Researched by Mike Belcher
From the Archives of the Cannock Advertiser 1959

3/1/1959 Winder Collapses and Dies
When maintenance man, up and down Hilton Main Colliery shaft for routine inspection on Christmas day, Mr.Dennis William Bullock (47) of 22, High Street, Cheslyn Hay, collapsed suddenly and died. A post mortem examination revealed that death was due to natural causes, and there will be no inquest. Mr.Bullock had worked at other collieries in the area before moving to Hilton Main. Mr.Bullock was well known throughout the area for his fine chrysanthemums, to which he devoted much of his time. He was joint holder of the premier award at the Bridgtown show in 1958. Married, Mr.Bullock leaves three children and three grandchildren.

3/1/1959 Small Village with a Heart of Gold
Although Cheslyn Hay is only a comparatively small village on residential average it probably has the highest giving potential for charities and other good causes in the district. This was demonstrated on Tuesday evening when as a result of a whist drive and collections in the village a party for the physically handicapped was held at the community centre. Each physically handicapped person, each of whom is a member of the Cannock Association, was allowed to bring one friend to the party. The event was organised by Mrs.M.Whitehouse who is on the Cannock Associations committee and by members of the Community Centre Committee. After the meal, given and served by the ladies committee of the Community Centre, entertainment was provided by Mr.Steve Pratt, pianist; Miss M.Mitchell, Soprano; Mr J Riley, comedian.

3/1/1959 They Suffered a Shock Defeat
A shock defeat meted out by a team from Cheslyn Hay W.M.C. was the penalty for over confidence by a representative team of Elliot Lucas and Abbey Drop Forgings, of Churchbridge in a football game played at the recreation ground, Cheslyn Hay, on Christmas day. Both teams only played ten men, the clubs eight man side being supplemented by two players from the other side, but nevertheless the starting pace was very fast. A fine goal by Les Weaver, the clubs outside left, set the works team back on their heels, and they never really recovered, although they had equalised before half time. Weaver was also responsible for the clubs second and winning goal. Steward W.Smith, local constable Weeks, and S.Perry, C.Bickley, S.Norman, F.Scott, L.Weaver, and Mills, constituted the club side. The proceeds from the game went to local blind people.

10/1/1959 Death of Cheslyn Hay licensee
The death occurred on Wednesday morning of Mr.Edward Robert Rodwell licensee of the Colliers Arms Inn for the last 16 years. He was 58 years of age and he died in the Queen Victoria Nursing Institution, where he had been for a few days. He had been there before, but had returned home again and was at home for Christmas. Before going to the Colliers Arms Mr. & Mrs.Rodwell kept an off-license at Cheslyn Hay for seven years. They had a daughter Mrs.F.Lockett, who lives at Cheslyn Hay. Mr.Rodwell was a native of Penkridge, and he worked at Littleton Colliery for many years. For the past ten years he had been employed at Hawkins Colliery. Mr.Rodwell was one of the oldest members of Cannock, Hednesford and District Licensed Victuallers Association.

10/1/1959 Lost a Little but not Worried
Although sales of potatoes and seeds increased, the Cheslyn Hay Allotments and Cottage Gardener’s Association lost 30s on the years trading, secretary and treasurer, Mr.E.Balance, told the Annual General Meeting on Wednesday night. “This was not entirely unexpected” Mr.Balance told the Advertiser afterwards, “We are not out to make a profit and we have a comfortable balance in hand of £68”. The association has 106 members, but only seven attended the meeting because of the weather. Officers re-elected were Mr.J.H.Crutchley, chairman; Mr.E.Balance, secretary and treasurer; the committee was re-elected en bloc.

10/1/1959 Husband and Wife Buried Together
After being married for 56 years Mr.& Mrs.Joseph and Annie Biddle, of Walsall Road, Great Wyrley, died within three days of each other last week. Mr.Biddle died suddenly on Thursday week after being admitted to the Ivy House, Cannock, on December 23rd, he was 83 years old. Mrs.Biddle has been an invalid for three years before her death in the early hours of Sunday, she was 79 years old. Mr.Biddle was born in Pelsall, but moved to the area when he was only three months old. Mrs.Biddle was born in Willenhall and came to live in the area at the same age. They lived for several years in Cheslyn Hay before moving to Great Wyrley. Mr.Biddle worked at Cannock and Leacroft Colliery for over 60 years. He retired at 73, only a month or so before a new pension scheme came into practice. He was a keen all-round sportsman, and was particularly fond of football and bowls. Mrs.Biddle did a great deal of knitting and sewing. When living at Cheslyn Hay, the couple attended Salem Methodist church regularly, and Mrs.Biddle was a member of the Women’s Own. Both were very fond of reading, and Mr. Biddle’s eyesight was exceptionally good considering his great age. He had been a member of the Norton Canes Lodge of the Ancient Order of Foresters. The funeral took place at Salem church on Monday.

31/1/1959 Died Four Months after Husband
Outliving her husband by only four months, Mrs.Harriet Whitehouse (84) of 47, Littlewood Lane, Cheslyn Hay, died on Thursday week in Ivy House Hospital, Cannock. Mrs.Whitehouse had been ill for four months. Born in Wedges Mills, she was the last of eight children, all of whom were fond of dressmaking and tailoring. She had been a dressmaker all her life, and was still extremely proficient with a needle in later years. Another of her great loves was country walking. She leaves a son and daughter, one granddaughter, and three great grandchildren.

