The History of Kings Heath Park, 1921-1930: 1925 Clippings

Ongoing research; last updated 7 June 2012

5^th January 1925 – BCC Parks Committee Minute

On Minute 5305/5541, the following report of the Town Clerk was submitted:-

Town Clerk’s Office

11^th December 1924

Report with reference to Minutes Nos. 5305 and 5541

I have to report that in accordance with the above Minutes I have completed an Agreement with Mrs. Sarah Eliza Blake for the tenancy of the tea rooms and premises at Kings Heath Park. The tenancy is for three years from the 25^th March 1924 at the yearly rent of £65. inclusive, except for heating and lighting charges.

(sgd) Town Clerk

5743 Resolved:- That the minute be discharged.

The Chairman in the absence of Councillor Denton, submitted the following report of the Administration Sub-Committee:-

Police Report

Serious Accidents – Alfred Holdway (40) of 108, May Lane, Epileptic Fit, cut eye and finger. Kings Heath Pk. 17/11/24.

16^th January 1925 – Parks Committee Minute (Special Meeting)

The Chairman explained that the object of the meeting was to consider, and if thought fit, approve the draft estimates for the financial year in accordance with the statements and summary annexed, and copies of which had been forwarded to members of the Committee:

(Detail for Kings Heath Park extracted from a lengthy report, which was subsequently approved:)

Financial Year 1925-1926

Estimate Proposed

1924-1925 Estimate 1925-1926

Income £490 £440

Expenditure £1,755 £1,885

2^nd February 1925 – BCC Parks Committee Minute

Alderman Lovsey submitted the following report of the General Purposes Sub-Committee:

Unemployment Relief Scheme, 1924-5
Your Sub-Committee report that representatives of the committee have visited the undermentioned parks and recreation grounds and selected the sites for the various buildings to be erected under the Scheme as specified.

(Included in the list is King’s Heath Park)

Councillor Longford submitted the following report of the Finance Sub-Committee:

Valuation of Emoluments
Your Sub-Committee report that the emoluments enjoyed by various officials and servants of the department have been valued for the purposes of the proposed adoption of a new superannuation scheme in accordance with the statement annexed. Your Sub-Committee recommend that the valuation of such emoluments as set out in the statement be confirmed.

List of servants who are in receipt of emoluments

Name Park Wages Nature of Annual Value of

Emoluments Emoluments

?. Cooper Kings Heath £3. 2. 7. House, fuel, light £57. 10.

& uniform

5842 Resolved:- That the valuation for superannuation purposes of emoluments enjoyed by officials and servants of the department, as set out in the statement annexed to the report of the Finance Sub-Committee, be approved.

2^nd March 1925 – BCC Parks Committee Minute

Alderman Lovsey submitted the following report of the General Purposes Sub-Committee:-

Unemployment Relief Works, 1924/5

With reference to your Minute No. 5748 a schedule of tenders received to date in connection with the Contract works comprised in Scheme C 346 is laid on the table.

5893 Resolved:- That the acceptance of the following tenders for the erection of buildings under Unemployment Relief Scheme C.346 be confirmed, subject to such adjustments being made in the respective Bills of Quantities as may be necessary to bring the total cost of the buildings into accord with the total sum available for such works under the scheme viz:-

Name of Amount of Amount sanctioned by

Description of Work Contactor Tender Ministry of Health

Kings Heath Park John Goodman £2342 £2400

6^th April 1925 – BCC Parks Committee Minute

The Chairman in the absence of Councillor Denton submitted the following report of the Administration Sub-Committee:-

Manual Staff

Your Sub-Committee recommend that the following increases of wages of the manual Staff be granted, as from the 1^st April, 1925:-

Parks

Kings Heath Park - A.L. Fulford Age 18 22/6d. to 27/6d.

Kings heath Park - J.E. Hughes Age 19 30/- to 35/-

5973 Resolved:- That the following increases of wages of the manual Staff be granted, as from the 1^st April, 1925:-

Parks

Kings Heath Park - A.L. Fulford Age 18 22/6d. to 27/6d.

