Ongoing research; last updated 6 January 2012
(During 1912 the Committee considered in detail the arrangements for policing in parks generally and also the regulations permitting the sponsorship of, and the amount that could be expended on, music in the parks.)
23rd March 1912 - Birmingham News
Improvements in the Parks
Walking round Kings Heath Park the other day I was struck by the numerous alterations and improvements that are being made. The walks are being widened and new ones made, including a fine avenue to be known as Woodland Walk, on the Avenue Road side of the park, planted with rhododendrons. The flower beds are being carefully treated, and the lake is being planted with rare ornamental flowers and shrubs, set off with rockeries. I am sorry to hear that a number of valuable plants have been taken from the park, and I take this opportunity of asking the public to protect public property, and to see that young trees are not broken, as has been the case. Additional tennis courts and bowling greens are to be laid. Improvements are also taking place in Cotteridge and Selly Oak Parks, where bowling greens are also being provided.
22nd April 1912 - Administration Sub Committee
23rd March 1912 - Birmingham News
Village Gossip
Improvements in the Parks
Walking round Kings Heath Park the other day I was struck by the numerous alterations and improvements that are being made. The walks are being widened and new ones made, including a fine avenue to be known as Woodland Walk, on the Avenue Road side of the park, planted with rhododendrons. The flower beds are being carefully treated, and the lake is being planted with rare ornamental flowers and shrubs, set off with rockeries. I am sorry to hear that a number of valuable plants have been taken from the park, and I take this opportunity of asking the public to protect public property, and to see that young trees are not broken, as has been the case. Additional tennis courts and bowling greens are to be laid. Improvements are also taking place in Cotteridge and Selly Oak Parks, where bowling greens are also being provided.
22nd April 1912 - Administration Sub Committee
The following report of the Superintendent was read:
Bowling Greens
I have to report that the new Bowling Green at Handsworth Park, has been completed and I am continuing the leveling of extra Tennis Courts, as I understand they are wanted very much at this park.
The new Bowling Greens at Selly Oak and Cotteridge Parks are also nearing completion, and also the one at Garrison Lane Recreation Ground.”
29th April 1912 – Parks Committee
292 Resolved:- That the uniform now provided for Park Keepers be adopted as the uniform for the new Park Constables with a cap.
11th May 1912 - Birmingham News
Municipal Notes
Parks The City Parks Committee are arranging for the issue of season tickets for bowling on the greens in the city parks. There are a number of parks where bowling greens are provided, including Cannon Hill, Victoria, Summerfield, Harborne, Handsworth, Erdington, Stirchley, Lightswood, Selly Oak, etc.
Kings Norton & Northfield Districts
Selly Oak and Bournbrook
Children’s Festival - A meeting of the Selly Oak Children’s Festival Committee was held in the Tiverton Road Council School on Monday night. Mr. Chas. H. Harbun presided over a good attendance. Among those present were Mrs. Elliott, Mrs. R. E. Bull, Mrs. R. Fowler, Messrs. Roberts (treasurer), Douglas Timins, J. Bland, W. C. Clarke, G. Bishop, G. W. Blackwell, L. Jones, F. Hunter, A. E. West, H. Brinkworth, junr., W. Sargent, Chas. Smith, and R. Fowler (secretary). Apologies for absence were received from Councillor G. Shann, Rev. W. Walker, Messrs. C. A. Lucas, R. Deykin, J. Hart, R. E. Bull, and F. Lea. The first business of the committee was to consider whether a festival should be held this year, and after a long discussion a resolution was passed deciding to abandon the festival for the present year as it was thought it would be impossible to raise sufficient money owing to the coal strike and the consequent distress in the district. It was decided that the committee should not be disbanded, but should keep together to control the property of the children’s festival.[1]
Mr. Fowler, secretary of the William Sargent Fund Committee, submitted the report of the committee. It will be remembered by our readers that during the Coronation celebrations in Selly Oak Park, a member of the Church Lads’ Brigade, William Sargent, had the misfortune to have his hand blown off whilst firing the Royal Salute. Mr. Fowler said that about £200 had been subscribed, and with this sum it was proposed to apprentice the youth to a (sic) expert photographer for two years, and then with whatever money was left set him up in a business of his own. It was stated that William Sargent had shown an aptitude for photography.
A resolution was passed heartily approving of the scheme outlined by the secretary.
The father of the unfortunate youth said that he approved of the scheme, and he thanked the committee for all their work on his behalf.
3rd June 1912 – Parks Committee
Mr. Councillor Brown presented the following report of the Administration Sub Committee:-
Patrolling of the Parks
You Sub Committee understand that the Chief Constable is anxious to have the services of his men now patrolling the Parks as early as possible. They have therefore authorized the Superintendent to temporarily engage 12 of the applicants for the position of Park Constables.
They recommend that a Special Sub Committee be appointed for the purpose of making selections from the applicants for the position of Park Constables with power to make the necessary appointments.
