The Chip Foundation Reunion

We have to go right back to February 2020 for the last time the Chip Foundation were able to stage one of our excursions, but fifteen months worth of Covid-induced hibernation are now about to end - hooray! Our much anticipated reunion trip is a gentle Black Country affair that takes us to Sedgley, Woodsetton and Bilston...

- Beacon Tower -

Wednesday 9th June 2021 and all the gang are here as we rendezvous at Wolverhampton railway station - Nick, Stephen, Ken, Mr Beardsmore Senior and yours truly. Not wishing to be overly ambitious, the plan is to revisit some favourite haunts we haven't been to for a while, so the number 1 bus brings us to the foot of Sedgley Beacon. Nick is chief navigator for our stroll over the hill, the clear skies allowing excellent views for miles around (Birmingham, Walsall, The Wrekin and Baggeridge included). A key feature is the Beacon Tower, said to have been built by Lord Wrottesley in 1846 and nowadays dwarfed by a transmission aerial. 

- Dark Ruby Delight -

We've timed our walk so as to arrive at the Beacon Hotel pretty much as soon as it opens, with the absolute classic brew that is Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby Mild awaiting within. Sedgley's finest does not disappoint, getting Nick all nostalgic for his 'Woodcross Years' whereas Mr B Senior tries to confuse us by talking about characters in EastEnders. The snug with its William Morris-styled wallpaper remains a fine setting even in this era of social distancing, and our conversation otherwise randomly covers cricket, satirical cartoons, funerals and canal eels. 

- Turls Hill Road -

I'm in charge for our next segment of Black Country sightseeing whereby Turls Hill Road gets everyone's seal of approval in the greenery stakes. The two detached ends of the road are connected by a gravelly track that passes horse paddocks with hints of allotments. Emerging by the former Hurst Hill Tavern, we note the Coppice Baptist Chapel (built 1804) on Caddick Street - places such as Sedgley, Coseley and Gornal were a hotbed for non-Conformist denominations so this is just one of several such chapels in the wider area.

- The Cottage Spring -

Continuing along Brook Street, our Woodsetton whereabouts are put to good use with calls at both the Cottage Spring and the Park Inn. The former these days is a Black Country Ales establishment where we variously partake of Pig on the Wall, Hair of the Dog and Pheasantry Pale Ale, whereas the latter surely needs little introduction as my appreciation for the Holden's brewery tap is a matter of longstanding record. We are pleased to report that the Golden Glow is on top form as we collectively take a liking to some bright yellow beermats. Mr B Junior meanwhile confirms that Wolves have appointed Bruno Lage as the next manager at Molineux - fingers crossed for a very successful 2021/22 season...

- Deep Debate at The Trumpet -

The final stage of our agenda involves Bilston whereby we need to get a wriggle on if we're to make it to the Trumpet before late afternoon closing. The 229 route appears to be operating buses in tandem as we negotiate the after-school traffic through Coseley, and an array of nimble footwork ensures we make it to Musti's back yard with time to spare. Debate abounds when John conducts an experiment to see if it's easier to drink two separate halves quicker than a whole pint - we're not convinced his conclusions would be scientifically valid but his Glow certainly disappears more quickly than Nick's does!

- The all-important chip shot -

Having stoically put his jazz aversions aside in allowing our Trumpet interlude, Stephen's reward is our customary chip shop stop. Major's has a queue so we try Chaplin's Fish Bar opposite St Leonard's Church, the resultant meal getting the critical Beardsmore thumbs up. Perhaps unwisely, we then give John the task of picking our final boozer of the day, hence the Market Tavern is selected on the basis it sells John Smith's at £1.60 a pint. The bleach isn't too bad in fairness, and with that our reunion is complete and we respectively head home - hopefully it won't be another fifteen months until the occasion of our 64th Chronicles. Cheers!