MAY 2023 ISSUE 540 +BH B12 & KH B14 MOSELEY B13 magazine £2 LOCAL & VOCAL SINCE 1973 PLUS... 50 Not Out! The Story of Moseley B13 Magazine | Moseley Society History Group: Coronation Day 1953 | Moseley Munch: The Birmingham Balti | Moseley B13 Magazine at 50: Moseley at the Millennium CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF MOSELEY B13 MAGAZINE
Well…here it is! 50 years is indeed a milestone for a community magazine and this month we celebrate the achievement to the maximum. We tell The Story of Moseley B13 Magazine on pages 12-15, beginning with the very first issue in May 1973 (edited by John Williams who stayed in the role until the end of the century), and cover some of the big stories and challenges over the six decades. Previous Editor Sophie Painter returns to remember her five years steering the good ship Moseley B13 Magazine (18), and there is the next part in the Moseley B13 Magazine at 50 series with a look at how we reported on the Millennium with our last issue of 1999/first of 2000 (28 - 29). Other celebrations take place with Moseley Society History Group’s feature on the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 (16 - 17). You can find out which popular Moseley resident will be among the guests at the coronation of King Charles III on May 6 at Westminster Abbey with Newshound on page 7. The Birmingham Balti is royalty to many in our town and it also came to be in the 1970s, and Moseley Munch takes a mouthwatering look at its history (22 - 24). I’d like to take the opportunity to welcome our new designer Ellie to the magazine. It’s a big one to jump in and design so thanks for being such a star, Ellie! Also thanks to Darya who designed our last two issues as part of her internship. Oh, and I’m sure you all spotted our traditional April Fool prank in the last issue. April Einswitz and her drunken 1973 bet (5000-1 odds for a 50p stake!) that the magazine would survive to make its 50th birthday was indeed (technical term coming up) codswallop. I’m afraid to say there will not be a major Moseley party with drinks on the house from April’s hefty winnings! However, that doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate in style. Lasting for fifty years is indeed a big win for a non-profit magazine and our community, and is all down to the dedication of the hard working volunteers and our loyal readers from all eras. As we found through the difficult economic times of the 1970s and 80s; the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns; and the extreme hardships of today’s financial crisis; coming together as a community can indeed make a difference to all of our lives. Thank you for playing your part in the last 50 years. Mark MOSELEY B13 magazine EDITOR Mark Baxter ([email protected]) GRAPHIC DESIGNER Ellie Mellor ([email protected]) THE TEAM Ian Cook, David Isgrove, Stephanie Silk, Maria Arroja Ferreira, Tipton, Martin Jeffers, Jobe Baker-Sullivan, Izzy Knowles, Jenny Gwynne, Craig Pullen CONTRIBUTORS Sophie Painter, Dr Karnal Iqbal, Bianca Pirvuceanu/Ceol Agency, John Newson, Katerina Chamberlain BUSINESS MANAGER Martin Jeffers SOCIAL MEDIA Maria Arroja Ferreira TREASURER Leanne Holloway ([email protected]) PROOFREADER Pam Rutter DISTRIBUTION Izzy Knowles, Martin Jeffers BOARD David Isgrove (Chair) Stephanie Silk (Editorial) MAIL Moseley Publishing House Ltd/ Moseley B13 Magazine, ℅ Moseley Exchange, 149 - 153 Alcester Road, Moseley, Birmingham. B13 8JP. ONLINE facebook.com/MoseleyB13Magazine twitter.com/MoseleyB13Mag instagram.com/moseleyb13mag 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 is to be reproduced without express permission. All material is believed to be correct at the time of going to print. COVER IMAGE Courtesy of Mark Baxter
B13 MAGAZINE CONTENTS 3 THE BOHEMIANS OF B13 No. 92 BY Mark Baxter IN THIS ISSUE MAY 2023 OUTLETS Moseley Farmers’ Market (Moseley Village Green) A & R News (320 Yardley Wood Road) Drinksville (23 Woodbridge Road) Greenhill Garage (89-91 Billesley Lane) Indigo Foods (50-52 St Mary’s Row) Maison Mayci (148 Alcester Road) Moseley Post Office (149 Alcester Road) Newslink (3 Alcester Road) One Stop (117 Alcester Road) Oxfam Books and Music (101 Alcester Road) Palmyra (13 St Mary’s Row) SS Grocery Store (215 Stoney Lane) O.A.K Superstore (Ladypool Road) 5 a Day fruit and veg stall (Moseley Village) Old Print Works (Moseley Road) Moseley Exchange (147-153 Alcester Road) 2023 PUBLICATION DATES NEWSHOUND FEATURE: The Story of Moseley B13 Magazine FEATURE: The Story of Coronation Day 1953 PROFILE: Sophie Painter GUIDE TO MAY: Cinema Special CRAIG PULLEN'S NEWSDESK MOSELEY MUNCH LOCAL STORIES: Dr Karamat Iqbal VENUE PROFILE: Moseley Road Baths and Library P4 P12 P16 P18 P19 P20 P22 P26 P27 HIGHLIGHTS COPY 15 May 12 June 17 July 14 Aug 11 Sept 16 Oct 13 Nov ISSUE June July Aug Aept Oct Nov Dec SALE 27 May 24 June 29 July 26 Aug 23 Sept 28 Oct 25 Nov
TIPTON THE B13 NEWSHOUND @B13NEWSHOUND @TIPTONB 13 4 B13 MAGAZINE NEWSHOUND NEWSHOUND MOSELEY’S LONG-STANDING ANNUAL FESTIVAL will take place this year between Thursday 13 July and Sunday 16 July with the street fair booked for Saturday 15 July. A recent Moseley Together newsletter said: “We had a wonderful meeting filled with lots of local residents and creatives and some plans are already coming to life. The street fair is booked for July 15th, watch this space! We have a small pot of funding and know this community shindig can come to life but we want to know what you want to see, feel, do at your festival.” Moseley’s annual festival dates back to the 1970s and early events involved a street procession and festival floats. Early events, often quite offbeat, were organised in local pubs and other local venues. The festival stretched over two weeks. Author Norman Hewston in his book A History of Moseley Village noted that the 1976 festival featured a debate on the festival and Moseley life MOSELEY FESTIVALJULY 13-16 WITH STREET FAIR ON SATURDAY 15 by local publican Ivor Bartlett, of the Fighting Cocks, and the village baker John Luker. Hewston states: “One of the features included a Beatles and Stones’ disco, and even an evening of music from Germany’s Weimar years! “Another year the ‘village idiot’ was nominated and he was required to perform certain tasks, one of which was to set up a table and chair and eat a meal in the middle of the road at the junction.” There is a facebook page for the festival at https://www.facebook.com/MoseleyFestival/ On the page it says: “Have your say about what you would like to see at Moseley Festival. Local groups, artists, musicians, businesses, community members join us to begin planning our festival.” Email [email protected] Alternatively if you want to get involved, offer your skills email rhiannon@moseleyexchange. com. ■ TIPTON THE B13 NEWSHOUND @B13NEWSHOUND @TIPTONB 13
