B13 MAGAZINE + BH B12 & KH B14 APR 2024 ISSUE 550 MOSELEY'S NOCTURNE ARTIST: ROBERT GEOGHEGAN THE HEATH BOOKSHOP LITERATURE FESTIVAL MOSELEY VILLAGE RAILWAY STATION · OPEN GARDENS 2024 MOSELEY HISTORY: GALLIPOLLI/ANZAC DAY £2
EDITOR Mark Baxter ([email protected]) SUB-EDITOR Jessica Blissitt THE TEAM Mark Baxter, Ian Cook, David Isgrove, Stephanie Silk, Tipton the B13 Newshound, Martin Jeffers, Jobe Baker-Sullivan, Jenny Gwynne, Izzy Knowles, Pam Rutter, Craig Pullen and Eva Quigley GRAPHIC DESIGNER Georgina Sheldon ([email protected]) CONTRIBUTORS Kate Stocks, Ian Binnie for Moseley Society History Group BUSINESS MANAGER Martin Jeffers PROOF READER Pam Rutter SOCIAL MEDIA Mark Baxter TREASURER Leanne Holloway ([email protected]) ADVERTISING Position Vacant DISTRIBUTION Izzy Knowles,Martin Jeffers BOARD David Isgrove (Chair) Stephanie Silk (Editorial) PHOTOGRAPHER Position Vacant COVER IMAGE Image courtesy of Robert Geoghegan MAIL Moseley Publishing House Ltd. Moseley B13 Magazine, c/o: Moseley Exchange, 149-153 Alcester Road, Moseley, Birmingham, B13 8JP. Apr24 MOSELEY B13 MAGAZINE ONLINE instagram.com/moseleyb13mag facebook.com/MoseleyB13Magazine twitter.com/MoseleyB13Mag COMPANY SECRETARY Position Vacant LEGAL STUFF Moseley Publishing House Ltd is a non-profit voluntary run company based in England and Wales. Company No. 07786560. No part of this magazine may be reproduced, in whole or part, without express permission. All material is believed to be correct at the time of going to print. OUTLETS Moseley Farmers’ Market (Moseley Village Green) / A & R News (320 Yardley Wood Rd) / Drinksville (23 Woodbridge Rd) / Greenhill Garage (89-91 Billesley Lane) / Indigo Foods (50-52 St Mary’s Row) / Maison Mayci (148 Alcester Rd) / Moseley Post Office (149 Alcester Rd) / Newslink (3 Alcester Rd) / One Stop (117 Billesley Lane) / Oxfam Books & Music (101 Alcester Rd) / Palmyra (13 St Mary’s Row) / O.A.K Superstore (Ladypool Rd) / Moseley Exchange (147-153 Alcester Rd) / Hungry Hob (Swanshurst Lane) / Greenhall Galleries (Billesley Lane) / The Shires (Wake Green Rd) / Kitchen Garden Cafe (York Rd) NEXT PUBLICATION DATES ISSUE COPY SALE May 15 April 27 April WORDS FROM THE EDITOR Spring is in the air…and the April edition of Moseley B13 Magazine is on the newsstands (daffodils are an optional purchase)! Our cover star is Robert Geoghegan, Moseley’s nocturne artist and you can find out about his painting process and view a selection of his recent B13 nighttime paintings on pages 10 - 12. Another fascinating and creative Moseleyite is Steve Doswell who decided to challenge himself to run through every country of the European Union to raise money for charity. Steve’s book on the subject Running: Me Running EU was released last month and you can read all about his adventures on pages 14 - 15. We also have a round-up of up and coming events from Open Gardens 2024 (page 13) to The Heath Bookshop Literature and Music Festival (21 - 23), and The Guide to April: Best Events (27 - 29). Thanks to Georgina for returning as designer this month and sticking around until the summer. I’d also like to welcome Jessica Blissitt as sub-editor. The plan is for Jessica to take over as editor in a couple of months time, upon which I’ll finally take my retirement. I’m not sure if Moseley B13 Magazine offers much of a pension but hey-ho…I can always take up golf. Mark Baxter 2 www.moseleyb13.com
04 Newshound 10 Moseley’s Nocturne Artist: Robert Geoghegan 13 Open Gardens 2024 14 Running in the EU Family 16 Moseley Society History Group: Gallipoli/ANZAC Day 19 Oh no – not again! Moseley Village Railway Station Update 20 Amaryllis: Generations of Green Thumbs across Moseley 21 Kings Heath’s First Ever Literature and Music Festival 24 Moseley Munch! Where the Wild Things Are 27 Guide to April 30 Just to Say / The Screen poem 13 21 10 19 3
The acts set to perform at this year's three day Mostly Jazz, Funk & Soul Festival in July have been announced. Set in Moseley Park & Pool, the annual Jazz Funk and Soul Festival has built a strong reputation for presenting iconic and upand-coming artists over the years, and 2024 is no exception. This year’s festival has a packed programme of music, from DJ sets to jazz and soul acts taking place between Friday 12 to Sunday 14 July and is the 14th festival to take place. Kool and The Gang, along with DJ Craig Charles, and Nubiyan Twist, have been announced as the Sunday headliners. Leftfield, Yussef Dayes and The Blackbyrds are among the other headline acts. Leftfield, a British electronic music group, will headline on Friday, and multiinstrumentalist, producer and composer Yussef Dayes will perform on Saturday July 13. There were still a couple of special guests to announce as we went to press. Other acts heading to the festival’s main stages include Mo’Wax and Unkle’s James Lavelle (DJ set), Mr Scruff, Glaswegian sound system Mungo’s Hi Fi with Marina P, Grammy-nominated James Hunter, primordial groovers Thumpasaurus, New Orleans’ dynamo Dawn Richard, and Ezra Collective’s Ife Ogunjobi. Other acts heading to the festival include Ryan Hope (one third of Gabriels), multiinstrumentalist corto.alto, Jorja Smith labelmates Bricknasty, Canadian hip hop collective Super Duty Tough Work, Londonbased soul ensemble Wonder 45, and Luke Una, plus leading West Midlanders Leftfoot (hosting their own stage), Neone The Wonderer, The Atlantic Players, Ella More, Isla Wolfe, and Alex Polack. The Mostly Jazz Funk and Soul Festival, is a non-camping festival. For more information on tickets, visit the Mostly Jazz website at https://mostlyjazz.co.uk/tickets/ Tipton, the B13 Newshound Twitter: @B13Newshound / Instagram: @tiptonb13 4 www.moseleyb13.com
