor its second year, and arising from that it was decided that places would be allocated to any suitably qualified ladies (only males had been recruited in the first year). As a consequence of this decision it was resolved that “the General Manager be instructed to ensure that the necessary separate lavatory accommodation is made available for girls admitted to the departmental training scheme”.
The Parks Committee’s annual inspection of parks on 31st July included a visit to the Training School at the Park.
By March 1953 the Training School had been operating for 6 months, and an interim report on the progress of the Scheme was presented to the Parks Committee. From this report we learn that Mr. A.A. Whiteley, the Superintendent at the Park, lectured on ”Vegetables”, and that two of the apprentices in the first cohort of 25 worked at King’s Heath Park under his supervision. These apprentices received the following reports:-
Mr. A.J. Grace was - “Punctual and obedient. Always to be found at his work, but I must say he is slow, and not particularly interested. He is not keen to ask questions or show enthusiasm and vitality. He is a good type of boy, and I am hoping he will improve.”
Mr. J.E. Knight was – “keen, inquisitive, enthusiastic and works vigorously. I think this boy will develop into a skilful and useful gardener. He is punctual and tidy in his person. Gardener speaks highly of him.”
In the end of term tests Mr. Grace was placed 13th, and Mr. Knight 17th, in the class of 25 students.
By November the first annual report from the Training School had been presented, giving considerable detail of activities. The report confirmed that Mr. Whiteley, the Park-keeper, was one of the lecturers at the college; with his contribution to the syllabus being on vegetables. At the end of year examinations, the King’s Heath apprentices had changed places; Mr. Grace was then 16th in the class, whilst Mr. Knight was 15th. Their reports were now:-
- Mr. Grace – “A well behaved youth, obedient and steady, but lacks initiative. He is, however, a useful member of the staff.”; and
- Mr. Knight – “Quite good at his work – very useful. Should appreciate that at times it is necessary for skilled gardeners to tackle the routine and less interesting garden work.”
Finance
When, at the beginning of the year, the 1953/54 budget was drawn up, an allowance was included for the following specific items for the Park:- i) tar-spraying the playground and path (£50); ii) repairs to playground (£25); and the following repairs, alterations and improvements – iii) laboratories for the Horticultural Training School (£2,600); iv) the installation of electric light in the cellar of the Park House (£25); and v) a new ¾ span greenhouse (£750). However before the estimates were finally approved it became necessary to trim £70,000 from the total Parks Budget, and in order to do so the budget for the laboratories was reduced to £1,600, and the electric lighting (£25) and the new greenhouse (£750) were deleted from the planned expenditure. Whilst the new greenhouse was lost, a further sum of £1,000 was allocated as a contingency item for repairs to greenhouses generally (across all the parks, not just at King’s Heath).
In 1951 the rental for the rooms in Kings Heath Park House for Refreshment catering was set at £45 per annum. The Parks Committee had agreed to attend to the interior repair and redecoration of the premises before the Restaurants Department took on the catering contract. However, that work was not carried out immediately, but was scheduled to be done during the 1951/52 winter. By June 1953 there was still unfinished decorating work impeding trade, so once more the Restaurants Department sought an allowance of £20 against the rent of £45, and were granted an allowance of £15 for the period to 31st March 1953.
For his second year, Mr. W.T. Cutts acted as a marshal during the summer season of entertainments in the park and he was paid an honorarium of four guineas (£4. 4s. 0d.) to cover his expenses during their four week duration. Mr. T. Day acted as a voluntary sound and lighting operator during three weeks of the entertainments and he too was paid an honorarium, of three guineas.
Staff
On 7th January, Ms. E. MacGregor (24) resigned her post as a Female Worker after only 3 months of service.
On 9th January, Mr. J. McAleer (38) resigned his post as a Garden Labourer after just 6 months of service.
On 14th January, Mr. A.J. Hughes (59) commenced work in the Park as a Garden Labourer on a weekly wage of £6. 2s. 0d.
On 19th January, Mr. S. Garner (23) commenced work in the Park as a Garden Labourer on a weekly wage of £6. 2s. 0d.
On 27th February, Mr. T.W. Gittus (75) was dismissed from his post as a Garden Labourer after more than 12.5 years of service, the reason for the dismissal being given as “unsatisfactory service”.
On 9th March, Miss J.A. Green (20) commenced work in the Park as a Female Worker “A” on a weekly wage of £6. 6s. 8d. (later reported to have been £5. 19s. 8d.). With effect from 26th May she was regraded to Gardener 2nd Class and given a weekly wage of £6. 9s. 0d.
