1918 Clippings

Ongoing research; last updated 31 August 2012 



9th February 1918 – Birmingham News

Kings Norton and Northfield Districts
Moseley and Kings Heath

Proposed amalgamation of Allotment Associations
(From a long article:- )
A largely attended meeting was held on Sunday afternoon at Kings Heath Council Schools of allotment holders in the Kings Heath district, to consider the advisability of amalgamation into one large association for the sake of gaining unity of purpose and exerting a greater influence.  …………
Prior to an address by Mr. J. Smith, F.R.H.S., of Kings Heath Park, there was a discussion of the subject of amalgamation ……………………. 
Mr. Bengough moved a vote of thanks to Mr. Smith for his address, and Mr. H. Sharp, in seconding, said Mr. Smith was the best friend they had had.



2nd March 1918 – Birmingham News

Kings Heath Park Bowling Club

The annual meeting of the Kings Heath Park Bowling Club was held at Ruskin Social Club on Monday, Mr. Mantell presiding,  The club last year raised £31 10s. for the local Military Hospitals and the Soldiers’ Rest Room at the Baptist School, High Street, and intends holding a whist drive for the benefit of the rest room shortly.  Mr. J. Harvey, the secretary, presented the balance sheet, which was approved, showing the sum of £8 5s. in hand.  Mr. Leverton Harris, M.P., was unanimously elected president, and a number of vice-presidents were chosen.  The club decided to again enter the Warwickshire and Worcestershire Associations’ contests and the Parks Bowling League, and a number of friendly games are to be played.  Mr. H. Mantell was elected chairman; Mr. H. Cooper, vice-chairman; Mr. H.J. Cooper, hon. treasurer; Mr. J. Harvey, hon. secretary; Mr. A.W. Wilkins, assistant secretary and committee, Messrs. A. Dyson, A. Lowe, H. Kilby, W. Bennett, A. Bennett, D.W. Johnson, J. Cox, E. Sharp.  Mr. W. Bennett was elected captain, and Mr. T. Cross, vice-captain.  A vote of thanks was passed to the retiring officers.



4th March 1918 – BCC Parks Committee Minute

Councillor W. Brown presented the following report of the Administration Sub-Committee:-

Keeping of pigs in Parks
Your Sub-Committee are of opinion that it is in the interests of Food Production that pigs should be kept in some of the Parks.  They accordingly recommend that the Superintendent be instructed to make arrangements for pigs to be kept at Perry, Lightswood, Kings Heath and Warley Parks.

Keeping of pigs in Parks

2242   Resolved:-  That in the opinion of this Committee it is in the interests of food production that pigs should be kept in some of the Parks, and that the Superintendent be instructed to make arrangements for the keeping of pigs at Perry, Lightswood, Kings Heath and Warley Parks, and that the Administration Sub-Committee be authorized to purchasesuch numbe of pigs as they may deem advisable.


6th May 1918 – BCC Parks Committee Minute

Councillor Brown presented the following report of the Administration Sub-Committee:-

Keeping of pigs in Parks
Your Sub-Committee report that the Superintendent has been able to procure 4 gelts and 4 hogs, Gloucester Spot Breed, at a cost of £44, and these are being kept at Warley Park.  He has also obtained 4 gelts, 1 hog and 1 boar at a cost of £44.  3.  0. these are at Kings Heath Park, and 4 of the Albany herd white gelts and one boar procured from Mr. Edge of Ditchling at a cost of £51  9.  0. these are being kept at Perry Park.

Kings Heath Allotments Association
They have granted the King’s Heath Vicarage Road Sites Allotments Association the use of King’s Heath Park for their annual show on Saturday 24th August, subject to the proceeds being given to Charities.


1st July 1918 – BCC Parks Committee Minute

Councillor Brown presented the following report of the Administration Sub-Committee:-

Kings Heath Park
Your Sub-Committee have granted the use of King’s Heath Park to the King’s Heath Prize band for July 21st the proceeds of the concert to go to the aid of wounded soldiers at Colmore Road Hospital and also the use of Sparkhill Park on August 25th, the proceeds to go to the aid of St. Dunstan’s Hostel.

They have refused the application of the Band for the use of Kings Heath Park, for September 8th.