This is a big year for local democracy, with the West Midlands Mayoral Elections taking place on Thursday, May 2, and local hustings taking place on Tuesday, April 9, thanks to Moseley Forum and Kings Heath Neighbourhood Forum. The hustings are your opportunity to hear the views of the candidates standing for the post and ask your questions directly to them at Queensbridge School on Tuesday, April 9 at 7.30 p.m. For details of how to get your tickets, follow the link below. 2024 is an important year for local residents as there are several significant issues for Moseley and Kings Heath that the WM mayor can play some role in resolving. One of the hot topics is traffic and congestion. Will the imminent opening of train stations in Moseley and Kings Heath be enough to relieve congestion on the A435 Alcester Road? Other transport issues are the calls for more use of 20-mph speed limits on side roads and the highly controversial subject of LTNs (low traffic neighbourhoods). The West Midlands Mayor has other key powers as well as on transport. These include homes and land, productivity and skills, economy and innovation, environment and energy, culture, public service reform, inclusive communities, wellbeing, and devolution. The four candidates are: the incumbent West Midlands Mayor Andy Street – the Conservative Party candidate, Richard Parker - Labour candidate, Sunny Virk - Liberal Democrat candidate and Siobhan Harper-Nunes - Green Party candidate. Make your views heard, quiz the candidates and ensure the right one is elected. Admission is free, but book your tickets by going to the following address, it allows you to post a question in advance. https://tinyurl.com/3ww3f48b As we went to press, there was some uncertainty about hustings for the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) post. Although there had been plans for this post to be incorporated within the mayor’s office, a press release from the West Midlands Police Crime Commissioner’s (PCC) office on Monday, March 18, stated: “Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster has today been successful with his judicial review against the Home Secretary’s decision to abolish the PCC role in the West Midlands.” If this is correct and not subject to legal challenge, there may well be elections for the West Midlands Police Crime Commissioner post too at some date, and even local hustings. WM MAYOR HUSTINGS ON APRIL 9 AT QUEENSBRIDGE SCHOOL “Make your views heard, quiz the candidates and ensure the right one is elected.” 5
Anawim, a locally based charity that helps vulnerable women, is to set up a charity shop on Alcester Road, opening on Saturday, April 27, in the premises between The Back Room and a new smaller Shades Music. In a division of the Shades Music shop at 214-218 Alcester Road Shades will continue to occupy the part of the building nearest to the junction with Tudor Road (214–216 Alcester Road), where repairs to guitars, brass, and woodwind instruments will still take place. Anawim will occupy the other part of the premises (218 Alcester Road), next to the chiropractic clinic, The Back Room. The new Anawim charity shop will primarily sell women’s clothing and will have a section for men’s and children’s clothes. It will also sell household items and set up an eBay shop where customers can purchase items and collect them from the shop. Anawim currently has a charity shop in Balsall Heath on Edward Road, which the new Moseley shop will replace. Opening times for the Anawim Moseley store will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday. The opening day (Saturday, April 27) is the same day as the next Moseley Farmers’ Market, where a stall will highlight Anawim’s new Moseley shop and the charity’s work. On the same day, at the Alcester Road shop, Anawim will have prosecco, coffee and cake to celebrate its Moseley launch. The shop will be run by staff, volunteers, and Anawim “champions”. These are the women the charity supports. Anawim is also recruiting for a shop manager, so please take a look at the website for more details: https://anawim.co.uk/get-involved/ vacancies/ In opening the new Moseley store on the busy Alcester Road, with much better footfall, Anawim is seeking to become known better in the community, to provide work experience for the women it supports (their champions), and to raise much-needed funds for their services. Although the first two goals have been largely achieved at the Edward Road shop, the Balsall Heath premises did not get much footfall. A spokeswoman for Anawim said, “We are excited to move into Moseley and be part of the business network, get known in the local area, and be part of the Moseley community". SHADES TO “SHOP-SHARE” WITH LOCAL CHARITY ANAWIM “The shop will also act as one of our work experience placements for our women who are ready to move forward...” 6 www.moseleyb13.com
“The shop will also act as one of our work experience placements for our women who are ready to move forward, the other opportunities are supporting services and events at our centre in Mary Street, and they can put skills such as shop counter and online sales into practice as we work with them to train them up. The shop is also a safe space for any woman to come and speak to us if they can’t get to our centre on Mary Street.” Moseley residents can support Anawim by donating through the website www. anawim.co.uk. You can also volunteer; details are also on the website, along with the application forms. Any queries, please send to [email protected]. The charity is currently not accepting donations as it is in the process of moving, but after April 27, it will accept women’s, men's, and children’s clothes and household items. Please ensure that your donations are in good condition for sale, as the new Alcester Road store only has limited storage space. Meanwhile, Shades will continue to have a presence on Alcester Road, on the corner with Tudor Road, where repairs for all the guitar needs, brass, and woodwind instruments will still take place. Regarding music lessons, Shades is offering new students a special offer similar to when they first opened: buy three lessons and get one free (choose from guitar, bass, ukulele, drums, piano/keyboard, brass, woodwind, and vocals). For further details, email [email protected] or visit the website at www.shadesmusic.co.uk. Ian Cook 7
