Author: FVCA

War Memorial

On August 24th, 1914, at the very beginning of the Great War, a Branch of the Prince of Wales’ Fund was started in the Parish, which was intended to support those people affected by the war.

There quickly followed a branch of the Red Cross Fund and also a Belgian Refugee Fund, which was formed to support a family of Belgian refugees that had settled in Belbroughton.

The war ended in 1918. The Committee then in charge of the Refugees were asked to organise something in the form of a War Memorial. The Parish Council was approached and along with Belgian committee formed “The Committee of Belbroughton and Fairfield Peace Fund”, the proposition that Memorial Crosses should be erected at both ends of the Parish (Belbroughton & Fairfield), to meet the strong feeling that some permanent Memorial should be provided. It was also suggested that a Recreation Ground be established in the village of Belbroughton.

With the generous support of local subscribers, donations from the employees of Messrs. Isaac Nash Ltd, a scythe making factory in Bebroughton, the committee achieved its goal.

Belbroughton recreation Ground was opened for use in September, 1920.

Belbroughton War Memorial Cross was unveiled by General Sir H. Walker, and dedicated by the Rev. S. M. Cooke, Rector, Saturday, November 12th, 1921.

Fairfield War Memorial Cross, was unveiled by General Sir Percy Radcliffe, and dedicated by Rev. Canon Cronshaw, Sunday, May 4th, 1924.

As well as the names of the fallen from both World Wars, another inscription reads:- “To the Glory of God and in Memory of the Men of Fairfield who gave their lives for God, King and Country in the Great War 1914-1919 + Lest We Forget”. Like many memorials of this time, the ending date is given as 1919 rather than 1918.

According to the United Kingdom National Inventory of War Memorials, the memorial was designed by the Bromsgrove Guild, who were well-known in the arts & craft world. (The Bromsgrove Guild existed from 1898 to 1966.)

The War Memorial lists the following men who died in service of their country:

John Banner (son of Luke & Teresa Banner, Wildmoor)

Rank : Lance Corporal

Regiment : 4th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment

Service number : 12364

Conflict : WW1

Date of death : 25th April 1915 aged 21

Buried : Commemorated on Helles Memorial, Turkey.

Stanley Charles Biddle (son of Edward & Sarah Biddle, Fairfield)

Rank : Private

Regiment : 1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment

Service number : 18726

Conflict : WW1

Date of death : 15th November 1916 aged 33

Buried : Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, France.

John Thomas Burton (husband of Florence of Fairfield and father of 10 children)

Rank : Private

Regiment : 1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment

Service number : 36507

Conflict : WW1

Date of death : 27^th March 1917 aged 40

Buried : St. Sever Cemetery, Rouen, France

Samuel Clements (son of Henry and Emma Clement of Birmingham)

Rank : Lance Sergeant

Regiment : 1^st Battalion Warwickshire Regiment

Service number : 1125

Conflict : WW1

Date of death : 16^th February 1917 aged 26

Buried : Fins New British Cemetery, Somme, France

Albert Crisp (son of Thomas and Eliza Crisp of Bournheath)

Rank : Corporal

Regiment : 4th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment

Service number : 26908

Conflict : WW1

Date of death : 9th October 1918 aged 26

Buried : Fairfield (St Mark) Churchyard.

Clifford Vernon Darby

Rank : Private

Regiment : 13th (2nd/4th Battalion The South Lancashire Regiment) Battalion The Parachute Regiment Army Air Corps

Service number : 14520557

Conflict : WW2

Date of death : 7th June 1944 aged 23

Buried : Ranville War Cemetery, France.

Jephthah Davenport (son of Henry & Mary Davenport of Bournheath, husband of Lizzie of Bournheath)

Rank : Private

Regiment : 3rd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment

Service number : 27433

Conflict : WW1

Date of death : 11th July 1916 aged 26

Buried : Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, France.

Philip Davenport

Rank : Sapper

Regiment : 1017 Docks Operating Company Royal Engineers

Service number : 1909248

Conflict : WW2

Date of death : 11th August 1942 aged 22

Buried : Beirut War Cemetery, Lebanese Republic.

Ernest John Eades (son of John & Emma Eades of Fairfield)

Rank : Private

Regiment : 9th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment

Service number : 19457

Conflict : WW1

Date of death : 4th July 1916 aged 22

Buried : Basra War Cemetery, Iraq.