27th July 1918 – Birmingham News

Kings Norton, Northfield and Haborne Districts
Moseley and Kings Heath

E.M.S. Band in the Park – Large audiences were attracted on Sunday to Kings Heath Park, to hear two concerts given by Kings Heath E.M.S. Prize Band, in aid of the Comforts’ Fund of the wounded soldiers at Colmore Road Hospital.  Last year the band gave similar much appreciated concerts.  The afternoon programme included a trombone solo by Mr. F. Townsend, and in the evening there was a euphonium solo by Mr. G. Powell, the performance concluding with the hymn “O God our help in ages past”.  We are informed that the takings, which will go to the fund, amount to £13 3s. 6d.



Village Gossip

Parks Committee’s Enterprise
The extent to which the City Parks Committee have responded to the appeal for increased food production is probably not generally realized.  Not only have large areas been planted with potatoes, but flourishing piggeries have been established at Warley, Perry Park, Ward End and Kings Heath, and at a number of parks tomatoes are being grown in the greenhouses formerly occupied by exotic plants.  Proof of the profitable nature of the last-mentioned experiment is forthcoming in the fact that last year alone £100 was derived from the sale of tomatoes.  In two directions particularly useful service is being rendered.  Experiments are being carried out on behalf of the Board of Agriculture in the growing of potatoes of immune varieties, and trial plots for new varieties of vegetables to be run in conjuction with the trials of the Royal Horticultural Sociey at Wisley Gardens are being formed at Kings Heath, Lightswood, Handsworth, Perry and Ward End for the benefit of the allotment holders and gardeners of the city.  Councillor G. Johnson, the chairman of the committee, has thrown himself into the work with characteristic energy and enthusiasm, and he well merited the warm tribute which was paid to him by the Lord Mayor at the conclusion of the Park Committee’s annual tour of the parks last weekend.



29th July 1918 – BCC Parks Committee Minute

Councillor Brown presented the following report of the Administration Sub-Committee:-

Potato Trials
Messrs. Chittenden and Wright of the Royal Horticultural Society visited the City on Thursday 9th July to view the various tests of trial potatoes.  It has been arranged that these tests shall be at Perry, Handsworth, Lightswood, King’s Heath and Ward End Parks.  Messrs. Chittenden and Wright expressed themselves quite satisfied with the arrangements, and it is hoped to get the sites for these tests to be laid out as soon as the crops are off.
With reference to potato trials, your Superintendent has received an application from Mr. G.C. Gough of the Board of Agriculture asking that various Associations should be allowed to view these trials and he has replied that as these trials are for the benefit of the general public, the department will be pleased to receive any deputations who cared to come.



31st August 1918 – Birmingham News

Kings Norton, Northfield and Haborne Districts
Moseley and Kings Heath

Wounded Entertained – In connection with the vist of a number of wounded soldiers from Highbury and Colmore Road Hospitals to the Park, at the invitation of the Vicarage Road and Priory Roads Allotment Association, the Kings Heath Park Bowling Club invited a party of them to play in a match, made up with members of the club.  The Highbury soldiers were led by the vice-captain and the Colmore Road by the captain, the former winning by 126 to 112.  The men were entertained to tea, and were handed prizes by Councillor G. Ward, who was thanked on the proposition of Mr. H. Cooper, seconded by Mr. J. Harvey.  The club’s thanks are also due to Mrs. W. York, Miss York, and Mrs. Norton for their help.



