- All Aboard the 5 -
There was little hint of the mayhem to come as members met at West Bromwich Garage ready for a short ride to Sandwell Valley courtesy of the number 5 bus. D9's driving madness was nothing out of the ordinary in this respect as the usual top deck pose was adopted prior to alighting on Newton Road for Forge Lane.
- Pony Playtime at Sandwell Valley -
Sandwell Valley Country Park is not an area that Secretary WME knows very well so there is immediate interest to be found from a derelict farm and the borough crematorium. Forge Lane soon leads us to Forge Mill Farm as maintained by Sandwell Council, bringing a touch of the countryside into an otherwise heavily urban borough. The Chairman is quickly interacting with the animals by saying hello to some little ponies by the farm gate.
- Goat -
Following a signposted trail through the farmyard, we encounter cattle sheds, pigpens, tufty sheep and inquisitive goats plus a considerable amount of mud. Mr D9 is well catered for by a high dependency toilet, while the farm shop sells vegetables, compost and rare breed meat.
- Sandwell Valley RSPB Reserve -
Beyond the farm itself is Forge Mill Lake, built in the 1980s to alleviate flooding along the River Tame. The lake and surrounding habitats provide a haven for a wide variety of wildlife visitors (most notably waterfowl) and are designated as an RSPB reserve popular with birdwatchers. In tribute to the feathered residents, Chairman D9 selects 'Let's All Sing Like The Birdies Sing' as his song of the day, while Secretary WME recounts the unfortunate industrial accident described by Max Bygraves in 'Chip Chopper Charlie'.
- Ashtray Activity in the Beaufort Arms -
We plot our wanderings through the reserve so as to follow the course of the River Tame as closely as possible, although one selected track nearly causes serious problems when we realise it brings us to a locked security gate. A scrambled clamber up a nearby billboard saves us from turning all the way back although D9 nearly came a cropper on a sharp spike; compensation comes in the Beaufort Arms when he is presented with a vintage ashtray gift. Mr WME's generosity does not extend to the dartboard though, the Secretary claiming a 3-1 lead despite our Chairman overturning a near-200 point deficit for his solitary leg win.
- Perry Hall Moat -
A squally shower threatens a Rocky Lane deluge but the weather brightens up again by the time we reach Perry Hall Playing Fields. Of historic interest here is the moated site of Perry Hall, former home of the Gough family but demolished many years ago leaving just the rectangular moat as a feature still in situ today. A community orchard has been created on the empty patch where the hall once stood.
- A Colourful Closet -
The old moat is popular with geese and swans, meaning D9 has ample opportunity to bother more birdlife. The theme extends to the park offices and amenities block, repainted since I visited in April and now sporting a very attractive mural design depicting a birdbox, a kingfisher and a robin.
- Spotted at Tower Hill -
The Chairman had managed to keep his bald spot under wraps for much of the outing thus far, but the sight of Tower Hill's former Clifton Bingo (now a banqueting suite) tempts it out of hiding. The local branch library provides the backdrop to this particular piece of baldness as we ride ceramic lions before trying out The Towers for a swift half of Brew XI.
- The New Bell chimes for WME Whirlwind -
Our incursion into the Perry Beeches estate coincides with school hometime at the local academy, but we dodge the hordes of pupils (and runaway footballs) by detouring to the New Bell on Booths Farm Road, the Chairman reminiscing about the old number 59 bus service that apparently served the area prior to deregulation. Secretary WME might in future have cause to feel nostalgic about his darting exploits in the vicinity; D9 Destroyer was threatening a comeback until a clinical 72 checkout secured yours truly the ongoing bragging rights.
- Evening Beeches -
It's veritably dusky as we delve deeper into the estate by way of Beeches Pool and Thornbridge Road. The local shops include Bays Fish Bar, a Greggs bakery and the Headway Brain Injury charity store, while across the street is The Beeches, a large landmark roadhouse that's now part of the Hungry Horse chain and has the constant murmur of the M6 for close company.
- Spotted by the Parish Church -
Having checked the cricket and darts scores over some Greene King IPA, we proceed into Perry Barr proper courtesy of an athletic hike past the Alexander Stadium. The parish church of St John the Evangelist offers moody uplighting in the ever-darkening evening while the Church Tavern, Tennis Court and Seventh Trap all are subjected to pub photography, the latter being a plain Banks's boozer which (as its name suggests) is handily located for the greyhound track.
- A Final Song and Dance Routine -
Homeward we go via Handsworth, taking pit stops at two long-serving landmarks in the form of the Grove (overlooking Handsworth Wood roundabout and dating from 1891) and the Farcroft (a sprawling bastion of Brewers Tudor on Rookery Road). Just before our final Metro, we have time to squeeze into the New Soho Tavern, a pub that a few short years ago looked so derelict we never envisaged it trading again. Not only has the place been resurrected, it serves a decent drop of Church End Fallen Angel although D9's glass took the 'fallen' aspect rather too literally by depositing itself on the floor. Benson Road then plays host to an impromptu Children In Need-inspired comedy performance (complete with Pudsey ears and a pink umbrella), and the good old Metro does the rest. Cheers!
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