George Eades (son of John & Julia Eades of Stoneybridge)

Rank : Private

Regiment : 2nd Battalion The Herefordshire Regiment. King’s Shropshire Light Infantry

Service number : 4038165

Conflict : WW2

Date of death : 31st July 1941 aged 25

Buried : Fairfield (St Mark) Churchyard.

Donald Evans (son of Mr. & Mrs. T.R.J. Evans of Fairfield)

Rank : Driver

Regiment : Royal Signals

Service number : 316382

Conflict : WW1

Date of death : 16^th December 1918 aged 21

Buried : Terlincthun British Cemetry, Wimille, Pas de Calais, France

John Hancox (son of Annie Elizabeth Hancox of Fairfield)

Rank : Private John Wallace Hancox

Regiment : 4th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment

Service number : 12386

Conflict : WW1

Date of death : 27th June 1915 aged 26

Buried : Twelve Tree Copse Cemetery, Turkey.

William Harbach (son of Harry & Caroline Harbach of Stourbridge)

Rank : Private

Regiment : 424th Agricultural Company Labour Corps

Service number : 460691

Conflict : WW1

Date of death : 10th October 1918 aged 27

Buried : Fairfield (St Mark) Churchyard.

Samuel Harbridge (son of George & Mary Harbridge of Bell Heath)

Rank : Driver

Regiment : Royal Field Artillery

Service number : 87551

Conflict : WW1

Date of death : 27^th March 1918 aged 35

Buried : Etaples Military Cemetery

Walter Harris (son of Joshua & Jane Harris of Bournheath)

Rank : Driver

Regiment : Royal Field Artillery

Service number : Unknown

Conflict : WW1

Date of death : 19^th August 1917 aged 27

Buried : Unknown

Charles Herbert Harrison (son of Charles H. & Sarah Harrison of Bournheath)

Rank : Lance Corporal

Regiment : 14th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment

Service number : 25484

Conflict : WW1

Date of death : 8th June 1917 aged 23

Buried : Fairfield (St Mark) Churchyard.

John Hodgetts (son of Caleb & Annie Hodgetts, Bournheath)

Rank : Lance Sergeant

Regiment : 14th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment

Service number : 25815

Conflict : WW1

Date of death : 2nd September 1916 aged 22

Buried : Wimereux Communal Cemetery, France.

Ernest Hughes (son of Edward & Charlotte Hughes of Fairfield)

Rank : Private

Regiment : 1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment

Service number : 26033

Conflict : WW1

Date of death : 9th August 1916

Buried : Vermelles British Cemetery, France.

George Frederick Ivamy (of Fairfield and son of Joseph & Emily Ivamy of Winton, Dorset)

Rank : Sergeant

Regiment : 4th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment

Service number : 15670

Conflict : WW1

Date of death : 1st July 1916 aged 34

Buried : Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, France.

Frederick Charles Jones (son of Charles H. & Agnes Jones of Bournheath)

Rank : Private

Regiment : 2nd Battalion Devonshire Regiment

Service number : 47597

Conflict : WW1

Date of death : 31st July 1917 aged 20

Buried : Commemorated on Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.

Rupert Rea (son of James Ellen Rea of Huddington)

Rank : Private

Regiment : Devonshire Regiment. Transferred to 446th Company Labour Corps.

Service number : 29625

Conflict : WW1

Date of death : 1st December 1918 aged 27

Buried : Fairfield (St Mark) Churchyard

Harry Read (son of Arthur & Mary Read of Fairfield)

Rank : Private

Regiment : 9th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment

Service number : 27142

Conflict : WW1

Date of death : 15th December 1916 aged 20

Buried : Commemorated on Basra Memorial, Iraq.

Charles W Stevens (son of Charles Henry & Myra Stevens of Bromsgrove)

Rank : Driver

Regiment : 10 Ambulance Car Company Royal Army Service Corps

Service number : 138071

Conflict : WW2

Date of death : 13th October 1943 aged 24

Buried : Johannesburg (West Park) Cemetery, South Africa.

Harry Tilt (son of Thomas & Mary Tilt of Bournheath)

Rank : Private

Regiment : 4th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment

Service number : 9803

Conflict : WW1

Date of death : 14th April 1918 aged 19

Buried : Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez, France.

