10/9/1959 Glancing Back
From the Advertiser September 15 1934
Mr.Harold Woollaston of Glenthorne, High Street, Cheslyn Hay, the well-known local tenor, broadcast a programme of songs on Thursday through the Midland Region Transmitter. Mr.Woollaston sang “Is she not passing fair” (Elgar), “Phyllis has such charming graces” (Anthony Young), “I heard you singing” (Eric Coates), and “Eleanor” (Coleridge Taylor). The programme was relayed to all stations in England. More…

Cheslyn Hay Business Woman’s Funeral
After an illness of two years Miss Thirza Jane Thomas (83) a native of Dunston, near Stafford died on Tuesday week at 3, Chapel Square, Cheslyn Hay, the house where she had lived with her elder sister Emma for over 30 years. With her sister, Miss Thomas, had been in Business most of her life, and they kept a drapery and provisions business at Cheslyn Hay for over 25 years.

19/9/1959 Cheslyn Hay Man Gets His Degree
A former Rugeley Grammar School scholar, Mr.Victor Middleton of 87, Station Street, Cheslyn Hay, who has been studying at Nottingham University for three years, recently gained his Batchelor of Science degree. Mr.Middleton is now on the staff of Rolls Royce at Derby, in the Aero Engine Division. As well as his scholastic achievements at university, he has been a regular player for the university’s English Hockey XI which recently played the South African Hockey XI. Nottingham Town Hockey Team have also been interested in him. Mr. Middleton was formerly a member of Cannock Hockey Club. His twin brother Mr.Ian Middleton is in his third year at Sheffield University, and a younger brother, John, also a Rugeley Grammar School scholar recently gained eight subjects in G.C.E. examinations.

26/9/1959 Wedding Carriage only allowed out on fine days
If the weather had not been fine on the 27th of November 50 years ago, the magnificent pair of grey horses and coach which carried Mr. & Mrs.Leonard Sanders, then of Cheslyn Hay, to their wedding at Salem church would not have been used. Mr.& Mrs.Sanders daughter Mrs.F.K.Wooton told the Advertiser that the horses were only allowed out on very fine days, and came from a stable in Walsall. Mr. & Mrs.Sanders were married by the Rev.F.R.Robinson when both were 21 years old. Both are still in the best of health. Before his retirement some 11 years ago, Mr.Sanders was a British Railways clerk, first at Walsall, later at Hednesford and Cannock. During the war he was in charge of clerking at Bridgtown Depot and Cannock. Mr. Sanders was a Parish Councillor at Cheslyn Hay for many years until 1944 despite the fact that he moved to his present address, 117, Walsall Road, Great Wyrley, about 25 years ago. Born at Cheslyn Hay, his wife was for many years a member of Salem church, and was a member of the choir. Mr.Sanders was born at Bloxwich, and was a choirboy at the church there. Mr.Sanders chief pastime at one time was bowling. He was a member of the Cheslyn Hay W.M.C. team for several seasons, and was also chairman of the bowls section of the club. He also played cricket in his younger days.
Mrs.Sanders chief interest is gardening, and both are very fond of gardening.

3/10/1959 Harvest Services at Salem, Cheslyn Hay
An estimated total of over £40 was raised at harvest festival celebrations at Salem Methodist Church, Cheslyn Hay, on Sunday. Good congregations attended to hear the Rev.Maurice L.Collins of Hednesford preach morning and evening. The church choir, under the leadership of Mr.B.Hackett, gave an anthem “While the earth remaineth” at the morning service and Mr.H.Woollaston was soloist in “The heavens are telling” from “Haydn’s Creation” in the evening.
The church had been decorated by Mrs.H.Rogers and lady members of the congregation.

The afternoon service was taken solely by the younger people of the church. Miss Ann Allsopp conducted the service, and also spoke to the children. Amongst the soloists were Tony Jeavons, Ruth Hackett, Margaret Eades, Tony Cartwright, Margaret Birch, Carol Thomas, and Hilda Walker.

The service was arranged by Sunday school secretary Mrs.K.Spooner and Superintendent Mr.J.Cartwright, Miss Margaret Pee was accompanist. The Rev.W.R.Kerry received gifts from the children.

10/10/1959 Fashion Parade at Cheslyn Hay
If Cheslyn Hay women are not the best dressed on the Chase after Thursday evening, it will be no fault of Mr.& Mrs.G.Parkes of Cheslyn Hay. In a fashion parade at Salem schoolrooms, at Cheslyn Hay on Thursday, every style of clothing was shown to an audience of approximately 400.

