Ongoing research; last updated 9 February 2011
7th January 1924 – Parks Committee
The Deputy Town Clerk here attended the Meeting and submitted the following report of the Town Clerk:
I beg to inform the Committee that some few months back, it came to my knowledge that statements were made to the effect that conditions were not being observed relative to the free use by the public of certain parks owned by the Corporation, particularly in the case of Cannon Hill Park.
I deemed it advisable to investigate these complaints, and after consultation with your Chairman, I proceeded to have the original records examined in respect of every park, recreation ground, and open space under the control of the Council, and the results are set out in the accompanying Schedule.
It will be noticed that, whilst in most cases the respective conditions have been complied with, there are a few instances where this is not so, owing probably to a misapprehension of the general powers possessed by the Council relative to parks, and recreation grounds.
It would be well, therefore, for the Department to closely examine the special conditions attaching to the use of the various parks and pleasure grounds, and to alter the existing practice where necessary, so as to be in accord with such conditions.
. Signed
Town Clerk
(The Schedule[1] referred to then lists the parks, from which)
Selly Oak: To be opened daily. Power reserved to close for two days continuously or seven days in all, for Flower Shows or other like purposes with or without rental. No intoxicating liquors to be allowed, and no playing games on Sundays.
5043 Resolved:- That the report be received and entered on the minutes.
14th January 1924 – General Purposes Sub-Committee
On Minute 1848, the Superintendent submitted the following report:-
Unemployment Relief Works 1922-23 and 1924
Selly Oak A sum of £90 for material remains from the 1922-23 sanction, and this is being expended upon planting a belt of trees to screen the factories from view in accordance with the Committee’s instruction early in 1923, and the making of a new path bordering the same. The work in connection with this is being supplied under the Guardians Relief Scheme
14th January 1924 – General Purposes Sub-Committee, and
17th January 1924 – Finance Sub-Committee, both reported on
4th February 1924 – Parks Committee
Alderman Lovsey submitted the following report of the General Purposes Sub-Committee:
Unemployment Relief Works
The Superintendent reported to your Sub-Committee at their meeting on the 14th January last in regard to these works as follows:-
Guardians Relief Works are proceeding at Brookvale, Highgate, Victoria, Selly Oak, Lightwoods, Warley and Rookery Parks.
5058 Resolved:- That the report be received and entered on the Minutes.
Councillor Longford submitted the following report of the Finance Sub-Committee:-
Financial Year 1924-1925
Estimate Actual to Proposed
1923-24 31st December Estimate 1924-25
Income £125 £59. 13. 3. £90
Expenditure £855 £679. 10. 2. £879
5078 Resolved:- That the report be received and entered upon the Minutes.
11th February 1924 – General Purposes Sub-Committee
On Minute 1848, the Superintendent submitted the following report:-
Unemployment Relief Works
I beg to report that the relief works are going on very satisfactorily, having in mind the bad weather of the last month. The whole of the sites scheduled are in progress.
Also the Guardians Relief Schemes are still being carried out at brookvale, Rookery, Ward End, Victoria, Highgate, Selly Oak, Lightswood and Warley Parks.
24th March 1924 – Finance Sub-Committee
The City Treasurer submitted the following report:-
Detailed Estimate of the Income of the Parks, recreation Grounds, etc.
for the year ending 31st March 1925
Park Total Rents Tennis Bowls Cricket Football Miscellaneous
Selly Oak £95 £25 £20 £5 £10 £30 £5
Detailed Estimate of the Expenditure of the Parks, Recreation Grounds, etc.
for the year ending 31st March 1925
Selly Oak Park £
Total 785
Wages and Uniforms 600
Rent, Rates and Taxes 10
Heating, Lighting, and Water 35
Plant, Tools and Implements 15
Gravel, Turf and Asphalting 15
Seats, Fencing and Gymnasia 20
Repairs, Alterations & Improvements
Including Artizans Wages 75
Trees, Bulbs, Seeds, Fertilisers, etc 10
Miscellaneous 5
3rd April 1924 – Special Meeting of the Finance Sub-Committee, reported on
7th April 1924 – Parks Committee
The Chairman in the absence of Councillor Longford submitted the following report and supplemental report of the Finance Sub-Committee:
Your Sub-Committee report that they visited the following parks and recreation grounds on Thursday, the 3rd instant:
(Compilers note: 11 Parks are then listed including Selly Oak Park. There is a commentary / report on each park except Selly Oak Park.)
5213 Resolved:- That the Report and Supplemental report of the Finance Sub-Committee be received and entered on the Minutes.