B13 MAGAZINE NEWSHOUND 5 IMAGE: PACKWOOD PROPERTIES LIMITED FORMER SAINSBURY’S LOCAL COULD BE RE-DEVELOPED AS THREE SEPARATE UNITS PLANS TO DEVELOP THE FORMER Sainsbury's local site at 158A-164, Alcester Road are being considered by Birmingham Council’s planning committee. The plans, submitted by Packwood Properties Limited, involve dividing the site, which has been vacant since February 2022, into three separate units to be used as a bakery, a café and a pizzeria restaurant. It is proposed there would be alterations to the shopfront and installation of extraction system and flue to the rear. The site was used for several years from 2005 to 2022 as a Sainsbury’s Local but prior to this was three separate premises. Those with long memories may recall Vincent’s fishmongers/greengrocers, the West Brom Building Society and the Nat-West Bank all occupying premises around this point on the East side of Alcester Road. According the new planning application: “The existing single unit is particularly large for this location and was historically made up of smaller individual units. The premises being unviable for a large national retailer is unlikely to remain as an occupied single unit and is very unlikely to be attractive to other proprietors as a single unit. “This is clearly demonstrated by the fact that the premises have been vacant since February 2022. As such, the proposed subdivision of the premises into three smaller units is more likely to achieve and help maintain the vitality and vibrancy of this Neighbourhood Centre.” It is also said that: “The proposed changes have been carefully considered and adapted to ensure that they are sympathetic to the existing shopfront and parade of shops, as well as the character of the conservation area. Therefore, given the nature of the proposed external works it is considered that the proposed will sympathetically subdivide the premises and would enhance the character of this part of the conservation area.” The application also seeks permission for the associated external alterations to the premises to include alterations to the existing shop frontage to create new doorway accesses and also the provision of a commercial extraction system and flue to serve proposed redevelopment which is close to a number of residential properties. To see the full plans and comment on the application go to: https://t.co/4YMoJuCwhW ■
6 B13 MAGAZINE NEWSHOUND SEVERAL LOCAL GROUPS INCLUDING Moseley In Bloom may ‘adopt’ the new Moseley Village Station to ensure it is a welcoming and friendly place when it opens to passenger services later this year. Moseley in Bloom recently attended the West Midlands Transport Volunteer Forum 2023, along with other local groups, to work out ways of involving local people and groups in ‘adopting’ the new station. And ‘adoption’ does not mean just putting a few plants or hanging baskets on the new station’s platforms. Local rail users may know that each of the 18 stations on the ‘Shakespeare Line’, from Stratford upon Avon to Birmingham Moor Street, already have volunteers involved in activities that improve and ‘humanise’ facilities, providing welcoming information about their local area, bringing disused buildings into use including, at Henley in Arden, introducing a micro-brewery to the station. As a result, passenger safety and confidence are improved and train travel is increased. Elsewhere on the Shakespeare Line at Small Heath, ‘Station Adoption’ has led to antisocial behaviour being reduced by 55%. Representatives of Moseley groups attending the recent ‘station adoption’ event heard of many other examples of the successes of volunteer adoption of other stations and it was agreed this is something to seriously consider for our new station. A number of bodies have MOSELEY VILLAGE STATION MAY BE ‘ADOPTED’ BY LOCAL GROUPS made money available for volunteers. In addition, West Midlands Rail Executive is currently preparing a Community Toolkit to help local groups interested in station adoption (see below). There are two types of station adoption - level one comprises station adoption on an informal basis by groups associated with the area who wish to undertake a variety of tasks at the station but do not wish to organise a formal group. West Midlands Railway welcome this activity and support with health and safety briefings and resources. Level two comprises station adoption by a formally constituted group with a bank account. The community group apply for funding to various sources, undertake volunteer tasks at the station and attend community rail events. Works at their adopted station includes gardening and landscaping, art installations and pop-up events If any local Moseley group is interested in being part of the ‘adoption’ of Moseley Village station and would like the Adopt A Station Start Up Pack, please email: [email protected] Moseley in Bloom can be contacted via their website at https://moseleyinbloom.org.uk/ contact-us/ ■
B13 MAGAZINE NEWSHOUND 7 IZZY KNOWLES, LIBERAL DEMOCRAT COUNCILLOR FOR MOSELEY AND holder of the British Empire Medal (BEM), will be among the 2,000 guests at the Coronation of King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort on Saturday May 6 at Westminster Abbey. Izzy received the BEM in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours in January 2022, “for services to the community in Moseley, Birmingham, particularly during COVID-19”. The BEM recognises service to the community in a local area and it is estimated that more than 450 BEM recipients will be among those invited to Westminster Abbey. A spokesperson for Buckingham Palace said: “Many recipients attending the coronation were “instrumental in providing services and support to their local communities during the Covid-19 lockdowns”. Izzy told Newshound that she would see herself as representing Moseley and Birmingham at the coronation. In Moseley itself there are believed to be several local groups planning street parties. Those local communities who are organising street parties for the forthcoming Coronation are set to be rewarded by national charities and social enterprises. One charity called the Eden Project will award a Coronation Big Lunch hamper (including a £250 Iceland voucher) which could come in useful for any street parties held during the bank holiday weekend which runs from the Coronation on Saturday 6 May to the Coronation bank holiday on Monday 8 May. A Big Lunch can be anything from a small gathering in a garden or park to a larger party with trestle tables down the middle of your street. The idea is that by starting simple, and bringing people together to share friendship, food and fun with a Big Lunch, all sorts of ideas and projects can follow. It can lead to people doing more within their community and together tackling the issues that matter to them most. In addition to the hamper the Eden Project will give an award of £2,500 to support a worthwhile community project. More info at https://www.edenprojectcommunities.com ■ MOSELEY’S IZZY TO ATTEND CORONATION OF KING CHARLES AND QUEEN CAMILLA
