Cheslyn Hay History Society Newsletter 11^th November 2018 Events

This Remembrance Sunday on the 11th day at the 11th hour we are remembering everyone who gave their lives fighting for their country especially the 57 men on our War Memorial who died in the Great War.

Our Salem Base

Our Salem Base is open from 9am – 2pm every Tuesday

What Happened This Week 50/100 years ago…by Mike Belcher

7th November1968 Cannock Advertiser 
Cheslyn Hay Salem Church Youth Club held its first Halloween party with 72 people present.

9th November 1918 Cannock Chase Courier
Mr. Jos. Baker presided over a meeting at the Salem Schools, on Thursday evening last to consider the “Permanent Memorial” for the local Soldiers.  Unfortunately, the attendance was rather small and the meeting was adjourned till next Wednesday evening.

The collection boxes in aid of the Red Cross Society and Prisoner of War Fund were counted and there were generous contributions given.
Mr. R. and Mrs. Parsons had lost a son in India, who died from fever.
There were 15 applications made from local soldiers for necessary clothing, all of which were granted.
There were three parcels sent this week by the Secretary top Prisoners of War, – Private J. Waltho, Private F. W. Ewers, and Lance Corp. S. Thomas.
A letter has been received from  Private Wm. Pearce who is a Prisoner of War in Germany.
It was reported that Private E. Bowen, of Rosemary Road, had died in France.
The ‘flu’ epidemic is very prevalent in district, and a young man named Enoch Jones, of Landywood, has died suddenly.
9th November 1918 In Memoriam In loving memory of Maud Mary, daughter of Benjamin and Zilpah Lucy Potts of the Lord Nelson Inn, who departed this life, November 8th 1910.
9th November 1918 Cheslyn Hay has the present opportunity of providing a free library and reading room as a memorial to war heroes of the parish.  Full details given.

General News

Stan Eades passed away peacefully in the company of his family on the 28th October 2018.  His funeral is on Monday 12th November 10:30am. at Bushbury Cemetery WV10 8NS.  Family flowers only. Donations welcome for St Giles Hospice.

One of our long standing members Eric Merchant has passed away this week. Eric always attended our Chat and Char mornings and will be sadly missed by us all. We would like to send our heartfelt condolences to his family.

suewashington.cheslynhayhistory@btinternet.com

Events
The theme for Roger’s Chat n Char this Thursday is “In Memoriam” We at Cheslyn Hay History Society will be commemorating the end of the Great war 1914-1918 starting at 10am in the Salem as usual.

Our Salem Base
Our Salem Base is open from 9am – 2pm every Tuesday we have no planned visits this week but there is a committee meeting at 1pm. Last week we were very busy we had over 15 visitors to our base who enjoyed a cuppa, a chat and access to our extensive archives

Responses
We received  quite a few emails this week commenting on our “Memories complied from an interview with Ann Ames”, everyone commented on how sad the story of the Farnell family was and how the war must have had a terrible impact on local families changing their life forever in a way they could never image, with Judy commented “If only we could learn from the past and live in peace”

What Happened This Week 50/100 years ago…by Mike Belcher
31st October 1968 Cannock Advertiser
A local church launched its Annual Autumn Fair on Thursday when facilities were provided for a children’s play group corner. It was the first time in the history of any of the social events at Salem Methodist Church that such an idea has been introduced and following its success, the scheme may be repeated.
31st October 1968 
Details of the will of Mr. Ernest John Denny, of “Beau Vista”, Wolverhampton Road, Cheslyn Hay, who died on April 4.

31st October 1968 
Full information on the success of the Woodman Bowling Club.

2nd November 1918 Cannock Chase Courier
The son of Dr. Hosegood, the Medical Officer of Health for the Cannock Rural District Council has gained the Military Cross.  Details of his involvement given.

 A Cheslyn Hay Lad Wounded. Writing from No 1 General Hospital, B.E.F. to Mrs. F. Whitehouse, of 15, Hatherton Street, Cheslyn Hay, Rev. R. S. Page says that her son Steve has been badly injured giving all the details.