On that part of the report relating to wages of manual employees, the Secretary submitted the following report:-
Wages of Manual Employees
With reference to the report of the Finance Sub-Committee presented to you at this meeting, I beg to report that the Chairman of the General Committee and the Chairman of the Finance Sub-Committee have gone into the question of increases to be granted to manual employees and park-keepers, and the following recommendations are submitted:
Park Keepers & Recreation Ground Keepers
Present rate of pay Increase recommended
J.T. Horton Selly Oak Park £2. 16. 10 per week 3/- per week
Manual Employees
Park Name of Nature of Employment Present wage Increase New Grade
Employee and grade per week recommended
per week
Selly Oak
J. Power Labourer “A” £2. 10. 10. 2/- “B”
5216 Resolved:- (a) That the increases of wages for park keepers and manual employees set out in the Secretary’s report now submitted, and the re-gradings therein specified, be approved with the exception of the increase to G. Bretherick, Park keeper, Warley Park.
20th May 1924 - Administration Sub-Committee
On report No. 20, the general question of allowing parks to be closed to the public for any purpose was discussed.
Report No. 20 - Dated 16th May 1924
Selly Oak Park
I (the Secretary) beg to report that an application has been received from the Selly Oak and Bournbrook Children’s Christmas and Summer Party Fund for the use of the park for their annual Children’s Festival on Saturday, 21st June.
The applicants ask for the park to be closed to the public from 2 p.m. until 5.30 p.m. the time when the children will have had their tea. No charge is made for admission.
The applicants state that they hope to entertain about 4,000 children. A similar application was acceded to last year, subject to the bye-laws and regulations and any particular requirements of the Parks Superintendent being complied with.
I shall be glad if the Sub-Committee will give instructions in the matter.
3711 Resolved:- That the application be acceded to in this case, subject to the park not being closed to the public, but that the applicants be informed they can fence off an approved portion of the park to enable them to supply tea to the children they are entertaining.
26th May 1924 – Finance Sub-Committee, reported on
2nd June 1924 – Parks Committee
Councillor Longford submitted the following report of the Finance Sub-Committee:
Income and Expenditure 1923/24
The Treasurer has submitted statements of income and expenditure for the year 1923/24.
Selly Oak Park
Estimated 1923/24 Actual for year
Income £125 £89. 7. 1.
Expenditure £855 £905. 5. 2.
5372 Resolved:- That the report be received and entered on the minutes.
Councillor Denton submitted the following report of the Administration Sub-Committee:
Use of Parks
Your Sub-Committee report that the following applications for the use of parks etc. have been acceded to:-
Park Date Society Purpose Remarks
Selly Oak Sat. Jun. 21 Selly Oak & Bourn- Annual Granted subject
Brook Childrens’ Xmas Childrens’ to park not being
& Summer Party Fund Festival closed to public
5377 Resolved:- That the report be received and entered on the Minutes.
17th June 1924 - Administration Sub-Committee
A communication was submitted from Mr. Geo. Horwill, applying on behalf of the Kings Norton Parliamentary Division, Labour Party, for the use of Cotteridge Park on Sunday, July 20th, for the purpose of holding a public meeting from 7 to 9 p.m. and for Selly Oak Park on Sunday July 27th for the purpose of holding a public meeting from 3 to 5 p.m.
3772 Resolved:- That Mr. Horwill be informed the bye-laws prohibit the holding of meetings in the parks with the exception of the five parks specially set aside for the purpose by the City Council, and that he be offered the use of Calthorpe Park, one of the five parks referred to.
(In report No. 4 submitted to the Sub-Committee – Police Report – dated 12th June 1924 - there is reference to 4 minor offences in Selly Oak Park –)
“playing on swings and with a hard ball”.
28th June 1924 – Birmingham News
District News
Selly Oak & Bournbrook
Children’s festival – Rain Curtails Proceedings - A very pleasing spectacle was witnessed in Selly Oak district on Saturday afternoon when thousands of spectators thronged the streets, and over 3,000 children from the various schools marched in procession to Gibbons (sic) Park, Selly Oak, to take part in the annual festival organized by a local committee who, through the kindness and generosity of local traders and private residents, are able to provide for the annual event.
The officers, who are assisted by an able body of willing helpers on the committee are as follows:- Mr. C.H. Harbun (president), Mr. A. West (vice-president), Mr. H. Roberts (hon. treasurer), Mr. W.C. Baldwin (hon. secretary), and Mr. W.H. Davis (hon. assistant secretary).
The children assembled in their respective school playgrounds at one o’clock, after which the procession, with Mr. A. West as chief marshaller, started from Selly Hill Road at 1.45, and proceeded via the main Bristol Road to their destination in Selly Oak Park, Gibbons (sic) Road. They were headed by the Woodgate Band, the procession being in the following order:- Raddlebarn Lane Boys, Girls and Juniors, Tiverton Road Seniors and Juniors, Scotch Pipers (St. Barnabas), Maypole, St. Mary’s Seniors and Juniors, Harborne Lane Boys, St. Wulstan’s Girls, Elliott’s Band, St. Wulstan’s Boys, St. Edwards Seniors and Juniors, old scholars, and Bournville Ambulance Brigade.
