Bernard (Bob) Dillon is one of the team of Great Britain Amateur Boxing Coaches who were so successful in the London 2012 Olympics with our Boxers gaining medals of all colours.
When Bob returned home to his New Street, Wall Heath home after coaching the GB team he was greeted by family and friends with a special tribute to the dedication and success of the GB team and of course Bob himself.
Directly outside Bob’s home is an old style lamppost and it had been painted a wonderful Gold colour and had a pair of boxing gloves and a Union Flag attached near the top.
The lamppost
One of the old cast iron type and style with cross pieces near the top already altered to have new head attached.
These lampposts have been painted a variety of colours over the years including black, dark green and a current colour of non-descript fawn.
This particular lamp post stands against Bob’s house and is next door to Church of Ascension Primary School.
Children from the school will certainly have something to talk about when they return in September.
Neighbours have commented on how good the lamppost looks and see it as a positive action.
Wall Heath Cricket Club was formed in 1964 and disbanded during the late 1980’s. Recently former captain Bob, “Dickie”, Drake asked a few of the club’s former players if they would be interested in attending a re-union. Encouraged by the initial response Dickie set about contacting as many former players as he could. As they do not now live locally this entailed some detective work and he was able to track down nearly all of the surviving members.
The re-union took the form of a lunch, which was held at La Brasserie, Kidderminster on 15 February. We are talking cricketers here so it did not upset any plans for a romantic Valentine’s weekend as the ladies were also invited to the lunch. Lunch was booked for 1 o’clock and it was over four hours later that the management of La Brasseie agreed that we could claim the extra half hour before the party eventually dispersed with a unanimous wish that the “game” be reconvened in the not too distant future.
A most enjoyable occasion when runs were scored, wickets were taken and catches held and it seems true that the longer we talked the better cricketers and team we were.
Dickie thanked all who came and said that although we were perhaps not the best team in the area we were always competitive and what we did have, in abundance, was “team spirit”. Players such as Eric Edwards and the late Jeff Perkins consistently produced outstanding performances and both could have played at a higher level but preferred to stay with the lads of Wall Heath.
As well as those living locally Tony and Barbara Carter travelled from Macclesfield, Alan Darley from Sheffield, Mike and Sue Dobson from Devon, George Roper from Spalding, Brian and Josie Shepherd from Swansea and Alan and Pat Tate from Cheshire.
Sadly some of our colleagues have sadly passed away but we were pleased that Dot Bagley (widow of Bill), Jane Fasey (widow of Tony), Elizabeth Lilley (widow of Mike) and Sandra Perkins (widow of Jeff) could all be with us.
Other ex players who were traced but were unable to be present were Steve Ellis, Derek Waterfield and Alan Webster.
On Saturday 12 November we will be holding a Skittles Evening at The Community Centre, Enville Road, Wall Heath at 7.30pm.
Admission is by ticket only at £5 each to include a Ploughman’s Supper with guests bringing their own drinks.
For tickets plesae telephone 01384 296506 or 01384 273851
The Wall Heath Community Centre was opened in September 1961 and the Community Association Committee decided to arrange a number of events during 2011 to celebrate 50 years in the current building.
John Billingham was welcomed in July when he regaled his audience with reminiscences of life as it was in the 1960’s also including in his illustrated talk events of national and international importance,
In September an “Open Day” was held when all groups who regularly use the Community Centre displayed items from their archives relating to their activities fifty years ago
In October a concert was held in the presence of the Mayor of Dudley Councillor Michael Evans and the Mayor’s Consort Councillor Sue Greenway. During a most enjoyable evening we were splendidly entertained by Maggie O’Hara and comedian Doug Parker. Maggie had researched the music of the Sixties and particularly songs that were “Top of the Pops” in September 1961 and specifically during the week of the opening of the Community Centre. Doug Parker, having been born and spent his formative years in Wall Heath recalled many funny stories of life in the village in the 1960’s achieving a relaxed rapport with his audience. During the evening plaques were dedicated in memory of the late Milly Ingley who had been a founder member of the Community Association and served as it’s Secretary and President from 1955 until 2005 and also to the late John Lloyd who was Treasurer from 1985 until his death in 2010. It was pleasing to welcome to the event Martin Ingley, son of Milly and John Lloyd’s widow Marjory.
As part of the 50th Anniversary celebration s the Committee agreed to purchase one hundred chairs and are grateful for the support from local companies and organisations who generously sponsored chairs: –
Ashwood Nurseries
Jenny’s Kitchen
RBS Interiors
Roberto’s
Ashwood Nurseries
Special Looks
Wall Heath Dental Practice
Wall Heath Service Station
Wall Heath Tandoori
50 Plus Group
Indoor Bowls Club
Thursday Afternoon Club
Wall Heath Flower Club
Wall Heath Townswomens Guild
In addition assistance was received from the Small Grants Scheme of Dudley MBC
Over three hundred visitors came along to the highly successful
Wall Heath Remembered Exhibition held at the Community Centre on Saturday 17 April 2010.
In addition to photographs of people and places in the village there were also exhibits of Press Reports where villagers have been in “The News “ ranging from couple celebrating various milestones of marriage to the campaign to save Maidensbridge School from closure as well as details of Wall Heath’s oldest surviving resident – Hilda Turner who has now reached the age of one hundred and two.
Some of those who came along were meeting people they had not seen for
over forty years. Coincidentally six people who had commenced their schooling together at Wall Heath Church of Ascension in 1950 were at Saturday’s Exhibition at the same time –
Josie Avery (nee Moyle), Pat Barrett (nee Hidden), Paula Durrant (nee Gee), Bobby Astley, Chris Bateson and Terry Church.
The Exhibition can be celebrated as a community event and as well as the extensive exhibits organised by Terry Church other exhibitors were The Gentleman Songsters, Author and historian John Sparry and local artist Malcolm Wesson.
