Comments on: Competition: Tell us your Wednesfield memories and win a limited edition calendar

By: Leon Paterson

Leon Paterson — Tue, 24 May 2011 14:04:37 +0000

Re: Chemist shop in the High St. (No. 12).
This was Paterson’s Chemists.
It was run by my aunt – Kathleen Elaine Paterson.
Her father (my Grandfather) Alexander Gustave Clive Paterson owned No. 12 and also the chemists shop in Graiseley Lane (No. 41 ?).
He retired in 1953 and went to live in Shoeburyness Essex.
He sold the two shops to Frosts the Chemists.
Is this some help to you.

By: KevinT

KevinT — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 12:59:51 +0000

My dad wasnt quite so lucky with the Tube magnetic crane. He was a driver and was getting loaded up and the magnet dropped its load. He dived under the truck and ‘fortunately’ only got a crushed foot. He ended up in Patshull Park rehabilitation centre for ages. This was either ’53 or ’55 cos my mum goes on about having to walk most of the way to visit and being pregnant with either me or my elder brother.

My brother Chris also worked at Yale in Waddens Brook lane, after a spell at Richards and Ross, which was handy for him as we only lived in the banjo which backed onto the Falcon Pub.

My dad ended up working for the Tube and became a quality inspector and was full of tales of blokes getting injured at a hot rolling plant called Pilger Mill. He was also the compere at the Tube club for years, and I remember it being in a metal roofed nissen hut until a purpose built working mens club was built, with a proper stage and all….

By: Balloonatic 258

Balloonatic 258 — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 17:32:51 +0000

Can anyone recall a Spitfire crashing in the garden of a house in Lichfield Road

Also a four engined Lancaster Bomber crashing on the Lichfield Road

And who remembers ‘The Stay At Home Holidays’ during the war with trotting races on King George’s playing field, complete with Bookmakers and tic-tac men.

If you do remember any of them, or you would like to hear about them.

Come and talk to RAY FELLOWS your local Historian on Saturday Evening 26th Feb. 7.00pm.
At the Vine Inn Lichfield Road Wednesfield

By: Balloonatic 258

Balloonatic 258 — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 16:28:26 +0000

Don’t forget to come and meet your
Local Historian RAY FELLOWS
on the 26TH. Feb. 2011

Items of Interest:

Talks on WEDNESFIELD HISTORY

Formation of WEDNESFIELD HISTORY SOCIETY

Share your memories of OLD WEDNESFIELD

For more details: see Local Librarys, Ahmore Park Community Centre,
Or ring 01902 739592 between 14-00 & 20-00

By: Balloonatic 258

Balloonatic 258 — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 23:31:10 +0000

Hi Andy J.

I too remember the gantry crane at the ‘Tube’. the bars of steel were about 20ft. long and 4in. X 4in. I don’t know how heavy they were (perhapse you can work that out), but they were heavy.

When they were stored outside,the magnet could pick up four of them at a time,to carry them to the cutting off shears.

If it picked up five bars,(as it some times did), the crane driver was supposed to put the load down, adjust the crane a few inches and pick up only four. one day I was walking with another fitter, down the concreat road that went under the crane track, followed by Terse North the Foreman fitter, who was deep in conversation with the junior Foreman, so deep in conversation that they did not hear the crane approach, or the driver dinging his bell.

As the driver applied his break, and the sudden change of speed shook the fifth one off.

It landed so close to Terse that it ripped the sleeve from his overalls, but never even sratched him.

His ‘Gardian Angel’ must have been working overtime that day.

By: Andy J

Andy J — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 15:34:57 +0000

Reading through some earlier comment i can confirm that the railway that used to run through the ‘Tube’ works (i did my appenticeship there)was actually used maybe untill 1980ish. I remember the the steel ingots being offloaded by magnetic overhead crane. If i remember correctly the goods carraiges used to freewheel down from Wolverhampton with only the guards van to slow them down. The canel was still there but not used and where it left the tube works towards Fibbersly it was drained and filled with a square concrete tunnel which carried Waddens brook from Waddens Brook Lane at the junction of Silverton way.
On another note, i have a record that Vicarage Road was called Slang Lane before the Vicarage was built there, this is on my house deeds which dates from 1893 (i think).

By: James

James — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 16:21:36 +0000

Great comments John – thanks for sharing! :-)

By: John

John — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 19:38:39 +0000

I remember the sense of community when i was little growing up on Ashmore Park. Neighbours would always pop by for a cup of tea, my mum used to leave her front door open while she popped across the road for a nayyer. I remember as kids, all the kids in my street used to play kick the can, or tick and it was all safe. I remember going over fields and woods at lunch time and coming back when it was dark and not being scared of any cars or strangers because Ashmore park was (and still is) a community. I remember the chip shop at the bottom shops doing chips and batter bits. I remember playing on the biggest slide and square climbing frame in the world and he biggest swings, and fastest roundabout (so fast i got sick) on ashmore park park. I rememberlying on the park grass looking up at the sky with friends making shapes out of clouds. I remember the excitement when the fair was at thepark, and even remember my only ever trip to the circus on Ashmore park park too (and i remember the lions smelled). I remember good friends many of whome are here today, and remember good family who have passed. I remember the library at the bottom shops being a source for all choose your own adventure books, and i remember the moat at he bottom shops. I remember my school was built on a mine or rubbish site, and i remember the faithful morning that the park sank because of methane. I rememer it snowing so hard i could play on my sledge on the banks by the top shops and in new invention. I remember wednesfield marketon a saturday, and that Woolworths was the best toyshop in wednesfield. I have very fond memories of the vilage and town i was bought up in :) a few bad but thats life-one things for sure, theres no place like wednesfield, theres no place lile home :)

By: Balloonatic 258

Balloonatic 258 — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 11:51:04 +0000

Hi Rachel
On the 26th. of Feb. (Start 7.00 pm).at the Vine Inn Lichfield Road. ‘Ray Fellows’ is organizing a meeting to try to get a
W-field Historical Society started, he’s roped me in to talk about the Spitfire that crash landed on the Lichfield Road, just over the Perry Hall bridge. Why not come along? Your Nan might find the answers to some of her Questions.

By: Balloonatic 258

Balloonatic 258 — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 11:46:19 +0000

Hi Eric

I am going to the archives this after noon, thought I would tell them of your discovery about the photo of Boscobel House / St. Thomas Church, had a last look to make sure of the number, and it had the correct photo now. Have you had it changed?

On the 26th. of Feb. at the Vine Inn Lichfield Road. ‘Ray Fellows’ is organizing a meeting to try to get a W-field Historical Society started, he’s roped me in to talk about the Spitfire that crash landed on the Lichfield Road, just over the Perry Hall bridge.

Will let you know how it goes.

Best wishes