5Daily, the fruit and vegetable stall at the entrance to Alcester Road’s Pay & Display car park has been closed for the past month. There are doubts about whether it will ever re-open. In a Facebook post on March 9, owner Mohammed Sijjad said: “To all my lovely customers and local businesses, due to the unforeseen situation I will not be opening the stall. “I just wanted to say a huge thank you for all your support and making me feel part of the Moseley Village community. I have met some of the best individuals along the way, you will all be dearly missed. The past couple of years of my life have been unforgettable. I wish everyone all the best going forward. Kind regards, Mohammed Sijjad.” 5Daily opened in early 2021 in a space that had been previously occupied by a hightech self-cleaning toilet. When the toilet was removed two pots of shrubs were used to fill the vacated space in an ingenious attempt to stop drivers using the space for free off-road parking. A short time later and cleverly using the space behind the pots of shrubs, Mohammed Sijjad created 5Daily, a small fruit and vegetable stall covered with a distinctive green and white striped awning which he assembled and took down each day for three years. In 2022 Birmingham City Council’s planning committee agreed to grant two-year temporary planning permission to 5Daily, for a more permanent structure - a lattice grid timber stall of locally sourced wood, similar to stalls at the Frankfurt Christmas Market in the city centre. The plans for the structure were designed by retired Balsall Heath architect John Christophers of the Zero Carbon House in Tindal Street, Balsall Heath. Nearly 100 letters of support for the planning proposal were received by the council’s planning committee for the new innovative design for 5Daily. The temporary planning permission remained in place until 17th March 2024, but was never implemented. On hearing the latest news about 5 Daily a large number of Moseley residents and groups expressed their sadness on the Facebook page where Mohammed had made his announcement. They also expressed their thanks to 5Daily for its wide range of affordable quality fruit and vegetables and its fine customer service over the past three years. There are hopes that some help can be provided to re-open this much-loved local stall in some form, with one suggestion that 5Daily becomes part of Moseley’s awardwinning farmers’ market. Mohammed Sijjad spoke briefly to Newshound as we went to press to thank local people and those wishing to help him can contact him by email [email protected] or the various contact details at his facebook page www.facebook.com/5DailyLTD 5DAILY CLOSES AND IS UNLIKELY TO RE-OPEN 8 www.moseleyb13.com
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Should you happen to visit Moseley at night, either for a quick bite at one of the several lively restaurants, or to catch up with friends over an ambitiously fruity cocktail, you could be lucky enough to see Robert, the nocturnal painter, who is fully equipped with an easel, paints, and a head torch. “I think people passing by are surprised to see me set up with my easel at night,” said Robert Geoghegan, when interviewed about his work. “It's unusual enough to see someone painting outside even in the daytime. I've become immune to what people think when I set up to paint outside, but I know in Moseley especially, people will be interested and friendly when they pass by. I'm grateful for the encouragement they give me. It spurs me on.” Robert, who has lived in Moseley for 25 years, might be better known as the artist behind the Funny Brummie paintings that he sells every last Saturday at Moseley Art Market. However, in recent years Robert admitted that he’s felt the need to develop a different style of painting. In contrast to the dreamy piano music of the eighteenth century, a Nocturne in art is simply a painting of a scene at night or twilight. “The attraction of the night scenes especially in the city is the dramatic artificial lighting and the contrasts of light and dark, as well as the warm friendly glow of orange and yellow in the windows,” he explains. The most famous examples include Rembrandt’s The Night Watch or Caspar David Friedrich’s Two Men Contemplating the Moon. Originally the term applied to music, however, 19th Century Americanartist James Abott McNeill Whistler began to apply the term to his night scene paintings. Traditionally, nocturne paintings use subtle, dark colours to evoke a pensive, sombre or calm mood. “I'm a great fan of the American artist Edward Hopper, who did many night scenes, and further back, there was Whistler and Rembrant and many more,” Robert explains. “Obviously these artists are on a completely different level to me, but I think it's good to look at the best for inspiration. I really like the way night transforms a familiar scene, and gives it a certain mystery and atmosphere that it lacks in ordinary daylight.” According to Robert, his paintings take roughly two hours to paint. He typically takes a photograph of the scene and uses this at home to add in the tricky fine lettering of the establishment in question. “I suppose I like to challenge myself,” he said. Moseley’s Nocturne Artist: Robert Geoghegan 11
“I had to buy lamps that clip onto my easel and I have to wear a headlight which makes me look more like a caver than an artist! Even with the lamps and headlight, however, seeing and mixing colour is more difficult than in daylight.” Robert has painted a range of subjects including some of Moseley’s memorable haunts - the Prince of Wales’ pub, the Patrick Kavanagh, Cafephilia, and the Sorrento Lounge. If you are interested in Robert’s art work, whether it’s his pleinair or nocturne paintings, or the Funny Brummie collection, please take a look at his website: www.robspaintings.com. He sells prints and greeting cards of his paintings at Moseley Art Market on every last Saturday of the month, and he can also be found on Instagram at robertgeogheganart and Facebook as Robert Geoghegan. “I also teach art classes - drawing and painting to adults at Cartlands Tea Rooms Kings Heath Park on Mondays 1 to 3 pm and Thursdays 11.30 am to 1.30 pm and 2.30 to 4.30 pm. I will be starting a Watercolour for Beginners Course for 6 weeks starting on Tuesday 9 April at St Columba Church Moseley." To book a place or for more information contact [email protected] or Tel: 07534 189806. Eva Quigley 12 www.moseleyb13.com
What a winter this has been! I’m sure you will agree that the past few months have presented us with some unusual weather, but hopefully this is now behind us. As I write, the gardeners of Moseley are returning to their plots and enjoying their spring bulbs whilst planning their displays for later in the year. At Moseley in Bloom, we are already looking for gardens to open at the end of June. As always, we are aiming for a good variety of gardens, large or small, traditional or modern, formal or quirky, neat or wild. We would especially like to include some gardens that have not opened before or have not done so for several years. Is 2024 the year when you could open for us? Previous openers have enjoyed meeting our visitors, sharing ideas and chatting about all things gardening. Our visitors have appreciated seeing some of Moseley’s hidden spaces and meeting their owners. If you would like to express your interest in opening this year, please visit our website and fill in the form. The closing date is April 14, 2024. We look forward to hearing from you. https://moseleyinbloom.org.uk/2024/callfor-gardens/ Kate Stocks, Chair, MiB Open Gardens Committee OPEN GARDENS 2024 SUNDAY, 30 JUNE, 11.00–17.00 13