Charles Tranter (son of Mary A. Tranter of Belbroughton and husband of Jane of Bournheath)

Rank : Gunner

Regiment : 129th Battery 42nd Brigade Royal Field Artillery

Service number : 328

Conflict : WW1

Date of death : 15th October 1917 aged 37

Buried : Railway Dugouts Burial Ground (Transport Farm), Belgium.

William Thomas Wilkes (son of Thomas & Elizabeth Wilkes of Wildmoor)

Rank : Private

Regiment : 10th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment

Service number : 19896

Conflict : WW1

Date of death : 30th July 1916 aged 26

Buried : Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, France.

Arthur Wood (son of Sarah Read of Bournheath)

Rank : Private

Regiment : 3rd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment

Service number : 15719

Conflict : WW1

Date of death : 6th October 1916 aged 22

Buried : Pozieres British Cemetery, Ovillers-La-Boisselle, France.

Ernest Wood (son of William & Emma Wood of Wildmoor)

Rank : Private

Regiment : 3rd Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment

Service number : 60440

Conflict : WW1

Date of death : 19th February 1919 aged 18

Buried : Fairfield (St Mark) Churchyard.

Frederick Ernest Wood (son of Mrs. Hodgkiss of Wildmoor)

Rank : Private

Regiment : 3^rd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment

Service number : 29789

Conflict : WW1

Date of death : 12^th April 1918 aged 20

Buried : Unknown

Fairfield Bromsgrove

Fairfield Emblem

In October 2014, as part of the 35th anniversary celebration to give thanks for the Village Hall, the children of the village and pupils that attended Fairfield First School were asked to design an emblem for Fairfield that could be adopted by village institutions.

The winning entry was drawn by William, aged 6 yrs.

The judges, Mary Fairbain, Carol Brogan & Conrad Palmer, reported that “all the children that entered the competition were very creative and the judges were pleased with all of the entries. It was very difficult to chose the winning design.”

Dog Fouling in the Village

In response to residents’ concerns, volunteers from the Community Association have this morning cleared dog faeces from the cut grass verge along Brook Road.

For some having a dog leave its mess on the path, cut grass verge, recreation ground or on someone’s garden appears to be a laughing matter. Last year an elderly resident stepped in some dog mess, unfortunately unknown to the resident there was a slight cut on her foot and she became infected, subsequently requiring hospital treatment.

Please spread the word, clear up dog mess after your dog has defecated.
Place dog poo bags in the bin, not on a tree, hedge, railings, side of road etc.

To report dog fouling please complete the online form http://www.bromsgrove.gov.uk/my-place/street-cleaning/litter,-street-cleaning,-dead-animals-and-street-name-plates.aspx

Doorstep Pedlars – It could be a scam

Who are Nottingham Knockers?

They are doorstep callers who target areas offering small household products for sale. These callers may claim to be ex-convicts attempting to mend their ways, however they are not part of any recognised rehabilitation scheme.

Please warn your neighbours, particularly elderly or vulnerable neighbours, not to open the door to strangers or buy or sell on the doorstep. Some doorstep callers may offer poor quality goods at inflated prices and if a caller is not genuine, they may be gathering information for future crime.
Please keep in mind that if cold callers don’t get any sales in your area, they are less likely to return.

How they work

The sellers may say that they are on a “rehabilitation course” arranged by probation services or other organisations trying to find people work. This is not the case and often they are known criminals. Probation services do not run such schemes.

They may show a card which claims to be a “Pedlars Licence” or work permit.

A bag of household products (including the typical tea-towels!) is supplied at a minimal sum by the person who employs them. Once they sell enough to cover the cost of the products they get to keep anything else earned.

Usually they are deposited in an area from a transit van and given a list of streets to work. An hour or so later they are picked up and dropped off in another location. They often work from 9am to 9pm.

They will knock on a door, offering cleaning items which they know are cheap and of very poor quality; the householder also knows they are rubbish but that is part of the scam. Many people will purchase items and pay them something, just to get rid of them. There have been cases of elderly residents handing over large sums as these lads can be very persistent and confrontational.

The price for whatever has been purchased usually comes to a note; usually £10. The householder disappears to get the money, this is when the scam begins. When the note is handed over, the lad examines the condition and how long it took the person to get it. If it is crumpled, they accept it and move on. If it is crisp flat and new, they are much more interested and may engage the person in more conversation, to obtain details about them. As they leave they will smell the note. If it is slightly musty, this is an indication that there is more in the property. Those addresses are noted. The addresses of elderly / vulnerable / gullible people are all noted.