In the annual review of salaries, taking effect on 1st April, the Officer-in-charge at the Park, Mr. A.A. Whiteley (aged nearly 55 years, and with 21 years of service) was listed as being at the top of his salary grade - APT.IV (now £550 - £600) – earning £600 per annum.
On 10th May, Mr. H.J. Millington (45) commenced work in the Park as a Park Policeman on a weekly wage of £6. 9s. 2d. It appears that he resigned his post on his first day at work!
With effect from 19th May, Mr. S.C. Freeman (63), a Games Attendant who had worked in the Park since May 1950 was awarded two shillings a week Improved Service Pay.
With effect from 1st June, Mr. J.B. Cooper (27), a Gardener 1st Class (earning £6. 13s. 0d. per week), having worked in the Park for almost a year, was regraded to Gardener 1st Class (RHS) and his wage increased to £7. 0s. 0d. This was the staff member included amongst the second cohort of apprentices joining the Training School at the start of its second year (see above). He appears to have been a very willing employee – both in terms of training and extra duties (see immediately following).
Mr. T.G. Harwood (a Propagating Gardener), Mr. J.B. Cooper (a Gardener 1st Class) and Mr. D.S.H. Clements (a Gardener 2nd Class) were called upon for extra duty to assist with the firework display in the Park on Coronation Day (2nd June), and for this they were each paid a special remuneration of £1. 10s. 0d.
On 22nd June, Mr. S. Watson (37) commenced work in the Park as a Park Policeman on a weekly wage of £6. 9s. 2d. He resigned his post on 17th October after just 3 months of service.
On 3rd July, Mr. T. Wall (49) resigned his post as a Garden Labourer after just 3 years of service.
With effect from 7th July, Mr. A.E. Raison (21), a Garden Boy “A” who had worked in the Park since August 1946 was awarded two shillings a week Improved Service Pay. This was the date from which he was also regraded from Garden Boy (earning £5. 19s. 8d. per week) to Gardener 1st Class (earning £6. 13s. 0d.).
On 29th September, Mrs. D. DeMain (62) started work in the Park House as a Cleaner on an hourly rate of 2 shillings and seven eighths of a penny per hour.
With effect from 25th October, Mr. T. Price (21), who had worked in the park as a Garden Boy ‘A’ (earning £6. 3s. 8d. per week) since July 1951 was regraded to a Gardener 2nd Class and his weekly wage was increased to £6. 13s. 0d.
In November it was recorded that Mr. A.A. Whiteley, the Park-keeper, had once again been one of the judges in the annual Municipal Tenants Gardens Competition, and for this he received an honorarium of £3.
On 23rd November, Mr. J.S. Moseley (40) commenced work in the Park as a Park Policeman on a weekly wage of £6. 13s. 2d.
Park use
At the end of 1952 planning for the Coronation
Celebrations, on Coronation Day, 2nd June, 1953 (for Queen
Elizabeth II), had already started.
Early in 1953 it was suggested that a firework display should be staged in each of 20 Birmingham parks;
£50 being allocated for the fireworks.
In the first instance King’s Heath Park was not included in the
list. However, attention was drawn to
this omission and during a period of programme re-adjustments during the
following weeks the Park was eventually included, and got its firework
display. Firework displays were
scheduled to take place at 10 p.m. – the normal closing time of the park in
June – but it was agreed formally that where fireworks were held the parks
would remain open until 11 p.m.
The City provided an extensive list of Coronation entertainments
(especially for the children) for many of their parks, and a Punch & Judy show, by “The
Famus Incemores”, was scheduled for 2.30 p.m. in King’s Heath Park.Permission was granted for a number of groups to use the park on Coronation Day (2nd June) especially for children’s activities:-
- An unspecified group – organised by Mrs. E. Dinnie, 54, Avenue Road, King’s Heath.
- The Grange Road C.F. – organised by Mrs. E. Ramsay, 239 Grange Rd, King’s Heath.
A couple of serious injuries occurred during the year, and in each case the patient was taken to hospital for treatment:-
On 10th June, David Godwin (9) sustained a puncture wound in his left foot whilst attempting to drive the spike of putting flag in to the ground.
On 2nd September, David Clark (12) sustained a suspected fracture of a wrist when he fell whilst at play.
1954
Park Environment
It was reported in March that the B.B.C. (Midland Region) had had Children’s Hour Gardening Plots in eight Birmingham Parks, including King’s Heath, since 1952, and that King’s Heath Park had featured in both sound and television broadcasts. It was agreed that the gardening plots would continue through 1954.
