Ongoing research; last updated on 24 November 2013
19th December 1938 – Administration Sub-Committee, reported on
2nd January 1939 – Parks Committee
2nd January 1939 – Parks Department (Operations Card 26 D1)
2nd January 1939 – Parks Department (Operations Card 26 D1)
Selly Oak Park
On Continued Minute No. 2965, the following report of the Administration Sub-Committee was received:-
Selly Oak Park – Access to Harborne Lane
Minute No. 2965 referred to your Sub-Committee a memorial which was presented to the meeting of the City Council, held on the 18th October last; this memorial had been referred by the Council to the Public Works and Parks Committees jointly.
The memorial asked for Selly Oak Park to be kept open until a later hour during the winter months as the memorialists maintained that the park affords the only convenient means of access to Harborne Lane, and that when it is closed the time taken to reach either the Outer Circle ‘bus route or the Bristol Road trams at Selly Oak is nearly doubled. It contended that this affects not only the general public throughout the evening, but particularly those who return from work between 5 and 7, and even (during the height of winter) school children on their way home from schools in Harborne and elsewhere. The memorialists asked that consideration be given to the possibility of either:-
(a) Keeping the Park open until 7 p.m. throughout the year, or
(b) Providing a permanent right of way from Harborne Lane to Corisande Road, either along the route of the present footpath across the park, or else alongside the canal, such right of way to be fenced off from the Park and maintained as a public thoroughfare.
So far as your Committee is concerned, there would be considerable difficulty in adopting the
suggested permanent right of way from Harborne Lane to Corisande Road across the park.
In the first instance, it is contrary to the general policy of your Committee to keep any of the public parks open after dark, and secondly, in this particular case, the park formed the subject matter of gifts to the Corporation by the Gibbins family, and conveyances contain certain restrictions against the use of the land except for the purpose of a public recreation ground or as agricultural land.
The Public Works Committee have now given authority for a bridge to be built across the canal to connect Corisande Road at the western end with Nateley Grove.
A plan shewing (sic) the proposed location of this bridge is submitted herewith, from which it will be seen that this will provide access from Harborne Lane to Corisnde Road. In the circumstances it would appear that no action by your Committee in the matter is necessary. The Public Works Committee are reporting their proposals to the meeting of the City Council to be held on 10th January next.
3078 Resolved:- That, in the circumstances mentioned in the foregoing report, no action be taken by this Committee in connection with the memorial applying for an extension of the hours of opening of Selly Oak Park or a permanent footpath across the park, and Minute No 2965 be discharged.
27th February 1939 – Administration Sub-Committee
The General Manager submitted the following report:-
Police Report - Serious Accidents:
Park Name Address Nature of Injury
Selly Oak Stainton, N. 18 101, Kitchener Rd; Injured knee; first aid
Stirchley. and sent to Selly
Oak Hospital.
Selly Oak Mason, D. 24 19, Sycamore Rd; Injured head; first aid
Bournville. and sent to Selly
Oak Hospital.
15th March 1939 – Parks Committee
The General Manager submitted the following report:-
Birmingham Balloon Barrage
An application has been received from the Adjutant, No. 914, (County of Warwick) (Balloon) Squadron, Royal Air Force, 54, Alcester Road, Moseley, for permission to fly one or two Balloons in Birmingham, commencing about the 18th March, in connection with a publicity campaign, and suggesting that one park on the north side of the City and one on the south side should be selected for this purpose.
At an interview it was agreed that the Adjutant should visit the following parks with a view to ascertaining whether any one of them would suit their requirements:-
On the North Side –
Aston Park
Handsworth Park
Short Heath Park
Witton Lakes
On the South Side –
Fox Hollies Park
Selly Oak Park
Senneley’s Park
Kings Norton Park
An application has since been received from the Officer Commanding, Nos. 911 & 912 (Balloon) Squadrons, Royal Air Force, Tyburn Road, Erdington, for permission to fly a demonstration balloon in Aston Park on the 20th and 21st instant.
(The report continues – but, Selly Oak Park not having been selected, the item is of no further relevance.)
