St George comes to Saint John's 20th April 2013

       



A gentleman from St James, Whitley, lent us a dragon which he carved from a tamarisk root



Our late friend John Russell organised Willenhall’s first St George’s Day celebration back in 2011. As a tribute to his memory, and as a way of bringing the community together, we have continued in John’s spirit and established St George’s Day as an ongoing event.

This year, the Community Champions, the Willenhall Local History Group and the Vicar and congregation joined together to hold St George’s Day in the church and hall of St John the Divine.

 Funds for the event were raised during a charity bag-pack at Asda Abbey Park, by kind permission of Kim Evans and Lynn Bowen. We had never done anything like this before, but in the end there was a great spirit of camaraderie among the bag-packers, The customers were most generous, and helped us to raise over £300.

In the Easter holidays, Community Champions Carole and Jo held two children’s workshops at the Hagard, which provided a gallery of lovely pictures and stories to decorate the church hall on the day.

We were very lucky with the weather; 20^th April was sunny and warm, with gentle breezes. Churchwarden Rose Harding arrived early to put the baked potatoes in the oven and prepare the fillings. She worked tirelessly all day and was an absolute rock of support throughout.

At 11 am the guests began to arrive, among them our MP, Jim Cunningham, and local councillor, Ram Lakha, welcomed by Kate Lee who was our MC for the day.



Kate our MC for the day, chatting to Betty L before the event began

Katrina, with Jim Cunningham, Ram Lakha and others

We began with a service in the church, during which Kate told us the story of St George. Afterwards, Katrina invited us all to write down our own personal ‘dragons’ on a piece of paper, and place them on the altar. We then adjourned to the space by the west window for a performance of the traditional Mummers’ Play. Nick had us in fits as the Doctor, and Rose took a break from the kitchen to play a major role.

A hot lunch of baked potatoes with various fillings was enjoyed by all, then we gathered back in the church for an old-time sing-along with Margaret, the church organist, at the keyboard. Meanwhile, Carole and Jo supervised children’s activities at the craft and cookie-decorating table, and people enjoyed a get-together over delicious cakes, coffee and tea.



Craft and cookie tables, festively decorated



We’re ‘looking on the bright side’ for next year’s event, which we are already planning, and we hope to bring the spirit of St George to Willenhall for many years to come.



Lunchtime in the hall



                                 Groups get together for a springtime ramble

On the balmiest day of the year so far, a group of intrepid walkers gathered together at Whitley Community Centre at the start of a 5-mile ramble from Whitley Grove to Willenhall Woods and back again. This event, led by Lucy Hawker of the Sowe Valley Project (and Sandy her greyhound) brought together the two history groups of Whitley and Willenhall, as well as the Friends of Sowe Valley and Willenhall Wood.

We were able to connect with our historical heritage and the natural world, with stops along the way to point out interesting features. Frances Twyman of the Whitley Group told us the story of the Hood and Petrie families who once owned the Whitley Abbey House. Despite local legends of mysterious hauntings, it was never a monastery. The house is long gone, but the grounds, with their ancient trees, deep gulches and bubbling springs, are a reminder of past glories. Whitley is very much the land of two rivers, as both Sowe and Sherbourne flow through the area, and there is something very special about the atmosphere in the woodland there.

Passing into Willenhall, members of the local history group pointed out the route of Weeping Lane, the original pack road into Coventry, which was later diverted and widened to become the London Road. The very real presence of the Chace Hotel, one-time country residence of city coroner Dr Iliffe, plus historical pictures of the old Willenhall House, which stood on the corner where the Marina chip shop is now, helped us to emphasise that we had our mansions in Willenhall too.

At the Community Centre in Middle Ride, we stopped for refreshments, before  strolling through Willenhall Woods, pausing to admire the imaginative signboard.

After that, it was time to trek back to Whitley for the end of our circular walk and a welcome cuppa at the Community Centre. We reflected on the fact that, for city dwellers, we have an amazing amount of green space at our disposal. How lucky we are to live in a beautiful place, with such a great community spirit.

Bras for Africa

Yesterday, in preparation for International Women's Day, the Hagard main hall was festooned with 40 assorted bras, stretching three quarters of the way round the room. The garland, made up of unwanted or unloved support garments which had been languishing at the back of clothes cupboards, was collected and installed by the women of the local area.

In a scheme organised by Oxfam, these bras will be sent to parts of West Africa, where there are no lingerie factories at present. The women will be able to sell the donated bras, as well as working out a pattern to produce their own, creating a series of sustainable businesses.

As today, 8th March, is International Women's Day, I'd like to send out greetings to women: in Coventry, in the UK and all over the world.

February Walks

By the old pumping station, just off the London Road

Despite everything that February can throw at us in terms of chills and floods, we have been continuing our regular Tuesday afternoon walks around the area. (Just a reminder for those who might like to come and join us: we meet every Tuesday at 2pm in Willenhall Library and walk for approximately one hour.)