 2nd November1918 Chat from Cheslyn Hay
At the weekly meeting of the Local Relief Committee and Red Cross Society on Friday evening the Secretary was instructed to send a letter a letter of thanks to Mrs. Rowland Smith for her kindness in providing a concert.
Councillor E. H. Ingram delighted the audience at the concert and Mrs. Allen, headmistress of the Girls Council Schools sent to the meeting on Friday 52 pairs of socks and 48 pairs of woollen cuffs, which the girls had knitted.
“Wyrley Wakes” as the old custom is termed were celebrated last week on the Barn Flat.
Last week Messrs. Wm. and Chas. Brough arranged a collection in aid of John Elwell, of High Street.
Also at the local Working Men’s Club and Institute a collection was made on Saturday for a member, Thomas Hood, who has been ill 25 weeks. 

General News
Sunday 11th November is Remembrance Day. Our village parade will start at Eatons on Coppice lane and march to the War memorial in Cheslyn Hay for the act of remembrance, where the Cheslyn Hay Community Choir will be performing in chapel square. The Service will then continue in the Salem Chapel.

suewashington.cheslynhayhistory@btinternet.com

Events

Annual Exhibition – Fayres Fetes & Festivals
Saturday 6th October at the Village Hall in Pinfold Lane. 10am -4pm free admission. Come and browse 9,000 photographs and see if you can find your Cheslyn Hay ancestors in all the Census returns from 1841 to 1911. Check out our Electoral Rolls and maybe find out who lived in your house 80 years ago. See our Then & Now photos of some of the Cheslyn Hay streets. Have a go at winning a bumper food hamper, and get hands on experience of some of the many artefacts that will be on display. And if all that has made you a bit peckish, treat yourself to a cake and a coffee or even a good old dripping sandwich like Granny used to make, while you listen to live music. All this and more with completely free admission

Our Salem Base

Our Salem Base is open this Tuesday 9am – 1pm we are closing early this week due to a committee meeting

Responses

We published a request in our newsletter 19th August 2018 from Robert Taylor enquiring about the family of his Mother, Elizabeth Dorothy Taylor nee Matthews , as a result of this article one of our long standing members Kath Walmsley nee Perks and Elizabeth have been corresponding.

What Happened This Week 50/100 years ago…by Mike Belcher

26th September 1968 Cannock Advertiser The Rev. Ronald Hicks, new Methodist minister for Cheslyn Hay introduces new ideas for the youth in the area.

26th September 1968 Funeral at Cheslyn Hay of Mrs. N. Harris daughter of Mrs. And the late Mr. Altree, of Cheslyn Hay.

28th September 1918 Cannock Chase Courier Cannock Rural Tribunal Edward John Pearson (46) Grade 2, High Street, Cheslyn Hay, said he had been in business as a house furnisher was consented to three months exemption in view of his wife’s poor health.

WW1 Commemoration

This month we commemorate the death of 486931 Clarence Parsons of 473rd Field Company, Royal Engineers. son of John Arthur & Annie Parsons of 109 High Street, Cheslyn Hay. he died 9th October 1918 aged 21 years, buried with honour Hangalore (Hosur Road) Cemetery and remembered at the Madras Memorial.

General News

It is with great sadness that the family of DOROTHY MARY TINKLER FORMERLYWESTCOTT nee STACEY announce her passing on Saturday 22^nd September at the age of 97 years.  She was born at High Street in Cheslyn Hay on 06/10/1920 the eldest daughter of Jesse and Mary Stacey and sister to Donald, Stanley and Jean. She married Wolves professional footballer Dennis Westcott after his untimely death she married again and  lived in Stafford until moving to Suffolk. She always liked to talk of her early life in Cheslyn Hay and enjoyed the content of the newsletter for as long as she was able.

Cheslyn Hay History Society Newsletter 21^st October 2018

Events

Our Speaker night this week 
“Coalfields to Battlefields” is a 50-minute presentation that Paul Bedford and ex bonker Alan Brown will share with friends and members of CHDLHS on the evening of Thursday 25th October 7pm at The Salem. Members probably know that Paul is a historian, researcher and author of “Not Just Names”, which gives details in words and photographs of the lives of local men who went to war, mainly to France, one hundred years ago and who did not return. Alans part of the presentation will focus on the area of France to which many of them travelled; an area which, as we shall discover, has many coal-mining (and other) links with the Cheslyn Hay and District community. Some surprises and unexpected pictures and stories will be featured (there is even a local dialect where lunch boxes were also known as “snap tins”…)
Our Salem Base

