WME Flickr Focus - September 2024

As the very last vestiges of summer disappear and any cricketing equipment goes into hibernation until next spring, I shall raise a metaphorical bat in recognition of my own September half century. Not of runs in this case but rather photographs, as fifty new pictorial arrivals swell the West Midlands Exploration photostream ranks to a current cumulative total of 7,200 images...

I hate to be predictable but there are certain galleries you just know will always be topping the scoring charts. WME Wolverhampton leads the batting averages year on year - this is hardly surprising being as I live there - although this month's contributions don't bring you Finchfield blossoms nor Compton cul-de-sacs for a change. Instead I offer Graiseley grabbings (CVH Fabrications and a delve into Drayton Street), flanked by Heath Town's almshouse doorways and two racetrack-related street signs from the Goodyears estate in Oxley - I like the way the road names reference autosport heritage there.

Also a reliable run-getter is WME Staffordshire which has nudged and nurdled its way to another sizeable innings. The Potteries possibilities of Hanley Art Gallery and Heron Cross make for attractive strokeplay whilst Huddlesford has unfurled some aesthetically pleasing cover drives courtesy of the Coventry Canal and Huddlesford Lane (even if a railway gantry is admittedly far less attractive). Gospel End signage and Hednesford pub lettering for the Plough & Harrow ensure a healthy haul is duly recorded. 

Our middle order power hitters this time around are WME Worcestershire and WME Dudley, news which marks a welcome return to form for Worcs after a barren run at the crease. The main beneficiary here has been Honeybourne with supplementary snapshots of both the village (Fancutts Garage) and the railway station; as for Dudley, it maintains the steady form it's been showing all year by supplying Fixed Wheel Brewery fragments and a sneaky sighting of Fountain Arcade. There's even a guest appearance from Santa at Gornal's Jolly Crispin!

September's tailenders are a tireless trio not averse to bludgeoning the occasional boundary. WME Birmingham takes something of a liking to the Highbury pub and Gosta Green whilst pausing to remember the short-lived Halton Turner Brewery under Digbeth's railway arches; WME Sandwell sprints a couple of quick singles involving the Fox & Goose at Greets Green and the Metro sign at Dudley Street (Guns Village), then the coup-de-grace is applied by WME Coventry with the Craven Street pairing of Guinness and M&B branding from the Hearsall Inn and neighbouring Coombe Abbey. Innings over until October...