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THE COCK AND MAGPIES PUBLIC HOUSE HAGLEY RD SMETHWICK.

could we please ask members before starting a new thread to first check what sections we already have...in this case we have a section for public houses so we are moving this thread from forum rules to pubs and hotels

the team
 
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COMPRESSORMAN said:
Anyone ever use this pub at all, did you used to bowl there?....up to 1970
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Yes, my father ran the bowling club for many years until M and B took it away for a car park. I watched my Dad play many times, later I used it as a teenager for a pint and take the girlfriends, yep there were a few, my brother Alan had his Wedding reception there. There are many names I remember that played there like Sam Heaselgrave he was an estate agent with a shop on Bearwood Rd, Harry Greaves, Jack Spread, Harry Wheelwright lived in Barclay Rd. Before that Dad ran the Dog Inn bowls, before that The Kings Head, all were taken by the M and B brewery for car parks. Lightwoods Park Bowls, two greens removed by Sandwell Council, the Putting Green went as well, The Bird Sanctuary, the boating pool, the Tennis courts, Shakespears Garden..WHY?..They were all great socialising places, thought the Councils were supposed to supply public recreation facilities for all the council tax we pay. Bham Council ran it before Sandwell Council took it over, recently they've had the Old House repaired where we used to get an ice cream and a tea. Happy memories.
 
Off topic, the Shakespeare Garden has been renovated but all the other lovely features have been destroyed over the years. I loved the the Bird Sanctuary and Dad used to float his radio controlled model boat on the paddling pool that's now a skateboard park. Happier days!!
rosie.
 
rosie said:
Off topic, the Shakespeare Garden has been renovated but all the other lovely features have been destroyed over the years. I loved the the Bird Sanctuary and Dad used to float his radio controlled model boat on the paddling pool that's now a skateboard park. Happier days!!
rosie.
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Rosie, I'm pleased that the Shakespeare Garden has been restored. Mom was a keen gardener and we always looked in there. I don't know if the many poisonous plants in Shakespeare survived modern health and safety! What about the Lightwoods Park bandstand? I must go and visit the Woods this summer. Derek
 
Stokkie said:
Rosie, I'm pleased that the Shakespeare Garden has been restored. Mom was a keen gardener and we always looked in there. I don't know if the many poisonous plants in Shakespeare survived modern health and safety! What about the Lightwoods Park bandstand? I must go and visit the Woods this summer. Derek
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HOLD ON I will find a pic with my Mum knitting with other ladies, dont know what it was all about though...I have a large box with around 200 photos in it going back to 1860ish...anyway, anyone have a pic of the MIDLAND RED Garage that was on the Bearwood rd, I used to work at as trainee mechanic...the Corks club was opposite, told its no more is that true...turned into a Caribbean club...also anyone go to the Cellar club under the Kings head Pub...and where was the Morgue?
 
The Bandstand is still there!! It was refurbished and I believe they hold weddings there. The paths in the Woods were restored and the "carriiage driveway" along the top of the valley. The Midland Red is an Aldi now and I thought the Morgue was at King's Head?
rosie.
 
rosie said:
The Bandstand is still there!! It was refurbished and I believe they hold weddings there. The paths in the Woods were restored and the "carriiage driveway" along the top of the valley. The Midland Red is an Aldi now and I thought the Morgue was at King's Head?
rosie.
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yes Kings Head of course.
 
Thankyou for that I do remember the name Farr..my father Stan Francis ran the bowls club for many years, before that the Dog Inn and before that the Kings Head, might have some photos around if I can find em in Dads memorabilia box, I have hundreds going back to my GGfathers day. It was a well respected pub pity they took the green for extra people to use the pub and now the car parks almost desolate when I pass there, due to mainly high cost of drinks, this only leads to closing down and house building.
 
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COMPRESSORMAN said:
Thankyou for that I do remember the name Farr..my father Stan Francis ran the bowls club for many years, before that the Dog Inn and before that the Kings Head, might have some photos around if I can find em in Dads memorabilia box, I have hundreds going back to my GGfathers day. It was a well respected pub pity they took the green for extra people to use the pub and now the car parks almost desolate when I pass there, due to mainly high cost of drinks, this only leads to closing down and house building.
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I have a web site here that has a lot about Cock and magpie, names etc..hope its ok to show, seems I put summet up that was political awhile back and was removed, trying to think what it was?..

LATE CROWN GREEN BOWLERS

Stan Francis, my Dad and sadly missed, went too early in life!
latecrowngreenbowlers.yolasite.com
 
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