The models for the evening were Brenda Gunn, Gwen Stanaway, Margaret Taylor, Maureen Newens, and Irene Parr. They displayed everything from shortie nighties to topcoats, but were mainly concerned in styles for the autumn. Younger teenage styles were modelled by schoolgirls Pauline Brough and Elaine Lowe. Mrs.Mary Gillet also modelled. Most of the organisation was by Mrs.C.Parkes. Proceeds amounting to £20 were for the British Empire Cancer Relief Campaign.

17/10/1959 Cheslyn Hay Man to be Vicar
The Rev.Norman A.Hood R.N. son of Mr.& Mrs.R.W.Hood of High Street, Cheslyn, has accepted the living of the parish church of St. Hilda (Prestwich), Manchester. He will be instituted by the Rt.Rev.W.Creer, Lord Bishop of Manchester, in the Cathedral on Wednesday October 21 and inducted in the parish church by the Venerable Edgar Stephenson, Archdeacon of Rochdale on Tuesday October 27. The Rev.Hood leaves the Royal Navy to take up his new appointment at the end of October after serving as chaplain for four years. He is married with one son.

24/10/1959 Cheslyn Hay Orphans are doing Well
There cannot be many places in the country which are nearer to an animal paradise than a spot in High-Street, Cheslyn Hay, where turkeys, pigeons, rabbits and, wonder of wonders, foxes, live within ten yards of each other with no harm coming to the former three. This is the case however, in the backyard of Mr.Isaac Bradburn, 142, High Street, and his immediate neighbours. Mr.Bradburn owns the foxes, a dog and a vixen, and has reared them from a very early stage.

His wife told the Advertiser that when they were first brought home six months ago, there were four of them, but Mr.Bradburn had given two away. The foxes, now quite tame, were bottle fed by means of a teat. Mr.Bradburn often helps kill foxes and other destructive creatures for local farmers, and that had been the fate of the cubs parents. Mr.Bradburn had then dug the youngsters out and brought them home. The dog fox has taken to a lead quite well and now allows Mr.Bradburn to walk him around the village. Both foxes are tame enough for Mr.Bradburn’s daughter Bernice to handle them, but Mrs.Bradburn frankly admits that she is “a bit scared” of them. The foxes have been christened Rex and Queenie by Bernice. Now she wants a badger whelp, which her father has more or less promised to provide on the next occasion he has to deal with a badger’s set. Mr.Bradburn has one complaint to forward about the foxes, the smell factor. Even when cleaned out, they smell just the same. The smell is a musty, earthy kind, and is quite unmistakeable.

24/10/1959 Cheslyn Hay Family gathering
All churches in the Cheslyn Hay section of the Cannock Chase Methodist Circuit were well represented at a family gathering in Salem Methodist Church, Cheslyn Hay, on Friday week.

The guest speaker was the Rev.Edgar H.Bowen, of Rhodesia, who gave an address illustrated by a colour film of his own making, showing him at work among his own people. The Rev.Bowen also played a tape recording of an African congregation singing a hymn, and the audience joined in the singing. An epilogue was conducted by the Rev.W.R.Kerry. Proceeds amounting to £10 were for the work of the church overseas. The host and hostess were Mr. & Mrs.F.G.Wooton, of Cheslyn Hay.

7/11/1959 A DIRECT DESCENDANT OF ROYALTY
A direct descendant of the great grandmother of the first Tudor King, Henry VII, will soon be moving into a house on the new estate at Littlewood, Cheslyn Hay. A Duke or maybe an Earl? No he is just plain Mr.Enoch James Holland of 166, Station Street, Cheslyn Hay. Mr.Holland new nothing of his family history until, on Tuesday of last week, a cousin from Birmingham visited him, with a few particulars of his family, gleaned during the past two years. This showed that the Holland family hailed from Northern Ireland until sometime before 1350, when they moved to England and were granted the Royal Charter, and received a Coat of Arms. In 1392, Margaret Holland married the Marquis of Dorset, and their great grandson became King Henry VII.

Entertained Prince
In a history of Tong church and castle written by a former verger at the church, another of Mr.Holland’s forebears figured prominently, John Holland was purported to have entertained Prince Rupert at his home at Tong Castle, John Afterwards became Sir John Holland. One of his sisters married the Earl of Shrewsbury, and all through the family tree of the Holland’s there are Lords and Dukes. Mr.Holland has in his possession a chest in black oak, which dates from 1469. The chest has passed from father to son for generations, and belongs to the eldest son, by tradition to be named Joseph.

Pattern on chest
Mr.Holland’s son Joseph now owns the chest, which bears a pattern resembling a snake, surrounded by clusters of a plant resembling a grape. The chest is in a remarkably good condition for its great age, and shows very little sign of wear. The original lock from it has disappeared, and the only modern thing about it is the new padlock. Mr.Holland’s cousin who unearthed the family tree has given him a Photostat copy of the Holland Coat of Arms, which was taken from the original at the Worshipful Company of Heraldry’s records in London. It is very ornate and bears as its main theme two lions rampant on a castle device, surmounted by a monk. Mr.Holland jokingly commented “I’ve told the missus to treat me with respect now I know my family history”.