Last Tuesday we struck out along the path which runs by the back of the Alan Higgs Centre. This is one of our most popular routes, as the area is so beautifully landscaped that it feels like being in the depths of the countryside.The old pumping station in the distance has a real air of mystery about it, surrounded by some magnificent evergreen trees. Hopefully, this atmospheric building will never be pulled down;  it's a fine example of functional architecture and an important landmark in the area.

We headed back to Willenhall via the metal footbridge over the Sowe, and paused to look into the swollen river. Everywhere is waterlogged at the moment, and we did have to squelch through some enormous puddles. I was able to test out my new Gore-Tex shoes to see if they were totally waterproof. (They were)



February flood



Belated Happy New Year

After a few software problems, the Willenhall Blogger is back online. It's certainly been a busy time since Christmas: the members of the History Group have been working flat out to produce a display for Sowe Valley School, about the river, its history and environment.

The HealthyWalks group began the New Year with another foray into Willenhall Woods. It was a grey, windless afternoonwith a distinctly creepy atmosphere.



Warty Tree



Sinister tree stump: reminded us of the Donnie Darko Rabbit

I

Inspired by the digital media project for 2013 featuring feet, these are some of ours.....



These boots were made for walking



A mysterious walk in the fog

Despite freezing fog and bone-chilling cold, the members of the Willenhall Healthy Walks Group set out for Willenhall Woods yesterday afternoon. This turned out to be a magical experience: the deep stillness of the misty woods caused us to tap into a vein of childhood reminiscence. For some of us, Narnia sprang to mind, and we half expected Mr Tumnus to come strolling along the path. Others imagined themselves creeping through the Wildwood of the Wind in the Willows, looking out for the entrance to Mr Badger's subterranean home. There was definitely a special atmosphere in the Woods that afternoon: how lucky we are to have this ancient, spiritual place right on our doorstep.

The Hagard Christmas Fete: Gateway to the festive season

The first day of December saw a jolly gathering at the Hagard Community Space for the annual Christmas Fete: a great way to start the festive season. There were craft stalls, tombola tables with some lovely gifts, delicious cakes and biscuits and a magical Santa's Grotto.



Setting up at the beginning of the event

The Wind Band performs

 Musical entertainment was provided by the Coventry Youth Wind Band, run by the Performing Arts Service. This talented group played a selection of carols and favourite Christmas tunes. Santa took the baton at one point, and made a good job of conducting the band.




Santa's got rhythm


The music students of Ernesford Grange School took their turn on the stage, and after performing some of their songs, they led the audience in a hearty rendition of 'The Fairytale of New York' and Slade's 'Merry Christmas'. This isn't the first time I have enjoyed community singing in Willenhall: maybe Gareth Malone should come along and organise us into a choir, as when we are in full voice we are very good indeed.

The ever-changing Sowe Valley: from a trickle to a torrent

After a period of torrential rain, it's always a thrill to go and look at the flooded Sowe. The transformation is amazing, from a small river not much wider in places than a brook, to a wide sheet of water alive with birds. Pictures can't really do it justice: it's as much about the sound of the water rushing and gurgling under bridges, the scream of the gulls, the plaintive pipe of the moorhen, the aquaplaning of a skein of geese as they land. There's a dank, marshy smell in the air, and the wind blowing across the temporary lake feels laden with moisture.

The golf course, Ernesford Grange

Willows with their feet wet

Taken from the Brookstray, Ernesford Grange



The 'oxbow' by the Brookstray path, completely flooded

It's interesting to be able to observe such widespread flooding from a relatively safe vantage point, though standing on the bridges makes me realise how treacherous the River Sowe can be when in full spate. So far, householders in Ernesford Grange and Willenhall have not been directly threatened by the rising of the water, but on reflection, it has to flow somewhere. The Sowe runs into the Avon, which has its confluence with the Severn at Tewkesbury: the volume of the water must be phenomenal by this time.

We are fortunate to be living in a green area, a designated flood plain which can never be built on. We can observe a landscape which is never the same two days running, and be n touch with the power of nature only a few yards away from our doorstep.

Happy Birthday, Sowe Valley Project – and here’s to another year!

Despite howling gales and torrential rain, there was a real spirit of celebration at the Hagard on November 22nd, as a large number of people gathered for the third birthday of the Sowe Valley Project.

 Present at the party were Stephen Trotter, Chief Executive of the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust and Peter Loat the Grants Officer for Natural England.

 Anna Squires, the Sowe Valley Co-ordinator of the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, announced some very good news. Thanks to Natural England and the Big Lottery, funding has been secured for another year.

