Highlights from Hereford and Hay

For the August Bank Holiday weekend, Bookworm Bygrave and I escaped to pretty Herefordshire in order to celebrate Emily's recent completion of her epic dissertation. The centrepiece of our three day stay would be a trip across the border into Powys to sample the world renowned book town of Hay on Wye, but there will also be chance to visit some beautiful black and white villages...

- The Tipsy Toad -

This highlights reel begins on Saturday 29th August when we break our drizzly drive down to Hereford with a pit stop in Bromyard. I'd probably not set foot in this unheralded market town since I was a teenager and couldn't remember very much about it, but there is a nice High Street populated by independent businesses and in kinder weather I'd imagine the views across the River Frome valley would be quite something. Dodging the raindrops, we enjoy deluxe hot chocolates and cake courtesy of Brew (a busy little coffee shop) then turn our attention to the Tipsy Toad bar. They definitely run with the toad theme for all that its worth here but it all adds to the fun, especially when you can pose with a cute toadstool toy while supping a pint of Flagon Cider as produced by Robinsons of Tenbury Wells.

- The Ascension Window -

Continuing into Hereford city centre, we hit heavy football traffic passing Edgar Street stadium but thankfully still find a space in a multistorey car park. Our immediate aim is to get around a couple of bookstores before they close for the day, with Emily's prime prey being Oxfam on Broad Street followed by Rossiter's (a really nice shop). A couple of initial literary purchases are made, paving the way for us to savour the spectacle of Hereford Cathedral. This really is one of England's great places of worship and I love the modern St Thomas tapestry, delving into the spooky crypt or marvelling at the Ascension Window. The latter was crafted in striking multicoloured shafts for a mesmeric wave-like effect in tribute to the Special Air Service (SAS).

- The Orange Tree -

Having checked into our accommodation, Saturday evening is spent back in Hereford's main centre grabbing a bite to eat before revisiting a couple of the city's best pubs. The food angle is covered by Leaven, a restaurant specialising in sourdough pizza - we partake of the Tutti al Carni and Capricciosa dishes respectively. The Orange Tree is a homely Black Country Ales establishment on King Street, alive with the sound of multiple conversations although we do find ourselves a quieter corner, then its over to Eign Street for the Beer in Hand. Local cider and perry is well represented including several offerings from Oliver's of Ocle Pychard; I try the Traditional Perry while Emily is on puppy watch, there being a few cute canines about.

- Hay-on-Wye Booksellers -

Sunday is arguably the day the Bookworm has most been looking forward to, when we drive over the Welsh border into Hay on Wye (although a car soundtrack containing 'My Name Is Potato' isn't something Emily would have been expecting). We park up on Oxford Road by the town library and pitch straight into a succession of bookshops - they're absolutely everywhere. Addeyman's Annexe is first up, higgledy-piggledy with hazard tape marking out any carpet trip hazards; apparently this shop is secondary to their main outlet on Lion Street but is stuffed to the ginnels in its own right. It is followed in turn by North Books, Hay Booksellers (sited below the castle with hints of bleached timbers), the sci-fi theme of Bookshop 451 and then a store dedicated to all things Alice in Wonderland.

- The River Wye -

Broad Street has its moments, leaving me completely gobsmacked by the presence of Alan R. Powell's carpentry and joinery workshop, based in a rotting green garage that probably hasn't been painted for the best part of 30 years. The Broad Street Book Centre swiftly presents a whole literary emporium, seemingly with railway titles at every turn, while Emily had spoken glowingly about one specific store beforehand. I can soon see why she rates Richard Booth's Bookshop so highly - it really is a legendary place with creaking staircases and works across three floors, such a joy to rummage around. In between times we indulge in a little wander to look out upon the River Wye, seemingly popular with canoeists when seen from Bridge Street.

- Draught Bass at Kilverts -

Our Hay exertions are also punctuated by amazing ice creams courtesy of Shepherds, where we push the boat out for luxurious double scoop cones topped with sprinkles; the marmalade stracciatella flavour has a tasty citrus tang infused by flecks of dark chocolate. Pubs naturally feature too, in which case we account for three of the town's taverns. The Old Black Lion is slightly away from the main cut and thrust, offering accommodation and serving up huge Yorkshire puddings on its Sunday roasts (not that we were eating). I like the rustic sense presented by the Three Tuns, all flagstones and gnarled beams with a nice pint of Best, whereas Kilvert's delivers decent Draught Bass as we avoid the worst of a nasty shower.

- Weobley Church Sundial -

It would be rude of me to tell you exactly how many books Emily might have bought in Hay but common consensus is that she stayed within her self-imposed limits. Bank Holiday Monday is then dedicated to doing some of the Black & White Villages trail, investigating a succession of gorgeous settlements between Hereford and Leominster. The first of these is Weobley (note to self: it is pronounced 'Web-ley' as if pertaining to spidery thread), where we park by the Old Grammar School and undertake a full circuit of centuries old streets. The Portland Garage has three vintage petrol pumps dispensing gallons of DERV then the Wonky Badger is a charming timbered teashop. A churchyard stroll enables us to admire the sunkissed sundial of St Peter & St Paul's before the Old Salutation has holiday lunchtime trading hours to permit a glass of Weston's Vintage Cider inside its rambling quaint lounge bar.

