Ongoing research; last updated 16 February 2011
12th January 1925 – General Purposes Sub-Committee
The following resolution of the General Committee was submitted:-
Deputation from the Birmingham County Football Association in regard to the provision of dressing rooms and other matters.
5738 Resolved:- That the matters raised by the deputation be referred to the General Purposes Sub-Committee for consideration and report, and that a copy of the present proceedings be forwarded to each member of the Sub-Committee.
together with the following report of the Secretary thereon:-
Football in the Parks
I beg to submit herewith, report of the objects of the deputation from the Birmingham County Football Association, which was received by the Committee on the 22nd ultimo. The Committee gave instructions that a copy of this report should be forwarded to each member of the Sub-Committee.
(There then follows a lengthy report of the meeting of the 22nd December which states the Association’s concerns. These centre on 1) provision of further playing fields, 2) the (in)adequacy of dressing room accommodation, and
“3) That all pitches should be of regulation size and be properly marked out in accordance with the laws of the Football Association.”
The Report contains paragraphs:-)
With regard to No. 3 ………………….
He (Mr. Tomkiss, Birmingham County Football Association) referred to the pitches at Pype Hayes and Selly Oak Parks and Black Patch Recreation Ground. He stated that at Pype Hayes Park the pitches were too small, and not of the regulation size, and that at Selly Oak Park a public footpath crossed one of the pitches. ……….
3030 Resolved:- That it be a recommendation to the General Committee that the Birmingham County Football Association be informed the existing financial position will not permit of the whole of their suggestions being given effect to, but that the Committee will meet them as far as practicable in the matter.
16th January 1925 – A Special Meeting of the Parks Committee
The Chairman explained that the object of the meeting was to consider, and if thought fit, approve the draft estimates for the financial year in accordance with the statements and summary annexed, and copies of which had been forwarded to members of the Committee:
(Detail for Selly Oak Park extracted from a lengthy report, which was subsequently approved:)
Financial Year 1925-1926
Estimate Proposed
1924-1925 Estimate 1925-1926
Income £95 £90
Expenditure £785 £915
26th January 1925 – Finance Sub-Committee, reported on
2nd February 1925 – Parks Committee
Councillor Longford submitted the following report of the Finance Sub-Committee:
Valuation of Emoluments
Your Sub-Committee report that the emoluments enjoyed by various officials and servants of the department have been valued for the purposes of the proposed adoption of a new superannuation scheme in accordance with the statement annexed. Your Sub-Committee recommend that the valuation of such emoluments as set out in the statement be confirmed.
List of servants who are in receipt of emoluments
Name Park Wages Nature of Annual Value of
Emoluments Emoluments
J.T. Horton Selly Oak £2.19. 7. House, fuel, light £60
& uniform
5842 Resolved:- That the valuation for superannuation purposes of emoluments enjoyed by officials and servants of the department, as set out in the statement annexed to the report of the Finance Sub-Committee, be approved.
The Chairman submitted the following report of the Music Sub-Committee:
Bands in smaller parks and recreation grounds
Your Sub-Committee recommend that in view of the present financial position the engagement of local bands to play in the smaller parks and recreation grounds be discontinued for the coming season.
On the part of the report relating to the engagement of local bands to play in the smaller parks and recreation grounds
5859 Resolved:- That the matter be referred back to the Music Sub-Committee for further consideration and report.
23rd February 1925 – Finance Sub-Committee
The following report of the City Treasurer was submitted:-
Detailed Estimate of the Income of the Parks, recreation Grounds, etc.
for the year ending 31st March 1926
Park Total Rents Tennis Bowls Cricket Football Miscellaneous
Selly Oak £70 £50 £5 £5 £10
Detailed Estimate of the Expenditure of the Parks, Recreation Grounds, etc.
for the year ending 31st March 1926
Selly Oak Park £
Total 865
Wages and Uniforms 740
Rent, Rates and Taxes 10
Heating, Lighting, and Water 35
Plant, Tools and Implements 5
Gravel, Turf and Asphalting 10
Seats, Fencing and Gymnasia 10
Repairs, Alterations & Improvements
Including Artizans Wages 50
Trees, Bulbs, Seeds, Fertilisers, etc 5
Miscellaneous 5
1st April 1925 - Report from the Parks Department
Mr. William Abbey commenced work in the park as a park labourer.
