Category Archives: History and Heritage

Looking Back to 28th May 2005 and Hobbycraft is opened at Bentley Bridge

Local History is important- and here is (Article5) a reminder of the duties Mary and I delivered in 2005.

Councillor Phil Bateman said “We had the pleasure of opening a new Hobbycraft store in Wednesfield.

It was Hobbycraft’s 22nd superstore – and we opened it at Bentley Bridge Retail Park in Wolverhampton!

For the first time ever in Wolverhampton, there was an opportunity to explore over 32,000 arts and crafts products for more than 250 creative activities, all under one roof!

Saturday 28th May. On that day, at 11am, Hobbycraft were also giving away over 1000 of art and craft hampers and vouchers in their Free Prize Draw.

The Hobbycraft communications team arranged The Right Worshipful The Mayor of Wolverhampton, Councillor Phil Bateman MBE and Hobbycraft’s Chief Executive, Warren Haskins, made the draw.

So twenty years on the Hobbycraft store is still trading and making a difference to our Local economy. Very much an item that helps create local Wednesfield History.

Address:
Unit C5
Bentley Bridge Shopping Park
Off Bentley Bridge Way
Wednesfield
Wolverhampton
WV11 1BP

Author: Phil Bateman

Article Date: 28th May 2005

Looking back In history As I became the 149th Mayor!

20 Years Ago My Mayor’s Inaugural Speech Was This

Councillor Phil Bateman’s The Mayor of Wolverhampton’s Inaugural Speech
delivered 18.00 Wednesday 18th May 2005.

Councillor Phil Bateman MBE “City Councillors, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, this is indeed an historic occasion. Not because I am being installed as your Mayor! There have been 149 of them, so this election is not quite that historic.

What is historic is that the Local Government process has today leapt from the Civic Centre and is now in the homes of our citizens via the internet.

Wolverhampton, a City of near on a quarter of a million people, is today in cyberspace! Connecting with our electorate in their homes, in their offices and potentially while they are on holiday in far off lands. I know that our web cast will be viewed in Australia, in Canada and in Portugal. So Gwen who is in her daughters home in the Algarve, yes. I do value your support.

June & Terry in Oz, I hope that you are enjoying the pictures and we will see you here in August! Oh and Johnny Cromwell in Canada. No, I never dreamed to be doing this when we played soccer, and you kicked lumps out of the opposition during Sunday League games!

This Mayor-Making ceremony is being beamed via the World Wide Web across an information network that is as flexible as it is powerful. It is in itself a regeneration tool that we have to fully embrace.

Wolverhampton is amongst the first of the Local Authorities in this region that has taken this step. It speaks volumes for the modern outlook that we have here in Wolverhampton.

Our future is in our willingness to embrace change that will drive our ultimate success, because as well as being in a modern world; we are in a very competitive world.

I want the Mayoralty this year to be different; I want to make my mark on our civic life in unique and different ways. I also want to be able to carry the role off with the same sophistication and authority that Mayor Hart epitomised his year with.

Both I and Mary my Mayoress are indebted to Alan & Beryl Hart for showing us the way. We were very enthusiastic apprentices! They were the consummate Mayor and Mayoress and Wolverhampton is very proud of them.

I hope that we can during our year of office introduce different and innovative events that will do much for our City Image. The theme that will drive me this year is – ‘Industry commerce and culture. Wolverhampton the first City of the Black Country’.

I am itching to work with the Cabinet Members and the Chief Officers in progressing our City. I am bubbling with enthusiasm about this role.

I want now to thank my Mover and Seconder I think they did a fine job in giving away so much about our lives. For Councillor Dave Jones a special thank you because a lot of the Ward work will rest on your shoulders my dear friend during this mayoral year!

We already have an International City and I want to enhance this image even further.
I am to introduce a Canada Day celebration on the 1st July’ and the programme that I am putting together will be released very soon.
The Canadian High Commission has been very helpful to date and I want to thank them publicly for their support.

Since Queen Elizabeth the Second granted Wolverhampton City status in the year 2000. We seem to have gained a whole new confidence. What makes me make that statement?
The fact is that this City can attract a new private sector led development which will provide another public square, a further 89 retail units also a cinema.
New cafes bars and restaurants and an 800 space underground car park as well as 100 new residential homes will add a sparkle to our City. This is due on line and trading in about 2008. I cant wait to see this development, it is the result of business having confidence in this city!
I hope that at the end of my Mayoral year that Wolverhampton will be announcing similar land mark schemes. We have to be hungry for success and investment.

On the sporting side I remain hopeful that during my term of office, the professional football team (Wolves) that has its home in the City, will be successful in gaining promotion to join the other three big West Midlands Football Clubs in the Premier League!