Our Salem Base is open this Tuesday 9am – 2pm. Liz Leavesley is researching her Lydia Dace/John Whitehouse family line and she’ll be at the Base on Tuesday morning. Sue & Vi will be available and also Terry Carpenter

Requests

Roger Betts has emailed this interesting request
Many areas of the Midlands continue to show the vestiges of ancient field systems and cultivation practices known as ridge and furrow, the characteristic “corrugated” pattern often running across fields for several hundred yards, occasionally terminating in a headland where the ploughing teams of oxen or horses were turned to make their return trip.
As far as I am aware, there are few if any remaining examples in our area. However, I remember as a child riding my bike up and down what I now believe was ridge and furrow in the recreation ground off Walsall Road in Wyrley. This area was flattened, sadly, after open cast mining in the late 1950s.
Old maps show as recently as the nineteenth century, that this was part of a large field stretching from Jones Lane in the south to Hazel Lane in the north and bounded to the west by Walsall Road suggesting perhaps that it was in mediaeval times one of the old three (or four) open fields belonging to the village.
I wonder if anyone else knows of, or can remember, any other local examples of ridge and furrow.

What Happened This Week 50/100 years ago…by Mike Belcher

17th October 1968 Cannock Advertiser
A meeting of Cheslyn Hay Wesley Guild took the form of a literary evening with a talk on Cliff College, Derbyshire.
19th October 1918 Cannock Chase Courier
At the weekly meeting of the Local Relief Committee and Red Cross Society, two parcels were sent to Private William Westwood and Private T. Bosworth, who are unfortunately Prisoners of War.  A letter was received last week from Private Ern. Parker, thanking the Red Cross Committee for their kindness of Frances Colley, aged 11, of Station Street.
Also a word of congratulations is due to Stephen Pratt, aged 15 last Thursday for his two paintings donated for a raffle.

General News

Appeal for more Photographs,
With over 7,500 photographs in our archives we are now looking to build up a section for the more “Modern” Photographs so that we can display events of the 1970s and 1980s for future exhibitions.

Our Salem Base
Our Salem Base is open this Tuesday 9am – 2pm

Requests
Noel Rabouhans visited us last week he is researching his Newman Family who were in Cheslyn Hay in the mid 1800s before moving to Warwickshire.
Liz Leavesley emails enquiring about John Whitehouse and Lydia Dace who are her Gt Gt Gt grandparents, she would be grateful for any information on their tree

Memories
It was 50 years Ago today…….! by Peter Cadman part 2
Pete recalls his last ten weeks after leaving school before taking up a place in York, including working on a site being a labourer for the crew building the “new school” Glenthorne Primary.

ARCHIVE ADDITIONS/ARTEFACTS/DONATIONS
We have had some Pigeon Racing Memorabilia donated by John Dace  including Award Certificates, Photographs, Newspaper cuttings and a Clock Record Book.

What Happened This Week 50/100 years ago…by Mike Belcher
10th October 1968 Cannock Advertiser Retirement of Nurse Dorothy Wooton district nurse for Cheslyn Hay and Great Wyrley for the past 26 years. 
10th October 1968 Doctor Kenneth Stanley Williams, who has been practicing in Cheslyn Hay for 18 years died at his home “Sherwood” Station Street, on Saturday afternoon.
10 October 1968 The funeral service of Mr. Frank Kingston, of 8, Queen Street, Cheslyn Hay.

12 October 1918 Cannock Chase Courier Funeral of the late Fred Smith of Hatherton Street.

On Thursday evening last Salem School a lecture given by a member of the Red Cross Society. Rev.  John Naylor, who spoke for an hour and a half on “Our victories in Palestine and their effects”
12th October 1918 Albert Benton, farmer and poultry keeper, of Cheslyn Hay, was awarded damages against John Hall.  Full details of the case given.

General News
Despite the horrendous weather we still received almost 300 visitors to our Annual Exhibition, we would like thank everyone who visited and made the day so successful.

Events

The theme for Roger’s Chat n Char this Thursday is “Banished to Australia” the speaker is our own Peter Cadman, starting at 10am in the Salem as usual.