14/2/1959 Death of Oldest Resident in Street
The funeral of Mr.Thomas Henry Pearson, of 31, Saredon Road, Cheslyn Hay, took place on Monday at Salem Methodist Church, Cheslyn Hay. Mr.Pearson, who died on the previous Tuesday, was 83 years of age. He resided with his nephew Mr.Joe Dutton. A bachelor, he had lived in the Company Buildings, Saredon Road, all his life, and was the oldest resident there. A miner all his working days, Mr. Pearson retired thirteen years ago. He had worked at Hawkins Colliery and Cannock Chase Nº 3. Mr.Pearson had a life-long association with Mount Zion Church, Cheslyn Hay, which was recently closed. During the life of the church every office had been held at some time by one or other of his family. When it closed, Mr.J.Dutton, his nephew, was a society steward and he and his wife Mrs.Dutton, had been Sunday school superintendents for 30 years.

21/2/1959 Death of Cheslyn Hay Musician - Mr.William Perks
In the early hours of Saturday morning Cheslyn Hay lost one of its best known inhabitants, Mr.William Perks aged 83, of Roseville, Station Street.

A native of Cheslyn Hay, Mr.Perks was apprenticed to Mr.William Crutchley, a grocer at Cheslyn Hay, before he started a grocery business himself some 60 years ago. He took a personal interest in his business until a week or so before his death. Apart from his business Mr.Perks’s main interest was in the Mount Zion Methodist Church at Cheslyn Hay, which recently closed through structural defects. Although Mr.Perks was a trustee and was connected with the church practically all his life, he was fully prepared to accept this decision, and was in favour of the amalgamation of Salem and Mount Zion churches.

Played when a child
From his very early youth Mr.Perks had been passionately fond of music. When he first began to play the tenor horn in the village old Victoria Brass Band his father Mr.George Perks, also a bandsman, had to stand him on a chair so that he could read the music. Mr.Perks was a member of the male voice choir since its inception some 50 years ago, and was life president. Until a few months ago he was still singing second tenor with the choir. He was also a member of the village madrigal society. Mr.Perks was also a member of the Parish Council for a spell of three years in the 1930’s. His wife died about ten years ago. A native of Cheslyn Hay, Mr.Perks leaves four younger brothers and a younger sister, all of whom live at Cheslyn Hay. He leaves no children.

7/3/1959 Cheslyn Hay Man was Honoured
A man who had been an insurance agent for 42 years was honoured on Thursday week at a luncheon held at Walsall. He was Mr.F.J.Ridgway, of Chase Leigh, Littlewood Road, Cheslyn Hay. The Luncheon was given by the National Union of Life Insurance Workers, and he was presented with an inscribed umbrella, a certificate, and a silver service badge by Mr.A.B.S.Cornwall, a member of the National Executive Council. Mr.Ridgway has been connected with the Walsall branch of this Union for many years, and has held office for 23 years, as chairman, secretary, and his present position, president. He retired in July from the Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society, where he had worked for nearly 37 years.

21/3/1959 How Low Can You Get?
Surely the person or persons most qualifying for a “Rat of the week” award must be the perpetrators of some recent vandalism at Cheslyn Hay.

A hooligan or hooligans shattered almost every pane of glass in the windows at the front of a small cottage in Landywood Lane, the home of a deaf and dumb old lady who lives alone. The old lady affectionately known a “Louis” by most of Cheslyn Hay inhabitants was taken to hospital earlier last week after she had a seizure. It was probably on Friday week that culprit or culprits committed the despicable act. One theory in the village is that it could have been done by children. In the downstairs room of the two roomed cottage, old Louie’s handbag lies on a table untouched, together with a few other belongings, including an old hurricane lamp. This seems to rule out a theft motive so the damage must have been sheer vandalism. Windows in the recently closed Mount Zion church have also been smashed.

28/3/1959 Hit by the changes, but doing well
When a village like Cheslyn Hay loses members of its community, the loss must inevitably have repercussions on Cheslyn Hay Working Men’s Club, the social centre of the village, said Mr.Tom Smith, president of Cheslyn Hay W.M.C., at the annual meeting on Monday. At one time, added Mr.Smith, 95 per cent of those in the club choir were villagers now 95 per cent come from surrounding areas. The British Legion branch could once boast a membership of 100, but that was not so today. The bowlers too were not so numerous. Despite those facts, Mr.Smith said the club had a successful year.

28/3/1959 Twenty Yards Ride costs a Penny
Miners travelling between Mid-Cannock Collieries and Cheslyn Hay have met with difficulties on their homeward journeys recently, Mr.S.Evans told Cheslyn Hay Parish Council on Wednesday week. On the journey from Cheslyn Hay, they pay 4½d and alight at the stop by St. John’s Road. On the return journey, however, the stop that used to be at Jellyman’s has been moved a matter of 20 yards nearer to Cannock and the passengers are being charged 5½d to Cheslyn Hay. The men feel disgruntled about this, since it seems they are in effect being asked to pay an extra 1d for a matter of about twenty yards. The Parish Council decided to write to the Walsall Corporation Transport Department about the matter.

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