- Pembridge Sheep? -

Dilwyn awaits next via twisting country lanes where we happen upon a badger carved from an old treetrunk. St Mary the Virgin Church has an associated C of E primary school, and Emily proves an adept sign spotter when detecting a 'Lemster' mileage marker I otherwise wouldn't have noticed myself. The local pub in Dilwyn is the community-owned Crown, a pleasant spot for imbibing of Hop Shed's Sebright Golden Ale. The trail then moves on to Pembridge which straddles the Rhayader-bound A44. My architectural eye is drawn towards Brion Duppa's old almshouses, a charitable relic from the one-time Bishop of Winchester, while another church of St Mary has a detached belfry arrangement plus a curious set of three sculpted sheep.

- The White Swan, Eardisland -

Having photographed that Pembridge flock, we pop into the Red Lion for more refreshment just below the church - framed old gold shirts and signed footballs suggest an unexpected Wolverhampton Wanderers allegiance here so I feel right at home. Last but not least is the nearby village of Eardisland which remarkably Emily starts to recognise as somewhere she'd once stayed at for a friend's stag party. The White Swan counts as a revisit for the Bookworm but a new haunt for me, although we're the only customers to interrupt the landlord's Tipping Point watching brief. The River Arrow burbles past and the churchyard is pretty with drooping trees and mossy headstones. Sadly it's then time to drive home but what a three days we had!

WME Flickr Focus - August 2026

Parched landscapes seem to have been the meteorological theme of the summer, with the unrelenting dryness an inevitable consequence of heatwave conditions. Thankfully the West Midlands Exploration photostream has avoided suffering its own form of drought, meaning I've been able to keep the update tap fully turned on...

There isn't a trickle nor have we a downpour, just a nice steady flow of new arrivals. Gushing forth therefore is Exploration Extra in a "remember me!" kind of fashion, although it is usually the case that my gallery of farther flung photos only ever operates in periodic bursts. It's been a few months since it last saw any action but EE's turn has rolled around again, helped chiefly by a series of snapshots from my 2023 Bognor Regis holiday. Bognor itself weighed in with a David Bowie mural, seafront pebbles and Reynolds & Co furniture depositories, assisted in number by cheerful Chichester for Bishop's Garden flora and a smattering of pub signs.

My stay in Bognor also yielded an intriguing set of Brighton items, including arty depictions of Jimi Hendrix and Amy Winehouse; I also glugged down the Great Eastern pub in North Laine, although one of those pictures dates from the Hove cricketing getaway of 2012. Elsewhere from the Exploration Extra hosepipe comes a cute crab in Bridlington, two Brylaine buses in Boston (Lincolnshire), a trio of Beaumaris titbits covering castle walls and the Bulkeley Hotel, then a 2019 'Nottingtram' Basford brace featuring Watts Van Hire with the Rose & Crown.

Exploration Extra wasn't the only gallery wielding its watering can, although it did dominate much of the monthly action. WME Wolverhampton encountered R2D2 getting clamped by an overzealous traffic warden before adhering to its standard rules about street sign accumulation (courtesy of Westbury Street, Thornley Street and Stafford Street this time around). University buildings offer selected architectural details, Zak the 'Wild in Wolves' Zebra crops up yet again and the Castle pub on Wood End Road ensures we do briefly get away from the city centre.

Beyond Wolverhampton however, there's very little to report at all. My only other pocket of activity comes from WME Worcestershire with three former landmarks that are no longer trading - Richardson's Newsagents at St John's, the Garibaldi pub on Bromyard Road (now flats), and the Cricketers on Angel Street. Admittedly the last of those could come back, and I very much hope it does as I was rather fond of the collection of sporting memorabilia there, but it goes to show how rapidly things can change. See you in September!

Snoopy Spotting in Birmingham

You remember the Snoopy Trail which Bookworm Bygrave and I attempted at Trentham Gardens back in May? It turns out that a similar series of sculptures have now popped up at numerous locations across Birmingham City Centre during the school holidays, so I'd better start collecting the Beagles of Brum!

- The Bookworm meets 'Golden Hound' -

I'm going to be taking two bites of the Peanuts cherry this time around, reacquainting myself with some of the installations Emily and I saw at Trentham whilst also checking out any that haven't been repeated from the Potteries event. The Bookworm is my companion for Round 1, a Tuesday 4th August quizzing evening where we spend an hour finding the likes of 'I Need More Space' (the planetary kennel in Piccadilly Arcade) and 'Grrrrnarly Beach Hut', a seaside specimen found at the Great Western Arcade. One favourite we're particularly pleased to see again is 'Golden Hound' with its gilded shimmer populated by observational depictions of flora and fauna. It is currently based inside the Burlington Arcade near the Bacchus Bar steps.