24th April 1939 – Administration Sub-Committee, reported on
1st May 1939 – Parks Committee
The following report of the Administration Sub-Committee was received:-
Air Raid Precautions – Trench Shelters in Public Parks
The Public Works Department are at present engaged in making permanent the temporary trench shelters which were constructed in the various parks and recreation grounds in September last, and in the construction of further permanent shelters.
The following is a list of the parks and recreation grounds, etc., affected:-
Selly Oak Park was just one from a list of 35
In all cases the trenches will need 2 ft. of cover and in paved areas the trenches will be excavated to a depth of 9 ft. to enable the 2 ft. of cover to be supplied, and leave the completed trenches level with the surrounding area. In the majority of cases where the trenches are being excavated in grass land, the depth will be 7 ft. and the surplus soil will be used to provide the 2 ft. of cover necessary. The surfaces will be turfed and slightly battered to the level of the surrounding turf.
All the damage caused to paths, paving, and other portions of the parks and recreation grounds by transport or any other cause in connection with the construction of the trenches, will be made good by the Public Works Department, who will also pick up and divert from the trenches all surface and subsoil drains.
Your Sub-Committee recommend that subject to the work being carried out to the satisfaction of the General Manager, and subject to the Committee being indemnified in respect of any claim arising therefrom, the action taken in authorizing the work be confirmed.
Air Raid Precautions – Trench Shelters in Public Parks
3401 Resolved:- That, subject to the work being carried out to the satisfaction of the General Manager and subject also to the Committee being indemnified in respect of any claim arising therefrom, the proposals detailed in the foregoing report, for the consolidation of trench shelters in the various parks referred to, on the conditions set out in the report, be confirmed.
Selly Oak Park
An application has been received from the Selly Oak and Bournbrook Children’s Christmas and Summer Party Fund for permission to hold their annual Summer Party in Selly Oak Park on Saturday, July 8th 1939, the park to be closed to the public from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
The necessary permission has been granted, and your Sub-Committee recommend its confirmation.
Selly Oak Park
3411 Resolved:- That the action taken in granting permission to the Selly Oak and Bournbrook Children’s Christmas and Summer Party Fund to hold their Annual Summer Party at Selly Oak Park on Saturday, July 8th 1939, upon the conditions set out in the foregoing report, be confirmed.
22nd May 1939 – Administration Sub-Committee, reported on
5th June 1939 – Parks Committee
The following report of the Administration Sub-Committee was received:-
Selly Oak Park
With reference to Minute No. 3411, an application has now been received from the Bournbrook Children’s Christmas and Summer Party Fund Committee for permission to hold a Fun Fair in the park on the 8th July next, from 5 p.m. until 11 p.m.
The application states that the fair would consist of one set of “Dodge-ems”, two sets of roundabouts and Side-shows, which entail the use of three tractors, that these tractors are all fitted with rubber tyres and the park would suffer no damage therefrom. It also states that the applicants have been in touch with Mr. Pat. Collins, the owner of the Fair, and informed him that only the minimum number of “living wagons” would be allowed in the park, and Mr. Pat Collins has agreed to this.
The Sub-Committee (sic) will no doubt remember that last year for the first time, the Party Fund Committee were permitted to have a Fun Fair in the park on condition that only one light traction engine, one roundabout (medium size), “Dodge-ems”, and “Cake Walk” would be taken into the park and that all vehicles connected with their Fair should use the entrance in Harborne Lane only, the Party Fund Committee being held directly responsible for making good any damage, and that the whole of the park should be closed at 10 p.m.
It was subsequently reported that the terms of the Party Fund’s Secretary’s letter agreeing to the limited vehicles being taken into the park had been contravened. The following is a list of the actual apparatus and vehicles then taken into the park:-
16 Caravans
4 Wagons
3 Traction Engines
7 Power cars
9 Bus Trailers
1 Roundabout
2 Swing Boats
1 “Dodge-ems”
1 “Cake Walk”
1 Joy Ride
39 Side Shows
The fair was stopped at 9.50 p.m. and the park was not cleared until 10.30 p.m.
Your Sub-Committee recommend, that as the conditions for the holding of the Fair in Selly Oak Park were not adhered to, the request be not acceded to on this occasion.