8 B13 MAGAZINE NEWSHOUND A NEW MUSICAL DRAMA BASED ON THE 1980S BEIRUT HOSTAGE CRISIS IS to have a four night run Upstairs at the Dark Horse 145 Alcester Rd from June 15-18 marking the continuing revival of pop-up pub theatre in Moseley. The adult-themed musical drama entitled After This Plane Has Landed is written and composed by Adrian Kimberlin who comes from Birmingham. It explores the real-life stories – beyond the headlines - of kidnapped journalist John McCarthy played by Benedict Powell and his partner Jill Morrell played by Claire Russell. Jill Morrell campaigned for John McCarthy’s release during the hostage crisis. John McCarthy and Jill Morrell hit the headlines in 1986 when John, a British journalist, was kidnapped in war-torn Beirut. Frustrated by government inaction, Jill resolved to raise awareness and formed the campaign group ‘The Friends of John McCarthy’. For more than five desperate years, McCarthy remained a hostage. After This Plane Has Landed places sharp focus on the very human elements of their situation. It goes on to explore events beyond a joyful reunion under an intense media spotlight and with the fairy-tale expectations of an enthralled public. The brand new, original musical drama comedy – dramedy – will have preview performances at The Dark Horse, 15-18 June before premiering at this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe, in August. Adrian Kimberlin said: “I was really drawn to the inspirational stories of Jill Morrell and John McCarthy, which I remember quite vividly. I think people of a particular generation will also recall events of the time though not necessarily be aware of what happened next. “Much of the subject matter is specific and remarkable but universal themes of love and separation, reunion and beyond will chime, I believe, with a younger audience and indeed resonate with everybody, not just aficionados of musicals!” He added: “Following the success of my previous show, The Stars That Remain which requires a cast of eleven, I was keen to write a more compact two-hander musical ‘dramedy’ based on real events. “Musical theatre is such a broad church these days, I see no reason why new NEW ‘POP-UP’ THEATRE AT DARK HORSE RECALLS 1980S BEIRUT HOSTAGE DRAMA ►►►
B13 MAGAZINE NEWSHOUND 9 and entertaining adult-themed drama with well-crafted musical numbers shouldn’t sit comfortably alongside ‘jukebox’ musicals or spin-off shows based on movies or TV.” Exit Productions has teamed-up with local promoter Becky Jones-Owen to stage the previews in The Dark Horse, Moseley, following last year’s sold-out ‘pub theatre’ success at the Prince of Wales with Saltire Sky’s award-winning play ‘1902’. Becky said: “I was really pleased with the response last year from audiences, who are perhaps not regular city-centre theatre-goers, to bringing fringe theatre to an unconventional ‘pub space’ in Moseley. “Good quality pub theatre is much more common in London, so not only am I trying to develop something similar in Moseley, but I also want to help bring in customers to local pubs that have struggled since the lockdowns of the Covid-19 pandemic. “I’m delighted to bring a flavour of the Fringe to Moseley with five matinee and evening preview performances of Adrian’s After This Plane Has Landed before it heads up to Edinburgh for a full-run.” After This Plane Has Landed will preview at The Dark Horse (Upstairs), 145 Alcester Road, Moseley, Birmingham, B13 AJP. The show will run from 15-18 June 2023 from 8-9pm on 15-17 and 2:30- 3:30pm matinees on 17/18. Tickets available from: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/after-this-plane-has-landed-a-musicaldramedy-by-adrian-kimberlin ■ IMAGE: ADRIAN KIMBERLIN, WRITER AND COMPOSER OF “AFTER THIS PLANE HAS LANDED”. CLAIRE RUSSELL WHO IS PLAYING JILL MORRELL AND BENEDICT POWELL WHO IS PLAYING JOHN MCCARTHY.
10 B13 MAGAZINE NEWSHOUND CONSTRUCTION ON THE RAILWAY LINE AND FACILITIES AT MOSELEY VILLAGE Station is a seven day a week activity as shown in these photographs taken on Sunday 26 March. The last piece of substantial “out-of-hours work” took place during a nineday closure of the railway line, which took place from Saturday 25 March to Monday 3 April. During this time, there was 24-hour work on the site of the new station. New sleepers were laid on the rail line where the new Moseley Village station is set to be built. Rail construction company vans were lined up on Oxford Road on the same day. VolkerFitzpatrick, the principal contractors building the station, used this weekend time to carry out work that could only be done while the railway line was closed, such as pouring concrete to create the platform foundations and removing significant volumes of excavated soil by train. They stressed that work has been carefully planned to reduce disruptions by minimising night-time working wherever possible. Measures were in place to monitor and reduce any noise. Lighting was directed away from neighbouring areas. The majority of the work is taking place during standard working hours, Monday to Friday, 07.30am to 5.30pm. Some work, however, needs to take place on weekends and at night-time. Earlier this Spring a spokesperson for TfWM (Transport for West Midlands) said: “We’re aiming towards completion by the end of 2023 for the Camp Hill Line stations. We’re making good progress on these.” ■ SPEEDY CONSTRUCTION WORK ON NEW LINE SET TO MEET WINTER OPENING DATE NEWSHOUND WORDS BY Ian Cook
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12 B13 MAGAZINE FEATURE THE STORY OF MOSELEY B13 MAGAZINE MOSELEY B13 MAGAZINE AT 50: 50 NOT OUT! WORDS BY Mark Baxter IMAGE: FRONT COVER OF FIRST EDITION OF BIRMINGHAM 13, MAY 1973 “ IT’S THE MONTH OF MAY AND 1.6 million workers are on strike over the government’s pay restraint policies and the USA is televising a trial of a presidential cover-up. It probably sounds like a description of May 2023 but the reference is to Britain and the Watergate scandal of 50 years ago. 1973 was described as “the most significant year of the 20th century” and this could sound like an overblown statement when faced with years when world wars had begun and ended; man had landed and walked on the moon; presidents had been assassinated while a band from Liverpool changed music and popular culture forever; and walls collapsed which had divided people for decades. In truth, 1973 seems to have acted as a crossroads of politics and social unrest. One small thing that came out of that year was the first issue of birmingham 13, later renamed Moseley B13 Magazine, published in May 1973. Printed in a large broadsheet fold-out format, the four page paper was an initiative from “Moseley churches for the community” and was delivered to local homes in the hope of finding subscribers. The front cover ran the headlines “Bypass scheme is shelved, in regards to a proposed route to relieve congestion between Moseley and Kings Heath which would have led to the demolition of around 250 houses, and “What’s it all about?” The latter related to the mission and content of the new publication and offered a brief description of what readers could expect. “This is a paper for people who live in one of the most interesting parts of the city, the area which the street signs call Birmingham 13. We don’t believe it’s unlucky Printed in a large broadsheet fold-out format, the four page paper was an initiative from “Moseley churches for the community” ►►►
