Author: Jane Edwards

So sad to see Alan go !

Alan Holmes – Brandwood End Cemetery Operative

FBEC only ever had to ask ….. whether it was – tidying the inside of the chapels July 2019  and Sept 20219 so we could finally go inside, clearing holly from special graves for us Oct 2019 or jet washing the Lodge railings May 2022 for us for the Jubilee planting and celebration. FBEC send you every good wish Alan on your retirement – Good Luck and Thank you – June 2022.

Alan, on the left below, with colleagues and Jane from FBEC after he had been clearing the interior of the chapels to allow access to the Friends to view the recently installed windows.

 

Stirchley baths..

Well not exactly. We had a great welcome at Stirchley History Group as we gave a talk in the former ‘baths’ building…. Now a community hub. We look forward to seeing everyone again, maybe at one of our events.

 

bsh

 

!00 years of the Poppy

5 June 1922 – 5 June 2022

Over 100 years the Poppy has evolved but remains an enduring symbol of Remembrance and hope for a peaceful future.

Red poppies have been worn as a show of support for the Armed Forces community since the formation of The Poppy Factory in 1922.  The Charity was founded by Major George Howson MC, a British Army officer who was awarded the Military Cross in 1917. George Howson’s vision was to provide employment for veterans injured during the First World War.:

The Royal British Legion wanted to buy Remembrance poppies made in Britain and George Howson proposed that the poppies should be made by disabled war veterans in the United Kingdom.   The Legion agreed and in May 1922 it gave Howson £2,000 to establish a poppy making factory.

The first poppy factory opened on 5th June 1922 in two rooms at Mitchell’s collar factory near Old Kent Road, South London.

In a normal year, 40,000 collectors with tins sell more than 35million poppies and raise around £50million for the British Legion charity.

 

100 years of history – The Poppy Factory it

Balsall Heath History Society Exhibitions

2022 marks the 150th anniversary of the opening of the Children’s
Emigration Homes in Highgate, founded by John Middlemore.
Between the years 1873 and 1954 they emigrated over 5000
deprived children chiefly to Canada but also to Australia aiming to
give them children the opportunity of a better life. For many years
the children went to farming families in the remote backwoods of
Canada and then later to Fairbridge Farm Schools in both Canada
and Australia.

The Friends recommend these amazing displays researched by Balsall Heath History Society

Follow this link to check up on the venues……..

The Lost Children Exhibition flyer (2)

Supporting local Hedgehog rescue.

It was lovely to visit ‘Array4hogs’ Hedgehog rescue at their open day this morning. They are a very local Hedgehog rescue and a not for profit organisation run from the garden of a local house. Things are quiet so far this year, but as times get busier they expect an average of 80-120 Hedghogs through their doors by the end of the year!  They have a facebook site for those of you that are facebook members.

https://www.facebook.com/Array4Hogs/

The Friends hope that we can devise a mutually beneficial project to work with Array4hogs and raise awareness of the plight of Hedgehogs.

Great day with ‘Brighten up Brandwood’ project.

The Friends were pleased to welcome members of the ‘Brighten up Brandwood” team for a morning of Geranium planting and the creation of wild flower meadow tubs.

The highlight of the event was the installation of a crochet flower mesh to brighten the lodge railings. Our thanks to Valerie and her team. This art work is on loan to us till after the Queens Jubilee celebrations. Thank you everyone!

Have you found animal remains on local roads?

The Friends and cemetery staff are concerned that a number of apparent animals, possibly killed by traffic on Broad Lane, have been move to cemetery bins.

The Council have a dedicated site  to report this issue and they will remove the animal and try and trace the owners if the animal is domesticated and wearing a collar.

This is a sad occurrence but the staff in the cemetery are not responsible for dealing with these animals, which are sometimes left in bins or under hedges. Please report them to the proper department, who actually record all such collections in detail.

Council Dead Animal Removal.