Selly Oak Park
3480 Resolved:- That the application of the Bournbrook Children’s Christmas and Summer Party Fund Committee for permission to hold a fun fair in Selly Oak Park on the 8th July 1939 be not acceded to.
Police Report – Serious Accidents
Park Name Address Nature of Injury
Selly Oak Payne. R. (7) 30 Woolacombe Cut chin: first aid and taken
Lodge Road, Selly Oak to Selly Oak Hospital
June 1939 – Parks Department (Operations Card 26 M1)
This note reads – “ARP underground Report Centre”
This note reads – “ARP underground Report Centre”
22nd June 1939 – Administration Sub-Committee, reported on
3rd July 1939 – Parks Committee
The following report from the Administration Sub-Committee was submitted:-
Dogs in Parks
At the last meeting of your Committee authority was given to allow dogs to be exercised off the leash during certain limited hours[1] in the whole or some parts of certain parks and recreation grounds.
The following parks and recreation grounds which were submitted to the Committee in 1935 were inadvertently omitted from your Sub-Committee’s report, viz:-
From a list of 19: Selly Oak Park – Area alongside canal.
Your Sub-Committee recommend the addition of the above mentioned parks and recreation grounds to the list approved by them on 5th June 1939.
Dogs in Parks
3560 Resolved:- That Minute No. 3522 be amended by the addition to the approved list of open spaces in which dogs may be exercised of the various parks and recreation grounds detailed in the foregoing report.
Selly Oak Park - Children’s Christmas & Summer Party Fund
The Chairman of the Committee has received a communication from Mr. Jos. Hand, the Chairman of the Selly Oak and Bournbrook Children’s Christmas and Summer Party Fund, asking the Committee to reconsider their application for permission to take a Fun Fair into Selly Oak Park on behalf of their Children’s Festival on the 8th July. Mr. Hand points out that this is a purely charitable affair, and that parks in other districts are allowed to have such Fairs. (Nb. The Sub-Committee Minute adds:- “In particular he refers to the Fun fair which was provided in Cotteridge Park on the 10th instant. This was in connection with the King’s Norton Fete and Carnival in aid of the Funds of the New Hospital Centre.”)
After due consideration being given to all the circumstances your Sub-Committee recommend that Minute No. 3480 be rescinded, and that the Selly Oak and Bournbrook Children’s Christmas and Summer Party Fund Committee be granted permission to take a Fun Fair into Selly Oak Park on the same conditions as last year, provided that they submit for the approval of the Chairman and General Manager a written guarantee from the owners of the Fun Fair that no more vehicles than those set out in the list submitted and approved last year would be allowed to enter the park.
Mr. Hand, the Chairman of the Selly Oak Committee, attended and was impressed with the necessity for the strict adherence to these conditions.
Selly Oak Park
Selly Oak and Bournbrook Children’s Christmas Party Fund
Upon that paragraph in the foregoing report relating to the application of the Organiser of the Selly Oak and Bournbrook Children’s Party Fund to hold a Fun Fair in Selly Oak Park on the 8th July next, the General Manager submitted a copy of a letter received by the Organiser from Mr. Pat Collins, the owner of the Fun Fair in question:-
P. COLLINS.
Amusement Depot,
Bloxwich,
Staffs.
Mr. J. Hand,
664 Bristol Road,
Selly Oak,
Birmingham, 29
June 28th 1939
Dear Sir,
I am obliged by your letter of the 26th instant, enclosing copy of letter received from Birmingham Park Superintendent dated the 23rd instant, respecting the Selly Oak Children’s Summer Party Fund Festival.
I note the Corporation have granted permission for one light Traction Engine, one Roundabout, medium size, one Dodgems, and one Cakewalk, but no mention is made of any other small Side Shows which form part of a Fun Fair. These Side Shows consist of Stalls such as darts, throwing games &c., coconut shies and hooplas, and we should of course require a number of these games to attend the festival, as you will appreciate, no fun fair is complete without them and I am sure the Parks Committee will not object to these games forming part of the Fun Fair. I should be glad therefore if you will take the matter up with Mr. White, the General Manager of the Parks Department as soon as possible and obtain an early decision on this matter; also, if permission can be granted for three or four living wagons owned by Managers in charge of the various Riding Devices as the Parks Committee should appreciate these Managers should be on the spot to see that everything as to the running of the Fair is in order.