Death of Late Parks Superintendent
Your Sub Committee regret to report the death of Mr. Samuel Hearn, the late Parks Superintendent, and have instructed the Clerk to convey to the family their sincere sympathy and condolence in the sad bereavement which has befallen them.
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302 Resolved:- That the Report of the Administration Sub Committee (be) received (sic) and entered upon the Minutes.
305 Resolved:- That the following members be appointed as a special Sub Committee for the purpose of selecting and recommending applicants for the position of Park Constables.
Councillors Reading, Brown, Lovsey and Shann.
13th June 1912 – Parks Committee
The minute contains a list of the Park Constables appointed on probation.
24th June 1912 - Administration Sub-Committee
The Superintendent submitted a communication from the Selly Oak Choral Society stating that the Society had decided to hold a pageant and garden fete on July 13th and asking if they would permit them to erect a maypole in the Selly Oak recreation ground.
218 Resolved:- That the application be granted.
1st July 1912 – Parks Committee
Mr. Councillor Brown presented the following report of the Administration Sub Committee:-
Police Patrol
Your Sub Committee report that 42 men have been selected by the Committee and have been apportioned as follows:
Selly Oak Park 1
335 Resolved:- That the Report be received and entered upon the minutes.
3rd August 1912 - Birmingham News
Music in the Parks
Programme for Next week
Arrangements have been made for the following concerts to be given in the various parks and recreation grounds of the city of Birmingham:-
Saturday, August 3 - Selly Oak Park - Friends’ Institute Brass Band.
Tuesday, August 6 (Afternoon and Evening) - Selly Oak Park - The Burlesques.
10th August 1912 - Birmingham News
Music in the Parks
Programme for Next week
The following arrangements have been made for concerts to be given in the various parks and recreation grounds of the city during the week ending Friday, 16th August:-
Saturday, August 10 - Selly Oak Park - Selly Oak Victoria Brass Band.
7th September 1912 - Birmingham News
Music in the Parks
Programme for Next week
Arrangements have been made for the following concerts to be given in the various parks and recreation grounds of the city:-
Saturday, September 7 - Selly Oak Park - The Gordon Brass Band.
30th September 1912 - Administration Sub-Committee
The following communication was received from Councillor Simpson and the Superintendent’s reply thereto:-
34, Ruskin Buildings,
Corporation Street,
Birmingham.
September 10th 1912.
Mr. W. H. Morter,
Superintendent,
City Parks Department,
Cannon Hill Park.
Dear Sir,
I have received a complaint from a man named Hudson who is employed at the Selly Oak Park to the effect that he is not receiving the proper rate of wages, he informs me that he is receiving less than 26/- per week. As you are aware your Committee have agreed to observe this a minimum which was laid down by the Joint Committee of the Council that dealt with the wages question a short time ago.
I should like to have your version of the matter before I trouble the Committee with it.
Thanking you in anticipation,
I am, Yours faithfully,
(signed) H. Simpson.
Superintendent’s reply
Cannon Hill Park,
11th September 1912
Dear Sir,
In reply to your letter, the man Hudson is slightly crippled and on account of this he has been kept on at Selly Oak Park, after the dismissal of the other casual labourers, so as to help him with his home and has been paid at the same rate of wages as was paid to casual labour. I had hoped that before this time he would have been able to have found some employment, and am sorry he has not yet done so.
I trust he will soon be successful.
I am,
Yours faithfully,
(signed) William H. Morter
Superintendent
Mr Councillor H. Simpson.
269 Resolved:- That the communication be received and the action of the Superintendent approved.
9th November 1912 - Birmingham News
Kings Norton and Northfield Districts
Selly Oak and Bournbrook
Football - Playing on Selly Oak Park on Saturday, Selly Oak Church Scouts F.C. defeated St. Stephen’s Selly Hill Scouts F.C. by 12 goals to none after a very one-sided game.
25th November 1912 - Administration Sub-Committee
The following report of the Superintendent was read:-
Music in the Parks
I have to report that during the season ended September 30th last 740 Concerts have been given in the various parks as follows:-
Selly Oak Park:
Number of Concerts Booked Number of Concerts Given Number of Concerts
Bands Pierrots Total Bands Pierrots Total Not given
18 28 46 11 1 12 34
Selly Oak Victoria Band:
Number of Concerts Booked Number of Concerts Given Number of Concerts
Not given
8 5 3
[1] In the Birmingham News on 10th January 1914, under “News from the Districts - Selly Oak and Bournbrook – Children Entertained”, there is a report – “The Bournbrook Summer Holiday Club has set itself the task of reviving the old Selly Oak and Bournbrook Children’s Festival, and they have in their mind the idea of taking a thousand children out into the country for a day during the Summer, and a hard working committee is making arrangements.” On 20th June 1914 it was reported in the Birmingham News that an outing to Sutton Park was planned for 500 children.
