Photo credits: Neighbours News

FRIDAY, 1st., OCTOBER, 1858

THE RAILWAY CATASTROPHE NEAR DUDLEY

The enquiry, before T. M. Phillips, Esq., coroner, into the circumstances attendant upon the late unfortunate accident on the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton Railway resumed yesterday, at the Bell Hotel, Brierley Hill. William Fenton, Esq. chairman of the Company, and J. S. Pakington, Esq., on of the directors, were present. Mr. W. G. Craig, locomotive engineer of the Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Railway; Mr. Markham, locomotive engineer of the Midland Railway; Mr. Blackmore, superintendent of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway; Mr. Sherriff, the general manager, Mr. Adcock, the secretary, and Mr. Wilson, the engineer of the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton Railway, were also in attendance. James Burchell, Esq., solicitor, London, and Charles Pidcock, Esq., solicitor, Worcester, were likewise present. Mr. King, of the firm of Collis, Bernard, and King, of Stourbridge, attended as the legal adviser of the Company; Mr. J. E. Underhill, Wolverhampton, for Cook; Mr. Nelson, of the firm of Southall and Nelson, Birmingham, on behalf of the Skeldings family; Mr. Burbury, for the friends of Marshall and Mills; and Mr. Homer, on behalf of Mr. Harley, of Dudley. The Rev. E. C. Perry, of Copperfield, and Mr. Chellingworth, civil engineer, of West Bromwich, were also present.

Thomas Brett was the first witness examined. He said: I am a blacksmith, and live near Daisy Bank Station. I went by the excursion train from Daisy Bank to Worcester on the 23rd of August last. I rode in one of the carriages, not in the van. As we were going two stoppages occurred in consequence of chains breaking. One was at Brettell Lane, but I do not know where the second was. I do not know who were the guards of the train. We arrived at Worcester at a little after twelve, and we left in the evening about six o’clock. I returned in the first train, and rode in the van with Cook, the guard. I tried to get into several of the carriages, but they were full, and Cook told me I had better get into the van. There were two boatmen in the van besides myself and Cook; one named Marshall, and the other Williams. A little boy and a porter also rode in the van part of the way. Cook had the care of the break. I had some rum and water—a quartern of rum, and some water in a pint bottle. Cook had some of it. There was no light in the van between Worcester and Brettell Lane. It was sufficiently light to see what was going on. There was a light between Brettell Lane and Round Oak. I did not perceive any shock before the accident happened. I have not been tampered with by anyone, nor have I been asked any questions at all by any person in reference to this occurren

via Birmingham Post 1/10/1858.

The hip hop trio – Dino ‘Dappy’ Contostavlos, Tula ‘Tulisa’ Contostavlos and Richard ‘Fazer’ Rawson – performed hits from their two hit albums during a private one hour gig in Fountain Square to 500 excited competition winners. The popular band, who have taken the UK by storm with a number one album and three MOBO awards, sang crowd pleasers such as Strong Again, Papa can you hear me, Number One and an impressive cover version of The Script’s The man who can’t be moved.

N-Dubz returned to the shopping mall to perform the gig after a successful book signing in May, when hundreds of fans turned out to greet the band. Before the concert, Dappy, Tulisa and Fazer spoke to the News about their loyal following and their forthcoming plans.

Dappy said: “We love how our fans give us so much support, we would be nothing without them and It is great to see them sing along with our lyrics.”

The band also spoke about their third album, which is yet unnamed, and is set to be released in November, along with their new single called Best Behaviour, which is due out next month and which the band are filming the video for in St Tropez later this week.

Sisters Emma and Samantha Skelding, from Wordsley, were among the lucky concert-goers and had the chance to get up close and personal with their pop idols when they met the trio back stage. Samantha , aged 14, who has been an N-Dubz fan since they first started, said: “The concert was brilliant and I can’t believe I got the chance to meet them. That was the best bit as I think they are great.”