B13 MAGAZINE FEATURE 13 IMAGE: THE MAGAZINE THROUGH THE DECADES to live here. The paper sets out to help us understand the place we live in, what’s happening to it, and what we can do about it.” Selling at 5p a copy, the magazine was “local and vocal” from the very beginning, giving its view on “Moseley Private Park “ - should it be made public?”, the front cover headline and story of the second issue, after the call was made from the Trafalgar Road Street Committee. Thankfully, the original Victorian plan was kept in place and the Park and Pool went on to celebrate its 100th birthday in the July 1999 issue. 1974 featured a story on “Radio Moseley” and how it predated the BBC. The magazine chatted with Mr J. Sayer who, 50 years earlier had visited a Dr Ratcliffe at the corner of School Road and Wake Green Road. Dr Ratcliffe owned a transmitterreceived radio with a microphone and would broadcast music played on his HMV gramophone and also of his daughter playing the violin. The station only had a few listeners, with one of those being a J.J. Shaw from West Bromwich who Dr Ratcliffe would call after the broadcast to ask for his opinion. 41 years later, the magazine returned to the Radio Moseley story for a Lost Moseley feature. The 2015 article made the discovery that this was likely to be the same J.J. Shaw who was the joint inventor of the seismograph - a device to detect, record and measure tremors from around the world - which became the world’s standard earthquake recording instrument. Shaw has been described as one of Britain’s greatest amateur scientists and his involvement in the 1920s radio broadcasts in Moseley is a fascinating piece of history. Moving into a new decade, Moseley was faced with the loss of its community arts festival at the start of the 1980s and the newspaper dedicated itself to the issue. ‘MOSELEY TO LOSE FESTIVAL?’ was the headline to dominate the cover of February 1980, with corresponding text detailing the struggles of the festival organisation. The odds seemed against its survival when the birmingham 13 reporter described a meeting from the previous month as a “hall empty and no one at all present. After driving around Moseley in search of any Selling at 5p a copy, the magazine was “local and vocal” from the very beginning ►►►
14 B13 MAGAZINE FEATURE IMAGE: EXTRACT OF LOST MOSELEY FROM 2015 “ possible place of gathering he gave up. This would seem to be a sign of the possible future of the festival too.” Thankfully, the community and magazine persevered and by April 1980, the headline and story was much more positive. “MOSELEY FESTIVAL SAVED…a new and very strong committee has been formed to organise the 1980 events… street fair and parade, another Mastermind competition, cricket and tug of war matches and yard of ale competition, a Beatles & Stones disco and barbecue and reggae night on the Green. UB40 has been booked to play at the Warwick Suite at Edgbaston… ” Other early 80s front cover stories came in the shape of “A Wheel Chair View of Moseley (March 1981) with a 10-point plan to make Moseley an easier place to live in for disabled, and “The Sun Shines on the first Moseley Marathon” (July 1981) when the six-mile run took place in glorious sunshine” for the 700 entrants. In 1992, Birmingham Thirteen (as it was titled at the point) serialised the extracts from the historic diary of local resident Katharine Thomson. Katharine had studied music in Germany during the early 1930s and her diary recorded the rise of the Third Reich. She had even found herself seated next to Adolf Hitler at the opera and her diary is considered one of the most important pieces in the magazine’s history. In October 1999, as the whole world got the jitters about the Millenium Bug, the magazine announced that Moseley would have its own website with ‘www.b13.moseley.net’. This was a birmingham 13 initiative so the suburb could have an information exchange. The magazine reminded readers that, although there would now be an online version, they shouldn’t “stop buying birmingham 13!” Thankfully, the print version made it into a new century with content which included everything from a petition to reopen WH Smiths - the Moseley branch had been one of the first to open in the country in 1913 and the campaign received 1524 signatures in the first few weeks of 2002 - to reports on the Moseley tornado and its aftermath in 2005. The publication continued to be infamous for its April Fool pranks and in recent years these have covered everything from Donald Trump taking over Moseley Park and Pool to convert it into a golf course, to Moseley being the inspiration for ‘Mos Eisley’ in Star Wars after as the whole world got the jitters about the Millenium Bug, the magazine announced that Moseley would have its own website ►►►
B13 MAGAZINE FEATURE 15 IMAGE: THE NEWSHOUND AND MOSELEY B13 MAGAZINE IN LA NUOVA SARDEGNA “ George Lucas was said to have visited the suburb in his younger years. The Lost Moseley series (2015- 2019) seemed to uncover genuine answers to a few local mysteries such as the accounts of Charles Dickens performing at the Moseley and Balsall Heath Institute (Dickens had died many years before it had even opened so this was never possible. A book produced to celebrate 50 years of the Institute in the 1920s revealed the truth: it was his son Charles Dickens Jr who had lectured in the building) and credible tales of a network of tunnels beneath Moseley School provided by former students (this was likely the remains of the Pine Dell Hydropathic site which had existed on the site in the 1890s. Sections of bath and brick pillars were buried under the school and said to be accessible through a hatch). The magazine even appeared in international media when, in 2015, an article was published in La Nuova Sardegna, the national newspaper of Sardinia. The piece told the story of a puppy named Tipton abandoned on a coastal road on the Italian island. The dog, named Tipton, was brought back to the UK where she became the magazine’s Newshound and mascot. Tipton graced the cover of our 500th issue in September 2019, seated atop the 46 year archive of the magazine. Moseley B13 Magazine weathered the difficult days of the pandemic and lockdowns in 2020 and 2021 to stay in publication every month and reach this milestone. Half a century for a local magazine is quite an achievement and wouldn’t have been possible without the countless editors, designers, writers, researchers, distributors, treasurers, sales people, board members, proofreaders, photographers, and volunteers of every single kind. And of course you, the readers. We have featured many stories over the last 50 years but in this issue the magazine is the story. Let’s raise a glass to the long and winding road of this community venture and hope for another half century. ■ Tipton, was brought back to the UK where she became the magazine’s Newshound and mascot.