- 'BowWow Haus' -

Of the installations we hadn't seen previously, 'It's Treat O'Clock' makes a sweet impression in depicting a gingerbread house complete with mini-Snoopy peeking out of an upstairs window, all very Hansel and Gretel! That one resides close to the Town Hall whereas 'BowWow Haus' lurks outside the Stalybridge Suites hotel on Corporation Street, instantly standing out with a design influenced by the Bauhaus movement and the geometric patterns of Piet Mondrian. As for the quiz, the Bookworm and I join friends Zoe and Mike at the Barrel Store for an evening of testing trivia. Fuelled by indulgent pizzas, we finish a respectable 5th just a handful of points behind the eventual winners. Steve Coogan anagrams and a festivals connection round go well but we get stumped by a close-up picture of a stapler - never mind!

- A Bespectacled Bull -

Round 2 of my Snoopy Sweep occurs on Monday 10th August in the company of my Chip Foundation colleagues. Assembling at New Street Station, we're amused to see that Ozzy the big mechanical bull is now adorned with a fetching pair of tinted spectacles which add further lustre to his rock and roll personality. Two of the Snoopys - or should that be Snoopies? - are positioned around the wider station concourse: 'Plant Dreams, Harvest Joy' has a greenhouse windowpane effect near one set of ticket barriers while the fruit tree fun of 'Garden of Delights' requires escalator access up into the malls of Grand Central.

- Mr Beardsmore by the 'Riverbank' -

Moving along to John Bright Street, 'Riverbank' is the next Snoopy to report for inspection and conveys a waterside air, helped by depictions of swans and a wading heron. A dramatic Peaky Blinders mural extends most of the way along Hill Street, capturing the likenesses of favourite characters such as Tommy Shelby and Aunt Polly, while a separate artwork on the Navigation Street bridge references the four original members of Black Sabbath. We're really getting a solid impression of Birmingham's indelible imprint on British popular culture around here.

- 'Tales for Tails' -

Continuing towards the Mailbox, Stephen can put his dodgy knee to the test negotiating flights of steps and escalators as we work our way through Harvey Nichols floors and past the BBC Studios entrance. 'Tales for Tails' is located close to the broadcasting hub and is probably the most amusing of all the Snoopy designs - I love the comical wordplay giving a canine twist to well known literary works and authors, hence Romeo and Drooliet, Woofering Heights, Bark Twain and Fetch 22. My accomplices all approve of this one too so it definitely appeals to our collective sense of silliness!

- Beer Stop at the Botanist -

This being a Chip Foundation get-together, there are bound to be a few refreshment stops along the way. We might have tested out the Sixes 'Social Cricket' concept had it still been trading but the Botanist is close at hand, via Holliday Passage and Bridge Street. I'd never been here before but both Nick and Stephen had vague recollections of prior encounters, maybe even dating back to when it was called the James Brindley. Either way, it boasts a prime location looking out over Regency Wharf and Gas Street Basin, with pricing to match such a prestigious setting. As is his custom, HRH subjects the menu to rigorous analysis - we suspect Mr B wouldn't be a fan of their hanging kebabs but could go for an edible chocolate plantpot as served with its own spade.

- 'Bee More Snoopy!' -

Upon leaving the Botanist, any debate over where else to try is quickly resolved by the merest mention of the Prince of Wales - we've scarcely seen Nick being so decisive! Our Cambridge Street call yields a cracking pint of Teignworthy's Gun Dog Bitter plus considered discussion about the punk and heavy metal musical genres, then it's on with the Snoopy stuff. A second glimpse of Town Hall gingerbread residences precedes a Corporation Street study of 'Bee More Snoopy', inspired by the importance of bumblebees to our natural ecosystem. 

- Sabbath Signage in Scruffy Murphy's -

Our earlier chat about the various forms of rock music has reminded me of a certain venue we really ought to visit so - once 'Fungi's House' has been foraged with its toadstool-capped top - we deviate to Dale End for a slice of Scruffy Murphy's. Formerly the Pen & Wig (which itself hosted many live bands in its time) this place pays due tribute to the gods of heavy metal and boasts an enviable collection of mounted guitars, not forgetting a gallery of silver disc records. Extracting ourselves from soft low sofas (easier said than done), we nip into the Square Peg Wetherspoons to taste the remnants of their recent craft cider festival - cue Hecks Slack-ma-Girdle for me and a Scrummage for HRH. At this juncture we must sadly go our separate ways, albeit with 'BowWow Haus' supplying one final Snoopy sighting. Cheers!