Leaving the European Union stirred intense feelings in millions of Britons but the reaction of Moseleyite Steve Doswell was quite unique. He set about a 12-month challenge to run in every country of the EU to raise money for two small charities. Steve then undertook four years of writing on his experience of travelling around Europe on a budget and his encounters with fellow Europeans. The running, travel and adventure book Running: Me Running EU - with mentions of parkruns at Cannon Hill Park and the local running community - was published last month. Steve, a resident of Moseley for 32 years, caught up with Moseley B13 Magazine to talk about the book and his amazing challenge... Why did you choose to run through all the EU countries? It started with Brexit, although the book isn’t remotely about politics. It’s about running, travel, community, Europe, and the thrill of creating an adventure for yourself later in life (I’m in my 60s). In the early weeks and months following the 2016 Referendum it took me a while to settle my own thoughts and feelings. I did a lot of talking and even took part in a TV panel discussion on the BBC current affairs programme Panorama, being interviewed by Adrian Chiles in a West Bromwich pub, along with fellow Moseley runner Barbara and a few other people who’d woken up on the morning of 24 June 2016 having voted one way when a majority in the West Midlands had voted the other way. And then one day I simply said I can’t change the referendum – but I can run about it. So I created a personal challenge to run in every country of the EU by the original Brexit deadline (29 March 2019 – we know that deadline became a moveable feast but I kept to the original schedule). I gave myself one year to run in all 28 countries, although after a slow start I ended up running in 19 countries in the final three months before the deadline. You must have had some amazing experiences. I had so many exceptional moments, such as running first in Copenhagen and then Malmö (Denmark and Sweden) on the same morning, making contact with local running RUNNING IN THE EU FAMILY: STEVE DOSWELL 14 www.moseleyb13.com
clubs and groups in Belgium, Germany, France, Lativa and Bulgaria then running with them, discovering the differences and the similarities between us. Several times I ran in the second cities of the countries I visited and as we know well in Birmingham, second cities have hidden treasures! Kaunas in Lithuania and Brno in Czechia were good examples. The most dramatic moment was being swept off my feet by a freak wave in a storm in Malta! Running in the snow in the breathtaking beauty of the historic old city of Tallinn, Estonia, was a highlight, a halfmarathon in Ljubljana, Slovenia’s charming capital, was another. What type of reactions have you had to your mission? People have been unfailingly positive about the whole challenge. Running: Me Running EU (can’t beat a word-play on a song-title for inspiration!) was about making connections with people around Europe, personal motivation and raising money for two charities (RSVP, a Birmingham-based which supports survivors of rape and sexual violence, and Changing Faces, which helps people with facial disfigurement). Lisa Thompson, CEO at RSVP was my greatest champion while I was running across Europe. Some people were intrigued about this bloke of a certain age running around Europe in pursuit of a one-man challenge but everyone was supportive while I completed it, just as they are now that I’ve finally completed the book. Any challenges for the future? Writing the book was a challenge! It took me one year to run around the EU and four years to write the book. Now it’s published, the next stage is to get out and tell the whole Running: Me Running EU story. But I am thinking of a new running challenge, this time with an environmental theme. I’m still figuring out the details but it involves running and the health of our waterways. I have a couple of ideas for the title but I’ll tell you more once the new challenge takes shape! Mark Baxter Running: Me Running EU is available from https://www.motjuste.co.uk/running-merunning-eu as well as via Amazon, and also The Heath Bookshop in Kings Heath where Steve will be talking about the book at an event in June. 15
ANZAC Day is traditionally commemorated on 25 April in many parts of the world. The ill-fated Gallipoli campaign of World War One is remembered, not just in Australia and New Zealand but also in many parts of this country. Many areas of the U.K. have a Gallipoli connection, including Birmingham, Highgate and Sparkhill. What follows are details of two Australians who have memorials in Brandwood End Cemetery. WILLIAM ASHLEY VICKERY William was born on 23 February, 1891 to parents William Henry, a hair dresser’s assistant and Sarah Jane Vickery. They lived at 4, St Martin’s Terrace, in Highgate, Birmingham. He joined the Royal Navy on 19 May, 1908, when he was eighteen signing on for a period of 12 years. He was discharged on 23 October 1908 due to chorea. When William’s father died on 9 March, 1909 his mother moved to 66 Leopold Street, Highgate, Birmingham. In 1910, William embarked on an unassisted passage to Sydney, Australia, arriving on the 10 July. He found work as a milk carter. When war was declared, he enlisted on 28 August, 1914. He enlisted in the 4th Infantry Battalion, “D” Company when it joined the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force at Alexandria on 5 April 1915. The Battalion embarked from Sydney on HMAT Euripides on 20 October joining the MEF at Alexandria on 5 April 1915, The battalion, consisting entirely of volunteers, took part in the first ANZAC landing on 25 April 1915 as part of the second and third waves. They took part in the hard fighting to defend the beachhead, William became ill in May 1915 and was eventually transferred to No. 2 Hospital at Mudros with diarrhoea and the reappearance of chorea symptoms. He was eventually returned to England on a hospital ship on 20 July 1915 and eventually discharged as being unfit for duty on 12 March 1916 and awarded a Silver War Badge. William married Lucy May Ault in 1918. The marriage was short lived as he died on 28 December 1920, aged 29. Sadly, his brother was killed in Palestine on 5 May 1915. MOSELEY SOCIETY HISTORY GROUP GALLIPOLI/ANZAC DAY The Vickery family memorial. Both William and his brother are commemorated. 16 www.moseleyb13.com