 There were cheers all round, as the project has made a significant difference to the Sowe Valley. Volunteers have cleared the river bed of shopping trolleys and other accumulated debris. The invasive Himalayan Balsam has been removed from the river bank, and native species have been planted in its place. There has also been a creative spin-off, which inspired several murals around the area, as well as the beautiful tapestry now hanging on the wall of the Hagard. This was made by members of the Willenhall Craft Group and specially dedicated to two sadly missed members of the community, Meto Lakha and John Russell.

The continuation of the Sowe Valley project gives us so much to look forward to in 2013. We are lucky to have this large tract of open space right on our doorstep: the work of Anna Squires and Lucy Hawker, the Training and Education Officer, has helped to enhance our environment and make us aware of the variety of plants and wild creatures in our area. So here’s to another year of riverside strolls, bat walks, clearing and planting and generally getting out and about in the beautiful green corridor of the Sowe Valley.





The Peace Walk: Celebrating 800 years of worship in Willenhall

At 11am on a bright, chilly November morning, members of St John the Divine congregation and the Willenhall Local History Group met outside the Library, ready to set off on a Peace Walk.

Ouside the Library

 The aim of this walk, part of the two-day Peace Festival in Willenhall, was to pass by the various places of worship in our locality, and reflect on Willenhall's historic role as a place of peace, shelter and acceptance. We set out along Remembrance Road, where we encountered Paula wrestling with some self-setting tree roots in the flowerbed by the Hagard car park. (Bulbs and hardy perennials have now been planted there as part of the Peace Festival.)

Those tree roots were stubborn- but they did come out in the end

We passed by the Free Church, which is set in a peaceful oasis of green set back from Remembrance Road.

The Free Church, Remembrance Road

After that, we headed upwards to St James Lane, where St Anne's Roman Catholic church is situated in beautiful, well-maintained grounds. Before the church was built in the 1970s, this area was open land with a large, perilous water-filled quarry pit. There were market gardens along the Lane, as well as prefabs (which had all mod cons and were quite popular with the residents)

Walking along St James Lane

The piece of land you see on the picture above, just before the presbytery and church, was once associated with the Shrapnel family. In the 1920s, Gordon, the great-grandson of General Henry Shrapnel, bought the plot and built a detached bungalow there. He constructed it out of concrete blocks, which he cast himself on the spot. There is no sign of the house now: the land was compulsorily purchased for £25 by the council to build prefabs, and now remains uncultivated, a haven for wildlife.

The name 'Shrapnel' has particular resonance at this time of year: General Henry Shrapnel invented the Bursting Bomb and gave his name to flying shards of metal. On a more peaceful note, he also designed a patent corkscrew: a special silver one was presented to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.

On Dunsmore Avenue, passing by the side of St Anne's

     We continued our autumnal walk along Dunsmore Avenue: the name of this road recalls the Heath, across which medieval pilgrims  would trudge on their way to the Coventry Priory and Cathedral. At the time of Godiva, in the mid 11th Century, Coventry was an important place of pigrimage, to view holy relics such as the arm of St Augustine of Hippo, the head of St Osburg, and a piece of the True Cross.  

One of the History Group's most significant discoveries was the site of St James' Chapel, which was built around 1130 as a place of rest and prayer for the pilgrims who had crossed Dunsmore Heath on their way to Coventry. Ancient documents dating back to 1183 confirm that the chapel was  the property of Coventry Priory. By overlaying old maps with the street layout of Willenhall, we have located the site of the old chapel, which is on Knightlow Avenue. The plot has never been built on, but the reason for that is mundane rather than mystical: it's the junction point for several drains.





At the site of St James' Chapel

It was time to head back through the estate to St John the Divine,where we admired the new commemorative quilt. This was stitched by local residents as a tribute to their loved ones, including our late Chairman, John  Russell.






Many thanks to the Rev Katrina Scott and the church volunteers for the refreshments which we all enjoyed in the Church Hall after the walk. It was lovely to sit down together, have a cup of tea and a slice of cake and reflect on the words which Katrina had placed on the table:

May there be peace:

Peace between cultures

Peace between races

Peace between nations 

Peace between faiths

The Willenhall Peace Walk 2012: come and join us

As part of our celebrations for Peace Month, the Willenhall Local History Group and the Healthy Walks team are joining forces for a Willenhall Peace Walk.

We are meeting at Willenhall Library, Remembrance Road, at 11am on Friday 9th November.  We'll be taking a gentle stroll around the area, passing by local places of worship and places of historical significance.
The walk will end at around noon, at St John the Divine Church Hall, where we will have refreshments.

All are welcome: the walk is not strenuous and does not involve trekking along muddy paths. So come along and join us.