Emma, aged 11, added: “I was really nervous meeting them, but they were really nice and the concert was great.” Also meeting the band was 14 year-old Becky McGrory, from Liverpool, who won a competition to design the stage backdrop, with her colourful artwork of the trio.

Photo credits: Stourbridge News

via Twitlonger: #todayinhistory #UK 1858 – The Round Oak rail accident occurs in Brierley Hill in the Black Countr.

Here’s 3 things that Dosti is doing to help to make this easier for you and others who work and volunteer in Dudley Borough.

 1. Getting to Grips with the Big Society event

 The Voluntary Sector Network has teamed up with Dosti and national charity Urban Forum to run Getting to Grips with the Big Society. This FREE event will take place on Wednesday 22 September and is for voluntary, community and faith groups across Dudley, and Urban Forum members from across the region.

 Click here for information and booking details. Places MUST be booked in advance.

 2. Big Society online chatter

 I have been regularly scanning Big Society information posted on websites, blogs, twitter and so on. Websites and links which I found interesting or useful have now been added to a new Big Society page on Dosti’s website.

 Dosti volunteer Richard Jarrott is also scouring the internet for useful and interesting Big Society information and is provding a regular bulletin for anyone who subscribes. Click here to read the first bulletin. Click on the join our mailing list link near the bottom of this email to sign up to receive our Big Society bulletins directly.

I’m also blogging every now and again, with Big Society being a thread in my thinking. If you can access blog sites and are interested you’ll find me at www.lornaprescott.blogspot.com.

 3. Big Society down the pub!

 Recognising that good discussions take place offline too, I’m offering to bring copies of the best Big Society information to informal discussions at the pub or in community settings. I’d also like to hear from you about what you know about Big Society, what you’d like to know, what you think the opportunities and threats are.

 If you’d like to come along for a chat about Big Society I’ll be downstairs in the Brewer’s Wharf on the Waterfront in Brierley Hill on Thursday 2 September and Tuesday 14 September, from 12.30pm. Do let me know if you’re thinking of coming along. There is a pay and display car park and they will refund your parking when you buy a drink or food. Food is reasonably priced with lots of 2 for 1 offers.

I’m happy to travel further afield in October, and do have either lunchtime or after work conversations. Please get in touch if you want to jointly arrange something.

Lorna Prescott

We hope to continue producing this in advance of the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) announcement in October 2010, to avoid partners having to trawl information yourselves as much as possible.

If you discover something we should include or have any positive or negative feedback, please contact faye.conroy@dudley.gov.uk or call 01384 814756.

Riding on the success of the Brierley Hill Pony Trail, English Heritage has joined forces with Home Start Dudley and Dudley Performing Arts to bring you a Brierley Hill Treasure Trail event in Brierley Hill Town Centre on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th August.

Get together with family and friends to hunt for the answers to clues around historic Brierley Hill (Civic Hall to Marsh Park) and the Pony Trail.

Who can take part?

Everyone who likes to explore!
Great fun family activity – children who can read will love getting involved in solving the clues.
Great for groups of friends of all ages!

Route is 1.5 miles walking. Fairly steep gradient in Marsh Park. No Steps.

How do I take part?

1. Just turn up and collect Treasure Maps from the inflatable tent in the Moor Centre (Brierley Hill High Street) after 9am on Sat 28 and Sun 29 August. Last start time Sat 5.30pm, Sun 4pm. It costs only 30p per person to take part (Max 7 people per team) All proceeds will go to Home Start. Registered Charity Number 1115352.

2. Follow the instructions around the treasure map and hunt for the answers to the intriguing clues along the way; you’ll find them on the Brierley Hill Ponies as well as existing historic monuments, buildings and structures.

3. Solve the mystery of where the Brierley Hill Treasure may be hidden. You can enjoy the trail at your own pace or get back as fast as you can to try to win the top prize of a £50 Merry Hill Gift Card! Fastest team over the weekend will win gift card(s) to value of £50, Runner up team gift card worth up to £20.

4. Come back to the tent and we’ll tell you how you got on. Free balloons and refreshments for participants.

Happy trailing!