2/1/1960 Glancing Back to 5/1/1935
On Sunday, the vicar of Great Wyrley, the Rev.A.H.Lanfear, preached his last sermon to a large congregation at St.Mark’s Church, on his retirement after 16 years in the parish. During his stay at Great Wyrley the parish room, vicarage and school house were restored as also was the church and organ at a cost of £1,000.

2/1/1960 Death of Former Newsagent
A newsagent for seven years at Wedges Mills until four years ago, Mr.Leslie George Pee (58) of “Lyndale” 19 Bentons Lane, Great Wyrley, died at his home on Thursday week after a very long illness. Mr.Pee was born at Cheslyn Hay, and kept a paper shop there for some time before going to Wedges Mills. He was a keen member of Mount Zion Methodist Church, Cheslyn Hay, when it was the Primitive Methodist Church. He was a lamphouse man at Hawkins Colliery, Cheslyn Hay, before he became a newsagent. Mr.Pee was a member of the Auxiliary Fire Service during the last war. He was very fond of sport in general, and of football, boxing and motoring in particular. He leaves a wife, Mrs.Isobel Pee, to whom he had been married for 25 years, a son, two daughters, and a grandchild.

9/1/1960 Cheslyn Hay Over 60 Club
Mr.S.Allen presided and welcomed Mr.J.Cartwright to Thursday weeks meeting of Cheslyn Hay Over 60 Club. Mr.Cartwright gave an address on Dickens novel “Christmas Carol”, and described the conditions of that time he also sang a Christmas carol. Mr.E.Moore, a chorister for many years, and now president of Cheslyn Hay Male Voice Choir, also sang. A vote of thanks was proposed by Mr.G.H.Perks and seconded by Mr.C.Wood. Prizes given by Mrs.A.Benton, Mrs.Craddock and Miss.Redding were won by Mrs.H.Baker and Mrs.Perrins.

23/1/1960
Over 120 children and wives of men employed at Hawkins Colliery, Cheslyn Hay, were entertained at a party given by the colliery Welfare Society at the sports club on Friday last. Because of the imminent closure of the colliery, the outing to the seaside which the children usually have, had to be cancelled, and the party was a substitute. A party for about 130 of the children had been held on the previous Friday. After the meals each child was given five shillings. Games were organised by Mr.A.Chilton, under manager at the colliery, and Mr.W.Westwood, union representative. The pianist for the singing was Mr.V.Westwood. The money provided was raised mainly by competitions at the club each week. The chairman of the Welfare Society, manager Mr.T.E.Smales and his committee are also organising an old men’s dinner in March. Although the colliery is to be closed the sports club will continue independently, secretary Mr.D.Brough told the “Advertiser”. “The club is still in a very healthy financial position, and has many well supported sections, among them a thriving cricket club.

23/1/1960 MAGIC VOICE IS NOW SILENT
One of the most versatile entertainers in the district died at Ivy House (Cannock Hospital) on Wednesday week. He was Mr.Richard Merchant (85), of 37 Chapel Street, Hazel Slade, better known to everyone as Mons. Perchant, ventriloquist, conjurer, character actor, musician, marionette operator and comedian, all in one. Mr. Merchant delighted audiences far and wide with his ventriloquial and conjuring powers, but he was at his best when working for some charity, be it his annual Christmas show at the Royal Hospital, Wolverhampton or just a show in aid of a friend who was ill. Mr.Merchant surprisingly enough had only two years of schooling, and was very much self-taught. Despite his lack of schooling he was able to read music without ever having a lesson in his life, and played in the Cheslyn Hay Victoria Brass Band, Old Hednesford Town Band, Great Wyrley Brotherhood Orchestra, and an orchestra led by the late Mr.W.H.Goring, of Hednesford. He did many shows at Cheslyn Hay particularly at the Salem Methodist Sunday School treats. He gave many performances at Dublin theatres and in one of his acts at the Prince of Wales Theatre, Birmingham he was assisted by the then unknown Charlie Chaplin. On many occasions, Mr.Merchant, who was a native of Cheslyn Hay, has cycled many miles on a penny farthing bike to do charity performances as far afield as Wellington. All the characters in his marionette shows he made by hand, and they were excellent models. Since he had lived at Hazel Slade he had made several oil paintings of horses belonging to the trainer Mr.T.Coulthwaite, who lived nearby.
Mr.Merchant lived at Cheslyn Hay until he moved to Hazel Slade twenty-nine years ago. He first started conjuring when he was a very young man, and was still carrying on with it until he was past 70. Mr.Merchant served in the Royal Field Artillery in the First World War, and entertained the troops with his act. He leaves three sons, a daughter,
eight grandchildren, and five great grandchildren. The funeral service at Salem Methodist Church, Cheslyn Hay, on Monday, was conducted by the Rev.W.R.Kerry, followed by internment at Cheslyn Hay cemetery