14/11/1959 Fancier Suffers Severe Loss
Rat kills collection of rare birds
The tragedy that befell well-known Chase bird fancier Mr.Billy Kendall of The Nook, Cheslyn Hay, exactly a year ago, was repeated last week. Last year, 20 of Mr.Kendall’s prize winning foreign birds were slaughtered by a rat which got into the pen. In almost identical circumstances last week a rat killed all of his 50 strong wonderful collection of ‘foreigners’, after getting into his run under a wire fence, and then through a hole, into the aviary. Many of these birds were too beautiful to describe, and most of them were in full plumage. One of them, a Paradise Whydah, was the talk of the local shows, and had an 18inch long tail feather.

Many visitors
Mr.Kendall’s collection was known throughout the midlands, and during the summer he was busy at weekends showing a constant stream of visitors to his aviary. Among the may brilliantly coloured birds which were killed were Green and Red Avadavat, Gold Breasts, Cordon Bleus, St. Helenor, Red Eared, and Orange cheeked Waxbills, Spice Birds, an Indian Yellow Bunting, an Orange, a Half Masked, and a Grenadier Weaver, the Paradise Whydahs, and Black Headed Nuns.

Three pairs of his birds would cost £10 each at any shop, but the condition they were would have boosted the price enormously. Many moneyed fanciers had offered Mr. Kendall staggering sums for a pair of Green Avadavat which had won many prizes. Mr. Kendall had done well with his foreign birds this year, and was hoping to hold most of the large collection of cups he holds for best aggregate exhibitor in shows.

Best Bird successes
Now he will have to rely on his collection of British birds to hold these cups. In the 14 shows that he has entered this year so far, Mr.Kendall has only on four occasions not succeeded in getting the Best Bird in Show award with either a Bullfinch or two veterans both about five or six years old, a Chaffinch and a yellow Bunting. Mr.Kendall is in front on points in three clubs, at places like Hednesford where he has built up a commanding lead; he will still take some beating. Both his British and foreign birds were invincible in many cases, and he had hoped to enter some of both collections in the National Exhibition of Cage Birds in London, but now he will only send a few of his British birds.

Generous offer
Since the Advertiser called last year, Mr.Kendall has replaced the 20 birds killed by the first rat with about twenty pairs of new foreigners, many through the generosity of his relatives, who buy him birds as an automatic choice for Christmas and birthday presents. Mr.Kendall was touched by a particularly generous offer from a Stafford canary fancier who he hardly knows, who has offered at the next show to pay for a pair of birds of Mr.Kendall’s own choosing. The rat has paid the penalty for its depredations.

28/11/1959 Inquest Opened on Great Wyrley Miner
It was revealed at the opening of a Cheslyn Hay inquest on Friday last, that a miner, Buried by a fall of rock, had no injury, but had died from suffocation.

He was Mr.Percival Grice (45) a packer, of 81, Hilton Lane, Great Wyrley who died the previous Monday at Hawkins Colliery. The coroner stated that the accident happened when Mr.Grice, a packer, was working in 41 deep face. Evidence of identity was given by his mother-in-law, Mrs.Gladys Georgina Pheasant, of 33, Jacob’s Hall Lane, Great Wyrley. Professor J.M.Webster, who conducted a post mortem examination, said that Grice was an extremely healthy, well developed man. There were no marks on the body and only a few abrasions on the face. Singularly enough there were no internal injuries. Death was due to suffocation by being buried.

19/12/1959 Death of Mrs.H.Hawkins of Cheslyn Hay
A native of Hightown, Mrs.H.Hawkins (74) of 2, Mount Pleasant, Cheslyn Hay, died at her home on Monday. She had been ill for three months. Mrs.Hawkins had moved to Cheslyn Hay on her wedding 53 years ago. She and her husband kept a glass and china shop, and Mr.Hawkins was a picture framer. After he died some 27 years ago, Mrs.Hawkins has kept a fish and chip shop in Station Street, and later at Mount Pleasant. She leaves a daughter and a grandson.

19/12/1959 Prizes for Cheslyn Hay Scholars
The first amalgamated Sunday school prize giving of Mount Zion and Salem Methodist Churches, Cheslyn Hay, since their joining almost eight months ago, took place on Sunday, when Mr.Clarence Fletcher distributed 110 prizes to Sunday school scholars. The event was organised by Sunday school secretary Mrs.K.Spooner, and was conducted by Mr.J.Cartwright, superintendent of the combined Sunday school. Miss.Muriel Mitchell was the soloist.

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