WALTER ROLAND TODD Walter was born in 1876 to George Watson Todd and his wife Margaret, of 36 Avon Street, Sparkhill, Birmingham. Walter married Mary Ann Webb in 1898. Two years later, on 13 December 1900 the couple sailed for Brisbane, Australia on an assisted passage scheme. In 1908 a daughter Marjorie Florence Todd was born, When war broke out Walter volunteered for a scheme to allow skilled Australian workers to work for the British war industries. Under this scheme the volunteers received free passage to Great Britain, were given various allowances and supported in returning to Australia. Married men also received a separation allowance but were required to allot a portion of all their earnings to dependants. Walter accepted work as a labourer at the Vickers River Don Works in Sheffield. He lost his life in a tragic accident there on 13 December 1917 when he fell while engaged in the repair of the powerhouse roof. His fall was broken by three projecting parts of the building, He is buried in Brandwood End Cemetery, near to where his father still lived. Walter received a Commonwealth War Grave headstone. He was 40 years of age when he died. If you would like a free guided tour of the eight Gallipoli memorials and graves in Brandwood End Cemetery, contact Ian Binnie on [email protected]. Join us to commemorate Gallipoli/ANZAC Day in the “second City” on Sunday 21st April 2024, 2.00pm at Brandwood End Cemetery, Woodthorpe Road, Kings Heath, Birmingham, B146EQ. For further details contact Ian Binnie or just turn up. Ian Binnie For more information see our website: https://moseley-society.org.uk/localhistory/ Walter Todd's grave 17
HANDY MARIUS RELIABLE SERVICES DOMESTIC ODD JOBS PLUMBING ELECTRICAL DECORATING JOINERY TILING Happy to help with small garden and DIY projects Mobile: 07849 315649 Email: [email protected] Find me on Facebook at Handyman Marius
The last two years have seen the development of the Moseley Village Railway Station delayed twice because of badgers. In case you didn’t know, a badger sett (its burrow) was found on the east bank above where the platform would be in December 2021. All work within a radius of 50m had to be stopped until action could be taken after July 1, 2022, to lure the badgers away to a new purpose-built home (no hot tub, I’m afraid!) further down the embankment. This was successful and work started in the summer. Within six months, the badgers were back (or another family) with a sett above the platform. Had they heard they could get an upgrade by having their ‘digs’ there? The work ‘ground’ to a halt until July 2023. As a result of this, the opening of the station was delayed by a year to December 2024. All good - or so we thought! Then last month, one of the Moseley Forum committee learnt from one of the workers on the site that a December 2024 finish was a pipedream and completion would be pushed well into 2026. He wouldn’t say why. However, investigations by Moseley B13 Magazine have discovered the reason for the further delay and it's down to one of the smallest animals you could think of. In fact, it’s on the most endangered species list in the UK and several nests have been found on the West embankment just above where there’s a break in the platform building (see photo). It’s the Hazel Dormouse. Interestingly enough, hazel dormice are not actually mice! This tiny little nocturnal mammal is more closely related to squirrels and beavers and is recognised by its soft caramel-coloured fur and furry tail. Unfortunately, these endangered British animals are already extinct in 17 counties in England. Hazel dormice have declined in Britain by over 50% since the year 2000. According to Ecology by Design Director Ben Gardner: “The hazel dormouse has seen a population plummet within the last 25 years, falling by 72%. The decline rate is worrying as the hazel dormouse plays a vital role within the food chain. If the hazel dormouse goes extinct, then it puts many other species at risk of extinction including owls, weasels, cats, grey squirrels and through the winter whilst they are hibernating, badgers and wild boars. A big factor in the population decline is the fact that these animals are slow breeders.” (quote taken from their website). As a result, all work has to stop within 50m by April 1 and can’t start until around a year later. This will put the opening of the Moseley Village Railway Station to an estimated date of April 2026. Bad news for the opening of our new railway station, but when you remember that Moseley was named in the Domesday Book as 'Museleie' which translates as 'mouse clearing', this seems somehow in keeping with the long and rich history of our village. David Isgrove OH NO, NOT AGAIN! MOSELEY VILLAGE RAILWAY STATION UPDATE 19
Moseley B13 Magazine is passionate about supporting Moseley’s local business people. It’s been a tough few years for small businesses everywhere, so now more than ever, it is time to support our local entrepreneurs. We would like to introduce you to Amy Bunce and her own gardening business, Amaryllis. Some of you may know Amy from her work as a park ranger at Moseley Park. So Amy, tell us about Amaryllis? Amaryllis is a small garden maintenance business based in Moseley and surrounding areas. I’m dedicated to providing a highquality service and ensuring all gardens are left professionally kept and beautiful. What type of work do you do? I offer general maintenance services such as weeding, pruning, leaf blowing, strimming, hedge cutting and plant and garden advice. Where does your interest in gardening come from? My dad was a gardener too; he worked in Kings Heath Park for a time. I grew up helping him in the garden, growing vegetables and the rest. I think of myself as fortunate to have had all of this knowledge and passion passed down to me and to follow in his footsteps. Who is a typical customer? Anyone who has a garden, really! A final word for B13 readers? The growing season has started, so this is the perfect time to get on top of your garden - before it gets too wild out there! What are your contact details? You can contact me by phone, text or WhatsApp on 07851 868 129 for more information about our services. Martin Jeffers Amaryllis: Generations of GreenThumbs Across Moseley 20 www.moseleyb13.com
