Dear Secretary,

 

I am still researching into the pub scene in Walsall in the 1970's.  I started drinking around 1972 in the Pen and Wig (Alf Dorricott), The Trough, The Dog and Partridge, The Monks Retreat in the Priory Hotel and the Berni inn 'the Dirty Duck'.  I later moved onto Banks's up the Hamemakers and back to Highgate in the 1980's in the Borough Arms when Ken had it and spent a lot of time in the Welly with Mac Anslow.  The music of the time is still my main interest and will be the main subject of the project.  I know that the Dirty Duck was never an oasis for beer drinkers, but it was the hub of a very active social scene!  I am still in touch with some of my friends from that time so I am hoping to put something together.  If you know of anyone who might be interested in anything from this particular period, please let me know.I have just set up a myspace if anyone is interested, pop infor a pint All the best

 

Steve Tarbuck

 

Dear Secretary;

This is not a question about ‘Real Ale’ although I do support the efforts of CAMRA having attended many beer festivals in the past.

I am an old Walsallian – born at top of Pleck Rd near the canal bridge and still Walsall through and through although I have only been back a couple of times since I moved away in 1971.

For some time I have searched on the internet for ‘old Walsall pubs – 1940`s, 50`s, 60. etc but have not been very successful.

As a twenty years old I used to often frequent The Falcon on corner of Walhouse and Lichfield Road but I used to often go to another pub on same side as The Falcon just a few yards up Walhouse Road opposite Greatorex Social Club. Also I was often in a little pub on Lichfield Road just before Walsall Arboretum, you could also walk through this pub and come out in Ward St.

I am now 71 and have met a fellow Walsallian in Spain where we moved to when I retired four years ago, we often chat about Walsall pubs but I have forgotten the names of those two pubs. Is it possible that one of your members may know them?

It is nice to see the Rose and Crown in Birchills is still doing the business – I spent many happy weekends there when it was kept by Tommy Taylor and latter by Jimmy Kempson in the 60`s and early 70`s. The Navigation used to be a fantastic pint of beer but it had closed when I last visited the area – a real shame. I also used to go in the pigeon fanciers pub The New Inns on corner of Green Lane and Hospital St – I think the New Inns went to Bliss Hill Museum in Telford.

Is the Bricklayers Arms still in service on the Wisemore and the Walsall Arms in Chuckery?

Next time I come to UK I will have to do a pub crawl around some of the pubs that I knew so well. From what I have heard there is going to be a road right through the ground where our old house stood in Pleck Road.

Best Regards. John Barnes
jcmbar65@telefonica.net

 

I am still researching into the pub scene in Walsall in the 1970'S.
I started drinking around 1972 in the Pen and Wig(Alf Dorricott), The Trough, The Dog and Partridge, The Monks Retreat in the Priory Hotel and the Berni Inn 'the Dirty Duck'.
I later moved onto Banks's up the Hamemakers and back to Highgate in the 1980's in the Borough arms when Ken had it and spent a lot of time in the Welly with Mac Anslow.
The music of the time is still my main interest and will be the main subject of the project.

I know that the Dirty Duck was never an oasis for beer drinkers, but it was the hub of a very active social scene!  I am still in touch with some of my friends from that time so I am hoping to put something together.
If you know of anyone who might be interested in anything from this particular period, please let me know.  I have just set up a myspace if anyone is interested, pop in for a pint

All the best

Steve Tarbuck
stephentarbuck@yahoo.com