I know that many of my friends and my work colleagues are keen to know what our Charities during this year will be. They are The Divine Onkar Mission, a Wolverhampton-based charity that is devoted to making life better for people who are ill or orphaned in rural India.
I hope, during the course of this year, to go, with the Mayoress, to visit India and see how the charity is coping in administering the aid that Black Country people have raised.

I will also be supporting the Everyman Charity devoted to informing and raising awareness in men, of testicular cancer. I have special knowledge of this disease and would like to use this year in encouraging men to be as aware of this uniquely male form of cancer, as women are of breast cancer.
Finally my third charity I shall be supporting is the Children Ward at New Cross Hospital in Wednesfield.
So finally a few thank you’ s. Thank you Travel West Midlands & Chief Executive Brian Jackson for being so flexible about my day job, to Gunnebo Security for whom Mary works and has also taken a very similar position.

To Stuart and Emma in my office at TWM- because of the extra workload you will bear whilst I perform this important Local Government role as The Mayor of the City of Wolverhampton for the year 2005 and 2006.”

Looking Back On Wednesfield History.

This is an article I wrote way back in 2005, It was all about the first Memorial service relating to the Lancaster Crash on the Lichfield Road. Moving forward to 2025 the marvellous showing of the Lancaster at this years memorial will remain with me for ever. But this article is a little bit of Wednesfield History and I re-publish it because it sets out the early days of the Wednesfield History society and its endeavours..

Memorial Service For Air Crash in Wednesfield

Councillor Phil Bateman Deputy Mayor of the City of Wolverhampton and a Wednesfield Councillor said today,

“I am informed that there is to be a service held in St Thomas’s Church in Wednesfield on Sunday 15th May at 6.30pm, which is a Memorial Service to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the Lancaster Bomber which crashed on Lichfield Road 60 years ago this month killing all the personnel onboard.

I intend to attend the service myself with the Deputy Mayoress, I understand that if there are any questions or a requirement to know more about the service Reverend Garry Ward at the Church will help you.

I do hope that the residents and congregation of Wednesfield will turn out and take part in this unique church service for the very brave servicemen that perished defending our freedoms.”

Author: Phil Bateman

Article Date: 11th May 2005

Looking Back 20 Years! The Making of A Mayor!

Twenty Years ago- May 2005 I was elected as the Mayor of Wolverhampton, and Mary my wife was elected as the Mayoress, at the Annual General Meeting of the City Council. I kept records of many of the events we attended and we kept a diary and recorded as much as we could for posterity.
Well Twenty Years is a good period time, my intention now is to once again set the events and the activity and take a look back in what was one of the finest and exciting years, we have both had. I hope you enjoy the look back in history.

THE MAKING OF A MAYOR
Well, first of all the ‘Mayor Making Ceremony’ itself was ground breaking. It was held in the Wulfrun Hall. We had insisted that we webcast this important event. It was the first web broadcast of a Mayor Making ceremony, in Wolverhampton. Indeed it was the first such event held in the West Midlands County. We got off to a very innovative start!

We now know that it was credited with a very good show of interest on the day, with more than 500 hits from across the UK and elsewhere. The capacity of the Wulfrun Hall is about 250, so to open this historic, democratic event to 500 extra citizens online meant that we allowed 750 people to see local history being made in action.

Wulfrunians in places like Australia and Canada logged on computers, and viewed the ceremony making the ‘Mayor Making’ the most watched event of its kind in the City’s long history of inaugurating Mayor’s.

At the time it was indeed a record breaking ceremony. We were informed that Officers and Members were very pleased with this particular innovation.
Both Local and Regional News covered the ceremony, I recorded these words at the time “I suppose the first impact of my year of office has been made. Media interest was firmly focussed on the fact that this City was to be the first Municipality here in the West Midlands County to broadcast such an event to the public in this way.”

Joe Bateman- Bateman Family History

Family History is a useful and enjoyable pastime. Many of us are involved in the enjoyment of uncovering the pastimes, the trades and the local history of our families. I have been involved for years in uncovering the links.
Last night whilst I was looking at some old birth certificates, i noticed that my dad, who was born in 1913 lived at 42 Alma Street in Heath Town at his birth. I also noticed that his father my Grandfather Joseph Bateman is described on his birth certificate as a ‘Blacksmith and Licenced Victualler.”.
Closer investigation throws up that 42 Alma Street was in actual fact The Royal Oak Public House. Question now is at that time was grandfather Joe the Licenced Victualler at The Royal Oak in 1913?….more to do.

January -Start of the New Year 2024.