Following an application from the Superintendent, approval was given for the installation of an internal W.C. set in the bathroom at the park lodge, replacing the existing outside accommodation; and as a consequence of this the value of the Park-keeper’s emoluments was increased (see below).
The park lost its illuminated Christmas Tree when the decision was taken – based on the perceived association between Christmas Trees and the Church - to have the Kings Heath tree beside All Saints Church in the centre of the village.
The Refreshment Room tenancy became the subject of discussion. The catering service was being provided by the Civic Restaurants Department who considered that the three year tenancy agreement ending 30th September, 1954 (costing them £45 per year, plus a fixed annual charge of £5 for water) should be replaced by a seven year agreement to give them a more certain continuity of tenure and provide a more solid basis upon which to invest in resources and facilities to improve the service. However the Parks Committee decided there should be no change to the length of the tenancy agreements.
Training School
In passing, we learn that Mr. W Banks, a draughtsman at Head Office, was one of the instructors at the School.
In February approval was given for the establishment of an area (measuring 18 yds x 82 yds) between the Putting Green and the lower Bowling Green for use as demonstration plots for turf production and maintenance. Authority was also given for the demonstration plots to be fenced, gated and be provided with a small noticeboard explaining the intended work to the general public.
The second Annual Report of the Training School was produced in November. It showed that several members of staff of Kings Heath Park gave instruction in the School – i) Mr. A.A. Whiteley, the Superintendent, lectured on Vegetables; ii) Mr. R.D. Bagnall, a Gardener RHS, lectured on Botany, Soils and Manures, and Arithmetic; and iii) Miss J Green, a Gardener 2nd Class, taught Physics. Nine groups, totalling eighty students, were receiving instruction at the School premises which were in full use from 9 a.m. to 4-30 p.m. each day from Monday to Friday. Whilst the facilities were adequate to deal with that number of students, it was noted that an additional lecture room would be required by September, 1955. It was suggested that one of the two rooms on the ground floor occupied by the City Restaurants Department could be readily adapted; and opportunity presented itself because the tenancy agreement was coming due for renegotiation (see above). It was also suggested that a Common Room would be desirable; and that this could be provided because Mr. V.G. Collings, the Departmental Architect who occupied a flat in the Park House, was prepared to relinquish one of his rooms. The Apprentices were reported to have their own Football and Cricket teams which competed in Departmental Sporting events, and to wear the ties and blazer badges which the Parks Committee provided with pride. The possibility of a School “Open Day” was mooted for the following summer. The Parks Committee responded to the report by congratulating the members of staff involved, approving the suggested building developments, and sanctioning the organisation of an Open Day. They also ordered arrangements to be made for a Visit of Inspection by the Committee, and also for the teaching staff to take tea with the Committee on that occasion.
The horticultural training school premises were used as an examination centre in connection with the Preliminary Examination of the National Diploma in Horticulture on Saturday, 27th November, when both internal and non-Departmental candidates from Birmingham and the surrounding area took the Royal Horticultural Society examinations.
Finance
When the 1954/55 budget was considered the following specific allocations for the park were included:- i) tar-spraying of existing paths to prevent disintegration of the tarmacadam (£250); ii) tar-paving of the extension of the children’s playground (£250); iii) 130 yards of sawn oak fencing to replace dilapidated fencing along the Avenue Road boundary (£175); iv) electric lighting for the office, mess room, tool shed, garages, greenhouses, and outbuildings (previously lit by paraffin lamps) (£8); v) for the Horticultural School - 5 microscopes (£142), chemical equipment and books (£165) and 26 wooden lockers (£94); and vi) a replacement for a (70 ft. x 12 ft.) dilapidated and unserviceable greenhouse (£600). The provision of 240 yards of chestnut fence around the pool (£100) was considered but excluded from the “shopping list”. Before the Parks Department budget was finally accepted, an overall reduction of £50,000 had to be found, and as a consequence two items specifically identified for Kings Heath Park – the paving of the extension of the children’s playground and the replacement fencing along the Avenue Road boundary - were lost.
We subsequently learn that:-
- Messrs. William Street & Sons, Ltd., of 184, Bristol Street, Birmingham won the contract to supply the lockers for the Horticultural Training School with their tender of £56. 10s. 0d.; and
- Messrs. Boulton & Paul, Ltd. won the contract to supply the replacement greenhouse with their tender of £771.
The Park House contained
two flats which were occupied by Department Head Office employees, and at
the year end the service tenancies were as follows:-
- The 1st Floor Flat, occupied Mr. V.G. Collings since 16th February 1953, was rented for 30 shillings per week, the tenant responsible for rates and inside repairs.
