THE HAWTHORNS: the customary breakfast rendezvous of bacon rolls in West Bromwich provides just enough fortification for the Secretary to stomach visiting The Hawthorns, where he stoically photographs the Jeff Astle Gates whilst trying hard to forget about the current plight of his beloved Wolverhampton Wanderers. The Chairman has no such qualms and happily gets shots of the ground in all its glory.
- Handsworth Cemetery -
HANDSWORTH: the Secretary needed cheering up after that close encounter with West Bromwich Albion, although a stroll around Handsworth Cemetery wasn't quite what he had in mind! The cemetery grounds are quite extensive and include an impressive arts and crafts styled mortuary chapel, although there was no sign of the old closet block the Chairman had set his heart on sampling. We emerge empty-handed at the 101 bus terminus by the Leveretts ready for a ride down to Handsworth Wood and a quick peek at The Grove.
- The Chairman gets Hubbed -
WITTON: onto the Outer Circle next and a short trundle through Perry Barr to Witton, where the Secretary's sleeve summons up a photo opportunity outside the Hub development off Witton Road. The Chairman's toilet detection skills sniff out the urinal block in the walls of the Aston Hotel and then there's more footballing torment for the Secretary to endure when Villa Park becomes the second rival stadium to be photographed in a matter of hours, the freezing breeze doing little to add to his enthusiasm.
- The King Edward: an Aston landmark for how much longer? -
ASTON: Villa Park becomes the scene for the first onset of power failure when the Secretary is beset by battery problems whilst in the midst of dealing with the Holte End. Various juggling of AA's ensues to try and extract some kind of charge so that Aston Hall, the Parish Church and the derelict Aston Tavern can be committed to camera. Other pub targets include the New Adventurers (a dubious vision in claret and blue) and the King Edward VII (a landmark apparently at risk due to proposed industrial developments) before members cast a unanimous vote to procure an emergency cafe meeting in order to escape from the biting cold.
- The site of Tyburn Bus Depot -
TYBURN: thawed out by a medicinal sausage bap, our agenda moves to the Tyburn Road courtesy of the 67 Bendibus. The Chairman remembers the old Tyburn bus depot based near Wood Lane but all that remains of it now are crumbs of rubble and a long flank of white hoardings. Holly Lane offers a sighting of the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal at Brace Factory Bridge but a second power failure means further investigation is futile so the proposed towpath walk is abandoned in favour of a quick 966 ride into Erdington instead.
- Wallet woes at the Lad in the Lane -
ERDINGTON: alighting on Orphanage Road, members make a beeline for the warmth of the Swan pub where the radiators are requisitioned for battery heating duty and the Secretary celebrates an early contender for the discounted round of the day competition. Further power reinforcements are obtained from Boots the Chemist whilst it is pleasing to note the completed restoration of St Barnabas Church five or so years after a devastating fire put the building in jeopardy. The Secretary is on the hunt for sleeve surprises in Rookery Park only to take a wrong turn and miss his intended exit. His navigation skills do however manage to locate the Lad in the Lane, reputedly Birmingham's oldest pub and said to date from the 1400's - sadly for the Chairman, the building does not come with medieval prices and the D9 wallet incurs considerable collateral damage. A diplomatic incident is only avoided when the belated discovery of the Rookery Park closet gets the Secretary off the hook, with D9 ecstatically snapping the vintage tiles and urinals for all that he was worth.
- Bald Spot braves the Rookery Park closet -
PERRY COMMON: additional Outer Circle gymnastics then transport events to Stockland Green where a lung-busting sprint is required in commandeering an onrushing 65. Streetly Road and Short Heath are glimpsed breathlessly before we touch base with Perry Common terminus on Witton Lodge Road. The perishing temperatures have predictably created a D9 bladder situation so the Secretary summons up a pub from the recesses of his memory bank. Thankfully the Leopard was close at hand and the Chairman was spared any need for impromptu phone calls.
SUTTON COLDFIELD: the 66 bus covers some of what used to be the 68 Birmingham North Circle, thus collecting members outside the Leopard for transportation to Sutton Coldfield via The Hurstway, Finchley Road and New Oscott. Once in Sutton there's an encounter with the Duke Inn to sample some Theakston's Lightfoot, although there are no apparent sightings of a Chicken Tom or a Perry Barr Pig. The Chairman reminisces about Sutton Coldfield's former bus garage on Upper Holland Road, the site near Plantsbrook School is now occupied by a care home. More battery frustrations rear up at Lower Parade so the emergency stash needs to be broken into for the rest of the agenda.
- The Anvil -
FALCON LODGE: the outer reaches of North Birmingham beckon with a ride out to the Falcon Lodge estate, where members are able to enjoy a game of darts in the Anvil. Alf the dog will be on hand to referee (and sniff out the scent of chihuahuas) as the Secretary secures a stunning victory by virtue of hitting the treble 19 twice (despite only needing to score 32)!
- Chewing Wasps on the Driving Demo -
MINWORTH: a 115 RUAG induces an attack of wasp-chewing proportions with the Chairman particularly suffering in the vicinity of Walmley. Local landmarks include the Fox Inn, a war memorial and a library/community hall, but thankfully D9 manages to spit the miscreant wasps out by the time members had reached Minworth. A Walmart Hypermarket is a notable feature here whilst the Boat and the Hare & Hounds are both close to the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal.
- A Castle Vale Clue -
CASTLE VALE: there is no immediate prospect of a 71 to catch so the Chairman takes the decision to hike into Castle Vale along Park Lane with a full circuit of Farnborough Road to follow. The estate is very different to the one our Chairman visited twenty-odd years ago and has lost most of its tower blocks and all of its pubs, even though the Skylark building is still standing. The area has a proud aviation history and a local traffic roundabout is known as 'Spitfire Island'. Much has been done regeneration wise including the redevelopment of the Reed Square shopping centre. After circumnavigating most of the estate, members will be pleased to intercept the 67 Bendibus for a ride back towards Birmingham.
ASTON: this North Birmingham investigation reaches its conclusions within the environs of Aston Station, where members take the opportunity to sample the King Edward VII. It would seem quite certain that the pub is to be demolished, a real shame for such a handsome building in an area that needs features of character. The D9 wallet takes its final punishment of the day care of some expensive Guinness and then the train towards Walsall completes another adventure. Hopefully all batteries will be fully operational in time for the next excursion!
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