Message from our Chairman
As 2020 has drawn to a close and a New Year begins I think very few of us will mourn its passing. The last nine months in particular have brought great difficulties to millions, and most of us will have known someone, either directly or not, who has lost someone to this awful virus.

Although we have been unable to meet, a lot of work goes on continually in the background, with production and distribution of the weekly newsletters, book sales, membership administration  and research on behalf of members, which seems to have gone on unabated.

 Hopefully the much-heralded vaccine will soon start to release us from the severe restrictions we currently endure and we will be able to resume the Society’s activities and all meet up again.

Very best wishes for the New Year to you all.

Malcom Podmore

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

Cannock Advertiser   31st December 1970
Details of the fire that raged through the 17^th century manor house at Little Saredon, near Shareshill, home of Mr. Leslie Hawkins.

31st December 1070  Glancing Backwards from The “Advertiser” January 5 1946  Story of  the flower show section of Cheslyn Hay Working Men’s Club handing out donations to old and sick members of the club.
31st December 1970  Details of the Cheslyn Hay Primary School carol service.

31st December 1970
Christmas gifts for 69 old folk of £8 each were handed out at the New Inns, Cheslyn Hay, last week.

Cannock Advertiser and Courier   1st January 1921
Story of a quiet Christmas in Cheslyn Hay with the Salem annual carol service and the Working Men’s Club the annual Don Tournament winners.

1st January 1921 
Full story of the football match between Cannock DS and S and Cheslyn Hay United in the first round of Penkridge Charity Cup.

Part two of Peter Cadman’s ‘Fleas and Fire’.

suewashington.cheslynhayhistory@btinternet.com  

Events
Hope all our members had a Happy Christmas , we are looking forward to hopefully all meeting up again soon next year.

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

Cannock Advertiser  22nd December 1970  Cheslyn Hay’s football pitch is in danger of being damaged by overplaying, as discussed by the Parish Council last week.  Full story.
22nd December 1970  Story of a site for lorries is needed for overnight parking.
Cannock Advertiser  25th December 1920  Cannock Petty Sessions with full details of the prosecution of Harold Leonard Jenkins, of Station Street, Cheslyn Hay.

25th December 1920  Whist Drive and Dance at Cheslyn Hay WMC with details.
25th December 1920  Christmas Musical Service at the Salem naming all the principals.

Memories
Trevor’s Trivia Response with updates on more tennis courts and a squash court around the village.

suewashington.cheslynhayhistory@btinternet.com

Events

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

Cannock Advertiser 16th December 1970  Details of a candlelight service  held at last week’s meeting of Salem Women’s Own, Cheslyn Hay.
16th December 1970  Glancing Backwards to December 15 1945  Story of Cheslyn Hay Working Men’s Club Sunday morning show in aid of the old members fund.
16th December 1970  The section of Landywood Lane, from the village centre to Streets Lane is being considered for improvements.  Full story.
Cannock Advertiser 18th December 1920  At a special meeting on Monday evening, the Cheslyn Hay Parish Council decided to double the burial fee  Full details.
18th December 1920  Story of the Cheslyn Hay Parish Council asking that a resident magistrate shall be appointed for the village.

Trevor’s Trivia  This month’s ‘Trivia’ is about local characters, with several stories related to ‘Old Jellyman‘.

Email from Robert Taylor “It is with great sadness that I tell you of the passing of my mom Elizabeth Taylor (Nee Betty Matthews) aged 92 and we record some of her wonderful memories taken from our archives.  

suewashington.cheslynhayhistory@btinternet.com

Our Salem Base  is still closed due to Covid restrictions .

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

Cannock Advertiser  10th December 1970  Story of a sponsored walk from the Cheslyn Hay Boy’s Brigade.

10th December 1970  Details of the Cheslyn Hay Salem Methodist Church first toy fair.

Cannock Advertiser   11th December 1920  Civic Day at Cheslyn Hay to make a special appeal on behalf of the hospitals.  Full story of attendees and various amounts of monies raised.
11th December 1920  Fatal Burning Accident of Doris Bessie Smith (18) at Rosemary Tileries.  Full story with witness statements.

11th December 1920  Details of the Cheslyn Hay Choir Concert at the Salem School.