- The 2nd Floor Flat, occupied by Mr. D.W. Moore since 1st September 1953, was rented for 17 shillings and sixpence per week, the tenant again responsible for rates and inside repairs.
Staff
On
4th January, Mr. D.R. Battison (20) commenced work in the Park
as a Garden Boy “B” on a weekly wage of £5. 13s. 5d. In September he was one of 4 employees of the
Department who applied, and was accepted, for Advanced Training at the
Horticultural Training Scheme – and on 23rd September, now 21 years
old, he was regraded from his Garden Boy “B” status then on £5.
18s. 4d. per week to Gardener 2nd Class on £6. 18s. 10d. per week.
From the same date Ms. D.E. Acres (25), and Ms. J.A. Green
(21), Female Workers, and Mr. A.J. Grace
(18), an Apprentice Gardener, were moved onto the permanent staff at the park.
With effect from 1st March, Mr. D.E. Harris (26), who had worked in the park since August 1952
as a Garden Labourer earning £6. 6s. 0d. per week, was regraded to a Gardener 2nd
Class with an increase taking his weekly wage to £6. 13s. 0d.
In
the annual review of salaries, taking effect on 1st April, the Superintendent at the Park,
Mr. A.A. Whiteley (aged nearly 56 years, and with
22 years of service) was listed as being at the top of his salary grade -
APT.IV (now £555 - £600) – earning £600 per annum. Mr. Whiteley, when appointed to his role of
park-keeper on 12th February 1949, had “inherited” accommodation in
the Park Lodge – i.e. he received the benefits enjoyed by previous park-keepers – but it was an informal arrangement in that apparently there
was no paperwork; so during 1954 at the Council’s instigation a formal tenancy
agreement was prepared. A re-assessment of all employees' emoluments was made at the end of the year. Taking into account the
modifications which had been made to the bathroom in the Lodge (see above), it was recommended that Mr. Whiteley's emoluments (rent, general rates and water
rates) which had been valued at £65. 0s. 0d. p.a. should be increased to £78. 2s.
6d. p.a; on top of which typically he would have paid £8. 0s. 0d. for electricity, £11. 0s.
0d. for gas, and £12. 10s. 0d. for coal, each year. However after further Committee discussion it was decided that there should be no change to anyone's emoluments.
On 9th April Mr.
W. Hubner (59) resigned his post of Garden Labourer after 11 months of
service.
On 4th May Mr. W.L. Evans (54) commenced work in the Park
as a Garden Labourer on a weekly wage of £6. 6s. 0d.
With effect from 14th May, Mr. J.B. Cooper (28), who had worked in the Park since May 1952 and
was a Gardener 1st Class earning £6. 13s. 0d. a week was regraded to
Gardener RHS earning £7. 2s. 0d. per week.
On 6th July Mr. A.
Simpson (74) was engaged as a nightwatchman on a wage of 19s. 9d. per night
until the 10th August, i.e. for the duration of the Entertainments
in the Parks season at Kings Heath.
During the Entertainments Season - 12th July to 7th
August - Mr. W.T. Cutts acted as a Voluntary
Chief Marshal at evening events for 4 weeks and matinees for 2 weeks and was
paid an honorarium of £6. 6s. 0d. for his services. At the same time Mr. T. Day was a Voluntary Sound and Lighting Operator at evening
events for 4 weeks and was paid an
honorarium of £4. 4s. 0d.
On 15th October Miss
D.A. Harris (26), a female worker, resigned her post after just over 2
years of service.
On the 22nd October, Miss B.D. Field (33), a Gardener RHS who had been employed at the
Park for 2½ years, slipped in the garden at her home and broke her left
leg. As a result of this injury, she was
absent from duty and was awarded benefits from the Birmingham Corporation
Sickness and Accident Allowance Scheme.
On 1st November Mr.
H. Clemons (65), a Gardener 2nd Class, resigned his post after a
little over 4 years of service.
On 3rd December Mr. A.J. Hughes (60), a Garden Labourer, resigned his post after almost 2 years of service.
On 3rd December Mr. A.J. Hughes (60), a Garden Labourer, resigned his post after almost 2 years of service.
Park use
At the end of 1953 it had been suggested that
the Entertainments in the Park should be discontinued at Kings Heath,
but at a Parks Committee meeting in January the park was kept in the programme,
and the four week period from 12th July to 7th August 1954
was allocated. At the year end
plans were made for the 1955 season, and again Kings Heath was included, the 4 weeks
from 13th June to 9th July being identified.