I should be glad if you would point out to the Parks Committee that 10 p.m. is a very early time for closing the Fair, in view of the fact that permission in other Birmingham Parks such as Handsworth on the occasion of our visit to the Flower Show we are granted permission to remain open until about 11 o’clock, and I think in this instance similar permission should be granted.
If satisfactory arrangements are completed, I would be prepared to make good any damage that may be done by our vehicles.
I shall be pleased if you will let me hear from you as soon as possible, and I think it would be wise to ring up Mr. White on the points mentioned, as time is exceedingly short and I am wanting to make my arrangements.
I shall be glad if you will ring me to Bloxwich as soon as a definite decision has been made.
Yours faithfully,
(Sgd) PATRICK COLLINS
After discussion, the Committee saw no reason to depart from the recommendation referred to in the report of the Sub-Committee and re-affirmed the decision of the Sub-Committee as personally communicated to Mr. Hand. It was accordingly –
3566 Resolved:- That subject to a written undertaking being submitted to the organizer of the Selly Oak and Bournbrook Children’s Christmas and Summer Party Fund by the owners of the Fun Fair and produced to the General Manager, to the effect that the number of vehicles to be admitted to the Selly Oak Park shall not exceed the number authorized under the arrangement which existed when permission was granted to use the park last year, permission be granted to the Committee of the Selly Oak and Bournbrook Children’s Christmas and Summer Party Fund to hold a Fun Fair in Selly Oak Park on the 8th July next, and that Minute No. 3480 be rescinded.
Air Raid Precautions – Underground Report
Centres
With reference to Minute No. 3499* of the General Committee, in the list
submitted by the Air Raid Precautions Officer he omitted to ask for permission
to construct an underground report centre in Selly Oak Park. The necessary permission has been granted,
and your Sub-Committee recommend that this action be confirmed.
(* this minute, dated 1st May 1939, is reproduced in
the 1939 clippings in the History of King’s Heath Park – use this link)
Air Raid
Precautions – Underground Report Centres
3568 Resolved:-
That the action of the General Manager in granting permission to the Air
Raid Precautions Officer to construct an underground reprt centre in Selly Oak
Park upon the terms and conditions referred to in Minute 3499, be confirmed.
Police Report – Serious Accidents
Park Name Address Nature of Injury
Selly Oak Ennis. F. (11) 143 Woolacombe Dog bite: first aid and taken
Lodge Road, Selly Oak to Hospital. Police informed.
15th July 1939 – Birmingham News
Children’s Festival – There were 2,500 disappointed children in Selly Oak on Saturday. That was besides the few thousand adults who, each year, gain as much pleasure from the Children’s Festival as the young people themselves.
Pouring rain, continuous until midday on Saturday, caused the postponement of what promised to be finest of the forty-eight Festivals.
Vans toured the streets informing the residents of the changed plans. The rapidity with which these were carried out pointed to the excellent organization of the event.
The children’s fallen hopes were not entirely crushed, for the day was to be marked by the usual tea – taken normally in the open air. This was given to the scholars in their own schools.
In the end it was Wednesday which became the 1939 Festival Day for Selly Oak and Bournbrook, and three beauty queens were able to show themselves to advantage in bright evening sunshine in Selly Oak Park.
They were Miss June Lammas (Miss England), Mrs. Francis Day (Miss Birmingham), and Miss Margaret Sabin (Festival Queen). A trio of women well worthy of the titles they carried.
Before their appearance the sports had been run off before a rapidly swelling audience which at the first sounds of the jazz bands, heralding the procession, became difficult to control. The entry of the queens and the attendants into the roped enclosure brought the crowd rushing up, and stewards had the greatest difficulty in keeping a space at all.
Miss Birmingham then placed the crown on the head of the Festival Queen, who was ateended by the Misses Joan Lacey, Olive Ashford, Ann Hardeman and Beryl Green. Both Queens appealed for the best support those present could give for the Festival which might suffer through the loss of the atmosphere of an actual carnival day.