Kings Heath Park - J.E. Hughes Age 19 30/- to 35/-

4^th May 1925 – BCC Parks Committee Minute

Alderman Lovsey submitted the following report of the General Purposes Sub-Committee:-

Unemployment Relief Works 1924/5

The works included in these schemes are progressing as follows:-

Highbury & Uffculme, Kings Heath, Upper Witton & Billesley Common The work in connection with these sites, which comprises the formation of bowling greens, tennis courts, new walks and planting, is in each case a continuation of the 1923/4 schemes.

Building Works, Scheme C.346 The following buildings are in the course of erection:-

King’s Heath Sports Pavilion

Asphalte, Tar Paving and Tar Painting – Schemes C.346 & C.687 The whole of the work sanctioned is in hand and the tar painting work will be completed by the end of June as specified by the Ministry of Health. The following is a list of the parks and recreation grounds at which asphalte, tar paving and tar painting works were sanctioned, showing the allocation to various contractors:-

(From a long list:-)

Asphalte & Cement Co. – Kings Heath Park

Councillor Denton submitted the following report of the Administration Sub-Committee:-

Greenhouses etc.

Your Sub-Committee have given authority for the carrying out of general repairs and painting to the palm houses, green houses and pit lights in the undermentioned parks at the estimated cost for materials and labour specified:-

(From a list:-)

Kings Heath Park £50

4^th June 1925 – BCC Parks Committee Minute

Alderman Lovsey submitted the following report of the General Purposes Sub-Committee:

Unemployment Relief Works 1924/5

The layout works included in Scheme C.346 are progressing as follows:-

Billesley Common, Kings Heath and Highbury, The work at each of these places is proceeding satisfactorily and the number of men was reduced by half the week ended the 6^th ultimo.

Alderman Lovsey (in the absence of Councillor Longford) submitted the following report of the Finance Sub-Committee:

Income and Expenditure 1924/25

The City Treasurer has submitted a statement of the Income and Expenditure of the Parks Committee for the year ended 31^st March 1925, a copy of which is annexed to this report.

Kings Heath Park

Estimated 1924/25 Actual for year

Income £275 £ 311. 15. 9.

Expenditure £1,755 £1,829. 18. 1.

6070 Resolved:- That the report of the Finance Sub-Committee be approved.

6^th June 1925 – Birmingham News

Village Gossip

Charms of Kings Heath Park

I don’t think I have ever seen Kings Heath Park looking more beautiful than in these days of spring. I had a walk last week round its tree-lined avenues, and was delighted with the profusion and freshness of the foliage. The trees are now at their best, and I must say that we of the present day ought to be grateful for the forethought of those responsible for the selection and distribution of such a splendid variety of colours.

The horse chestnuts, of which there are several noble specimens, carrying with them an age of maturity, are covered with handsome trusses of blossom, and the shady plantations give one that feeling of restfulness so essential in our parks, to those seeking a quiet retreat. The flower borders, too, are delightfully arranged, making a gorgeous picture.

I understand that much work has been carried out during the last four years under the schemes of government relief work, which embrace an entirely new rose garden, tennis courts, and bowling greens upon the site which, during the war, was planted for various vegetable seed trails for the advancement of allotment cultivation.

At the end of the war a school was formed for ex-Servicemen desirous of studying agriculture and the allied trades of beekeeping and poultry-farming.

20^th June 1925 – Birmingham News

Park Programmes

Today (Saturday), at 7 – Kings Heath Park, Arthur Bones Bohemians.

27^th June 1925 – Birmingham News

Cricketer’s Leg Broken

Garnett Jordan (aged 34), of 50 Kyotts’ Lake Road, Sparkbrook, visited Kings Heath Park on Thursday for a practice match with the Deritend Unionist C.C. When batting, a ball rose from the ground; he ducked, and in doing so stumbled and fell, breaking his leg. It is stated that Jordan has broken the same leg three times previously.

25^th July 1925 – Birmingham News

Park Concerts

Open-Air Programmes for the Week-end

The following is the week-end programme of concerts in the Birmingham parks:-

To-morrow at 3 and 7. – Kings Heath Park, Invictus Ex-Service Men’s Band (7 only).