16 B13 MAGAZINE FEATURE THE STORY OF CORONATION DAY 1953 MOSELEY SOCIETY HISTORY GROUP WORDS BY Edwina Rees IMAGE: 1950s ADVERT FOR LOCAL TV SHOP IMAGE: CORONATION DAY OF QUEEN ELIZABETH II It poured with rain! But that didn’t stop people all over the country holding parties in the decorated streets of their towns and cities, and in London the roads were packed with people waiting to see the processions that took place. For people living in Birmingham, 6,500 extra trains were laid on to take people to London and for those who chose to stay at home all was not lost as the whole Coronation event was to be televised for the first time. As a result the sale of TV sets rocketed. It was watched by 27 million people in the UK alone and millions more around the world. The viewers would have been gathered around their newly-purchased 12 inch screen television sets in their homes, pubs or community centres, all eyes fixed on the grainy, black-and-white images. Televisions were not cheap, for example, a Pye 12 inch TV, containing a cathode ray tube, was available to buy for forty-six guineas or fourteen shillings a week rental, a considerable outlay in those days. The nearest stockist for Moseley residents was Harold F. Ward Ltd. at 144 Alcester Road. Many families THE CORONATION OF Charles III and his wife, Camilla, as King and Queen Consort of the United Kingdom and many other Commonwealth realms is scheduled to take place on Saturday, 6 May 2023, at Westminster Abbey. Charles acceded to the throne on 8 September 2022, upon the death of his mother, Elizabeth II. This will be the first opportunity for many to witness a Coronation event for just over seventy years. The coronation of Charles’ mother, the late Elizabeth II took place on 2 June 1953. The only problem on the actual day was the typical British weather. clubbed together to buy or rent one. The viewers were recommended by opticians: not to view in the dark, to sit in front of the screen not the side of it and if you wore glasses to put on your distance pair rather than the ones you read with. ►►►
B13 MAGAZINE FEATURE 17 “ This will be the first opportunity for many to witness a Coronation event for just over seventy years CORONATION DAY 1953 IMAGE: ROYAL SALUTE AT CANNON HILL PARK IMAGE: ORPHANS FROM THE CHILDREN’S HOME, PARK ROAD, MOSELEY The only street party reported near Moseley was in Runcorn Road, Balsall Heath, but there was an event laid on for the children from Park Road Children’s Home, Moseley. The children enjoyed several events in a street party in Mole Street, Sparkbrook including an egg and spoon race. The residents of Hazlemere, a Women’s Baptist League establishment for elderly gentlewomen in St Agnes Road, Moseley, enjoyed a celebration tea including cherries and cream. The atmosphere was one of a ‘home’ recreating the environment of their younger days with brass candlesticks, ceramic jars and a Turkish carpet. Many Birmingham Sports Clubs organised their own celebrations. Moseley Cricket Club held a women’s cricket match in the pavilion. Fast bowlers were instructed to use the passage from the old tea bar to the place that sells stronger stuff for their run up. At Cannon Hill Park, a Royal Salute of 21 guns was fired by a troop of four guns from the 26th Warwickshire Regiment, Royal Artillery (T.A.). The 25-pounders were drawn up beside the lake and fired across the water. In the evening despite the showers and squally winds, more than five thousand gathered in the park where a £50 firework display sent Coronation ‘bouquets’ of red, white and blue pluming into the night sky. It was a particularly memorable occasion for two couples, who celebrated the birth of their children on the day, so called ‘Coronation Babies’, at Sorrento Maternity Home, Wake Green Road, Moseley. Mrs Isabella Simms of 6/61 South Terrace Sparkbrook gave birth to a daughter at 12.15 am, weighing 6lb 2 oz and six hours later, another girl, weighing 7lbs 9 oz was born to Mrs Margaret Lewis from 19 Chisholm Grove, Acocks Green, Birmingham. ■
18 B13 MAGAZINE PROFILE SOPHIE PAINTER: MEMORIES OF MOSELEY B13 MAGAZINE IMAGE: ADAM STYLER AND SOPHIE PAINTER IMAGE: SOPHIE PAINTER I WAS A COMPLETE NOVICE TO THE WORLD OF PUBLISHING WHEN I applied for the position of volunteer Editor back in 2014. A moment of confidence based on nothing other than a feeling of ‘I could do that’ landed me an interview with the marvellous Stephanie Silk and award-winning David Isgrove over coffees at Damascena, and nearly five years of involvement with the magazine. Once I’d gotten over the fact that the initial promise of ‘the commitment is just one weekend a month plus one editorial meeting’ was factually incorrect, and that I actually needed to conjure up about 30 hours a month, I got into the swing of it. I really enjoyed getting behind the scenes and learning how it works – from conception to design, from grammar debates to sales and everything in between. It was great to be part of such a brilliant and diverse team – all eager to commit their time, skills, passions, and experience to the cause. The perks weren’t quite what you might expect from a glossier magazine, but I do recall a free pizza, the odd gig entry and a random Easter egg. I also learnt that just because you set a reader competition, doesn’t mean anyone will actually enter it! My final edition as Editor was December 2019. I was incredibly impressed with Mark and the team creatively adapting to the challenges of the pandemic 2020 and keeping the ship afloat. Their efforts, and those of other community groups enabled us to stay informed, engaged, and connected during that time. I think the magazine’s real beauty lies in its ability to bring people together. It’s a platform for our community to share stories, ideas, and opinions. A way for us to connect with our neighbours and celebrate the things that make Moseley special. It is a testament to the resilience and determination of our community that we have been able to keep this publication in print for so long. I’m very proud to have been a little cog in the machine. Here’s to our beloved magazine. May it continue to serve as a voice for our community for years to come. ■
B13 MAGAZINE GUIDE TO MAY 19 THE GUIDE TO MAY CINEMA SPECIAL THE FIVE DEVILS MAC Cinema, Cannon Hill Park, various screenings between Friday 5 - Thursday 11 May. Shades of The Shining in this witchy French thriller at the foot of the Alps. Recent hit at the Cannes Film Festival. 4K FILM: RAGING BULL MAC Cinema, on Saturday 6 May at 7.30pm. Restoration of the Martin Scorsese masterpiece with Robert De Niro’s Oscar winning performance as Jake La Motta. LOVING HIGHSMITH MAC Cinema, with various screenings between Saturday 6th - Thursday 11th May. Documentary on the American author Patricia Highsmith based on her diaries and notebooks, and the recollections of lovers, friends and family. REEL & MEAL: ALL ABOUT MY MOTHER MAC Cinema/MAC KILN Café, on Friday 12 May. Dining slots at 7pm, 7.15pm or 7.30pm. Film at 8.30pm. Film can be attended without having the meal. KILN’s chefs cook up a delicious Spanish meal before the screening of one of Pedro Almodovar’s finest cinema concoctions. EXHIBITION ON SCREEN: VERMEER MAC Cinema, Wednesday 17 May at 7.15pm. Exhibition on Screen invites audiences to a private view of the largest Vermeer exhibition in history at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Edgbaston, on Friday 19 May at 7.30pm. Outdoor screening of the horticultural horror comedy classic on the big screen in the most beautiful of sensory settings. FLATPACK FESTIVAL PRESENTS 7 INCH CINEMA: 20 GLORIOUS YEARS Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath on Thursday 18 May 7pm - 11pm. Celebrating 20 years of screening strange films in unusual places with everything from an improv score for a silent French short to regular collaborators Sugarfoot Stomp spinning vintage tunes.