Our Salem Base

Our Salem Base is open from  9am – 2pm every Tuesday

What Happened This Week 50/100 years ago…by Mike Belcher

3rd October 1968 Cannock Advertiser 
Details of the new Salem Youth Club with all the committee named.

5th October 1918 Cannock Chase Courier George Mason R.E., of Low Street, Cheslyn Hay, on leave, was charged with damaging property of Job Whitehouse, at High Street.    Case involved Amelia Lockett and Sarah Heaton, of Cheslyn Hay.
5th October 1918 Harvest Festival with  Mr. W. Shorter, Miss. K. Scragg, Mr. Dennis Woodhouse, Mr. Wm. Brough, of The Lot, and Mr. Enoch Whitehouse of Littlewood involved.
At a meeting of the Local Relief Committee a special appeal was made to raise money for the local “lads”, including seven Prisoners of War.
On Tuesday morning a young man named Fred Smith, of Hatherton Street, was badly crushed between the tubs at Nook Colliery. Full details given on his death.

 5th October 1918  The official record of the award of the Military Cross to Sec. Lieut. H. A. Hawkins, South Staffordshire Regiment, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Hawkins, Cheslyn Hay, has been quoted.

Memories

It Was 50 Years Ago Today …..! by Peter Cadman with memories of his teaching career at St Johns College in York mentioning Corona Alexander Victoria Price. Chris Jervis, Philip Perks, son of Herbert Perks, Mary Somerville, Roger Stevenson,  Alan Brown, Bob Brevitt, Lynda Hemmingsley and Ron Gourlay.

General News

Yesterday was our Annual Exhibition, even though the weather wasn’t on our side we had an excellent turnout with some very good reviews from visitors. The winning raffle ticket was 342 and the lucky recipient was Dianne Tolley.

Events

Annual Exhibition – Fayres Fetes & Festivals
Saturday 6th October at the Village Hall in Pinfold Lane. 10am -4pm free admission. Come and browse 9,000 photographs and see if you can find your Cheslyn Hay ancestors in all the Census returns from 1841 to 1911. Check out our Electoral Rolls and maybe find out who lived in your house 80 years ago. See our Then & Now photos of some of the Cheslyn Hay streets. Have a go at winning a bumper food hamper, and get hands on experience of some of the many artefacts that will be on display. And if all that has made you a bit peckish, treat yourself to a cake and a coffee or even a good old dripping sandwich like Granny used to make, while you listen to live music. All this and more with completely free admission

Our Salem Base

Our Salem Base is open this Tuesday 9am – 1pm we are closing early this week due to a committee meeting

Responses

We published a request in our newsletter 19th August 2018 from Robert Taylor enquiring about the family of his Mother, Elizabeth Dorothy Taylor nee Matthews , as a result of this article one of our long standing members Kath Walmsley nee Perks and Elizabeth have been corresponding.

What Happened This Week 50/100 years ago…by Mike Belcher

26th September 1968 Cannock Advertiser The Rev. Ronald Hicks, new Methodist minister for Cheslyn Hay introduces new ideas for the youth in the area.

26th September 1968 Funeral at Cheslyn Hay of Mrs. N. Harris daughter of Mrs. And the late Mr. Altree, of Cheslyn Hay.

28th September 1918 Cannock Chase Courier Cannock Rural Tribunal Edward John Pearson (46) Grade 2, High Street, Cheslyn Hay, said he had been in business as a house furnisher was consented to three months exemption in view of his wife’s poor health.

WW1 Commemoration

This month we commemorate the death of 486931 Clarence Parsons of 473rd Field Company, Royal Engineers. son of John Arthur & Annie Parsons of 109 High Street, Cheslyn Hay. he died 9th October 1918 aged 21 years, buried with honour Hangalore (Hosur Road) Cemetery and remembered at the Madras Memorial.

General News

It is with great sadness that the family of DOROTHY MARY TINKLER FORMERLYWESTCOTT nee STACEY announce her passing on Saturday 22^nd September at the age of 97 years.  She was born at High Street in Cheslyn Hay on 06/10/1920 the eldest daughter of Jesse and Mary Stacey and sister to Donald, Stanley and Jean. She married Wolves professional footballer Dennis Westcott after his untimely death she married again and  lived in Stafford until moving to Suffolk. She always liked to talk of her early life in Cheslyn Hay and enjoyed the content of the newsletter for as long as she was able.