Hub Marketing 2026: Mr D9’s Wombourne Wishlist

The Hub Marketing Board’s summertime saga continues with another of our squeeze-one-in-on-the-sly type outings the Chairman likes to sneak under his dragon’s radar. We have a few leftover strands from last autumn to attend to after our Greensforge Gallop and Wet Weather Wombourne trips still left us with a few South Staffordshire holes, so Mr D9 has issued instructions for a speedy Monday meeting…

- The Student Hub -

Trip Log: Monday 3rd August 2026 and a rendezvous near Wolverhampton Art Gallery has been arranged in the region of 4pm. Chairman D9 must be eager for not only does he arrive earlier than the Secretary, he's taken up a prime position for advertising the Goose's Student Hub credentials - his commitment to the marketing cause is ever unwavering! The plan for the next couple of hours is duly confirmed and we'll proceed with the express intention of mopping up a handful of outlying Wombourne watering holes which have yet to receive a Board visit. 

- D9 drives the 16 -

A Stourbridge-bound number 16 bus is soon on the scene, allowing for top deck views of Market Square reconstruction activities; the new development off Salop Street will apparently be called Smithgate and combines urban living with diverse shops and leisure opportunities. The A449 Penn Road is the recipient of the latest D9 driving masterclass, powering past the Mount Tavern, Hollybush and the Lloyd Hill roundabout into Staffordshire. Wombourne isn't very far and we're under orders to alight at the New Inn, a pub we can't do today even if we wanted to. Sadly this one has been shut for a few months now, which explains why the beer garden looks so overgrown and the building is starting to fall into disrepair; no, our first tipple of the trip will have to be sourced elsewhere...

- Enville Ginger in the Round Oak -

Marching along Ounsdale Road past the Leisure Centre and the adjacent renamed secondary school - now simply called Wombourne High - we reach the Round Oak as invitingly situated alongside the Staffs & Worcs Canal (next to Houndel Bridge). Gleaming glasses of Enville Ginger, a beer with a nice little kick to it, can slake our growing thirst while we home in on a well-ventilated raised rear lounge. On very warm days such as this, it's always a relief when pubs have good fan provision for cooling folk down. Large potplants and trellis-like partition screens add to the garden-like ambience here, plus there are some lovely vintage frosted window panes to give Mr WME his history fix too. A 1980s soundtrack is proving fun until 'Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now' reminds the Chairman of his domestic bliss status!

- Mount Pleasant -

Spicy Enville beer quaffed, we continue on our merry way to guarantee our intended call at the Mount Pleasant. As with the Round Oak, Mr D9 can't remember ever setting foot in this place before although the Secretary has enjoyed some hospitality here previously. The Chairman's wallet is prepped to take advantage of the promotional prices on Carling - it doesn't seem that long ago when £3.95 would have been our most expensive beery outlay, not the cheapest! If the Ounsdale Road boozers were engaging in a tussle for blowy one-upmanship, the Mount Pleasant is ahead on points thanks to a huge industrial fan circulating air around the lounge. We find a mottled brown booth behind a central chimney breast to debate plush toys, bus timetabling matters and generally set the world to rights.  

- The Wombourne Closet Bald Spot -

Retracing earlier footsteps, we hurtle down Windmill Bank where the Chairman’s ever-reliable closet radar detects a toilet block by the maypole sculpture; apparently D9 may have utilised these facilities during his 1990s bus driving shifts, hence the bald spot's sense of nostalgia at being back again. Pub number three awaits whereby the Old Bush is an essential secretarial request being as it fits neatly on the way to our ultimate Red Lion landing point, plus its Black Country Ales-ness makes it a no-brainer with Mr WME in urgent need of some sustenance. Ashover’s Elderflower Ale is a risky selection but the floral flavour thankfully doesn’t become too overpowering while the critical cob is of generous proportions, chunky cheese and onion exactly as I’d been longing for.

- Snug Seating in the Red Lion -

Our finale comes at the musty Red Lion down Battlefield Hill where we both have very fond memories to recall. It’s ticking over reasonably well here for a Monday night with a scattering of folks in the beer garden plus a few stalwart barflies to keep the tills ringing. We collect a pint of Holden’s Golden Glow each - top quality ones at that - and bonus packets of Gill’s white label pork scratchings before parking ourselves on the table which nudges inside the lounge hearth. This half of the pub is particularly homely, you just need to be careful not to wallop your bonce when standing up - ouch! All that then remains is a sprightly A449 scurry to the Billy Bunns Lane bus stop and our mopping-up mission is declared a success. Cheers!

Lost Pubs from the WME Archives #45

Buckle up one and all as we plunge headlong once more into the dusty depths of the WME photo repository. The cobwebs are being blown off five more Lost Pubs but which of these - if any - do you remember visiting?

- The Belvidere -

I'm leaving the Black Country behind this time around and instead recalling a quintet from our surrounding shires. First up we'll visit the Belvidere which used to grace Shrewsbury's eastern extremities, tucked away on Crowmere Road among pleasant semi-detached housing. I never staged a drinking visit here, instead having to make do with this fleeting sighting from the days when it functioned as a sports bar. It was built by Banks's in the 1960s to serve the expanding estates in this part of town but ceased trading circa 2016 and has since been demolished.