20 B13 MAGAZINE CRAIG PULLEN’S NEWSDESK CRAIG PULLEN’S NEWSDESK OPINION, COMMENTARY & MUSINGS FROM MOSELEY’S CRAIG PULLEN This edition of the Newsdesk celebrates the 50th anniversary of Moseley B13 Magazine. We thought we’d take the opportunity to look at how the news agenda has changed in that period. What were Moseleyites arguing about back then? In a period when Moseley Matters and social media were a madman’s dream, where and how did people complain about poorly parked cars? That age old philosophical question; if you complain about poorly parked cars and fireworks, and nobody is listening, does it even make a sound? Well, back in 1973, there were fewer cars on UK roads, with 19 million owned, compared to some 37 million today. However, in Moseley, which wasn’t the affluent suburb it is now, cars were rarely seen, and those that were, often were, as they are now, parked inconsiderately, by hippies, artists and musicians who were frequently out of their minds on the brown acid and a drug known as “pot”, a sort of prototype skunk weed which was freely available in the district at the time. I’ve spoken to long time Moseley residents Norman Church, and his sister, Rosemary Crackers, to ask about life in B13 in the early 70s. Norman Church: “Back then, if anyone complained about fireworks, or parking, or the proliferation of certain types of shops, we’d go to the pub, and stand up and announce our displeasure. This was the 1970s equivalent of a Facebook post on Everything Moseley. For example, I’d stand up, and shout “Which perishing idiot (we didn’t swear in those days) was setting off fireworks on Church Road at midnight last night. Then, someone would respond, either admitting it was them, or accusing someone else, or a certain group being responsible, or agreeing how objectionable it was. The conversation would go on from there, but everyone “ How the news agenda has changed in the last 50 years? What were Moseleyites arguing about back then? ►►►
B13 MAGAZINE XXXXXX 21 would drink pints of Mitchell’s and Butler mild ale, and smoke loads of fags, all gradually getting angrier, upon which, the conversation would spill outside, and be settled in the time-honored way, with everyone stripped to the waist, even the women, duking it out until someone admitted they were in the wrong. Then it was all forgotten about, until someone else “posted” about a different subject, upon which the whole process started again. Good times. Good times.” Rosemary Crackers: “The Moseley of 1973 was a very different place back then. Everything was sort of brown and orange, and there was a smoky haze from all the pot, which everybody smoked. People would walk around naked, with just a guitar to cover their willies and tuppences. As Norman said, the method of arguing was different then. Those of us who didn’t attend the pubs would stand on Cider Island, which was a public toilet back then, and shout their objection into the street to see who would respond. I remember being quite miffed about the proliferation of certain shops on Victoria Parade. I shouted ‘What’s with all of the tobacconists and greengrocers? How many more do we need?’ This prompted a man responding in agreement, expressing his concern about how many haberdashers there were, when what was really needed was more hairdressers operated by those of Anatolian Peninsula descent, or say, outlets selling hot, spiced and battered poultry products. Thankfully, we don’t have that kind of conversation now. Good times. Good times.” Anyway, that’s all we’ve got time for. Here’s to the next fifty years. Who knows where we’ll be? Maybe we’ll be living on Mars with Elon as our leader. Or maybe we’ll be fighting over the last rat to have for dinner. Good times. Good times. See you on Cider Island. ■ HANDYMAN MARIUS RELIABLE SERVICES DOMESTIC ODD JOBS ELECTRICAL JOINERY PLUMBING DECORATING TILING Happy to help with small garden & DIY projects Mobile: 07849315649 Email: [email protected]
22 “ B13 MAGAZINE MOSELEY MUNCH MY FIRST VISIT TO BIRMINGHAM A DECADE AGO involved a meal in the heart of the Balti triangle. It felt magical to be amongst the shops, the wafts of spices, massive hot naans and the hustle and bustle. I remember the first taste of that famous piping hot tangy meal. This Brummie dish came to be around fifty years ago and only a stone’s throw away from where our village resides. The dish I refer to is of course the Balti. What makes a Balti? There doesn’t appear to be one strict regimen of ingredients. What is consistent about it is there is a protein and no ghee; there are various spices and some fresh elements such as pepper and tomato; and it is all meant to be cooked within a handful of minutes in a circular Balti dish. In order to appeal to Western customers, the Balti was specially designed by a Pakistani restaurateur who wanted to create something hot, fast and in one pot. I have read that this quick, fresh way of cooking was significant to a certain area of Pakistan, and you could most certainly trace this method back thousands of years to the use of wok-like pans of the East. What I love is that the function of this cooking mechanism was created solely for this one coveted dish. The greatest thing about the Balti (apart from being extremely delicious) is the fact that so many in Birmingham have been able to bear witness to its creation. This has significant meaning. It is rare to be able to reflect on a historical dish that happened in front of our eyes. The Balti triangle is still a place to visit, but a lot of the original establishments have now sadly closed. If you are not a frequent visitor, I hope this article will entice your senses and send wafts of nostalgic memories your way – so much so that you must pay a visit and perhaps take a walk down memory lane. ■ The greatest thing about the Balti (apart from being extremely delicious) is the fact that so many in Birmingham have been able to bear witness to its creation. IMAGE: JENNY GWYNNE, THE SALTY CHILLI MOSELEY
B13 MAGAZINE MOSELEY MUNCH 23 INGREDIENTS For the lamb: 175g lamb neck fillet cut into large chunks 450g lamb shoulder cut into large chunks 1 Tbsp veg oil ¼ tsp sea salt 200g onion (1 small onion) roughly chopped 1 tomato (250g) roughly chopped 1 red chilli cut lengthwise 1 green and red pepper cut into chunks 20g garlic minced or grated 20g ginger minced or grated 1 tsp garam masala 1 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp ground coriander 1 cinnamon stick 1 black cardamom pod 1 clove 5 cardamom pods ½ tsp turmeric 2 bay leaves Handful coriander stems (save the leaves for garnish) 500ml lamb or beef stock For the potato: 400g potatoes peeled and cut into quarters ½ tsp mustard seeds ½ tsp cumin seeds ½ tsp turmeric 150g unsalted butter Sea salt to taste TO SERVE Toasted almonds, ginger matchsticks, coriander leaves, yogurt. Pickled onion & cucumber (optional): Minced ½ small onion and ¼ cucumber mixed with ½ tsp salt, ½ tsp sugar, 1 Tbsp white wine vinegar then topped with cold water and placed in the fridge. Drain to serve. Method continued on next page ► THIS IS NOT A TRUE AND TYPICAL BALTI DISH BY ANY means. This is a celebration via the flavours of a Balti. All of it is cooked low and slow until tender and is then finished off with a spiced buttery potato. It is a true melting pot and fusion of British and Pakistani food. I hope you enjoy it! ‘BALTI’ SHEPHERD’S PIE WITH QUICK PICKLES
