Roaming Rushall with Mr D9...

It had been a little while since the Hub Marketing Board last conjured up a Walsall-based adventure so Secretary WME delves deep into his box of tricks and pulls a Rushall rabbit out of the hat...

- Walsall College Hub -

Friday 5th April 2019 and some half-day hubbing involves a Walsall town centre start with members meeting on Leicester Street in the shadows of the Town Hall. We quickly progress to Hatherton Street - where Mr D9 fancies he's found an old toilet block judging by the presence of some blue glazed tiles - and thence Wisemore, setting for our planned photoshoot outside The Hub at Walsall College. This further education establishment used to be based on St Paul's Street but relocated to a brand new facility in 2009, the old site then becoming home to a Tesco superstore.

- A bit of Bass -

Stafford Street is a depressingly neglected corner of Walsall these days although among the rundown remnants you can spot glimpses of faded grandeur - the President Lincoln building being a case in point. We're hoping to sample the Seven Stars, a mid-terrace Desi boozer, but when that turns out to be shut we take a punt on Rock Steady Eddie's instead, no doubt lured by the Bass branding. Alas said ale is conspicuously absent so we make do with Carling, slaking our thirst while studying bus timetables from 1986 when routes included the 571 and 572 Wolverhampton to Coppice Farm services. 

- Closed Closet Consternation -

Walsall Police Station is a very recent loss to the locality, reduced to a pile of rubble on the junction with Green Lane. The Oak Inn is still going (cue for more Carling) and is situated opposite a Salvation Army hall that dates from 1902. Picking up the pace, we catch the 89 into Rushall to see what photo pickings can plundered there. The local branch library has permanently closed due to council cutbacks (darned austerity) albeit the attached public conveniences were taken out of use a few years earlier, much to Mr D9's chagrin. Elsewhere, there's a curious hand sculpture outside Daw End Lane McDonald's whereas Lichfield Road contributes Christ the King, a russet-toned tin tabernacle originally erected as a temporary mission church.

- The Farmers Boy finished? -

The Secretary is hoping to land a sleeve success with an estate watering hole on Barns Lane, only for us to discover that the Farmer's Boy has closed - possibly for good. The Kings Road street sign does at least prompt a silly song selection - Dick-a-Dum Dum from the ever reliable Des O'Connor - so the Chairman summons up a Sid Snot rap (Kenny Everett) by way of retribution. Our Farmer's Boy frustration is quelled by a stroll along the Daw End Branch Canal from Winterley Lane, reaching the Boathouse for some Salopian Fault Line refreshment accompanied by cob and scratchings. The pub makes the most of its waterside location by having part of the lounge laid out like a narrowboat. 

- A pint pose in Pelsall -

Our Rushall rummage resumes with a glance at Daw End Methodist Church before we flag down another 89, this time covering the section through Shelfield and High Heath into Pelsall. The green open spaces of Pelsall Common always strike a chord, as do the traditional wooden bus shelters for a slice of village character. We reckon two pubs here should do nicely so we make tracks for the Railway on Victoria Road, staking out the oche with darts in hand. The 2019 games challenge has been our closest year yet so it remains to be seen whether a 6-4 victory for WME Whirlwind proves crucial come December.  

- Anyone for Body Candy? -

The Railway seems a cottagey but quiet community local whereas the Queens is altogether livelier in offering a standard Banks's experience overlooking the war memorial. A swift half of Bitter is sufficient given that we have a further 89 to catch - luckily for all concerned, the Chairman decides not to model some discarded body candy when adopting his customary steering pose! We're not spared from D9 anguish completely though, the demolition of the Bloxwich closet prompting much sorrowful indignation so we consider it wise to conclude matters in Wednesfield on this occasion.

- Spotted by Graiseley Lane flats -

Secretary WME is counting down towards a quiz curfew though we have time enough for a couple of nightcaps. Graiseley Lane thus presents high rise flats and a bald spot opportunity as we approach the Star, a resurrected flat roof tempter where we're greeted by the strains of D9's favourite 'Don't Look Back In Anger' (Book A Banga) theme song. Last but not least is the Village Inn (formerly the Fisherman), a typical box boozer just down the road from New Cross Hospital that delivers our Carling denouement. Cheers... and as a postscript, Team Bears came a solid 5th in the quiz standings, stumped by leading ladies, Easter questions and a young David Cameron!!!