Other Park uses
included:-
On 27th June the Elim Gospel Church held a Public Meeting.
On 17th July, the Birmingham and District Children’s Service Union held a Public
Meeting.
On 18th July, 1st, 15th,
and 29th August, and 12th and 26th September,
the Hope Chapel held Public Meetings.
There were several accidents in the Park:-
On 27th February Miss Margaret Davies (17) collapsed through natural causes.
On 30th April Miss Josephine Turner (13) injured the upper part of her right leg
when she fell while swinging from the cross bar of the plank swing.
On 16th May Mr. John
Thomas Atkins (37) sustained a facial injury when he was struck by a
cricket ball during a cricket match.
On 8th July Master
George Alcock (15) sustained a suspected fractured kneecap when he slipped
whilst playing football.
On 24th October Miss Patricia Dillon (8) sustained a suspected fractured left
forearm and shock when she fell from the swings.
1955
Park Environment
It was agreed that the B.B.C.
Children’s Hour Gardening Plot should
continue through 1954.
The pool in the Park
was modified to enhance its appearance and to provide a further facility for
instruction at the Departmental School. Its
banks were planted with large drifts of colourful moisture loving Primulas and
Irises, together with a number of attractive species of Rhododendron, Camellia
and Willow; and two Oak trees, one Chestnut tree and six saplings were removed
to reduce the amount of shading.
This was the year in which provision was made for
visitors to the park their vehicles in the Park without charge during their
visit; an area at the side of the main drive between the Colmore Road entrance
and the aviary was allocated, as well as an area in front of the Park House
(entrance to school).
The Sons of Rest
were by this time meeting in the Park House where an area of 796 square feet
was available to them. Up until this
time the shelters and rooms made available in the parks were, by custom, used
only by the members of the Sons of Rest and Daughters of Rest movements;
whereas the legally delegated powers under which the Parks Committee operated
did not give them liberty to exclude the public and grant exclusive use to any
group. However during 1955 exclusive use
of the various venues was granted to the Sons and Daughters of Rest – and
plaques declaring this newly agreed status were prepared and displayed at all
the sites.
Training School
It was agreed that a bronze nameplate should be erected at
Kings Heath Park House to indicate that the building was being used as the
School of Training.
Finance
When the 1955/56 budget
was considered the following specific allocations for the park were included:-
i) a Trailer Seat for a Dennis Mower (£36) (“To supplement existing equipment”);
ii) an Allen Sweeper (£28) (“To conserve labour in leaf clearing”); iii) Tarmacadam
and grano surfacing to the playground extension (£300) (“To replace existing
temporary ash surface”); iv) Fencing to the pool (£175) (“Pool depth considered
dangerous to children”); v) a Water Service from Avenue Road for the Bowling
Green and lavatories (£130) (“Iron pipe badly corroded”); vi) for the
Horticultural School – a) laboratory equipment (£200), b) lockers (£75),
c) furniture for Common Room (£100), d) furniture for Lecture Room (£140), e) extension
to Central Heating (£300) (All- “further educational facilities to cope with
further intake of Apprentices”); vii) 9 Pit lights and frames 6’ x 4’ (£65). Beyond that a new Ablution Block for Sports
Purposes (£2,200) was deferred for future years. Before the Parks Department budget was
finally accepted, an overall reduction of £90,141 had to be found, and as a
consequence items ii), iv), v), and vii) were lost.
We subsequently learn that:-
- Messrs. J. E. Turner, 309 Cooks Lane, Birmingham, won the contract to supply 70 linear yards of 6ft. close boarded Oak fencing for the southern boundary of fruit garden at the Horticultural School (a budgeted item) with their tender of £101.
- Messrs. F. Evans & Sons Ltd., Heating Engineers, Gas Street, Birmingham, 1 were awarded the contract (worth £301. 15s. 0d.) to extend the central heating installation to serve the two additional rooms at the Park House, for the use of the School of Horticultural Training.
- Messrs Guest Bros., 57 Somerset Rd., Edgbaston, won the contract for the (budgeted) external decoration and repairs to the Park House with their tender of £182. 8. 2d.
During the year:-
- W.J. Vincent & Co. Ltd. provided timber for repairs to the Potting Shed for £66. 1s. 6d.
- E,H. Smith (Westhaven) Ltd., Birmingham provided 4500 hard red bricks also for repairs to the Potting Shed for £53. 14s. 3d.