- The Globe -

Staying with Shrewsbury but moving closer to the town centre, the Globe could be found on Coleham Head within easy walking distance of English Bridge. This always looked a plain but traditional prospect with its mostly whitewashed frontage and simple blue signage, hence I can well imagine it being popular for pub games such as darts and dominoes back in the day. The building is still standing but has become a private residence in tones of battleship grey.

- The Brandy Cask -

From Shropshire to Worcestershire next and the market town of Pershore in the district of Wychavon. The Brandy Cask was one of my prized pub finds during Rail Rover Week 2012, an independent free house serving their own real ales and earning praise in the Good Beer Guide meaning there was a lot for me to like. A very enjoyable pint of Brandysnapper proved ample reward for my efforts in getting here and the elegant Georgian setting had its charms too, so I'm sad to report that this Bridge Street property has latterly been converted into flats.

- The Cricketers Arms -

Having accounted for one from Wychavon, let's swoop over to Wyre Forest and the carpet town of Kidderminster. Backstreet Banks's efforts didn't come much more beguiling than the Cricketers Arms, an end-of-terrace brickbuilt property a few doors along from the Milton Hall Baptist Church and Sunday Schools chapel. Handy too for the Severn Valley Railway station, my main memories of this place involve visiting with Roger and Ant to play darts (badly). It has now reverted into being a standard house with not much to indicate it was ever a pub.

- Tweeddale Arms Hotel -

Let's finish in Staffordshire, albeit only just given that Tamworth nudges close to Warwickshire territory. The Tweeddale Arms (as was) is a very familiar landmark on the roundabout outside the town's railway station so countless numbers of passengers must have wandered past over the years, and I dare say a fair few would have quenched their thirst here too. Despite having 'Beers from Coors' at the time of this photo, it would go on to become a Domino's Pizza outlet.

WME Flickr Focus - July 2026

Heatwave temperatures, World Cup heartbreak, another change in Prime Minister - all par for the course where July 2026 is concerned. Amidst all the sweat, blood, goals and political turmoil, the WME photostream has quietly stayed out of the limelight, happy enough to do its usual update thing. Here's what the last month has brought our way...

It doesn't require a presidential trophy lift or a speech from behind a Downing Street lectern when declaring WME Wolverhampton to be July's chief contributor. We've hit a rich seam of Wulfrunian material lately with West Park and Wolverhampton Art Gallery both attracting more than their fair share of arrivals. Funfair posters, magnolia blooms, park pathways and classical Chemistry figures have all earned selection alongside less thrilling items (a West End Club parking notice) although there is a Whitmore Reans Santa Claus to see if you're so inclined. Sprinkle in a triceratops alongside some gingerbread people and you've got quite a lineup!

WME Dudley has shown itself to be partial to a medal presentation (or the occasional lap of honour) and continues its strong performance across the whole of 2026 with a fresh batch of additions. Wollaston makes solid strides here, boosted by several street signs - Gerald Road, Eggington Road, Lawn Avenue etc - plus a peek at Swan Pool Playing Fields, although we mustn't overlook the efforts of Withymoor Village to donate its doctors surgery and Turners Lane to our noble cause.

Another 2026 big-hitter maintaining consistent levels of output would be WME Birmingham, waiding - sorry, raiding - its box marked 'W' for titbits from Weoley Castle (a pub dartboard), Walmley (ditto) and Winson Green (Midland Metro tram stop railings designed to represent James Watt's engineering ingenuity). WME Telford took its time to get going by comparison but has hit a purple patch from springtime onwards - Wellington ensures this momentum is undimmed and yes, there is even more boot bunting to report! The Oddfellows, Cock Hotel and Dun Cow pile up the pub quota too.

After a productive time of it in June, WME Walsall takes things slightly easier this time around but nevertheless has enough energy to pick out a Holtshill Lane pumpkin and revisit Walsall Wood's Boatmans Rest; WME Staffordshire tickles Tutbury a little more, obtaining the Cross Keys and a war memorial poppy wreath; WME Worcestershire extracts two more lock items from the Tardebigge flight, leaving WME Warwickshire holding up the rear courtesy of The Butts in Warwick itself. All eyes will now be on August to see what else might appear...

A Heatwave Hub Marketing Homage

The summer of 1976 has gone down in folklore as one of the hottest ever on record, with day after day of baking heat lasting for weeks. The young Chairman was there to experience it first hand, living near West Bromwich and being subjected to the Wurzels’ ‘Combine Harvester’ repeatedly by neighbour Mad Matthews. Fifty years on, another prolonged heatwave is taking hold so we have perfect conditions to relive D9's youth... 

- All aboard the 47 -

Trip Log: Thursday 16th July 2026 and it doesn't seem five minutes since we were last in the Wednesbury area, full of World Cup excitement. Alas the country is now recovering from the agony of England's semi-final defeat to Argentina but the Hub Marketing Board put aside any lingering melancholy when meeting at the Great Western Street tram stop. Chairman D9 is in charge of the evening's itinerary, picking out places that bring back personal memories of his schooldays - he had hair back then! - and his first instruction is to board the number 47 bus for a ride along Ridding Lane, Hydes Road and Crookhay Lane. To get ourselves into even more of a nostalgic mood, the WME Silly Song is Max Bygraves and 'The Drought of 76', complete with references to water rationing and Percy Thrower's radishes!