30/1/1960 Church repairs will cost £1,000
Renovations at Salem Methodist Church, Cheslyn Hay, to be carried out in the next two or three years will cost about £1,000, a meeting of the church trustees were told on Thursday week. Among the renovations would those to the interior of the church generally, to the minister’s vestry, an adjacent room, and to the organ, which would be overhauled. The newly formed trust, which includes some of the trustees from the Mount Zion church, which united with Salem some months ago, decided to accept the proposals in principle. Money will be raised mainly by annual events, and will be supplemented by smaller efforts. Many tributes to the work of Mr.Isaac Stokes, trust treasurer for 34 years, were paid at the meeting. Mr.Stokes said that in his opinion the time had come to give way to a younger, more active man, to act as treasurer. Mr.G.Devereux was appointed. Mr.G.R.Dace was re-elected secretary, Mr.B.Hackett organist and choirmaster. The resignation of Sunday school treasurer Mr.F.Wooton was received at the annual meeting of the Sunday School Council, at the Manse, Station Street, on Monday. Although Mr.Wooton had only been treasurer for four years, he has been connected with the Sunday school for practically the whole of his life, and was Sunday school superintendent for several years. Mr.L.Brough was elected treasurer, and Mr.K.Spooner and Mr.J.Cartwright Re-elected secretary and superintendent respectively. It was reported that the number of scholars was 107, which compared favourably with last years total when the two churches first amalgamated. Outings for the scholars and for 30 teachers were arranged.

6/2/1960 Death of former Chase vicar
A native of Cheslyn Hay, the Rev.Oliver Harry Thomas, died on Friday at the home of his nephew and niece, The Rev.& Mrs.W.E.Maiden, The Vicarage, Oakengates, Salop. The Rev.Thomas was the son of the late Mr.& Mrs.Joseph Thomas and he was 79 years of age. He was educated at Durham University and was ordained in 1909. He served as curate at Davnall (Sheffield) from 1909 to 1911; Norton Canes 1911 to 1913; and Cannock 1`913 to 1922. He was then appointed vicar of Gentleshaw and remained there until 1927 when he became vicar of Ettingshall, a post he held until 1931.
The rev. then became vicar of St.Alpage, Greenwich, and also chaplain of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich. He was at Greenwich until his retirement in 1951. Sale of land opposed The proposed sale of a 3 yards by 50 yards strip of land at the Recreation Ground, Cheslyn Hay, was criticised by Mr.S.Evans at Wednesday’s Parish Council meeting.
He told the Council that in his opinion it was a big step and that a parish meeting should be called to discuss such a major issue. The clerk, Mr.W.G.Mytton, pointed out that the next meeting of the Council would, in fact, be preceded by the Annual Parish Meeting, and suggested that the question be added to the agenda. Chairman Mr.A.E.Parkes agreed with Mr.Evans and added “Carnivals and suchlike have raised the money for the recreation ground, and so the parishioners should have a say in the matter” “Here’s one who will vote against selling it anyway” commented
Mr.Evans “The money we get from the fire station trust is not a bit of good to us anyway, and if this money goes in trust, it will be the same” he observed. “If we spend the money on the rest of the recreation ground, that would be alright. If we’d got £100 it would be a pleasure to spend it on the rec” he concluded. (At a later meeting it was decided to sell the land)