An exciting packed programme of storytelling, writing workshops, and musical sets has been announced by The Heath Bookshop as part of Kings Heath’s first ever Literature and Musical Festival this April. “The festival line-up is really fantastic!” said Claire Dawes and Catherine Gale, coowners of The Heath Bookshop located in Kings Court, speaking directly to Moseley B13 Magazine. “We have a full programme of adult and children's events - the majority of the children's events are free, and all of the events are reasonably priced.” Set across four days (18–21 April), the festival offers something for young and old, including an advanced writing workshop with award-winning author Michael Faber; a crime writers’ panel; a storytelling, drama and costume-making workshop for children; and a colourful parade on the Sunday. Catherine and Claire continued: "We are so pleased to be announcing such a packed programme for our first ever The Heath Bookshop Literature and Music Festival. We’ve aimed to put together a festival that offers something different to audiences. We’ve got musicians talking about their lives and the books they have written and we have writers talking about music." Funded by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, the festival is in partnership with the Hare & Hounds and the children's bookshop How Brave is the Wren. Peter Knott, Midlands Area Director at Arts Council England, said: “Kings Heath has a vibrant arts and culture scene and it’s incredibly exciting to have such a varied programme of creatives from the worlds of music and literature coming to the area this April.” KINGS HEATH’S FIRST EVER LITERATURE AND MUSIC FESTIVAL 21
Speaking to the magazine, the co-owners of Heath Bookshop said: “We are so grateful to have funding from the National Lottery through Arts Council England, it's so fantastic that these funding streams exist.” The ambitious festival will begin on Thursday, April 18, with award-winning stand-up, presenter and author Robin Ince taking festival-goers on a journey across Britain, exploring his lifelong love of bookshops and books at Queensbridge School. On the same day, children’s bookshop and festival partner How Brave is the Wren will present Story Time with a musical twist, as well as the chance to meet Stewart Foster, the author of Can You Feel the Noise? “We have booked artists that we think the local audience will enjoy and relate to,” said Catherine and Claire. “The programme is diverse and so we hope there is something for everyone, with people finding events they can connect with. Now, more than ever, with the devastating cuts to the arts, it is so important to bring these events to Birmingham. Kings Heath is a super creative area and we hope this festival will be something that unites and inspires the local community and others around Birmingham.” On Friday, April 19, there will be an Advanced Writing Workshop with award-winning author Michel Faber, as well as a series of music-themed author events at festival partners Hare & Hounds with White Rabbit Books, who are dedicated to publishing the most innovative books and voices in music and literature. Musician, writer, producer and DJ Richard Norris will talk about his journey through the music industry, while singer Lias Saoudi will discuss his book Ten Thousand Apologies, which reveals the thrilling tale of the country’s most notorious cult band, Fat White Family. How Brave is the Wren has author events, including Nathanael Lessore talking about his book Steady for This. DJ and producer David Holmes will put on a 3-hour genre-bending set at the Hare & Hounds, supported by resident DJs, and friends of The Heath Bookshop, Leftfoot Saturday, April 20, is a packed day of events, beginning with a morning focused on crime fiction with a Crime Writers Panel at the All Saints Centre in Kings Heath featuring Jo Callaghan, Mark Edwards and Rachel McLean in conversation with fellow crime author Barbara Copperthwaite. Also at the All Saints Centre later in the day, Birmingham legends Mike Gayle and Catherine O’Flynn will discuss the crossover between their love of pop music and their writing. Meanwhile, at The Heath Bookshop, award-winning Ingrid Persaud will be in conversation with BBC’s Grace Smith about her new novel, The Lost Love Songs of Boysie Singh. On the same day, the New Photo Company and Seesaw Opticians – both on Kings Heath High Street – offer the chance to drop in and meet Birmingham poet Bradley Taylor, who will perform ‘poetry on demand’ using his typewriter to gift strangers with a unique poem of their own choosing. 22 www.moseleyb13.com
In the Oxfam Bookshop, you can also be serenaded by musicians from the Misfits Music Foundation while hunting for a literary bargain. At How Brave is the Wren, children aged 8+ are invited to be inspired by Matthew Forsythe’s Pokko and The Drum in a storytelling, drama and costume-making workshop, inviting participants to come back on Sunday for the performance. The workshop will take place at Kings Heath Library and the parade – on Sunday – will take place on York Road, Kings Heath. On Sunday, April 21, writer and lecturer Anna Metcalfe will deliver a Beginners Writing Workshop at The Heath, and in the afternoon, the Bookshop Band, who write and perform songs inspired by books, will perform - perfect for a chilled out Sunday afternoon. You can also enjoy poetry from Naush Sabah and Ayan Aden, or at How Brave is the Wren, enjoy Spoon in a Jar Trio, a family concert celebrating the grooviest book trilogy, Jazz in the Jungle, Oscar at the Opera and Ella Fitzfeathers and the Stormy Weather. Over at the Hare & Hounds, join best-selling British author Daniel Rachel and Pauline Black of The Selecter, who will be in conversation with Lyle Bignon about their work and the influence of Two-Tone Music. The final event of the festival – ahead of the after-party – sees Maddie Langham-Walsh and Bradley Taylor present