In 1954 it was agreed that one of the two rooms on the ground floor occupied by the City
Restaurants Department could be converted into a Lecture Room, and that a
Common Room could be provided when Mr. V.G. Collings, the Departmental
Architect, released one of the rooms (a lounge) from his first floor flat. As a
consequence of these changes the respective rentals were re-evaluated and reduced: The Restaurants Department
were to pay £30 (previously £45) p.a. exclusive from the 1st January
1955 for the Refreshment Room, and Mr. Collings was to pay 24/- (previously
30/-) per week exclusive from 1st February, 1955 for the first floor
flat.
Staff
From 27th March, Mr. W. G. Harper (51), a Parks Policeman employed in the Park since
27th March, 1949, received 2/- per week Improved Service Pay.
On
7th March, Mr. D.R. Battison (22), a Gardener
2nd Class, was moved onto the permanent staff at the Park.
On 18th March, J.A. Green (23) resigned his post of Gardener 2nd Class
after 2 months of service. (Ed note:
I suspect this is an error and should be Ms. J.A. Green with 2 years of
service - a Ms. J.A. Green was employed in March 1953 when she was 20 years
old.)
On 18th April, Mr. A. Luton (19) commenced work in the Park as a Garden Labourer
on a weekly wage of £6. 11s. 6d.
From 21st April, Miss B.D. Field (34), a Gardener RHS employed in the Park since 21st
April, 1952, received 2/- per week Improved Service Pay.
On 23rd April, Mr. S.C. Freeman (65) resigned his post of Games Attendant after
almost 5 years of service.
With effect from 29th April, Mr. B.B. Prigg (55), who had been employed by the Parks Department
since October 1954 and was a 2nd Boatman earning £7. 5s. 2d. a week
was regraded to Games Attendant earning £7. 1s. 6d. per week. (This change was
at his own request, and presumably involved his move from another park to Kings
Heath, since there was not a boating pool at Kings Heath.)
On 9th May, Miss
A. Smith (24) commenced work in the Park as a Female Worker on a weekly
wage of £7. 1s. 6d.
On 21st May, Mr.
T.G. Harwood (43) resigned his post of Propagating Gardener after 9 years
of service.
From 27th May, Mr.
J.B. Cooper (29), a Gardener RHS employed in the Park since 27th
May, 1952, received 2/- per week Improved Service Pay.
On 6th June, Mr.
A.E. Carter (29) commenced work in the Park as a Gardener 1st
Class on a weekly wage of £8. 6s. 8d.
Also with effect from 6th June, Mr. A. Raison (23), who had been
employed at the Park since August, 1946 and was a Gardener 1st Class
earning £8. 6s. 8d. a week, was regraded to Propagating Gardener earning £8. 10s.
4d. per week.
On 13th June, Mr. N.S. Johnson (20) commenced work in the Park as a Garden
Labourer on a weekly wage of £7. 12s. 0d. With effect from the 29th August, by
which time he was 21 years old and earning £7. 12s. 0d. per week, he was
regarded to a Gardener 2nd Class earning £7. 19s. 4d. a week.
From 27th July, Mr. F.L. Gowland (46), a Parks Policeman employed in the Park since
27th July, 1952, received 2/- per week Improved Service Pay.
From 22nd December, Mr. J.D. Roberts (50), a Gardener 2nd Class employed in
the Park since October 1955, received 2/- per week Improved Service Pay.
Mr. Whiteley, the Park-keeper,
was one of 18 employees of the Parks Department who, during the year, were judges
in the Municipal Tenants Gardens Competition, 1955, and for doing so they were
paid an honorarium of £3 by the Housing Management Committee who had organised
the competition.
During the Entertainments Season - 13th June to 9th
July - Mr. W.T. Cutts once again
acted as a Voluntary Chief Marshal at evening events for four weeks and was
paid an honorarium of £4. 4s. 0d. for his services. Similarly Mr. T. Day was again a Voluntary Sound and Lighting Operator at
evening events for the four weeks and was also paid an honorarium of £4. 4s.
0d.
In November it was reported that Mr. R.D. Bagnall (30), a Gardener
RHS at the Park, had left to take a three year course for a B.Sc. in Horticulture
at Wye College of the University of London; he was granted leave without
pay, in order to protect his superannuation rights.
Also in November, it was reported that Mr. H.W. Evason, the Foreman at Kings Heath Park, was one of only
four members of the City’s park staff who applied for the post of
Officer-in-Charge at Handsworth Park.
The interviewing committee “were disappointed and seriously concerned with the
poor response to the advertisement and with the general experience, seniority
and stature of the candidates, and they felt unanimously that they could not
make any recommendation” for an appointment at such a prestigious park where
the City of Birmingham Show was held each year, a park second only to Cannon
Hill Park, the premier park.