Further to “Trevor’s Trivia”  Peter Cadman has written about his Cricketing memories on the village of which he and his family have been heavily involved in for many years together with the actual score book from the 1920s.

suewashington.cheslynhayhistory@btinternet.com

Our Salem Base
I have been asked when will be reopening our Salem base,  unfortunately due to Staffordshire being placed in a high tier we will be unable to meet socially for the foreseeable future. Please take care till we can meet up again. 

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

Cannock Advertiser  3rd December 1970   Story of the Cheslyn Hay greengrocer and local character Mr. Harry Bate retiring from his business.

3rd December 1970  Details of the musical evening at the Cheslyn Hay Wesley Guild, Cheslyn Hay.

3rd December 1970  Cheslyn Hay Primary School annual Christmas Fair with all the stallholders and helpers named.

Cannock Advertiser  4th December 1920  Full details of the Cheslyn Hay Primitive Methodist Church annual missionary services.

4th December 1920  Match report of the Cheslyn Hay United versus Aldridge Albion in the Wednesbury Charity Cup.

4th December 1920  The memorial service for the late Mr. George Pearson with story of his life and career.  

Trevor’s Trivia     A ‘follow up’ to last week’s article mentioning the background to Cheslyn Hay cricket teams, tennis, badminton and foxhunting and the connections to Moons Lane, Bown’s farm, Salem Church, Grassmere Court and Zion Close.

suewashington.cheslynhayhistory@btinternet.com

Our Salem Base  is closed due to Covid restrictions .

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

Cannock Advertiser
26th November 1970 Boys from Cheslyn Hay Youth Centre spent a happy outdoor activities weekend at The Barn at Capel Curig, North Wales. Full details.
26th November 1970   Story of an exhibition of fossils, stones and prehistoric shellfish at Cheslyn Hay County Library created much interest.

26th November 1970  Talk at last week’s meeting of Salem Wesley Guild, Cheslyn Hay for the Mentally Handicapped.

26th November 1970   It was agreed at the meeting of Cheslyn Hay Parish Council last week that Cheslyn Hay cubs should be allowed to play on the council’s football field. Full story.

27th November 1920   Details of a concert given by the Cheslyn Hay Madrigal Society in Salem Schools, naming all the artists.

27th November 1920  Story of Doris Smith, Harrisons Buildings, Lower Landywood, who sustained serious burning injuries at the Rosemary Tileries.

27th November 1920  Cannock Petty Sessions with Clara Perry, The Lot, Richard Jenkins, of Rosemary Road and Frank Worsey, of Low Street, all found guilty of separate charges.

Trevor’s Trivia

More on the topic of Sport this month, not only with the lesser known and amusing games, but also with the more barbaric practices that were once very  popular around certain areas in Cheslyn Hay from earlier times, naming all the old areas, together with their current locations, where the events took place, such as The Slings, The Green, the Red Lion, the Talbot, the Barn Flats, Coppice Field, Chambley’s Field and the Cheslyn Hay WMC.  Also listed are Henry ‘Okey Pokey’ Morris, Richard Marshall,  Joe Baker, Sid Lawson, W Rainey, Billy Jones, John Pratt, Bill Jellyman, Harry Hicken plus Percy and Harry Webb for their endeavours.
Any memories, nostalgia or comments on such events welcomed byemail to  trevor.cheslynhayhistory@talktalk.net and all will be answered.

 suewashington.cheslynhayhistory@btinternet.com 

Our Salem Base is closed due to Covid Restrictions. Hope to see you all soon.

What Happened This Week 50/100 years ago…by Mike Belcher  Cannock Advertiser
19th November 1970  County Council workmen begin an improvement scheme on Streets Lane.

19th November 1970  A jigsaw puzzle with thousands of parts has been keeping a group of Great Wyrley Secondary School pupils busy for the last few months. Full story.

19th November 1970  Members of Cheslyn Hay Boy’s Brigade took their first step towards a band buying their first bugles. Story including fund raisingt schemes.

20th November 1920  The death of Mr. George Pearson at his residence “Best Dale”, High Street, Cheslyn Hay.  Details of his life.

20th November 1920  Presentation to Mr. T. A. Hawkins Souvenir of Cheslyn Hay’s gratitude

THE GREAT PLAGUE OF LONDON Part One by Peter Cadman

suewashington.cheslynhayhistory@btinternet.com