- The Coach & Horses -

Passing the Gough Arms as Mr D9 recalls a character nicknamed the 'Hateley Heath Beast' (she had a certain liking for bus drivers), we make our first port of call the Coach & Horses on Kesteven Road. This has been spruced up since we last came and has banners stating that it is under new management, although it still counts as a flat-roofed estate pub however much they try to make it look more fancy. According to the Chairman, some teachers at the nearby Menzies High School (nowadays renamed as the Phoenix Collegiate) might have been known to have a sneaky tipple in here back in the day. Our choice of lubrication is Carling, giving the Secretary a £3.50 discount which would seal spreadsheet honours as the trip unfolds. ODI cricket meanwhile shows on the big screens with Jasprit Bumrah batting for India at Cardiff.

- Remembering Menzies C Block -

Our very own Chairman was himself a pupil at Menzies in the 1980s so Marsh Lane has us travelling back in time, pointing out where the entrances to B Block (containing the school's library plus Maths and Geography classrooms) and C Block (housing the English, Drama and Art facilities) would have been. The athletics track appears to have been repainted and tidied up after previously falling into disrepair, although it's far too warm to contemplate running the 400 metres today. Instead we recreate the route a youthful D9 would have taken to get home at the end of a busy school day, briefly linking onto Jubilee Street before Princess Grove has apparently changed very little since the late 1970s. Some of the garden fences and concrete lampposts could well still be intact from when this part of the estate was originally built.

- Outside the former D9 family home -

It was back during the spring of 1976 when the Chairman first moved to what would be the D9 family home for his formative years. This means the likes of Caldwell Street, Walsall Road and Alexandra Terrace inspire fond reminiscing on the long hot summer, even though hearing the Wurzels ad nauseam must surely have driven everyone to distraction! Other tunes to resonate off the Chairman's playlist include 'Save Your Kisses For Me' by Brotherhood of Man and 'Let Em In' from Wings, the latter a reminder of the chimes on Mrs Morris's doorbell. D9 thoughts of next door neighbours and old friends come flooding back at this stage of our stroll, not to mention the lady who ran the local sweetshop.

- Pennyhill Primary School -

And the memories don't just end there. Next up is Pennyhill Primary School, occupying a site bounded by Hollyhedge Lane, Willett Road and Connor Road. When the Chairman attended lessons here, it was effectively two conjoined schools (Charlemont and Hollyhedge) with the current name adopted circa 2007 when these were amalgamated. Young D9 would have been taught in the Charlemont side, where provision had first been established in 1929, whereas the Hollyhedge counterpart was set up from 1964 onwards. Some of the school railings look as though they might have been around since the 1960s actually, and our accompanying soundtrack has now switched to hearty renditions of 'Jeans On' by David Dundas.

- Royal Oak (Newton Street) -

All this wallowing in the past has made us rather thirsty so a pit stop in the Crown & Anchor is deemed necessary. More commonly referred to as the Jinglers, this falls under M&B's Sizzling brand with a predictable offer in terms of both food and drink, majoring on stacked skillets and big burgers. A cool glass of Carling is sufficient for our needs, allowing the Chairman to recall when the Edwards family used to run the place. The Secretary is pining for quality cask ale however and gets his wish granted care of the Royal Oak, a homely free house just around the corner on Newton Street. We've been here a couple of times before but it suits us nicely for well-kept Enville White, watching the Open golf from the comfort of a very cosy lounge.

- Spotted near the Spinney -

Pressing onwards, the next location lined up for D9 reflection is the Charlemont estate where Beaconview Road offers glimpses of several blocks of flats. Marshall House was demolished many years ago but others have survived, notably Camberley and Briarley (the tallest tower) which still have the hallmark of 1960s construction albeit with modernisation over time. Of the local pub provision, the Mill is sadly no more after falling victim to fire damage, leaving us the Spinney to supply our next slice of Carling action. We begin indoors in the presence of signed Chris Brunt West Bromwich Albion shirts then move outside to a plain beer table so that the Chairman can fully appreciate what he calls 'proper scenery'.

- A Gospel Oak nightcap -

It isn't only 1976 that the Chairman is keen to relive so the final two pubs on our mini-crawl enable him to dip into his 1980s catalogue. The Stone Cross is a large roadhouse midway between Walsall and West Bromwich, perched on a busy gyratory encircled by the A4031. The current pub building replaced the previous one in 1934, and after years of Mitchells & Butlers ownership it is now an Indian bar and grill. Yet more Carling is supped to the tune of Judy Boucher's 1987 smash 'Can't Be With You Tonight' and a bit of Bros might have entered the equation too. After helping hands from the 40 and 11A buses, our landing point ends up being the Gospel Oak near Tipton for a 1988-themed nightcap listening to the likes of Kylie and other Stock Aitken Waterman alumni. With that, our wander down memory lane is over but it goes to show how certain songs, locations and temperatures can really trigger vivid recollections of people and places that mean a lot to us. Cheers!