At the end of the year the exam success of the following Park staff – all
apprentice gardeners studying in the Training School - was reported:-
C.J. Jephcott and
A.E. Raison obtained the General
(Senior) Certificate of the Royal Horticultural Society, which earned them pay
rises of 7/-per week; whilst B.A.
Aldworth, Miss K.J. Chester and D.J. Williams obtained the Junior
Certificate of the Royal Horticultural Society, which earned them an extra 5/-
per week.
Park use
As part of the Entertainments in the Park
season a summer theatre was open in Kings Heath Park during the four
weeks from 13th June to 9th July. The average attendance at events was 165, the
same as in 1954 – but the lowest figure returned for any of the participating parks. The Entertainments Committee decided to
change the format and distribution of entertainments for 1956, and instead of 7
or 8 parks hosting events it was decided to confine them to four parks – one in
each of the north, south, east and west sections of the city – and having been
a poor performer, Kings Heath Park fell out of the programme.
Other Park uses
included:-
On 30th April, the Wolf Cub Section of South the Birmingham Boy Scouts Association
held their annual sports.
On 19th and 26th June, the Children’s Service Union held Public
Meetings.
There were several accidents in the Park:-
On 28th February, Robert Turner (81) experienced excessive nose bleeding with no apparent
cause.
On 30th July, Leonard Hopkins (72) collapsed due to natural
causes.
On 21st August, John Newman (9) cut the crown of his head
when he fell down a bank.
On 30th October, Benidict Martin (25), sustained an injury to his stomach when he was tackled whilst playing football.
On 13th November, Anthony Tittler (16), injured his right ear whilst playing football.
On 30th October, Benidict Martin (25), sustained an injury to his stomach when he was tackled whilst playing football.
On 13th November, Anthony Tittler (16), injured his right ear whilst playing football.
1956
Park Environment
During the year the burden of the cost of heat, light and
water for the Sons of Rest and Daughters
of Rest shelters was transferred from the Parks Committee to the Welfare
Committee; the Parks Committee retained responsibility for maintenance costs. At first the Parks Committee merely passed on
the charges for the utilities as bills were received. In many cases there were shared supplies (for
park use and Sons of Rest use), but later in the year it was proposed to install
separate meters – and to spread the cost involved, the gas supply (being the
cheapest to separate) was the first to be metered separately.
Back in 1948 the exercising of dogs off a leash, up to 10
o’clock in the mornings and for one hour before park closing time, was
sanctioned at Kings Heath Park but only in its southern area adjoining the
railway. In 1956 it was decided that the
areas set aside in the parks for this purpose should be indicated by a suitably
worded notice showing the extent of the area where dog exercise was permitted
and emphasising the necessity of the dogs being under control, in accordance
with the terms of the Bye-laws.
During the 2nd World War, an underground Report and Control
Centre had been established in the Park adjacent to Avenue Road. In January,
1952, the Parks Committee concurred with the proposal to bring the Civil
Defence Centres at various sites back into use, and for the sites to be
enclosed with sawn oak fencing at the expense of the Civil Defence Committee. Now the Civil Defence Committee sought to
carry out drainage work around the existing underground Report and Control Centres
with a view to using the buildings as lecture rooms for local Civil Defence
personnel, so avoiding the expense of providing new training premises. Upon receiving such request, the Parks
Committee enquired of the Civil Defence Committee regarding their long term
intentions to inform their decision, but there was no subsequent report of an answer
or of the work being sanctioned.
Training School
Since its inception
in 1952 and the setting up of the Training School in the Park, it had been the
practice to send an annual report to the parent of each apprentice, setting out
details of his or her progress in both the class-room and practical work. During that period, the teaching facilities
at the Park had been gradually extended, and in 1956 it was felt that the stage
had been reached when the employer-parent liaison might be furthered in the
form of a School “Open Day” – when apprentices
could show their parents and friends around the school class-rooms and
demonstration gardens, and parents could discuss aspects of the training with
the various instructors. Saturday, 14th
July was the selected date and the event took place between 10 a.m. and 4.30
p.m. Members of the Parks Committee were
invited to be present.