The Big Gay Poetry Night, inviting attendees to share their queer-themed poetry. “Our goal is for people to enjoy the events and perhaps discover something they wouldn't have otherwise known about, as well as bringing new visitors to Kings Heath,” said Catherine and Claire. “The success of the festival for us will be having that connection with people. We get a real buzz from seeing how much audiences love the events we do and that might be one person being delighted to meet a particular author or hundreds of people laughing at the on-stage conversation. It really is all about people.” They added, “We've got some fantastic home-grown Birmingham talent, including emerging artists as well as some really well-known names. If you love books and music, then this festival is for you! It's so important that arts events are supported so that we don't lose them. Have a look at the programme and you'll be sure to find something, and you can also come into the shop and have a chat with us so that we can tell you about all the events.” Eva Quigley For more information about the full lineup, and to buy tickets visit http://linktr.ee/ theheathbookshop or speak to Claire and Catherine at The Heath Bookshop in Kings Heath. 23
Every year, there is an occurrence towards the end of the winter chill and just before the arrival of spring where the buds start to sprout, and the wild garlic comes out. You’ll know it is there from an allium whiff in the air during a brisk woodland walk… and there are surprisingly plenty of those within our immediate reach! Moseley Park is a great place to forage, as is the bike path across the street from Sarehole Mill and the BMX track in Hazelwell Park, to mention a few. Wild garlic, or Allium ursinum, is a perennial flowering plant that grows in moist woodland in Europe and Asia between March and June. Related to onion and garlic, the entire plant is edible and has been known for its medicinal qualities and is extremely high in magnesium. If you are out fine dining or browsing on social media, you will most certainly be witnessing a lot of wild garlic dishes, as its popularity is as always growing in line with its leaves. The beauty of it to me is that it has an injection of subtle garlic flavour whilst presenting itself as a vegetable; therefore, it can be a sauce or the main event. In fact, the more I cook with it, the more I look forward to its versatility and amazing taste. And just like the spring, it parallels a time in our year where we, as humans, start to bud and sprout a little bit too. Here are a few ways to go wild with this amazing plant this season. Jenny Gwynne Jenny is The Salty Chilli. Find more of her recipes at https://www.thesaltychilli.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram. com/thesaltychilli/ Always be sure you can positively identify any plant before you pick it, and never eat any plant you are unsure of. When foraging, only pick from areas that have an abundant supply and ensure you leave plenty for wildlife. WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE 24 www.moseleyb13.com
Crispy Potatoes with Wild Garlic Chimichurri Crispy potatoes are quite addictive, and this is such a wonderful condiment. Save a jar of this for anything from vegetables to chicken, steak and tofu. Make sure this is completely covered in oil and it will keep in your refrigerator for up to two weeks (vegan dish). For the potatoes: • 14 baby potatoes • 2 tbsp veg oil • 2 tbsp olive oil • For the chimichurri: • 200g wild garlic leaves, soaked and washed thoroughly. • 30g fresh coriander • 2-3 chillies • 1 tbsp flaky salt • Juice of ½ a lemon • 150ml olive oil • 1 tsp red wine vinegar Ingredients: Preheat the oven to 200C fan. Boil the potatoes in salted water until just done (10- 12 minutes) drain and then press them down using a large spatula or bottom of a glass to “smash” them. Let the steam release. Pour the vegetable oil into a large cast iron pan and heat on the stove until hot. Add the potatoes, drizzle the olive oil on top then into the oven for 40-45 minutes until crispy golden. In the meantime, chop the wild garlic, coriander and chillies with half the salt until it is super finely minced. Add this to a sterlised jar along with the oil, lemon juice, vinegar and remaining salt. Mix well. Plate the chimichurri and add the crispy potatoes on top. Serve immediately. Wild Garlic & Butter with Fresh Pappardelle This is a four-ingredient meal that is a taste sensation. Wild garlic is wilted in loads of butter, pasta tossed in with water and loads of Parmesan to create a silky sauce. Thinly sliced fresh wild garlic is tossed in alongside more Parmesan. So simple and so delicious. (vegetarian dish) Ingredients: • 150-200g fresh pappardelle • 100g wild garlic leaves washed well • 1 small handful wild garlic thinly sliced • 50g unsalted butter • 25g grated Parmesan • Flaky salt and fresh pepper to taste Method: Cook the pasta for a few minutes in salty boiling water. In a saucepan on medium heat, add the butter to melt, then the wild garlic leaves to wilt down with a large pinch of flaky salt, toss in the pappardelle along with half of the parmesan and some pasta water – cooking to achieve a silky light sauce. Turn off heat and mix in reserved sliced wild garlic. Plate with more Parmesan and a touch of fresh pepper. 25
Easy Wild Garlic & Pork Steamed Rice Rolls Like a deliciously easy dumpling in a Cheung fun rice roll. This is easier than you would think and a great dinner or impressive starter. Ingredients: For the mix: • 300g fatty pork mince • 1 egg • 1/2 tbsp sesame oil • 1/2 tbsp light soy • Pinch white pepper • 1/2 Tbsp grated fresh ginger • 3/4 tsp salt • 80g wild garlic minced very well, a few leaves reserved for wrapping To wrap: • 8 dried round Vietnamese rice paper wraps • Fresh Coriander leaves and a few whole wild garlic leaves Method: Mix everything together in a bowl; dip rice paper in a large bowl of warm water until soft (but not too soft!). Place on a lightly greased plate. Add reserved leaves and about 3 tbsp of the mix, top with a few coriander leaves then wrap, repeat. Place in a steamer lined with greaseproof paper that is lightly oiled and steam for 10- 12 min until pork is done. To serve I put this on top of soy sauce with a dash of rice wine vinegar mixed with a pinch of sugar and topped with chilli oil. Couple of tips: • Grease a plate and add the softened paper to that when rolling. • Put greaseproof paper that is lightly oiled in your steamer. 26 www.moseleyb13.com