27^th July 1925 – BCC Parks Committee Minute

Mr. Alderman Lovsey submitted the following report of the General Purposes Sub-Committee:-

Unemployment Relief Works 1924/5

(a) Highbury, Uffculme, Kings Heath and Upper Witton, The works at these sites are nearing completion.

(a) Buildings in various parks The following building works are now well in hand, and will be completed ready for occupation within the grant earning period stipulated by the Ministry of Health:-

(From a list:-)

Kings Heath Park Bowls and tennis pavilion

The Chairman in the absence of Councillor Longford submitted the following report of the Finance Sub-Committee:-

On that part of the report relating to accounts, etc., the City Treasurer submitted the following report:-

Music in the Parks

City Police Band

The Treasurer reports that during the period ended 19^th July the Police band have given 53 concerts in various parks and Recreation grounds, the total receipts being £475: 0: 6. The following are the details of these receipts:-

(From a list:-)

Date Park Receipts

July 9 Kings Heath Park £1: 17: 3.

Councillor Denton submitted the following report of the Administration Sub-Committee:

Use of Parks

Your Sub-Committee report that the following applications for the use of parks, etc., have been acceded to since your last meeting:-

Park Date Organisation Purpose

Kings Heath Sundays 12^th Christadelphian Open Air Services

& 19^th July Preaching Union.

15^th August 1925 – Birmingham News

Music in the Parks

Open-Air Programmes for the Week-end

The following is the week-end programme of concerts in the Birmingham parks:-

To-morrow at 3 and 7. – Kings Heath Park, Open-Air Service.

22^nd August 1925 – Birmingham News

Music in the Parks

Open-Air Programmes for the Week-end

The following is the week-end programme of concerts in the Birmingham parks:-

To-morrow at 7. – Kings Heath Park, Open-Air Service.

29^th August 1925 – Birmingham News

Music in the Parks

Open-Air Programmes for the Week-end

The following is the week-end programme of concerts in the Birmingham parks:-

To-morrow at 3 and 6.30: Kings Heath Park, Open-Air Service.

5^th September 1925 – Birmingham News

Music in the Parks

Open-Air Programmes for the Week-end

The following week-end programme of concerts will be given in the Birmingham parks:-

To-morrow: Kings Heath Park, Open-Air Service (7.45).

19^th September 1925 – Birmingham News

Music in the Parks

Open-Air Programmes for the Week-end

The following week-end programme of concerts will be given in the Birmingham parks:-

To-morrow: Kings Heath Park, Open-Air Service (7.45).

5^th October 1925 – BCC Parks Committee Minute

Councillor Longford submitted the following report of the Finance Purposes Sub-Committee:-

King’s Heath Park – Theft of Tennis Court Tickets
Your Sub-Committee report that on the 3^rd August, ten one shilling hard tennis court tickets were stolen from the bowling hut at King’s Heath Park, between the hours of 12-45 p.m. and 8-30 p.m. From enquiries made, it appears that the missing tickets are numbers 35 to 44 from book No. 126. It is understood that on the date mentioned, ticket No. 34 had been issued up to 12-45 p.m. and that it then commenced to rain. No further application for this class of ticket was made until 8 o’clock in the evening owing to the weather conditions. In the meantime the tickets were placed in a desk which was not locked, and which was inside the hut near the bowling green. It would appear that the man in charge was in the hut during most of the period, but that when he came to issue a ticket at 8 ‘clock, the ten tickets referred to had been removed from the book. The park-keeper and the man in charge of the tickets are unable to explain the loss.

Your Sub-Committee have authorized the City Treasurer to write off the value of the tickets.

Councillor Denton submitted the following report of the Administration Sub-Committee:-

Pit Lights

Your Sub-Committee have authorized the purchase of pit lights for the following parks:-

(From a list:)

Kings Heath Park 12 Lights Estimated cost £25

Allowance is made in the current year’s estimates to cover the cost of these works.

19^th December 1925 – Birmingham News

News from the Districts

Moseley and Kings Heath

Park Bowling Club – (a report of their annual meeting for medal and prize distribution)