Allotment Shows

Kings Heath war Time Show
The second annual show promoted by the Vicarage Road and Priory Road Allotment Association was held on Saturday at Kings Heath Park, placed at the disposal of the committee by the Parks Committee.  The proceeds are to be given to St. Dunstan’s Hostel for Blinded Soldiers and Sailors.  Last year when the above was held on a small scale £25 was raised for the same object, and this year the committee hope to realise at least double.  There was a large attendance of the public, for whom a number of amusements had been provided.  The company also included a large number of wounded soldiers from the local hospitals, for whom a sports programme had been arranged.  The judges for the vegetable show were Messrs. J. Markham (head gardener to Major J. Howard Cartland, J.P.), E. Taylor (Sparkhill), Catt (Highbury), and Horton (Selly Oak).  Much interest was aroused by the hon. exhibits.  The soldiers at Highbury Hospital showed a remarkable collection of vegetables and fruit (including grapes) which they had grown; also eggs from their poultry runs.  Another meritorious collection of vegatables was shown by the men from Monyhull.  There were also attractive displays sent by the Wolseley Horticultural Section, Perry Barr (Livingstone Road) Allotments Association, Major J.H. Cartland, and Mr. J. Smith (lecturer in horticulture for the Parks and Education Committees), who sent a fine educational exhibit.  Mr. Deakin (Chapman and Sanders) showed two nice rows of potatoes which he gave for the benefit of the wounded soldiers.  The show prize list was as follows:-
(There then follows a long list of prizewinners) ……………………..
During the evening there was some speech-making.  Mr. H. Spencer (chairman of the association’s committee) thanked the public for their support, also to the Parks Committee for the use of the grounds, their consent having been obtained through the medium of Mr. J. Smith, of the park.
Mr. Gale, of St. Dunstan’s, gave a most interesting account of the wonderful work they were doing for our blinded heroes.  Today there were no less than 505 completely blind soldiers and sailors who were earning their own living, as a result of the training they had received at St. Dunstan’s, and in many cases getting more than they could earn in pre-war days.
Captain Sawyer thanked the committee and Mr. J.L. Downing, the hon. secretary, for their kind invitation to the wounded men and the staffs of the local hospitals, and Councillor G. Ward responding on behalf of the Parks Committee, said they only closed a public park, when, as on this occasion, the proceeds were given to a charitable object.
Kings Heath Prize Band kindly gave their services, not only discoursing selections during the show, but in the evening the dancing on the green.
The arrangements for the show were carried out by Mr. J.L. Downing and the committee.



23rd November 1918 – Birmingham News

Kings Norton, Northfield and Haborne Districts
Moseley and Kings Heath

Park Bowling Club – The fourth annual social of and prize giving to the members of the Kings Heath Park Bowling Club was held on Saturday night in the cosy lower room of the Masonic Hall, Institute Raod.  The first part of the proceedings consisted of a whist drive, for which Mr. S.C. Cowles was M.C.
The winners were:- Ladies: 1, Mrs. Lowe; 2, Mrs. Humphries.  Gentlemen: 1, Mr. Batchelor; 2, Mr. Humphries.  Lowest score: Miss E. Smith.  Following the drive came a musical programme and the distribution of prizes.  An apology was read from Councillor E.T. Everton regretting his inability to be present, and the chair was taken by Mr. H. Mantell, the chairman of the committee.  Mr. Mantell observed that the club had been able to carry on despite the vicissitudes of the terrible war, and the past season had been the most successful from a bowling point of view that they had ever had.  The best of feeling had always been manifested on the green, and the members had derived a vast amount of pleasure from mingling together and playing the ancient game.  The club had, he believed, secured third palce in the League, which, considering the difficulties under which they had laboured was very creditable.  They were looking forward to the return from the Army of their old members – (applause) – including the champion of the club.  They were very grateful that their soldier members had escaped injury.  It was the intention of the club to give them a fitting welcome home.  Mr. Mantell then handed away the prizes to the following members:- Mr. A. Dyson, who received the rose bowl presented by the President (Commander Leverton Harris, M.P.); Mr. T. Cross, inkstand, given by Major J. Howard Cartland, J.P.; Mr. A. Lowe, vases; Mr. J. Coke, cake dish; Mr. J. Harvey (hon. secretary), biscuit jar (the Chairman paying a tribute for the work he did for the club); Mr. J. Close, case of knives; Mr. A. Wilkins, toilet set; Mr. A. Dyson, pair of umbrellas; Mr. R. Burrows, gold pendant; Mr. W. York, cigarette holder; Mr. W. Bennett (captain, who was kept away by illness).  An attractive musical programme was contributed to by Miss E. Smith, Miss Doris Bland, Messrs. W.A. Norton, Sidney Hall and Stokes.

 
14th December 1918 – Birmingham News
 
Kings Norton, Northfield and Haborne Districts
Moseley and Kings Heath
 
Vicarage Road Allotment Association – The Annual meeting of the Vicarage Road Sites Allotment Association (War Time) was held on Saturday night in the assembly room of Ye Olde Red Lion Hotel, Mr. Harry Spencer, chairman of committee, presiding.
……………….
They owed a deep debt to Mr. Smith who approached the Parks Committee for their permission to hold the show in the Park, and their thanks were also due to the committee.











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