Our guest speaker today was Terry McGrath, who gave a brilliant talk about his days as an Art & Design Teacher at Greay Wyrley High School, titled – “It wor may Ser, arr day do it!”. There were alot of members remembering names of old teachers as Terry McGraph pointed them out on the staff photos from our archives.

In 1967 aged 25, Terry was employed as sole art teacher at the school, replacing David Hammond. Coming from 4 years of teaching at a Brum inner-city school it came as a surprise how relaxed Wyrley was. The approximately 400 kids had a more rural and less aggressive attitude to life. Headmaster Wilf Davies seldom came out of his office and generally left the staff to our own devices in the classrooms. The small staff room on the top floor of the 1930s building reeked of tobacco smoke and sported a well-used dartboard at one end. A Horsa prefab classroom, known by everyone as the cowshed, stood alone in the back playground heated by a central unguarded coke stove which gave off choking fumes. It was stoked by a volunteer pupil.

Various cheap Morris Travellers, VW Beetles and 1930s Austin 7s were Terry’s transport on the long journey from Birmingham each day, all rusty and in dire need of attention. Ray and John Dicken’s garage at the top of Cheslyn Hay welded the rotting metal together on a regular basis to keep Terry mobile. The school day finished at 3.40pm and in the rush to the school gates, teachers were sometimes out before the pupils! Other than termly reports, official paperwork was almost non-existent. No sixth form or A-Levels to worry about. Teaching was demanding but creative and good. Within a year Arthur Sweet took over the Headship. Things began to change. Tall, quiet, authoritarian and conservative he was a good headmaster for many years. Staff in 1967 that Terry remembers included Pete Probert (geography), Ken Handley (French), Margaret Howells (music), Frank Smith (maths) “Phoebe” Wilson (senior mistress). Joyce Hollins (needlework). Florrie Watson (remedial, an outdated word), Albert Tomkinson (geography).Frank Harvey (woodwork). Wally Kimber (metalwork). Derek Brooks was Deputy Head and Mrs Lunt the important Secretary.

Continue reading “Coffee Morning – 16th July 2026” →

A very well done to everyone that took part in the Great Wyrley Carnival. All the Floats looked amazing. There is a lot of work that goes into decorating the lorries each year and this year (2026) we celebrate the 50th year of the carnival. Due to the extreme temperature, the matching band were unable to lead the procession. Loads of people lined the streets to see the procession and donate money to support the Carnival Committee, who raise money each year for different events that they put on in the village through the year.

Any group, business or school can take part in the lorry procession. This year with it being the 50th anniversary of the carnival, the theme was ‘Anything Goes.’ So everyone could make their own choice on what to do. All the lorries looked fantastic. Alot of time, planning and money goes into decorating each lorry, so a big well done to all that took part. And a big thank you to the Carnival Committee, for all the work they do in the village This years winners are…

Winners

---

It was a pleasure to welcome Steve Booth as our guest speaker. He gave a fascinating talk on the history of chimney sweeps, a subject that proved to be far more interesting than many of us might have expected. Members learned a number of surprising facts, many of which were new to the audience.

Steve told the interesting, and often upsetting, story of orphans and children from poor families who were sold or apprenticed to chimney sweeps. During the 18th and early 19th centuries, these young climbing boys were sent up narrow chimneys to remove soot and blockages, carrying out dangerous and unhealthy work in extremely difficult conditions.

One of the key figures in improving their lives was Lord Shaftesbury, the politician, philanthropist and social reformer, who campaigned tirelessly for better conditions for children. In the 1830s, he successfully persuaded Parliament to support legislation which meant that no child under the age of ten could be apprenticed as a chimney sweep, and no child under fourteen could be employed in cleaning chimneys.

By the 1860s, brushes and mechanical sweeping equipment had begun to replace the use of children altogether, bringing an end to one of the more tragic chapters in Britain’s social history.

As well as looking at the hardships of the profession, Steve also touched on some of the traditions associated with chimney sweeps. Even today, they are still regarded as symbols of good luck, particularly at weddings, a superstition that has endured for generations.

The talk was both informative and thought-provoking, giving members a greater appreciation of an occupation that played an important part in everyday life for centuries. Our thanks go to Steve for an enjoyable and enlightening morning.

---

Our guest speaker today was Andy French. He gave a talk complete with photos and memorabilia of Tony Hancocks, his life and how he got into show business, a truly good talk by a man that knows his subject, kept the room enthralled, was very good, he’ll be coming again with another one of his talks.

---

It’s been another great year for the Great Wyrley Scarecrow Trail around the village, with homes, businesses and local groups dressing their front gardens and making scarecrows. The theme was 50 years of the carnival… anything goes. There have been some wonderful entries for the Scarecrow competition, it must of been a really difficult decision to choose the best. This trail has become a regular event each year after starting in 2020 by Sally-Anne Ashford during lockdown.

Continue reading “Scarecrow Trail 2026” →