Ramadan Moseley Iftar & Dinner ‘24, Peace at Heart, Harmony in the World at St Columba United Reformed Church (Chantry Rd, Moseley Village) on Wednesday 3 April, 7pm-9:45pm. The Iftar dinner, by Moseley Hive but held at St Columba, is free but you can make a donation of £5 or more to support the nominated charity iLove iCare. Social Moseley Road Baths on Tour Presents: Places of Welcome with Knit & Natter at The Old Print Works (Moseley Road Balsall Heath) on Tuesday, 2 April, 10:30am11:30am. This drop in session offers our neighbourhood a place where everyone can go for a friendly face, a cup of tea and a conversation if and when they need it. Join for optional crafts, chats, refreshments, games. Free event. Comedy Hare of the Dog Comedy at Hare and Hounds (High St, Kings Heath) on Sunday 28 April, 6pm-9:30pm. Comedy and variety show hosted by Kings Heath’s most famous housewife Barbara Nice and Princess Egg of Northfield Lindsey Santoro. Poetry/ Spoken Word Mason, The Saga of The Ring at The Kitchen Garden Cafe on Wednesday, 17 April, 7:30pm. Come hear the Norse take that inspired Sarehole’s Tolkien, as well as Wagner, Morris, and countless others. Doors open at 6:30pm for the usual tasty menu to accompany Jon’s roustabout tales. Charity Charity Quiz Night at The Village (Alcester Road, Moseley Village) on Sunday 28 April, 6pm. Raising money for Heartlands Hospital Cystic Fibrosis Centre. Enjoy 25% off your food bill when playing the quiz. THE GUIDE TO APRIL '24 BEST EVENTS IN MOSELEY, BALSALL HEATH & KINGS HEATH 27
Music Monica and the Explosion at Dark Horse (Alcester Rd, Moseley Village) on 7 April at 4pm-10pm. Acoustic punk rock artist from Sweden. Since the release of her debut album in 2007 she has been touring all around the world. Free entry but donations for the band would be punkalicious. Nola Jam at Old Moseley Arms (Tindal Street, Balsall Heath) on Thursday 11 April, 7pm-11pm. New Orleans jam session. Hosted by Heavy Beats Brass Band & Segweh Sounds. Open to all musicians! Free entry but a £5 donation is suggested. Jane Weaver at The Castle & Falcon (Moseley Rd, Balsall Heath) on Sunday 21 April, 7pm. The wonder that is Jane Weaver tours her new album Love In Constant Spectacle. Cinema Moseley at the Movies at St Mary’s Church (St Mary’s Row, Moseley) on Wednesday 3 April, 7:15pm. First Wednesday of every month, the Moseley at the Movies group watches a film together and then discusses it afterwards. Check with St Mary’s nearer the time for this month’s film title. Free event. Disability On Film: The Diving Bell & The Butterfly at MAC (Cannon Hill Park) on Saturday 6 April, 3pm. Film adaptation based on the memoir by Jean-Dominique Bauby. It describes his life before and after a massive stroke left him with locked-in syndrome and how his imagination allowed him to escape his ‘diving bell’ and take flight like a butterfly. Screen B14 presents…Poor Things at The Cuban Embassy @The Bull’s Head (St Mary’s Row, Moseley) on Thursday 18 April at 7:30pm. The gothic tale and recent Oscar winner Poor Things gets a screening on St Mary’s Row by the brilliant Screen B14 Presents… Nature/History Walks Open Days Blossom Fest at Swanshurst Park (Yardley Wood Road) on 6 April, 12pm-2pm. Celebrate the blossom season including some of the park's new line of flowering cherry trees. Take a picnic, admire the park and take part in some family activities. Free. Origins of Middle Earth: J.R.R. Tolkien and Sarehole Guided Walk at Sarehole Mill (Cole Bank Road) on all Sundays (7 / 14 / 21 / 28) in April, 10am. A guided walk introducing the scenery that inspired J.R.R. Tolkien when he lived near Sarehole Mill as a child. Tour begins at the Mill and heads through Moseley Bog. Route is 2 miles in length. Dovecote and Icehouse Open Days at Entrance to Moseley Hall Hospital (Alcester Road) / Moseley Park & Pool on 27 April, 1pm-4pm. An opportunity to visit these historic Moseley locations. Swap Shop Stirchley Swap Shop! at Hare and Hounds on Sunday 7 April, 1pm-4pm. Bring anything (not just clothes) - cushions, skateboards, records, art…anything that is good quality and swappable. 28 www.moseleyb13.com
Markets & Fairs Moseley Record Fair at Moseley All Services Club (Church Road) on Sunday 7 April, 12pm-4pm. A new venue for the popular record fair, meaning a bigger room and licensed bar, and continuing to be a monthly marketplace for new and second-hand music formats, books and collectables. Balsall Heath Second Saturday at The Old Print Works (Moseley Road, Balsall Heath) on Saturday 13 April, 10am-4pm. Monthly mini festival celebrating creativity, community, local culture and the arts. Market, workshops, food, craft. Free admission. Pop-up Plant Sale on Sunday 21 April, at the Dovecote (179 Alcester Rd, Birmingham, B13 8JR) 2-4pm. Plants, seedlings and ‘gardenparaphernalia'. During the sale the Dovecote and the Cow House will be open to visit and you will be free to wander round the garden. Free event. Kings Heath Art Market at Kings Heath Baptist Church Hall (High St, Kings Heath / opposite ASDA) on 20 April, 2pm-5pm. After a lively and successful launch in March with 20 stalls, the second Kings Heath Art Market will feature local band Mad Moll to add to the lively sociable atmosphere. Free event. Moseley Farmers’ Market on Saturday 27 April, 9am-2pm. Stock up on the finest food, drink and the hot off the press May edition of Moseley B13 Magazine. Free event. Moseley Arts Market on Saturday 27 April, 9am-3pm. Free event. A chance to purchase work from local artists and designer makers. Check websites for more information and tickets where needed (all events which are free are listed as such). 29
THE SCREEN Looking at the screen The magic glass of our times Connections, cables, wires, A world beyond our world Beyond the walls of our lovely home A button, a screen, a blip Stealing your sight Wanting your sight on me Our love is on the screen Our dog too Lost connections are there too Unreal, unmet friends, those ones on X too We still looking at the screen Together Happy like in our snow globe Not a screen any more Love me? I love you Happy ending for me and you Save my screen if you can For me and you, dog too. Katerina Chamberlain 30 www.moseleyb13.com
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