These are handed to the employer and there is a small amount of cash handed over for each one.

These addresses are then sold in prisons and pubs. If there is a later break-in, the employer expects a further cut of the proceeds.

These lists are purchased by all sorts of people including; tarmaccers, tree workers, roofers, dodgy builders etc., and can be shared amongst the travelling community. Once on a list, your address could be sold on and on. Hence the repeat nature of these persistent callers.

TURN THEM AWAY

REMEMBER if cold callers don’t get any sales in your area, they are less likely to return.

Operation Snap – report poor driving and dangerous behaviour

Road users across Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire and Warwickshire can report incidents using footage from dashcams or other devices

As part of Operation Snap, members of the public can submit (via a secure online form ) digital footage showing potential traffic offences. This can range from driving dangerously or carelessly to overtaking on solid white lines, using a mobile phone while driving, ignoring traffic lights or dangerous driving around other road users, such as horse riders and cyclists.

Your submission will be sent to West Mercia Police and Warwickshire Police where the evidence will be reviewed by one of our road traffic officers, who will enforce against any offences committed. Any footage submitted through the portal can also be used by us to help educate other road users and to advise on case results.

See the Frequently Asked Questions section (https://www.warwickshire.police.uk/article/47353/National-Dashcam-Safety-Portal-NDSP-FAQs)

For further information regarding the Safer Roads Partnership please visit the West Mercia Police Website, (Crime & Safety Section) Safer Roads Partnership

https://www.westmercia.police.uk/article/38869/About-Safer-Roads-Partnership

Is crime harming your community?

If you have any information about criminal activity and you know who is responsible but you feel that you can not go to the police because you are scared that it would mean going to court and giving evidence, or you are scared of what might happen to you or your family if those responsible find out? You can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 and tell them what you know. You will remain 100% anonymous.

Always!

Just tell them what you know, not who you are.

Contact Crimestoppers about crime anonymously:

Tel: 0800 555 111
Website: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/
Twitter: @CrimestoppersUK

Using SMS to contact the 999 service in an emergency

Do you know about the EmergencySMS service?

It is a valuable tool that can be shared with our communities, partners and even families and friends.

It assists anyone who may have communication difficulties with contacting the police or other emergency services.

The service is free and allows you to use text messaging to get in touch with any of the UK 999 services (police, ambulance, fire and rescue or coastguard).

It is available for anyone who finds making a voice call difficult, has communication difficulties, is deaf and includes members of the autistic community.

To use the service you need to pre-register your phone on the website. For further details go to – http://www.emergencysms.org.uk/

Say No to Marketing Call – The Telephone Preference Service

The Telephone Preference Service (TPS) is a free service. It is the official central opt out register on which you can record your preference not to receive unsolicited sales or marketing calls. It is a legal requirement that all organisations (including charities, voluntary organisations and political parties) do not make such calls to numbers registered on the TPS unless they have your consent to do so.

Organisations with which you have an ongoing relationship, for example those who regard you as a customer, (or in the case of charities – a donor) may well gather your consent during the early stages of your relationship with them and will therefore be entitled to call you even if your number is registered on TPS, unless you have previously told them specifically that you object to them calling you for marketing purposes.

The TPS can accept the registration of mobile telephone numbers, however it is important to note that this will prevent the receipt of marketing voice calls but not SMS (text) messages. If you wish to stop receiving SMS marketing messages, please send an ‘opt-out’ request to the company involved.
As TPS registration only prevents marketing calls, organisations will still be able to call you for the purposes of genuine market research.

To register your number or make a complaint the quickest and easiest way is to do this online by visiting: www.tpsonline.org.uk/tps/number_type.html

Alternatively you can phone the Registration Line on: 0345 070 0707. You can call this number to register your number, discuss your concerns or request a complaint form to report receipt of unsolicited direct marketing calls.

For more information visit: www.tpsonline.org.uk

Traffic Issues – Background and Update on What Is Being Done to Address the Issue

During a visit to a FVCA meeting in February 2017, the Chief Constable recognised that there was an issue with regard speeding through the village and suggested that the following measures needed to be adopted:

1. Psychological interventions e.g. signs,

2. Enforcement and

3. Engineering work.

The first two have been achieved, with better signage in the village, a speed limit that is now enforceable (at the time the Traffic Regulation Order for Stourbridge Road was non-compliant) and now visits by the Mobile Enforcement Officer. The Safer Road Partnership found that the road through the village was of concern, in fact the speeds can be so high that it is deemed unsafe to operate Community Speedwatch.

