Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Memories: No. 4 I Remember . The Bandstand, Birds, Bowling & Boating
Memories: No. 4 I Remember . The Bandstand, Birds, Bowling & Boating
The bandstand
On any nice day in summer the park would be full, especially if there were
bands playing. Local bands like the Mitchell & Butler band or other
breweries bands like Banks would play. The Salvation Army were often
here as well, especially in the 1960s. Performances would start at 12noon
after church on Sundays. We would bring our chairs from out of our houses
and sit with our picnics enjoying the music.
Ive read that the Birmingham City Police Band played in the 1920s and
1930s and I even have a childhood memory of John Pertwee being here to
open or perform something, in the early 1950s. Id love to find out why he
was here.
The birds
When I was a kid I loved the aviary that was on the right hand side of the
house, the bus station side. I think it was the aviary that made the park
such a good day out really. In the late 1940s I would get so excited about
feeding the birds, even though the park keeper would tell us not to! There
were exotic birds; beautiful budgies and there was a parrot or was it a
cockatoo, Im not sure. It spoke anyway! We would spend ages trying to get
it to say stuff. I remember other small animals too, like rodents and rabbits.
It was such a great day out in the school holidays.
The bowling green
Now, Lightwoods the Bowling Green was quite different. Us kids werent
allowed near it for a start, and for good reason. It was one of the best in the
country. It was immaculate. The mens green was right in front of the house
and there was a womens green on the other side near the band stand. I
remember local elderly people sitting outside the house waiting for their
turn to play Crown Bowls. Only 15 years or so ago I remember the green
being sacred ground for Bert, the keeper.
My mother was a member of the bowling club, it was a really successful
team in the 1970s and 1980s, in the South Birmingham league. They had a
long season, with at least weekly events and competition. There were two
separate club pavilions for the men and for the women. And we mustnt
forget the putting green. That was kept just as pristine, our boys would
always play there after Sunday lunch.
The boats
In 1948 my brothers and I used to come to the pool to sail our wonderful
model yacht. There were lots of children who used to do the same. We used
to paddle in the summer as well the only other option was Bourneville
Lake, which was pretty far away. So it was great to have Lightwoods to play
in because we lived so close. We were here because my grandfather had
been a tram driver on the Hagley Road and he came to live here in 1901
because Bearwood was the terminus. There were always loads of children,
from further afield as well, playing around about the pool. Ive got such fond
memories.
My favourite memory of the park is probably paddling, especially on a really
warm summers day. Although you did have to watch out for broken glass. I
fell in one time. I couldnt swim and, just my luck, managed to fall in the
deep end! I was alright though, I was taken to the gardeners hut to dry out
because they had a cast iron stove in there!
We would come for picnics by the pool as well because we were so far from
the seaside. I was a single mum with seven children and I needed a place
like this to bring them. It was like coming to the country from town, being
able to play on the grass and in the water.
No. 3
The Shakespeare Garden was a quiet haven. The flowers and plants were all
chosen because they were mentioned in Shakespeares plays and poems, I
always liked that. I especially remember lots of fruit so many peaches!
And plums too. I can see them now, in the corner that we used to call the
walled garden. The peaches looked so good, so delicious. We werent
allowed to pick them, but we wanted to.
There was a pond as well, I think its still there. It was brimming with
goldfish and maybe carp as well, Im not sure. It was wonderful to see all
the fish! There was a proper little iron fence all around it. When we were
little sometimes we would slip into the garden without our parents and I
think the gardener would keep a watchful eye on us if we were near the
pond.
The paths and little hedges were great fun for toddlers to play around and
somehow it managed to be such a restful place too, especially for mums
needing some peace and quiet. It was like a safe haven for all different
kinds of people. Parents with young children would come here, and older
people, and courting couples as well although in the old days sometimes
you had to wait your turn with the girl you were courting, for a bench to
become free!
No. 2
Do you remember the cafe in the film Brief Encounter? With the wooden
counter and original wood floors? Well thats what our cafe was like. It was
quite romantic really! Wed go for ice-cream usually or sometimes biscuits
and lemonade. They sold tea and coffee too, of course. I remember sticky
buns as well, you could always go and get a sticky bun with your coffee.
I remember having to stretch to reach the high wooden counter. On one end
there was a big glass dome full of cakes and buns. At the back there was a
big copper urn. And there were shelves at the back with Lyons tea
advertised on the mirror. Its the sound of the chairs I remember as well
screeching on the wooden floor.
The cafe was at the bandstand-end of the House, I think the door to the
cafe was on the left hand corner. I never knew what was upstairs though.
And of course the war put the kibosh on it for us; we werent allowed out so
much or so far, in case the air raid sirens went off and we had to get home
quickly.
Sons of Rest
In the house there was a place where retired men could meet called the
Sons of Rest. From the 1950s I remember they had their own building just
next to Lightwoods House. It was a wooden construction and unfortunately
it burnt down in the early 1990s. But while it was there it was really lovely
for older people. My grandfather and my Dad were both members. The only
rules were that you had to be a man and retired. It was for anyone in this
category, blue or white collar workers, it didnt matter.
It was a place for the men to meet with friends to play snooker, darts, or
whist. There were outings too, which the wives could join, and an annual
meal I think. It got retired men out of the house and away from their wives!
I remember when I was little peering up through the windows and watching
them play dominoes
In the Second World War the Americans had a base very near here on a
local factor site. Despite being told, apparently, by a commanding officer,
not to mess with the Ladies, I remember them trying pretty hard to get
dates with our sisters! My older brothers and I used to ask the Americans
for gum or candy and they would give it to us if we agreed to get our sisters
to meet them at the gates of the park later on. We never did that though
we just made sure we went to a different soldier the next day! Some people
must have liked them being here though theres one postcard found that
reads : And this is the Lightwoods. The soldiers have all gone now. Worse
the luck!.
No. 1
Workers Families
We used to come here for a picnic or to hear a band play at the bandstand. I
think people would come to escape the toil, danger and routine of factory
life. They came to re-create ourselves mentally and physically, to
rejuvenate.
Park characters
There were some real characters who used to look after the park as well.
Theyd keep it nice and keep us in check! Keepers or wardens or whatever
they were called, and gardeners too. I remember
getting
when I was naughty, when I was about 8 or 9 years old that would have
been about 1975. I particularly remember Bert, he was almost famous
around here. Everyone knew him because he ran the putting and looked
after the Bowling Green. Right up until the 1980s he looked after it. He
commanded so much respect he had a real authority and us kids would do
what he said! I remember a man called Harry Beard as well. He would cut
the Bowling Green grass on a Saturday morning.
The park was so well kept, I think thats partly why people
would come from all over Hockley, Winson Green, Cape Hill. On a bank
holiday there would literally be hundreds of families playing, eating and
socialising.
Informacin personal
Cul es tu nombre?Pedro.
trabajo.
Shopping
Comprando
Whats that?
Its a cat!
Qu es eso?Es un gato!
What is it like?
Its an interesting country.
Whats it about?
Its about a young boy who encounters adventures.
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(?). Le interesa a usted?
you interested?
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