2008
 

St Michael’s & All Angels Old Churchyard

 

This year we as a Group are hoping to raise the profile of the old churchyard of St Michaels& All Angels, Bartley Green, which was closed when the new church was built in the 1960’s.

The churchyard, we believe is in a state of disrepair and many of the gravestones have been vandalised.

Many of our members’ ancestors are buried in this churchyard, including Jane (Ginny) Bunford, a local legend who was once the tallest woman in the world.

We would like to get something done about the churchyard in a respectful manner, so that is not forgotten but in a way that it does not have any adverse affects where it could become vandalised further.

We are looking for people to join a working party to help with the project, please let us know if you have any relevant knowledge or are interested in being part of the working group.

 

Summer Newsletter (in brief)

 

Social Evening — December,  2007

 

Our thanks go to the Committee of the Bartley Sailing Club for allowing us the use of their premises.  We also gave a vote of thanks to the Flower Garden of Woodgate Lane who donated a prize for the raffle.

 

Open Day—April, 2008

 

A talk and slide presentation on some of the men listed on the Bartley Green War Memorial. This really was getting to the heart of ‘local history’.  The event was held in the new Internet Café at King Edwards VI Five Ways with three members of staff in attendance.

 

Future Events

Tuesday, 7th October, 2008 (7p.m.-9p.m.) 

Internet Café, King Edward VI Five Ways,

Scotland Lane, Birmingham B32 4BT

Nailmakers – Margaret Cooper

 

 Member’s Contribution 

Ralph Douglas Jackson

Whilst carrying out research into the men commemorated on Bartley Green War Memorial I came across something which intrigued me.

Although those named on the memorial are buried elsewhere, some are commemorated on their family’s graves in Bartley Green cemetery. Whilst reading the register of monumental inscriptions for the cemetery in Birmingham Central Library, I came across the following entry:

“Ralph Douglas Jackson – killed by accident 2nd April 1932 – aged 12. 

In the midst of life we are in death.”

The entry for the place of death, 1B Raddle Barn road is the address that was used to signify Selly Oak Hospital at the time.

 

FATALLY INJURED ON WAY TO FOOTBALL MATCH

‘The death of Ralph Douglas Jackson (12), 65 Field Lane, Bartley Green formed the subject of an inquest by the Birmingham City Coroner (Dr Davison) yesterday.

Arthur Herbert Jackson, the father, stated that on Saturday he was taking his son in his motor-cycle combination to the football match at St Andrews. In Harborne Road an approaching motor car turned into Yateley Road without warning. Witness swerved to avoid it, but the sidecar caught the side door of the car and he and his son were thrown on the road.

Charles Bradsworth, the driver of the car, stated he gave a signal of his intention to turn because there were three cars behind him. He turned in front of the combination because there was no alternative.

It was stated that the boy died in Selly Oak Hospital from a fractured skull shortly after admission.

The jury, in returning a verdict of accidental death said they were of the opinion the driver of the car did not exercise sufficient care. There was some negligence, but it did not amount to gross or culpable negligence.

One final piece of research remained, what game was being played at St Andrews on the fateful day? The answer – Birmingham City v Aston Villa, final score 1-1. What isn’t reported anywhere is which of the City’s teams Ralph and his father were going to support.

 

Information

The Group has one or two projects in hand at present.  One is to assist Kitwell Primary School with a display on Jane Loudon, the well known writer of horticultural books and fiction book entitled ‘The Mummy’ written in 1827.  A blue plaque will be placed in the school grounds in July.  Secondly, we are preparing the ground work to raise the profile of the old Churchyard in Field Lane, Bartley Green.  If you would like to help if any way, be it tidying up the graves, identifying where a relative lies or have any other information you would like to pass on please let us know.

This year is the 70th anniversary of the ending of the 1st World War.  Having listened to the presentation on Bartley Green War Memorial in April, it brought home that these men and boys were members of the four hamlets in the area at that time and whose families were the forerunners of the large district now known as Bartley Green.  They form part of ‘Local History’ and it is hoped many will attend on Remembrance Sunday to honour their service to the country. 

 

Sir Richard (Dick ) Knowles.

 

 

We would like to acknowledge the sad loss of a local legend Sir Richard (Dick) Knowles, known as ‘Mr Birmingham’, former Council leader who lived here in Bartley Green, who has died at the age of 90 and to extend our condolences to his family.

Maureen and Allyson went to visit Sir Richard and his wife Anne a few years ago (on speck when we were delivering leaflets about the Group) and were amazed at how it was not too much trouble for Richard and Anne to reminisce about Bartley Green and to go hunting round the house for maps of the area that we could use for our research.

It is a sad loss for Bartley Green, a place he loved so much!