The last things that needs to be done is Engineering Works. FVCA in partnership with the Parish Council, having considered the options and the community impact (residents, school, businesse, etc), have suggested suitable works for consideration by Highways. It is vital that any works are effective and have minimal negative impact on the community (residents, businesses, school, etc).

Residents, School Parents, Commuters etc are invited to email Cllr Alan Amos, Cabinet Portfolio holder for Highways, detailing their experiences and personal observations. This will help focus his mind as he considers our suggested works, i.e. works before the entrance to the village to slow down traffic and a traffic table between school drive and the post office. Please email Cllr. Amos at AAmos@worcestershire.gov.uk Please copy your email to Cllr Shirley Webb swebb2@worcestershire.gov.uk

Of course, people will be wanting more. A systematic step by step approach is required.

It is worth noting that a pedestrian crossing was considered in 2016, the cost would be £100,000 + (cost of build, consultants, electricity, etc) and the County Council said that there was a long waiting list. The works that are being proposed would provide traffic calming across the village (Stourbridge Road), whereas a pedestrian crossing provides a one-point piece of calming that in reality will only be effective when someone wants to cross the road.

Even though the County Council have trialled 20mph zones outside schools located on minor roads, the Council will not adopt a similar policy on a main B-road, i.e. Stourbridge Road.

Parking restrictions do have a part to play with regard accessibility for pedestrians, especially for enabling safe accessibility for young children, the elderly and people with mobility issues. FVCA are urging Highways to adopt strategically placed lines that have minimal negative impact. Before adoption, any further parking restrictions will need consultation.

Lastly, the Parish Council have agreed to consider an extension to the Recreation Ground carpark. Unfortunately, we need someone with planning experience to help guide us through the maze that is Green Belt regulations. If you or you know anyone that can assist us do please contact fvcommunityassociation@outlook.com

318 Bus Update

13th July 2018

Kev’s Coaches have been awarded the contract to operate the 318 Service from 2nd September.

Kevin will be at August’s Community Meeting (Monday 6th, 7.30pm, Fairfield Villa Club House) to discuss community requirements and issues – please attend.

14th May 2018

Update received from Cty Cllr Webb “The replacement service is currently out to tender and an extension has been agreed with Diamond buses to align the start dates, the service will continue with Diamond bus until September.”

21st February 2018

Diamond Buses have acquired Central Buses – From Monday 26th February 2018, Central Buses services will be operated by Diamond Buses.

Diamond last year announced that they would be withdrawing from the 318 service, the service was re-tendered and awarded to Central Buses, delivering the 318 service from 26th February 2018.

The County Council’s commercial team have been in discussions and have decided not to novate the contract to Diamond buses but to re-tender the 318 again. The County Council have agreed to an extension of the 318’s current operation with Diamond buses until the 3rd June 2018 to allow the commercial team time to complete a tender exercise.

5th January 2018

Central Buses will replace Diamond to deliver the 318 bus service. There will be no break in service.

4th December 2017

Diamond will continue to operate the service to the current timetable including Fairfield until the 25th of February 2018, the County Council will be going out to tender for a longer term option.

1st December 2017

Diamond Cancels 318 Bus Service: Linking Fairfield to Catshill, Bromsgrove, Belbroughton & Stourbridge

It was announced by Worcestershire County Council on Thursday 30th November 2017 that Diamond are withdrawing this partially subsided and partly commercial service. The County Council are in discussions with operators to provide a replacement contract for a similar service on Mondays to Saturdays.

County Hall have confirmed that Diamond are withdrawing from the 318 bus service with effect from 2nd January 2018, i.e. the scheduled last Diamond Bus Service will be on Saturday 30th December 2017.

FVCA has raised concerns with local County Councillor Shirley Webb. Withdrawal of the bus service will impact many residents, including school children and the elderly.

FVCA have been informed that the County Council are considering replacement services, further details are not known. Cllr Webb has said she will update FVCA when she has further news.

In the meantime, FVCA has asked the Parish Council to discuss the issue as a matter of urgency and it will also be discussed at the FVCA meeting on Saturday 9th December (10am, Village Hall), open to all residents.