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David Weaver
gone but not forgotten
Hey Dave if you'd have looked very carefully you'd have seen the form of a boy watching you from the bushes, he slowly turned into an old man of eighty one in the Australian bush. Thank you for reawakening lovely memories of my park. Kind regards, David.
David Weaver
gone but not forgotten
Hey Old Mohawk, that tree grew like that because some yoke,l belonging to Bishop Vesey's household, accidently sat a maiden on it while he plighted his troth. Kind regards, David.
oldMohawk
gone but not forgotten
Hi David, that yokel of yours must have sat more than one maiden on trees because looking at the pic in #1271 I can see three strange trees, one just showing on the left, and in the pic below another in the distance. Perhaps when there was a mill on the lake, a young lad with time to spare, decided to make full size 'bonsai' trees to puzzle future visitors. The pool had clouds floating in it on the day I was there as can be seen in the other pic.
It might be interesting to take some pics to make 'then and now' pics matched against the many old photos of Sutton Park. I did once try it with one of my pics shown in #372
Phil
oldmohawk
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paul stacey
master brummie
The only big thing I remember from the 50's, was the 1957 Scout Jamboree, what sight it was, with scouts from all over the world, I remember the German contingent being made a special fuss of, I believe it was their first involvement Internationally since WW2. I went with our scout group from Bartley Green, and tasted my very first "Coca Cola", on the American stand. Paul
norfolk brummie
gone but not forgotten
John, I remember those days. Bob Maitland, Tommy Godwin etc..all great racing cyclists. Sutton Park was a regular cycle racing circuit. I still have a programme from September 1950 for a 110 mile cycling race (6 laps) starting in Eachelhurst Road, Pype Hayes. The course was Pype Hayes - Castle Bromwich - Water Orton - Coleshill - Bassetts Pole - Whitehouse Common - Walmley - Pype Hayes. 1st Prize: £7-0-0; 2nd Prize: £5-0-0; 3rd Prize: £3-0-0. Those were the days!!! Eddie.
oldbrit
OldBrit in Exile
Eddie I was a Junior rider in 1950 but still raced against Bob Maitland several times, even got third to him in a NCU Champ 25tt. In those days IF you belonged to the NCU you could NOT race on the roads, you had to race massed starts in Parks or Aerodromes. I raced a lot on Long Lawford Aerodrome, in fact I pranged out and broke both of my wrists there, but still finished in the pack. We also raced at Handsworth Park a few times. The BLRC did race on the roads, but I never signed up with them. I have a photo of Sutton Park race but cant seem to download it? John Crump OldBrit, Parker. Colorado USA
Bob Davis
Bob Davis
As an inhabitant of Birmingham, but born on the other side of the road in Sutton Coldfield, we always pulled the 'resident' when we entered either via Boldmere or Banners Gate, very occasionally Wyndley. We usually walked there. Either via Antrobus Road and along Boldmere Road or via the crossroads at Chester Road/College Road. There was also a route via walkways off Chester Road. Going to BVGS, meant that in Spring,Summer & Autumn I would cycle thro' the Park to school. In uniform, you did not have to bother with resident and of course school rules (uniform must be worn at all times) meant that entry with or without the family was automatic. We had a cross country course that went in through the gate off Lichfield Road and was quite a difficult course. The national schools army cadet corps annual run was held there once. And yes of course we did all our swimming at Blackroot, cold, cold Blackroot. The miniature railway and the fair were familiar attractions and of course for many years the Chipmans from Court Lane gave Donkey rides down by fairground. I remember the cycle races with Maitland et al, do you remember how the non professionals were often used as pacemakers for the stars? I also remember the POW camp with the Germans in their brown uniforms with different coloured patches on the back. I assume La Reseve has gone reading between the lines. I remember that opening and perhaps someone can update me Wyndley Leisure Centre? It was not there when I was a lad. Wyndley was always considered like Four Oaks and Streetley to be one of the 'posh gates'. No question whether you were a resident or not, if you looked right you were in. Mind you some of those Parkies in their green? uniforms and peaked caps could be quite challenging, especially if they saw you smoking. Thanks for all the memories, you have brought quite a lot back.
farmerdave
master brummie
Photo here of quite a famous couple visiting Sutton Park for the World Scout Jamboree in 1957. I was only 14 at the time and quite pleased with the photograph, which was taken on a very basic camera. Amazing and pleasing to think that 57 years later the royal couple are still with us. Dave
Dave M
Pheasey Born Bumper
Bikeral72
master brummie
Nice to see the swans are still prominent at Wydley pool Dave. The little Coots didn't seem to be too bothered about their giant friends.
W
Wendy
Guest
Lovely !
Keepers Pool may have been deep at one time, but by the late 60's when a few of us from Vesey went there in the Summer, it was very muddy, and only just 6 ft deep in the middle. I CAN vouch for it being cold though !
When I joined the Ambulance service, places like these were often the sites of diving accidents due to lessened depths. Many so-called 'Open Water' sites were also prone to yobs throwing things in throughout the 70's & 80's, so broken glass and supermarket trollies became hazards too.
When I joined the Ambulance service, places like these were often the sites of diving accidents due to lessened depths. Many so-called 'Open Water' sites were also prone to yobs throwing things in throughout the 70's & 80's, so broken glass and supermarket trollies became hazards too.
Pity it changed. I presume the diving board and steps all disappeared then when it became shallow. Expect there must have once been changing cabins there too. Viv.
oldMohawk
gone but not forgotten
There are some photos of Keepers Pool on the forum here https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=8930&p=292903#post292903
and some information on a forum member's Lost Lidos website here https://www.lostlidos.co.uk/2015/06/12/sutton-park-keepers-pool-1897/
and some information on a forum member's Lost Lidos website here https://www.lostlidos.co.uk/2015/06/12/sutton-park-keepers-pool-1897/
Phil
Gone, but not forgotten.
Viv
A few more photos of Keepers pool lido from it's earliest days when it looks like it was nothing more than a steel tank to just before it was closed down. Why it was closed I'm afraid remains a mystery to me as I'm sure it was well used up to the end. It has to be noted that it wasn't until Birmingham Council took over it's upkeep that it closed.
A few more photos of Keepers pool lido from it's earliest days when it looks like it was nothing more than a steel tank to just before it was closed down. Why it was closed I'm afraid remains a mystery to me as I'm sure it was well used up to the end. It has to be noted that it wasn't until Birmingham Council took over it's upkeep that it closed.
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ChrisM
Gone but not forgotten R.I.P
On a sadder note there was an outbreak of polio in Sutton in the mid/late 1940s and two of my friends at BVGS contracted it, one fairly mildly and one seriously. Swimming at Keepers was rumoured at the time to have been the cause. I think that the lido was closed for a while as a result.
(What a scourge that was, in the days before innoculation wiped it out. Now almost forgotten. The fear of it was widespread and the prospect of landing up in an iron lung was the subject of childhood nightmares).
Chris
(What a scourge that was, in the days before innoculation wiped it out. Now almost forgotten. The fear of it was widespread and the prospect of landing up in an iron lung was the subject of childhood nightmares).
Chris