To the strains of Elliott’s Band the proceedings at the park were opened with
A FANCY DRESS PARADE,
in which over 40 competitors took part, all representative of various characters, and so excellent were all that the task of the judges was obviously no easy one.
The awards were as follows:-
Boys: 1. Teddy Fitter, “Zulu” (this competitor won first prize last year); 2. C. Reccard, “Old Woman”; 3. H.G. Edwards, “Felix”; 4. Frank Smith, “Jockey”; 5. Sidney Peg, “The Minstrel”; 6. L. Rose, “Pawnbroker”.
Girls: 1. Betty Thompson, “Red Indian”; 2. Eadie Barlow, “Dick Whittington”; 3. Dolly Olive, “Powder Puff”; 4. Ivy Blundal, “Spin Top”; 5. Irenie Rose, “Radio”; 6. Alice Boddington, “Eve”. A special prize offered for the cheapest dress not exceeding 2s. 6d. was won by Katie Moore for her Early Victorian dress. The value of the prizes ranged from 12s. 6d. to 2s. 6d. each, and they were presented by the judges, Mr. and Mrs. I. Mears and Mr. and Miss Poyn.
The Punch and Judy show followed at 3.15, and was soon surrounded by a huge crowd of excited youngsters. The younger generation never tire of this fine old show. There were very pretty Maypole dances under the supervision of Miss E. James, to whom much credit is due for the excellence of the performance, even the youngest dot doing splendidly. The display opened to the accompaniment of the piano, after which the music was provided by the Woodgate Band. Little Miss Nellie Hill made a sweetly
PRETTY MAY QUEEN
as she entered the arena beneath the coloured ribbons, beautifully attired in a figured white crepe de chine gown, trimmed silver tinsel, carrying her bo-peep rod of silver knobs and wearing a floral crown. Her train bearers, also in white, were Master Raymond James and little Miss Vera Bembridge. There were 100 performers, all attired in white, with white socks and shoes and coloured sashes and floral coronets. Much credit is due to the mothers who gave such proofs of a desire to make the function a success.
At this point the bell rang for tea, and each school took up its position on either side of the gravel walk leading to the pavilion. Grace having been sung, the teachers, officials and workers had begun to serve out the bags of cakes and tea, when (sad to relate) a sudden and heavy shower caused a quick dispersal, the youngsters running to the pavilion to find a limited shelter. Fortunately the rain abated, but sitting on the grass was impossible, and the children were compelled to stand about or parade the grounds, finishing the contents of their bags and running to have their teacups refilled. Fortunately the committee had provided a marquee for the daintily dressed Maypole dancers, and they were kept dry. The inclement weather, however, drove many parents and children home, and unhappily much of the well-organised programme had to be abandoned.
25th November 1924 – General Purposes Sub-Committee, reported on
1st December 1924 – Parks Committee
Alderman Lovsey submitted the following report of the General Purposes Sub-Committee:
Unemployment Relief Works 1924/25
In anticipation of the sanction of the appropriate Government Departments being received at an early date, tenders have been obtained for the asphalte, tar paving and tar painting works comprised in the schedule of works approved by the Committee and the Council. A schedule of the tenders is laid upon the table. Owing to the magnitude of the works it is impossible for any one contractor to undertake the whole and your Sub-Committee has therefore divided same into three Sections, as follows:-
(from which)
Park Asphalte Tar Paving Tar Painting
yds.sup. yds.sup. yds.sup
Section 3 Selly Oak 200 1,000 1,500
Your Sub-Committee recommends the following tenders be accepted:-
Section Name of Firm Asphalte Tar Paving Tar Painting
per.yd.sup. per.yd.sup per.yd.sup
1 Val de Travers paving Co. 12/- 4/- 7d.
2 La Brea Asphalte Co. 10/3 4/4 10d.
3 The Asphalte & Cement Co. 12/6 3/10½ 9d
5706 Resolved:- That, subject to the necessary Government sanctions being received to the works being carried out as Unemployment Relief Works, the undermentioned tenders be accepted for asphalting, tar paving and tar painting in the parks as specified in the report of the general Purposes Sub-Committee, and that the Town Clerk be instructed to prepare and authorized to affix the Corporate Seal to the necessary contracts:
Section Name of Firm Asphalte Tar Paving Tar Painting
per.yd.sup. per.yd.sup per.yd.sup
1 Val de Travers paving Co. 12/- 4/- 7d.
2 La Brea Asphalte Co. 10/3 4/4 10d.
3 The Asphalte & Cement Co. 2/6 3/10½ 9d
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[1] Attached to this Schedule are copies of i) the Recreation Grounds Act 1859; ii) Public Health Act 1875, Public Parks, Pleasure grounds, etc.; and iii) Birmingham Corporation (Consolidation) Act 1883, Part IV – Parks.