Vainly a few helpers tried to keep back the advancing lines of children backed up by the adults, and by the time that the children in fancy dress were prepared to be judged by Miss Lammas there was insufficient room for them to parade. The task, taken with great seriousness by the judge, was completed after delay, and the ground was cleared for the jazz band competition which was to conclude the Festival.
The audience had now grown to great proportions and the conclusion of each performance was greeted with a thunder of applause. Judging was done by the Jazz Band Association’s own representatives, and they placed the local combination, the Selly Oak and Bournbrook Band, first. The contsest was concluded with only a few minutes to spare before the park gates had to be closed. During the whole evening there were clear skies; and side-shows, run by members of the committee, were able to make up a great deal of what would have been entirely lost had there been a cancellation of the Festival.
Officers of the fund are: President, Mr. P.J. Halward. Committee, Alderman and Mrs. Hart, Messrs. Anderson, Batchelor, Bindley, Crow, Clarke, Cotterell, Davidson, Fern, Green, Latham, Livingstone, Lacey, Mucklow, Morris, Mewis, Monk, Nash, Roden, Smith, Steedon, Tuffey and Vernals. Mesdames Appleby, Batchelor, Clarke, Ellis, Clarke, Hopwood, Guest, Holloway, Kimberley, Latham, Lacey, Mucklow, Morris, Mewis, Roden, Smith, Steedon, Vernals and Wheeler.
Chairman, Mr. J. Hand; vice-chairman. Mr. H. Nash; hon. sports secretary, Mr. Phil Tuffey; hon. treasurer, Mr. C. Tomlinson; hon general secretary, Mr. A. Wheeler.
Compettiton results were:-
80 Yards Boys (10 to 12). – 1, D. Carr; 2, A. Williams; 3., J. Cartwright. Girls. – 1, B. Mills; 2, Saunders; 3, M. Willis.
80 Yards Boys (12 to 14). – 1, A. Jennings; 2, F. Giles; 3, R. Payne. Girls. – 1, E. Greevey; 2, B. Hett; 3, M. Crooks.
Kings Norton Schools Relay Race. Boys (for Livingstone Cup), - 1, Raddlebarn Road (E. Preston, R. Cope, N. Hancox, F. Lowe). Girls (for Challenge Cup), - 1, Tinkers Farm (V. Foster, H. Shaw, D. Stokes, B. Hudson).
Tug-of-War. – Ilmington Road B.
Fancy Dress: Boys. – 1, Hooper; 2, Clarke; 3, Anderson. Girls. – 1, Grainger, 2, Hawker; 3, Golding.
Jazz-band Contest. – 1, Selly Oak and Bournbrook; 2, Lickey End; 3, Weoley Castle Guards.
September 1939 – Parks Department (Operations Card 26 M1)
15th July 1939 – Birmingham News
The Week’s News from the Districts
Selly Oak
Children’s Festival – There were 2,500 disappointed children in Selly Oak on Saturday. That was besides the few thousand adults who, each year, gain as much pleasure from the Children’s Festival as the young people themselves.
Pouring rain, continuous until midday on Saturday, caused the postponement of what promised to be finest of the forty-eight Festivals.
Vans toured the streets informing the residents of the changed plans. The rapidity with which these were carried out pointed to the excellent organization of the event.
The children’s fallen hopes were not entirely crushed, for the day was to be marked by the usual tea – taken normally in the open air. This was given to the scholars in their own schools.
In the end it was Wednesday which became the 1939 Festival Day for Selly Oak and Bournbrook, and three beauty queens were able to show themselves to advantage in bright evening sunshine in Selly Oak Park.
They were Miss June Lammas (Miss England), Mrs. Francis Day (Miss Birmingham), and Miss Margaret Sabin (Festival Queen). A trio of women well worthy of the titles they carried.
Before their appearance the sports had been run off before a rapidly swelling audience which at the first sounds of the jazz bands, heralding the procession, became difficult to control. The entry of the queens and the attendants into the roped enclosure brought the crowd rushing up, and stewards had the greatest difficulty in keeping a space at all.
