WME Flickr Focus: September 2020

Are we revving up the engine on October already? Surely not! Sadly 'tis true as this Covid-affected year presses hard on the accelerator and screeches ever deeper into the autumn. September slammed the brakes on long enough to wrestle a few photo additions out of our metaphorical glovebox, meaning the West Midlands Exploration photostream is primed for its monthly MOT...

First up for scrutiny by our chief mechanic is WME Birmingham which passes with flying colours. A very healthy turnout of over twenty new arrivals ensures a clean bill of health, among these being several city centre street signs and a few items from Bordesley Green (Cobham Road, World of Pine, that kind of thing). Bournville Warriors junior football club registers its presence at Kings Norton Playing Fields whereas Boldmere Gate gives us a golden vista from Sutton Park.

Also up for inspection is the increasingly reliable Exploration Extra, which scores highly for miles per gallon consumption this month having chalked up visits to Lancashire, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire. Cleveleys did most of the driving to be fair, parking up for a Boddingtons sign and an amusement arcade, whilst Boston (the Britannia pub and a Brylaine bus) and Bulwell (the Royal Oak) also shouldered some of the burden. 

Going through the gears nice and smoothly is WME Shropshire with a roadworthy dozen of recent additions. Bridgnorth and Broseley have been busy piling in the passengers here, hence the respective appearances of Cartway Methodist Church, the White Lion pub, Broseley Medical Practice and of course the wonderful pipe museum - not forgetting a certain cheeky scarecrow character I spotted by the ruins of Bridgnorth Castle. Vroom vroom! 

A peek under the bonnet of WME Staffordshire reveals a trio of 'B' locations staking their claim for attention. Brewood supplies pub signs for the Lion Hotel and the Three Stirrups, Burton trundles in with a Calais Road butchers shop followed by some arty Marston's barrel things, and Burslem takes care of the mid-journey snacks courtesy of an oatcake shop. Anybody in need of an escape from the open highway might prefer to drop by Bratch Locks for some canalside relaxation. 

Finally we need to tidy up those odds and ends scattered across the garage floor. WME Wolverhampton avoids a blank month thanks to Brickkiln Community Centre, likewise WME Sandwell musters the solitary spectacle of Bullfield Bridge on the Dudley No 2 Canal. WME Dudley itself picks up Browns Bridge at the Black Country Living Museum, leaving WME Worcestershire trailing behind with the welcome sign at Bromsgrove Rugby Club. With that we turn off the ignition, apply the handbrake and wait to see what October has in store - until next time, enjoy the photos!