The Willenhall Healthy Walks Group in action

Willenhall Healthy Walks

Since March this year (in fact I joined on the first day of Spring) every Tuesday afternoon has been dedicated to a ramble through the Willenhall countryside. The aim is health and fitness, under the guidance of our Walks Leader, Rachel. We meet up at 2pm outside Willenhall Library, come rain or shine, and strike out from there in whatever direction the fancy takes us.So far I have managed 22 walks, but there are keen members of the group who have never missed a single one.




Bat boxes in the woods: they have a ladder of mesh so the bats can crawl up to their refuge


These walks have brought home to me just how lucky we are to have so much green space in which to wander freely. The River Sowe contributes so much to our area: it's beautiful, ever-changing, and because of its liability to flood, it guarantees us a large area which can never be built on.

Part of the Seven Arches Viaduct over the Sowe

On rare hot afternoons, we strolled through Willenhall Woods, where we came across a very strange carving on a tree stump, which really intrigued us.




A mysterious character


We have really got to know the secret paths and remote spots where the noise of the traffic seems very far away and you could imagine yourself in deep countryside. We've watched the seasons change, as buds became blossom and the berries ripened. Now we're into Autumn, and I for one am looking forward to wrapping up warm and seeing what our wonderful landscape has to offer as the days shorten and the year turns.

So why not come and join us? 2pm, outside Willenhall Library, next Tuesday? It's a date!

Sunshine on Heritage Day

The September sun shone down on us last Saturday (8th September) when we held our Heritage Open Saturday at St John the Divine Church. A steady stream of visitors came to look at our displays, which included a special tribute to Sir Basil Spence, the architect not only of Coventry Cathedral, but of three suburban churches: St Chad's in Wood End, St Oswald's in Tile Hill and our very own St John the Divine.

Many thanks go to Katrina Scott, the Vicar of St John the Divine who hosted the event so warmly, also the churchwardens and helpers. This is the second time the Willenhall Local History Group has joined forces with St John the Divine for this occasion, which provides an excellent opportunity to showcase church and community history.

I'd also like to use this space to acknowledge the contribution of the young artists who came to the two heritage art workshops during the summer holidays. Some of their art was featured on Saturday; unfortunately we didn't have room for the big scroll the children are working on as an ongoing project, so here are some details from Willenhall's very own rival to the Bayeux Tapestry.

Heritage Saturday at St John the Divine Church, Willenhall

Here's a reminder about our event at St John the Divine Church, Willenhall, on Saturday 8th September from 12 noon till 4pm.

We are celebrating 55 years of church and community life in Willenhall, as part of Heritage Open weekend.

 Come along and join us to chat about local history and look at our displays, have a tour of the church or maybe just enjoy some of our delicious home-made cakes.

The Willenhall Local History Group and St John the Divine Church have joined forces to organise this event

The Coventry Godcake

The recent Olympics certainly made their mark in Coventry. Support for the Torch Relay was amazing all along the route, Godiva awoke in spectacular style and  Broadgate Square was the perfect venue for the Global Market.

This summer also saw the revival of a local speciality, the Coventry Godcake. I tried one the other day for the very first time: it's a triangle of puff pastry, crisp and light on the outside and filled with spicy currants and raisins.

 Coventry Godcakes date back to the Middle Ages; Godparents traditionally gave them to their Godchildren on New Year's Day, with a blessing for the year ahead. The three corners, and the three cuts in the top of the cake, are said to represent the Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

I hope these delicious cakes are here to stay, a taste of tradition and another trademark for our city.

An eccelsiastical week

In preparation for our Heritage Open Day event at St John the Divine Church, Willenhall, I've been roving round on the bus, photographing specific churches.

 Sir Basil Spence, most renowned as the architect of Coventry Cathedral, was also responsible for the design of three suburban churches, built on the 1950s estates of Willenhall, Wood End and Tile Hill. All three churches are celebrating their 55th anniversary this year; they have stood the test of time and their campanile towers are still an important feature of the local landscape.





St John the Divine, Willenhall

 The project to build these churches began in 1954, using money allocated by the War Damage Commission. There were only enough funds for one brick-built church; however, three churches could be built very economically using 'no fines' concrete. This method involved pouring concrete containing no fine aggregates such as sand, into suppporting 'shutters'. The concrete set very quickly and the supports could then be taken away to reveal rough-cast slabs. It was an economical method which allowed each new estate to have its own church, rugged and characterful.

St Chad's, Wood End

There is a real honesty about these churches: they are fit for purpose, and although the bell towers have neede attention over the years, the actual fabric of the buildings is quite low maintenance. Having spacious church halls attached means that community activities can take place, and the central location makes the church a focal point of each estate.

St Oswald's, Tile Hill

We will be celebrating 55 years of Sir Basil Spence's architecture at St John the Divine on Saturday 8th September from 12 noon till 4pm. Come along and see our history displays, join in our children's craft session and enjoy some of our delicious home-made cakes.