Register of Parks Employees and Officials[1]
Register no.: 576
Name: Abbey, William
Date of Birth: 24.4.1889
Date of entering service of Parks Department: 1.4.1925
Park or Cemetery at which employed: Selly Oak
Grade (under Committee Minute No. 4634): Park Labourer
Rate of Pay: [£]2 – 11[s] – 10[d] [per week]
23rd April 1925 – General Purposes Sub-Committee
The Secretary submitted the following report:-
Cricket and Tennis in the Parks 1925
I beg to report that the number of applications received for cricket pitches and tennis courts in the various parks this year has not exceeded the total number of pitches available in the respective parks ………
Up to the present 151 cricket clubs and 70 tennis clubs have been allocated pitches and courts and there is still accommodation for nine tennis clubs and eighty-one cricket clubs in parks and recreation grounds specified on the attached list …….
Selly Oak Park No. of cricket clubs accommodation is available for - 5
23rd April 1925 – General Purposes Sub-Committee, reported on
4th May 1925 – Parks Committee
In a report of the General Purposes Committee presented to the Parks Committee there is reference to the asphalting of Selly Oak Park by the Asphalte & Cement Co. under the Unemployment Relief Works 1924/25 progressing.
19th May 1925 - Administration Sub-Committee
The Secretary submitted the following reports:
Use of Parks etc.
Since the last meeting of your Sub-Committee the following applications for the use of the parks, bandstands, etc have, on the authority of Alderman Lovsey, been granted:-
Selly Oak Saturday Selly Oak and Bournbrook Children’s party with
July 4th Christmas & Summer permission to close the park
Party Fund between 2 & 5 p.m. No
charge to be made for
admission.
4024 Resolved:- That the action of Alderman Lovsey in acceding to applications referred to in the report be approved.
26th May 1925 – Finance Sub-Committee, reported on
4th June 1925 – Parks Committee
Alderman Lovsey (in the absence of Councillor Longford) submitted the following report of the Finance Sub-Committee:
Income and Expenditure 1924/25
The City Treasurer has submitted a statement of the Income and Expenditure of the Parks Committee for the year ended 31st March 1925, a copy of which is annexed to this report.
Selly Oak Park
Estimated 1924/25 Actual for year
Income £95 £84. 6. 5.
Expenditure £785 £823. 13. 5.
6070 Resolved:- That the report of the Finance Sub-Committee be approved.
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 since your last meeting:-
Park Date Society Purpose
Selly Oak Saturday. Selly Oak & Bourn- Children’s party with permission
July 4th Brook Christmas & to close the park between 2 & 5 pm.
Smmer Party Fund No charge to be made for admission.
6072 Resolved:- That the report be received and entered on the Minutes.
29th June 1925 – Finance Sub-Committee
The Deputy Superintendent submitted the following report:-
I beg to bring before the notice of your Committee, the necessity of the provision of more seats for various parks of the type selected by the Committee in 1924, and that allowance for same is included in the current years estimates, to the approximate amount of £500.
I would suggest that about twenty parks and recreation grounds be provided with an average number of six seats each, and that the order be placed for execution and delivery prior to the August holidays. The price per seat last year was £3. 16. 0. – and a slight reduction has been made upon those which are ordered this year under relief schemes.
Seats suggested from estimates 1925
Selly Oak Park 6
1546 Resolved:- That authority be given for the purchase from parker, Winder & Achurch Ltd. of park seats as set out in the list attached to the report with the addition of six for Walmer Street Recreation ground and Tower Street Recreation Ground respectively at the price of approximately £3. 16. 0. each.
29th June 1925 – Finance Sub-Committee, reported on
6th July 1925 – Parks Committee
Councillor Longford submitted the following report of the Finance Sub-Committee:-
Sale of Grass
Your Sub-Committee report that the grass in various parks and cemeteries was recently advertised for sale, and the following offers have been received and accepted.