National Trust... At The Double!

The transition of the Ironbridge Gorge Museums to the custodianship of the National Trust means that they should be fully safeguarded for future generations, although Bookworm Bygrave and I haven't been able to make much use of our annual passes during the handover period. The flipside is that our yearlong tickets are now valid at other National Trust venues so the warm weather entices us to go exploring...

- St Cassian's Church -

Two local(ish) trips in two days is our agreement, with the Clent Hills up for consideration on Tuesday 14th July 2026. Wishing to make the most of the weather, let's throw in Chaddesley Corbett for added value - I'd not been to the village since an early 2011 Rog visit so a fifteen year gap is reason enough to have another look. St Cassian’s Church is at the heart of things, the flag of St George billowing from just below its spire, while Miss B finds decades-old Jim graffiti etched into the stonework. A separate churchyard building of arched windows looks most intriguing - could this be a former schoolhouse or parish hall we wonder? 

- Bathams Best Bitter at the Swan -

Chaddesley Corbett is home to three pubs although the Talbot only seems to serve alcohol at the tail end of the week, instead operating as a timber-beamed coffee shop and meeting place the rest of the time. One day I might get round to sampling the Fox but - just as with Roger - it's the Swan which really steals the limelight; this is a Bathams tied house, need I say more! I'll go many a mile for a cracking pint of their Best Bitter and this one is nectar of the highest order, matched only by the quality of the cobs (in our case, cheese served with bonus side salad to give Emily her daily cucumber fix). The lounge side has high ceilings and baronial chandeliers that would not look out of place in a medieval castle while the beer garden is a sun worshippers dream. Hopefully I'll make it back here well before 2041!

- The Four Stones (well, three of them) -

Delighted to see the Swan on such excellent form, we hop back in the car for the short drive to Clent, going through Drayton and Belbroughton en route. I usually associate the National Trust with stately homes and other historic examples of bricks and mortar but this overlooks their role as stewards of some of the country’s finest landscapes. The Clent Hills come under their jurisdiction and comprise circa 440 acres of wide open spaces, woodland and wildlife habitat to enjoy. Adams Hill acts as our gateway in, following arrows for the Buzzard Trail to reach a toposcope viewing platform pointing out some of the geological landmarks on show - the Welsh Black Mountains, the Malvern Hills, Turners Hill communications masts and even the glory of Wolverhampton. We check out the Four Stones as erected as a folly for Lord Lyttelton (a former Chancellor of the Exchequer no less, and resident of Hagley Hall) then troop back down the slopes for a restorative drink in the happily resurrected Hill Tavern.

- Bookworm Bygrave at Wightwick Manor -

Wednesday 15th July 2026 brings with it the prospect of Wightwick Manor, an acclaimed Arts and Crafts property on the fringes of Wolverhampton which was built for the Mander family between 1887 and 1893. The house is especially renowned for its examples of William Morris wallpaper and Pre-Raphaelite art, with a current exhibition celebrating the extensive influence of the Rossetti family (Dante Gabriel the celebrated painter, Christina the poet, William the critic and Maria the author). It's fascinating to see some of their works and learn about the impact they collectively had, challenging Victorian conventions with a bohemian spirit.

- Mander Brothers Ltd Memorial -

Emily and I enjoy a thorough wander through the main house, from the Great Parlour to the Dining Room (hearing about incontinent wombats as evidence of Dante Gabriel Rossetti's descent into madness), and then heading upstairs to the Indian Bird and Acanthus Rooms as named after their respective wallpaper patterns. The Malthouse Gallery showcases artistic works by Evelyn de Morgan and her husband William, the noted ceramic tile designer. The Mander family were prominent industrialists, especially in the manufacture of varnishes and paints, and the Mander Brothers Ltd war memorial can be found in a remembrance garden where it presents a Roll of Honour of workers who lost their lives during the two World Wars.

- The Peach House at Wightwick -

A second hand bookshop beneath the Malthouse Gallery was always going to elicit much Bygrave attention, and with two titles duly purchased, we stroll around the wider grounds. I remember the Kitchen Gardens almost resembling a pumpkin production line when I last came in October 2023 but this time around the sweet peas are more prominent, daintily swaying on the faint wisps of breeze. The Peach House dates to 1891 and is absolutely sweltering inside given the recent high temperatures; we catch glimpses of tomatoes and aubergines starting to ripen up nicely. It's great that the estate grows its own produce with some of the potplants being sold at the gift shop. Hot drinks and summer berry flapjacks courtesy of a tearoom housed in the old stables adds to the indulgent flavour, and we've enough time to call into the nearby Mermaid for further refreshment on the way home.

A Monday Meander Around Marylebone

Days out in London are a very rare event for me, and if I do cross paths with our capital city I'm usually just passing through en route to the cricket somewhere. Not this time though! Bookworm Bygrave has a book of recommended walks at her disposal so we're heading south for a Monday in Marylebone...