Miss Birmingham then placed the crown on the head of the Festival Queen, who was ateended by the Misses Joan Lacey, Olive Ashford, Ann Hardeman and Beryl Green. Both Queens appealed for the best support those present could give for the Festival which might suffer through the loss of the atmosphere of an actual carnival day.
Vainly a few helpers tried to keep back the advancing lines of children backed up by the adults, and by the time that the children in fancy dress were prepared to be judged by Miss Lammas there was insufficient room for them to parade. The task, taken with great seriousness by the judge, was completed after delay, and the ground was cleared for the jazz band competition which was to conclude the Festival.
The audience had now grown to great proportions and the conclusion of each performance was greeted with a thunder of applause. Judging was done by the Jazz Band Association’s own representatives, and they placed the local combination, the Selly Oak and Bournbrook Band, first. The contsest was concluded with only a few minutes to spare before the park gates had to be closed. During the whole evening there were clear skies; and side-shows, run by members of the committee, were able to make up a great deal of what would have been entirely lost had there been a cancellation of the Festival.
Officers of the fund are: President, Mr. P.J. Halward. Committee, Alderman and Mrs. Hart, Messrs. Anderson, Batchelor, Bindley, Crow, Clarke, Cotterell, Davidson, Fern, Green, Latham, Livingstone, Lacey, Mucklow, Morris, Mewis, Monk, Nash, Roden, Smith, Steedon, Tuffey and Vernals. Mesdames Appleby, Batchelor, Clarke, Ellis, Clarke, Hopwood, Guest, Holloway, Kimberley, Latham, Lacey, Mucklow, Morris, Mewis, Roden, Smith, Steedon, Vernals and Wheeler.
Chairman, Mr. J. Hand; vice-chairman. Mr. H. Nash; hon. sports secretary, Mr. Phil Tuffey; hon. treasurer, Mr. C. Tomlinson; hon general secretary, Mr. A. Wheeler.
Compettiton results were:-
80 Yards Boys (10 to 12). – 1, D. Carr; 2, A. Williams; 3., J. Cartwright. Girls. – 1, B. Mills; 2, Saunders; 3, M. Willis.
80 Yards Boys (12 to 14). – 1, A. Jennings; 2, F. Giles; 3, R. Payne. Girls. – 1, E. Greevey; 2, B. Hett; 3, M. Crooks.
Kings Norton Schools Relay Race. Boys (for Livingstone Cup), - 1, Raddlebarn Road (E. Preston, R. Cope, N. Hancox, F. Lowe). Girls (for Challenge Cup), - 1, Tinkers Farm (V. Foster, H. Shaw, D. Stokes, B. Hudson).
Tug-of-War. – Ilmington Road B.
Fancy Dress: Boys. – 1, Hooper; 2, Clarke; 3, Anderson. Girls. – 1, Grainger, 2, Hawker; 3, Golding.
Jazz-band Contest. – 1, Selly Oak and Bournbrook; 2, Lickey End; 3, Weoley Castle Guards.
September 1939 – Parks Department (Operations Card 26 M1)
Note Reads: ARP Trenches Construction commenced in July 1939
Approved by Home Office May 1940
Shelters in use shortly after outbreak of war
2nd October 1939 – Parks Committee
Re-organisation of Sub-Committees[2]
3654 Resolved:- That, having regard to the prevailing war conditions, the meetings of the present Sub-Committees be discontinued and an Emergencies Sub-Committee, consisting of the Chairman and Chairmen of the four Sub-Committees, together with Councillor Banks, be appointed, with authority to deal with all matters normally dealt with by such Sub-Committees, to meet only at the call of the Chairman.
23rd October 1939 – Parks Department (Operations Card 26 D1)
23rd October 1939 – Parks Department (Operations Card 26 M1)
By Minute No. 3740 the Parks Committee on the 23rd October 1939, gave permission to the Public Works Department to erect hutments for canteens and restroom facilities at the underground A.R.P. Control and Report centre.
[1] The times permitted were - before 8 a.m. and during the hour before the park closed.
[2] This initiative, suggested in a letter of 12th October from the Town Clerk to all operational Committees, was made “with a view to saving the time of members and effecting economies in stationery and in other directions”. From this time, Committee minutes generally were supported by shorter reports.