Park Amount of Offer Name of Purchaser
Selly Oak Park £2. 0. 0. Mr. F. Monk, 730, Bristol Road, Selly Oak.
11th July 1925 – Birmingham News
Children’s Fetes
Carnival Spirits in the Suburbs
Saturday was carnival day for the children in the city’s suburbs, and the little ones, with their elders, enjoyed a very happy day.
Selly Oak
The summer festival for Bournbrook and Selly Oak children, arranged by the Old People’s Christmas Tree and Children’s Summer Outing Fund Committee, was held on Saturday last in the Gibbins Road Park, Selly Oak.
A procession was formed in Harrow Road and proceeded along Bristol Road to Selly Oak, and thence to the park. In front marched Mr. C.H. Harbun (president), Mr. H. Roberts (hon. treasurer), Mr. A. West (chief marshal), and Mr. W.C. Baldwin (hon. secretary).
There were more than a hundred competitors in fancy dress, and Mr. B.S. White, Miss Hewer, and Mr. and Miss Hill were the judges. The awards were:-
Best fancy dress, girls: – 1, Eva Brookshaw; 2, Myria Fletcher; 3, Eileen Rose. Boys: 1, Leslie Rise; 2, Doris (sic) Anderson; 3, Ronald Waring.
A special prize for the cheapest costume was awarded to Irene Blackwell, whose costume cost only 1d.
Maypole dancing, accompanied by the Woodgate Band, and under the direction of Miss E. James, was much enjoyed. Little Betty Fox, a pretty May Queen, with Vera Braenridge and Morris Willetts as attendants, led the 100 juvenile dancers, all of whom were tastefully attired in white, into the arena and mounted a small, white draped throne, the dancing proceeding under her patronage.
16th July 1925 - Report of the Parks Department
John Bowen, Park Labourer, retired.
Register of Parks Employees and Officials[2]
Register no.: 169
Name: Bowen, John
Date of Birth: 6.4.1866
Date of entering service of Parks Department: 16.7.1908
Park or Cemetery at which employed: Selly Oak
Grade (under Committee Minute No. 4634): Park Labourer
Rate of Pay: [£]2 – 09[s] – 7[d] [per week]
Date of leaving service of the Parks Department: 16.7.1925
Remarks: Superannuated 4/- per week plus 50% war allowance.
21st July 1925 - Administration Sub-Committee
On Minute 4001, the Superintendent submitted the following report:-
Staff
Selly Oak Park One of the permanent men employed at this park, named Power, has given up work owing to ill-health, caused undoubtedly through the death of his wife. Park-keeper Horton asked for further assistance during the mowing season and I have sent him a useful young man named Abbey, who was temporarily employed at Balsall Heath, prior to the recent appointment of Park-keeper White.
4066 Resolved:- (b) that the Secretary to be instructed to arrange for John Power recently employed at Selly Oak Park to be examined by the Corporation Doctor with a view to his being recommended for an optional allowance under the Birmingham Superannuation Scheme.
15th September 1925 - Administration Sub-Committee, reported on
5th October 1925
Councillor Denton submitted the following report of the Administration Sub-Committee:-
Staff
John Power who had been employed at Selly Oak Park for the past 17 years has been certified by the Corporation Doctor to be permanently incapacitated for further work, and your Sub-Committee recommend that he be granted an optional allowance of 5/- per week under part III of the Birmingham Superannuation Scheme, 1909, (plus the 50% authorized by the Council) as from the 16th July, 1925
6229 Resolved:- That John Power recently employed at Selly Oak Park be granted an optional allowance of 5/- per week under part III of the Birmingham Superannuation Scheme, 1909, (plus the 50% authorized by the Council) as from the 16th July, 1925
[1] Birmingham Library, Archive & Heritage Section – reference BCC Acc 1998/083
[2] Birmingham Library, Archive & Heritage Section – reference BCC Acc 1998/083