24 B13 MAGAZINE MOSELEY MUNCH METHOD Preheat the oven to 200C. Sprinkle the sea salt all over the lamb. Toast all the spices for the lamb in a dry pan until fragrant, set aside. Heat the oil in a large ovenproof dish with a lid. Brown the lamb on all sides and set aside with the juices on a plate. Add a splash more oil if necessary and add the onion, garlic and ginger sauteing until softened. Add spices, peppers, chilli and coriander stems along with a splash of the stock and mix until fragrant. Add the lamb and its juices back into the pot along with the rest of the stock. Bring to a boil then turn the heat off. Place a sheet of aluminium foil over the pot and place the lid on it. Put it in the oven to cook for 4-6 hours until the lamb is pull-apart tender. ‘BALTI’ SHEPHERD’S PIE WITH QUICK PICKLES In the meantime, toast the mustard and cumin seeds in a dry pan and set aside. Boil the potatoes until fork tender, reserving a bit of the liquid. Mash the potatoes along with the butter, spices and the reserved liquid until it’s smooth and silky. Salt to taste. Pluck out the cinnamon stick, cardamom pods, bay, clove and chilli. Take the lamb out and shred into smaller chunks with a fork and place into a small oven proof dish. In the meantime, reduce the juices to a gravy consistency and pour over the lamb.* Pipe or layer the potato on top then place back into the oven for 20 minutes until the potato becomes golden. Serve in bowls with a dollop of yogurt, coriander leaves, ginger matchsticks, toasted almonds and some of the pickles. *The potato and lamb can be made 2-3 days in advance and then made into the shepherd’s pie when you are ready to bake it. RECIPE BY: Jenny Gwynne Jenny is The Salty Chilli. Find her on Instagram @thesaltychilli and website: www.thesaltychilli.com
26 B13 MAGAZINE LOCAL STORIES LOCAL STORIES: HAPPY DAYS IN MOSELEY WORDS BY Dr Karamat Iqbal I ARRIVED IN BIRMINGHAM, FROM KASHMIR, IN the 1970s. This was a difficult time for our community. Our neighbourhoods were racially hostile places. This was especially so when we ventured into the Outer Ring. Regardless of this, whenever I had the bus-fare I would go out exploring the diversity of the city I now called home. One day this took me to Moseley. This was not just a different experience but a very positive one. I did not feel threatened or abused by anyone. No one stared at me. Every encounter I had with people different from me was positive. Because of this, Moseley became my go-to place; walking around on Saturday afternoons and then staying into the evening to catch a performance at the Fighting Cocks. I seem to remember Ian Matthews performing ‘Don’t hang up your dancing shoes’. Not surprising that in 1985, when we were looking to move out from East Birmingham, we moved to Moseley. We wanted an area where our family would be able to not just survive but thrive in an environment free from racial abuse. This turned out to be a good decision. Soon after our first child was born, at Sorrento Hospital, then a few years later our second child arrived. Both of them attended and thrived at local nurseries and Kings Heath Primary School as they did in the area generally; so much so that one of them has now his own family settled in the area. Arriving in Moseley coincided with the opening of Kababish Restaurant. This gave me a helping hand to feel at home in my new neighbourhood, given that I used to frequent their eatery Lazat Kadah where I lived before, in Small Heath. My best wishes to Moseley B13 Magazine on its 50th; may it go on thriving. It’s great to be included in this special issue. On a couple of occasions back in 2011, I had the pleasure of writing for the magazine. One article was ‘There is more to me than my competence in English’. Another article was about the dangers of communities leading parallel lives, something in which Moseley has become better over time. I also wrote about volunteering at Moseley Folk Festival. Then, around the time we moved out of the area, I was invited back by the Oxfam Shop in Kings Heath. This was to take part in a conversation with Dr Andrew Smith about my book ‘Dear Birmingham’ which I had written to draw attention to the difficulties and exclusion of the city’s residents from Pakistan, from employment and other opportunities. ■
PRE TITLE XXXXXXXX TITLE XXXXXXX SUB TITLE XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX WORDS BY XXX IMAGE: WRITE CAPTION HERE B13 MAGAZINE VENUE FEATURE 27 MOSELEY ROAD BATHS AND LIBRARY WORDS BY Bianca Pirvuceanu Ceol Agency One of our writers was invited to Moseley Road Baths and Library to check out the space, so let’s hear from Bianca to see what she thought... IN ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS VICTORIAN-ERA swimming complexes in Birmingham, the Moseley Road Baths have been a staple of the community for more than a century. A landmark that is beloved and iconic, the Bay Pool is not just any ordinary pool, it is a piece of architectural wonder that conveys the sense of a bygone era in an enchanting way. Explore the past, present, and future of this charming piece of history as we take you on a journey through its fascinating history. We will reveal why it is a significant part of local life today. So, strap on your goggles and dive into Moseley Road Baths! After the first visit it has become one of my favourite historical buildings. It is unique and everyone remembers the days they went there to swim. The building’s architecture was shocking to observe. It looks like the years have hardly affected it at all and I can’t wait to see the place when they finish the renovation. All the staff I talked to about the place smiled and it seems that people feel a special attachment to Moseley Road Baths. Sadim told me that “Moseley Road Baths and library will be a vibrant hub of culture, heritage, and well-being with swimming at its centre. They will improve access, so everyone will be able to use the facilities, the sustainability for comfort and safety.” Moseley Road Baths is continuing to act as a public swimming pool with adult lanes, disabled swim, family splash, and aqua aerobics amongst some of the planned aquatic events on their weekly schedule. On top of it, it continues to be a brilliant hub of culture, art and music, including hosting craft, live music and films in the venue. Why not check the experimental Soviet-Ukrainian documentary ‘In Spring’ by Mikhail Kaufman, with live music by Ukrainian Composer Roksana Smirnova and Misha Kalinin? Tuesday, 16th May, 19:30, with more details on the Moseley Road Baths website. ■