27/2/1960 Serving his Country
In Portsmouth waiting for his ship to sail for Iceland is 21-year-old Mr.Cyril Harris, son of Mr.& Mrs.F.Harris who is at present serving on H.M.S. Loch Farda, has been in the Royal Navy for four years. During that period he has travelled a great deal on H.M. ships Dainty, Raleigh, Vigilant, and Vanguard. A former pupil of Great Wyrley Secondary Modern School he is engaged to be married to Miss.Patricia Owens of 18 Park Street, Bridgtown. The ceremony is arranged for April 16, at St. Luke’s Parish Church, Cannock.

8/3/1960 Seven acre caravan site
When the proposed seven acre caravan site at Coppice Lane, Cheslyn Hay, was discussed at Cannock Rural District Council meeting on Tuesday, Mr.E.J.Homeshaw commented that the arrangements were much too elaborate. The surveyor stated that the accommodation would be for 140 caravans on the basis of the council’s conditions for sites of over 50 moveable dwellings. The estimated layout was £32,950 exclusive of cost of land which was already the
council’s property and inclusive of £1,200 for sewer extension.

8/3/1960 Glancing Back From the Advertiser 9/3/1935
Mrs.S.A.Ward M.P. attended the Cheslyn Hay Hospital whist drive and dance, at the Council schools on Thursday, and presented the certificate “Miss. Cheslyn Hay” who was Miss.Joan Willets, of Walsall Road, Landywood. Mr.J.Wright and Mr.I.Stokes were M.C.’s for the whist which had 130 players.

12/3/1960 The Vicars of Great Wyrley
Among the names on a board that lists the nine incumbents of Great Wyrley parish since 1845, which is to be unveiled at Great Wyrley Parish Church on Sunday, is that of probably the most famous vicar of Great Wyrley, the Parsee, the Rev.Shapurji Edalji. Fittingly, the board has been given, and will be unveiled by, Miss Maud Edalji,
the Rev.Edalji’s daughter, who now lives in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, but who occasionally visits the church where she once worshipped. Miss.Edalji stays with lifelong friends of hers she met wet when attending Walsall Queen Mary Grammar School. The board is headed by the name of Thomas Dainty, who styled himself “Officiating Minister”. Next in line comes Mr.T.A.Bangham, who curate of the church for a short time, and then became vicar of Christchurch, Lichfield. It was Mr.Bangham who left Australian stock, the interest on which, amounting to £89 a year, goes towards the cost of hymn books. The Rev.A.Seaton followed, and he was succeeded by the Rev.John Compson in 1849. The Rev.Compson was curate for 18 months, and became vicar in 1850. He left some 26 years later. His niece’s husband,
the Rev.Edalji, came next, and was vicar from 1876 until he died and was buried in the churchyard in 1918.
His place was taken by the Rev.A.H.Lanfear in early 1919, and he was vicar until his retirement 1n 1935. The Rev.F.E.Lafford, later vicar of Hednesford, was vicar from that time until 1946, when the Rev.PR.Parker became vicar. When he moved to Wolverhamptonin 1952, the present vicar, the Rev.T.Morgan, came to Great Wyrley

26/3/1960 History of old Cheslyn Hay road
A parishioner attending Wednesday week’s annual parish meeting at Cheslyn Hay, Mr.S.Norman, told the parishioners that he could remember Mount Pleasant, an unadopted road, being made up on two occasions, in 1908 and 1928. He subsequently was told by the Parish Council chairman, Mr.A.Parker, that the council would make enquiries through the proper channels about the matter. The latest repairs had been done when the mortuary at Mount Pleasant was built in 1928, and the road had been metalled on that occasion. The clerk, Mr.W.G.Mytton, pointed out that the Rural Council were still the highway authority in 1928, and the rural surveyor at the time did a lot of work on secondary roads which was accounted for under major road development. If the road at Mount Pleasant wasn’t classified at the time the County Council became highway authority, they would not accept responsibility for it. However, Mr.Mytton pointed out, if proof could be furnished that the road was made up then the road would be the County Council’s responsibility.

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