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Location of Dartmouth Park
Latest News
Park's Water Play Area opens in time for this glorious June weather |
Travelling the circular Route on the iconic No. 28 Bus |
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On Saturday 10 June we had a lovely time touring West Bromwich on a bus introduced into service in 1952. The tour evoked lots of memories for those who had used the bus during the years it was in service. We were a great attraction in the town, with people waving and taking photographs.
The 156 Group who restored and maintain the bus are from left to right in the photograph above: Mark Sherwood, who drove, Dave Wootton, Graham Harper, who purchased the bus 50 years ago, Howard Carter and Ian Rhydderch.
We had to have a morning and afternoon tour to accommodate everyone who wanted to take the opportunity to ride on the bus, and we had a buffet lunch between trips at the West Bromwich
Bowling Club in Devonshire Drive. |
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The search is on for lovers of Dartmouth Park who would be willing to appear in a video talking about their memories and personal views relating to the Park. A team of volunteers under Matthew Wood, of The Change Consortium, would be very pleased to hear from people who would like to be part of this project. Matthew can be contacted on 0121 569 2615. |
| Green Flag Judges visit Dartmouth Park for an inspection |
The sun shone for the Green Flag judges to inspect the Park on Friday 26 May. The Park looked stunning and was busy with families enjoying themselves.
The photograph above was taken from the viewing point at the top of the Pavilion and was a perfect place to get an overview of the Park and the Sandwell Valley beyond. We are so lucky to have this wonderful greenspace in our Borough.
The judges were Sarah Reece Mills on the left of the photograph and Gary Nicholson on the right of the photograph, together with John Satchwell, Park Manager, Carol Hartill, Friends of Dartmouth Park, and Darren Jones, Manager for Parks and Countryside.
We look forward to learning the results of the judges visit in the near future.
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Friends of Dartmouth Park's HLF project to rehouse the
West Bromwich Mural now complete with the launch of a book telling the story
of the project and William Burgess the artist responsible for the Mural
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William Burgess and Carol Hartill
at the Book Launch |
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The project to remove William Burgess's West Bromwich Mural from the West Bromwich Building Society's old HQ in the High Street and rehouse it at Sandwell Park Farm started in 2015 with the HLF Grant. It was also in 2015 that the Building Society transferred its ownership to the Friends of Dartmouth Park.
When the Building Society moved to its new HQ in Providence Place in May 2016, our contractor moved into the old HQ, removed the mural and successfully installed it at Sandwell Park Farm. We held a launch invent in June 2016 to celebrate its relocation to its new home where it could be viewed by the general public.
There was a small amount of grant monies left and we approached the HLF with a proposal to produce a book recording William Burgess's work for the Building Society over a 20 year period, together with his many other commissions. The HLF agreed to this proposal and on the 23 May 2017 we held a small event to launch the limited edition book, entitled 'New Beginnings - The Story of the Saving of a Mural' and William presented copies to those people who had been involved in the project.
The Friends of Dartmouth Park are very pleased to be the proud owners of this wonderful artwork, and for it to be on display in its new home where it can be appreciated by the many visitors to Sandwell Park Farm.
The book will be available in local libraries and a copy is in the Mural Room at Sandwell Park Farm for visitors to view.
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Spring Fair and West Bromwich History Event
a great success despite the inclement weather |
A lovely sunny week preceded our Spring Fair and West Bromwich History Event on Saturday 6 May, so it was a nasty surprise to see a damp morning, but we lived in hope that it would brighten up for us. It didn't!!
However, lots of families still came and enjoyed what was our most ambitious event to date. There were a wide variety of stalls, lots of children's entertainment, the glorious Haleowen Brass Band, who were a great success, and as part of the History Event, the iconic No. 28 Circular Bus, the wonderful Jensen cars, and many interesting stands in the pavilion.
A big thank you to everyone involved for making this event such a success.
The photographs above, some taken by Seumas Kelly, give an idea of the event.
| Our 10th Annual General Meeting
is a great success |
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On a bright sunny afternoon in April we held our 10th AGM in the Events Room in the Pavilion in Dartmouth Park. It was very well attended.
Our Chair, Sue Slater, kicked off the meeting with a briefing on the achievements we had made in the past year and what we were proposing for the coming year. This was followed by electing the group's officers and the committee members.
Our Treasurer, Annette Welch, reported a healthy balance, partly due to the grants she had been able to secure throughout the year, to continue the work we are doing in the Park.
John Satchwell, the Park's Manager, gave a speech about the Park before and after the restoration. He said it was good that it was school holidays and the group were seeing the Park full of life. He also praised the work of the Friends' Group, who had helped to make this transformation possible.
We were entertained by Robin Pearson with a very interesting West Bromwich Quiz he'd cleverly devised. The first part was a photo quiz and this was followed by cryptic clues to places in West Bromwich.
We then broke for refreshments, and an opportunity to pay subscriptions and sign up to the various trips and events planned for 2017.
A big thank you to the committee for the work put into organizing this very successful event. |
| A bench returns to the Avenue thanks to a kind donation |
Eighteen months ago a truck hit one of the benches in the Avenue and destroyed it. We have tried to get the bench replaced ever since this happened, and we have at last succeeded. This has been possible with the help of a large donation from the family of the late Ivan Walker, a great fan of Dartmouth Park and a very supportive member of the Friends' Group.
A big thank you to Ivan's family for their generosity, and also to the Park's gardeners who repaired the bench with the new oak slats. All that had been saved from the damaged bench were the two wrought-iron sides.
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The Park looking stunning with the spring flowers in bloom |
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| Photographs of the Sensory Garden take on Friday 7 April by Chris Meadows |
Wildlife of Dartmouth Park Video produced by
Mike Mountford and Mike Poulton |
Contact Address: Carol Hartill
Secretary of the
Friends of Dartmouth Park
c/o 2 Sandwell Road North, West Bromwich, B71 4JB
Tel: 0121 588 4747 / e-mail: carolh.fodp@btinternet.com
Tel 0121 525 5524 / e-mail: annette_welch@sky.com
Committee |
Sue Slater
Chairman |
Roger Stopford
Vice Chairman |
Annette Welch
Treasurer |
Carol Hartill
Secretary |
Mandy Timms
Membership Secretary |
Mark Barrett
Social Historian |
Wendy Bodenham
Minute Secretary |
Chris Burgess
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Maggie Turner |
Chris Blakesley |
Yvonne Hayward |
Margaret Geddes
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