- Edgware Road Station -

Monday 6th July 2026 and I'm easily persuaded really - the mere mention of bookshops and historic pubs means this is far too good an opportunity to resist. Catching the 09:55 Chiltern service from Solihull sounds straightforward enough in principle, but a lorry has collided with a railway bridge in Gerrards Cross so we have to switch down via Oxford into Paddington, one of the great London terminals; I love the overhanging awning topped with GWR heraldic crest as evidence of Isambard Kingdom Brunel's original station design here. Exiting onto Praed Street, we quickly pass an attractive archway for St Mary's Hospital (founded in 1845) before further railway-related excitement presents itself courtesy of the frontage to Edgware Road Station complete with lettering for the Metropolitan Railway, London's original underground.  

- The Wallace Collection -

With photocopies in hand, Bookworm Bygrave leads us on our walk proper which commences on Chapel Street immediately outside the aforementioned Edgware Road tube stop. It doesn't take long for the historic discoveries to accumulate: St Mary's Church has a lovely rounded portico and faces down Wyndham Place towards Bryanston Square, originally constructed as part of the Portman Estate. A memorial fountain dedicated to Morning Post newspaper editor William Pitt Byrne is pointed out, then we navigate via Portman Square and Fitzhardinge Street to happen upon the Wallace Collection galleries based on Manchester Square. Always keen for a cultural intermission, we browse inside this national museum within Hertford House, formerly the principal London townhouse residence of the Marquesses of Hertford and Sir Richard Wallace. Elaborate French cabinets and decorative arts abound but it's the vast display of princely armour which has me transfixed - such extraordinary battle attire!

- Grinning in the Golden Eagle -

It's a warm day in the Big Smoke so we're thankful that the route contains plenty of suggested refreshment stops, including some rather special pubs. The Coach Makers Arms sits on the corner of Marylebone Lane and Bentinck Street, where it is part of the Cubitt House portfolio and has three levels comprising a first floor 'chop house' restaurant, ground floor pub and a speakeasy cocktail bar in the basement. We stay at ground level for Allsopp's Best Bitter and some televised Wimbledon tennis action, cooling off a little. Marylebone Lane is also where we find the Golden Eagle, advertising regular piano singalongs although they're spared any WME recitals of 'Roll Out The Barrel' or 'Down At The Old Bull And Bush'. A small but perfectly formed interior provides a timeless bolthole for sampling of Fullers London Pride, chatting to Emily about her preferred bits of the Capital (Kew Gardens being a firm Bygrave favourite).

- Daunt Books -

The deal is simple - if I can claim prized pubs, the Bookworm gets to fulfill her bookshop fix and there are a couple of unmissable ones on our itinerary. We briefly weave towards Oxford Street via St Christopher's Place (a former slum area that has been transformed into a street of desirable boutiques), then zigzag amongst the renowned medical establishments of Harley Street, noting the headquarters of the Royal Society of Medicine at 1 Wimpole Street. Emily's side of the bargain is upheld with thanks to Marylebone's Oxfam store - rumour has it I raided their stocks of Tottenham Hotspur programmes for a 1970s Wolves edition - although it's the Daunt Books premises which truly captures the imagination. Their store is organised along geographical lines with fiction, travel guides and non-fiction arranged together by continent, region or UK locality. Creaky floors and crammed shelves, its a magnet for literature lovers!

- Bookworm in the Barley Mow -

Happy with her haul, Emily next guides us to Paddington Street Gardens as a little oasis of green space which is an inviting spot for lazing on the grass or seeking out a shady bench. We're nearing the end of our circuit but there are a couple more must-visit pubs in the vicinity which we're eager to try. The first of these is the Barley Mow on Dorset Street, said to be the oldest pub in Marylebone having been built in 1791 and trading since 1793. The interior is heritage listed on account of many original features such as two private lockable drinking booths beside the main bar counter. Monkey Brewhouse's Tollhouse Bitter slips down very smoothly at 3.8% as we're amused by some of the darts team names - 'We're Sexy and We Throw It', 'The Tungsten Tossers' and 'Till Death Do Us Dart' all raising a chuckle.

- Chiltern Trains at Marylebone -

Our final drinks stop will therefore be the Angel In The Fields, a Samuel Smiths establishment on Thayer Street. It doesn't stand out as much as some in terms of its understated exterior but inside it comes alive with dark wooden panelling and floral stained glass, not to mention a nice cask pint of Old Brewery Bitter. I'm told the London arm of Sam Smiths can be slightly more relaxed as regards the brewery's digital detox rules and that does seem to be the case here, albeit the atmosphere still benefits from that focus on old-fashioned conversation. Gloucester Place is our direct means of getting to Marylebone Station where we stock up on train snacks and progress to Boarding Area A while waiting for the Snow Hill service to be prepared on Platform 6. London can be busy, intense even, but it rewarded these two intrepid explorers with a wonderful day of Marylebone mooching. Bookworm and I could well return for more!