Finance
When the 1956/57 budget
was considered the following specific allocations for the park were included:-
i) surfacing the playground area (£300); ii) 3 foot fencing for round pool (£400)
(protection to children); iii) 70 yards of sawn oak fence adjacent to the Horticultural
School garden (£200) (to prevent unauthorised access from the adjacent new (King
Edward’s) School premises); iv) sundry (undefined) requisites for the Horticultural
School (£50); v) Tiffany blinds for the 70’ x 12’ greenhouse (£135) (“Summercloud”
not effective); vi) 6 concrete propagating frames 6’ x 4’ (£50); vii) electric
installation for the stokehold and potting shed (£35) (there was no electricity
to these at the time); viii) 100 Rhododendrons (£30) (replacements); and ix) a
new ablution block for sports purposes (£2,200). Several of these items look familiar – they were
deletions from the previous year’s budget preparation. However, once again, before the Parks
Department budget was finally accepted, an overall reduction, this time, of £109,930
had to be found, and as a consequence items i) to vii) were lost – yet again! –
only the replacement rhododendrons and ablutions block seem to have survived.
During the year W.J. Vincent & Co. Ltd., Birmingham
provided timber for greenhouse staging
for £52. 0s. 0d.
Properties throughout
the country were re-valued for general rating purposes under the provisions of
the Local Government Act, 1948, and the revised assessments became effective on
the 1st April, 1956. The Rating Valuation for the Horticultural
School on the ground and first floor of the Park House had been Gross value
£85, Rateable value £68 with a rate levied at 25/- in £ of £85. 0s. 0d. Under the new provisions the Gross value
became £150, the Rateable value £122, and the Rate levied at 18/6d. in £ was £112.
17s. 0d.
More legislation,
with cost implications, also began to bite.
In accordance with the new Food Hygiene
Regulations 1955, made jointly by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries
and Food and the Minister of Health, a survey of all catering establishments at the various parks and recreation grounds
was carried out, and it became apparent that, in order to bring several
premises up to the standards required under the Regulations, certain modifications
and additions would be required. For
Kings Heath Park this amounted to £32. 0s. 0d. – for i) the provision of a
separate wash-hand basin with an adequate supply of hot water in or near the
kitchen, together with all necessary accessories for the personal cleanliness
of those preparing or serving food, and ii) cupboard or locker accommodation,
not in a food room, for clothing and footwear.
Staff
With effect from 26th March, Mr. J.D. Roberts (50), who had been employed by the Parks
Department since October 1955 and was a Garden Labourer earning £7. 12s. 0d. a
week, was regraded to Gardener 2nd Class earning £7. 19s. 4d. per
week.
In April, Mr. J.B. Cooper, a Propagating Gardener, who signed up for
three years advanced training in the Departmental School of Horticulture in October
1953, requested, and was granted, early release from his training contract in
order to start up his own landscape gardening business.
With effect from 4th June, Mr. D. Battison (22), who had been employed by the Parks Department
since January 1954 and was a Gardener 2nd Class earning £8. 17s. 4d.
a week, was regraded to Propagating Gardener earning £9. 8s. 4d. per week.
With effect from the
2nd July, three 19 year old apprentice gardeners were moved on to
the permanent staff – Mr. D.J. Brown and
Mr. D. Franks, both of whom had joined
the Training Scheme in the September 1953 cohort of apprentices, and Mr. K.J. Chester, from the 1954 cohort.
From 7th July, Mr. A.E. Raison (24), a Propagating Gardener employed in the Park
since August, 1946, received 2/- per week Improved Service Pay.
From 12th September, Mr. J.J. Lewis (21), an Apprentice Gardener employed in the Park
since September 1952 and earning £7. 19s. 11d. a week, was regraded to Gardener
2nd Class earning £8. 17s. 8d. per week. From the same date he was also awarded 2/-
per week Improved Service Pay.
From 29th September, Mrs. D. Demain (65), a Cleaner employed in the Park since September
1953, received 1/- per week Improved Service Pay.
Park use
There was no
formal Entertainment in the Park this year – the Park had dropped out of
the privileged few venues on account of the poor previous annual attendances
and the changed format of Entertainments now held only in four parks in the four
sectors of the City – Swanshurst Park was now the preferred park in the South
quarter.
Other Park uses
included:-
On 5th May, the Wolf Cub Section of South the Birmingham Boy Scouts Association
held their annual sports.
There were several accidents in the Park:-
On 25th March, Rodger Baldock (23) sustained a suspected fracture to a bone in
his left foot whilst playing football.
On15th July, John Wainwright (9) sustained a cut to his forehead
when he was hit by his brother’s cricket bat.
On 22nd July, David Denham (18) sustained a suspected
fracture of his left collar bone when he fell while playing cricket.
On 7th October, Royston
Edwards (5) sustained cuts and bruises over his right eye when he walked
into a swing in motion.
1957
Under construction - see clippings in the meantime.