28 B13 MAGAZINE LOOK BACK MOSELEY AT THE MILLENNIUM MOSELEY B13 MAGAZINE AT 50 WORDS BY Mark Baxter IMAGE: BIRMINGHAM 13 MILLENNIUM AND CHRISTMAS COVER THE ‘CHRISTMAS & MILLENNIUM’ edition of ‘birmingham 13’ (as it was titled for its first few decades) began with the piece ‘On the eve of the year 2000’ by the Rev.d Hayward Osborne, the vicar of St Mary’s at the time (the magazine was still published in association with Moseley’s Christian churches). The vicar’s message about the meaning of the millennium for Christians continued in the piece on St Mary’s pilgrimage to the Holy Land. The article (by the author “P.D.L.”) recounted the group’s journey to the Garden Tomb; the Wailing Wall; the Dead Sea; and other locations connected to the life of Christ. Looking beyond the year 2000, the magazine ran a Christmas competition asking readers to “give us an account of how you think Moseley might look in five years’ time,” with suggestions on the imaginative angle for competitors. “You may be inclined to take an optimistic or pessimistic view, or a mix of both. Bear in mind that there is a restriction in place now to prevent any more public houses (but also bear in mind that this has yet to be tested in law). Do you think we will be offered a rail service, as Centro has suggested.” The winner of the competition was promised publication in a forthcoming edition and a £30 book token. Did the winning vision capture the reality of Moseley in 2005? A piece by Rex Bird reported on early attempts to start a community development trust for Moseley which would “offer ►►►
local people the opportunity to act together to invest their time, skills and even their money to create some of the ventures we would all like to see happen but which no one of us working alone can achieve.” The hope was that the project could “provide a base for existing local organisations such as the central Moseley Neighbourhood Forum; The Moseley Society; the Moseley Traders Association; the Moseley Festival; and birmingham 13. The Village Green will soon be completed and if we have a Moseley Shop it could keep a supply of tables for occasional displays or stalls on the Green. We would like to encourage temporary public art displays - we could even keep chess sets for people to use on the Green.” The Moseley Community Development Trust was founded in 2001 by the Moseley Society and the Central Moseley Neighbourhood Forum with help from the Moseley and District Churches Housing Association. Chris Green’s ‘This is where I came in’ article looked to the new millennium with enthusiasm. “I personally feel optimistic. The Moseley Action Plan identified Moseley’s sense of community as its greatest asset. It is the sort of place where everybody knows everybody else and where people from diverse backgrounds and cultures live together in harmony. Against this backdrop, there appears to be a strong will and commitment to self-help as well as determination to make sure that changes continue to happen.” ■ Extracts reproduced from the Moseley B13 Magazine/ birmingham 13 archive. John Williams was editor at the time. “ [Moseley] is the sort of place where everybody knows everybody else and where people from diverse backgrounds and cultures live together in harmony.
30 B13 MAGAZINE FEATURE WHAT ’S IN A NAME? IS MOSELEY MOUSE OR MOSS? WORDS BY John Newson “ Does Moseley derive its name from “a mouse” or “a moss” that is a wet place? IT WAS CONSIDERED BEFORE (ISSUE 516), whether Moseley derives its name from “a mouse” or “a moss” that is a wet place. This word “moss” occurs all across England and Scotland. It has an equivalent in French, the dictionaries say, as “mousse”, which would explain “Museleie” in the Domesday Book, and ongoing confusion, when both languages were in play, with spellings varying between Mus, Mous, and Mos. Moseley is certainly a place of springs, and poor drainage, due to underlying clay, and it would help if there were similar locations hereabouts, where ”moss” is the term used. This can be found in the Yardley charter of 972, when King Edgar gave land to Pershore Abbey, describing the boundaries, so that they can be traced on the ground 1,000 years later, and at points are still the boundary features. In ‘Medieval Yardley’ by Victor Skipp there is a helpful map, including the location of the “moss marsh”. Today, it is the boundary between Birmingham and Solihull. To visit, follow Priory Road, past Trittiford Pool, towards Yardley Wood, until it bends around a hollow, with a pool on the right side. This is exactly the moss marsh of the Charter. Today, it is called Priory Fields Nature Reserve, of which the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust website says “Predominantly moss and swampland in 972, the site gave rise to heath and pasture by 1495, and eventually became Yardley Wood Common”. The address is 296 Priory Rd, Birmingham B28 0SR and it is accessed by a footpath to the right of the pool. Perhaps the moss plant grew here, i.e. sphagnum moss, and that would dry out to give peat, a useful fuel, distinguishing a moss from a bog or marsh. Monks were often given wet places and became experts in making good use of them. A dam was built, creating the pool, which is very like that in Moseley Park, except here used to power a watermill, rather than as a fishpond. The two places are “twins” – Moss Bros? ■
B13 MAGAZINE POEM 31 IMAGE: WRITE CAPTION HERE POEM FOR THE MAGAZINE'S 50TH BIRTHDAY We grew old with you You hosted so many events You saw so many changes From the fall of the Berlin Wall to Brexit, to the pandemic to the horrid war in Ukraine. You are part of us and yet you are oblivious to that. Animals, poems, stories, tears of joy and sadness are hidden within you. Each page a story. Each page a new drama or Joy. You have been in this Earth for half a century longer than some of us have. Your appearance has changed your style has as in all of us. You have wisdom and strength each issue, sometimes a new concern. Tommy Quang appeared in your pages for a bit and then moved on into bigger things, gaining fame and something new. I love being with you. I love being hosted within you. You will always be a part of me. Happy many returns to be. Katerina Chamberlain