Good Morning Wednesfield. Its the start of a new year. Mary and I want to wish you well in the coming year of 2024. We offer you our warmth and good wishes and we hope that health wealth and happiness visit you over the next 12 months.
I know many of you, like our own family will have suffered family bereavement during 2023. I do so hope that 2024 will dissipate that pain and as time moves on, the sadness and personal disruption you are feeling now, over time will lessen, leaving just the great memories and warmth of feeling to remember and cherish.
A New Year always offers hope. This one is just the same. The year ahead will bring many challenges and many opportunities for individuals, and our communities.
We are facing change as the World itself changes. The Wars in the Ukraine and the huge disruption and loss of life in Gaza and Israel points to the ever increasing dangers that continues to unfold.
Today New Years Day, as if to underline the uncertainties that we all face in our lives. We are hearing about the huge 7.6 magnitude earthquake that has struck Japan, and the warnings of a Tsunami, in Japan, Russia and South Korea.
Plus, our Government have today warned that they may be about to strike South Yemen .Nothing stands still, nothing stays the same.
There is for your Councillors huge issues to face up to this year, as there is every year. There is also likely to be a General Election here in the UK.
That will bring change, and that will be a welcome event for many in our Community and further a field. We already have our Labour Party General Election candidate for Wednesfield and Willenhall in the Wolverhampton North East constituency. Sureena Brackenridge already selected and in the election campaign out and about meeting residents.
Also in this year we will be facing a Municipal Election on the first Thursday in May. I can inform you this morning that the Wednesfield North Labour Party have already chosen our Candidate for this local election. The Labour Party will be announcing the City election candidates for this important City Council elections in due course.
Local Government really matters and the big decisions facing our City Council will be all around finance, the setting of Council tax, and the maintenance of all our front line services. Our current Government have been poor with regards to the resources it has supported our City and Local Government as a whole with over the last thirteen years.
The Citizens Advice has reported record numbers of people seeking help across the Country, from homeless services, foodbanks and energy bill support in 2023. Some pretty uncomfortable reading for Local Government again as a whole is the information that 600 people leave prison every month in the UK, and fall straight into hopelessness. Prisoners released without homeless help, just puts them back onto the crime trail and a fast route back to prison.
These are all major challenges. Welfare, Public services, a poor economy, cost of living and low growth will all be on the agenda in Councils across the Country. Happy New Year Wednesfield, and all our friends and relatives -You enhance our lives and you enrich our soul. Both Mary and I will try hard to continue to serve during 2024.

Sue Lacey Lands Excellence Award

Deputy Leader of the City Council Cllr Steve Evans joined with Cllr Mary Bateman, Rita Potter and myself, as we presented Sue with Wednesfield North Community Excellence Award. Here is Sue’s citation . Sue Lacey – Head teacher at Ashmore Park & Phoenix Federated Nurseries. “Sue is a local lass, and grew up here. She has spent 38 years teaching and running the Ashmore Park Nursery It’s a school that has been awarded the ‘Outstanding accolade by Ofsted 5 times on the trot. Sue has made this award because perhaps a thousand local children have been educated at the school over the 38 years she has been teaching there.
Sue will be retiring in 2024. If ever a person has deserved an Excellence Award…..it is Sue!

Wednesfield Volunteers See Another Success!10,000 Visitors to the 2023 Canal Festival!

Wednesfield Volunteers – Have Yet Another Success!
It’s only been a few days since Wednesfield in Bloom Volunteers informed us that they have been successful in winning for a sixth year on the trot, a Gold Award for the Urban category, for Wednesfield in Bloom in the Heart of England in Blooms Awards!
Now the Volunteers of ‘Hands on Wednesfield’ who are behind the Wednesfield Canal Festival has been informed that the canal festival has once again beaten its previous highest attendance which was in 2022.
This is a fantastic result. It has been confirmed to me that our Wednesfield Canal Festival has had yet another record year for the Canal Festival! Here are the statistics
Saturday attendance: 5,456
Sunday attendance: 5,236
Total visitors: 10,692
We also know that the August footfall at the Bentley Bridge Leisure Park was up 16.18% –
Week 32 (Canal festival week) +22.66% vs the previous year a 11,713 increase in foot traffic on the commercial site.
I believe that everyone involved in this result will be simply pleased and excited as to what our work has resulted in. Its brilliant to be informed of what is nothing short of an amazing set of results.
Back in 2022 – City Council Members had been discussing funding arrangements for regeneration projects in Wolverhampton. I informed the Economy and Growth Scrutiny Panel of the City of Wolverhampton Council – 28 September, ‘that there had been no mention of community and volunteering on the slide detailing the regeneration plan for the city over the next twelve months. I mentioned both Wednesfield in Bloom and the Wednesfield Canal Festival as examples of how volunteers can, and do help both the reputation of our city, and in growing the local economic opportunities. I was signifying that in the tourism sector for instance visitors played a big role, and for City of Wolverhampton in enhancing the vitality of local communities, they like the “in Bloom” team who do so much to bring vibrant colours and initiatives to this district.
Now we have the statistics for 2023 that back up my claims of that September meeting.
Volunteering in Wednesfield in particular is strong and active. We can always do more than we do of course. Volunteers are a tremendous asset to any settlement, village, town or city. If residents want to help Local Communities, they should look to join and offer their services to local clubs who are often looking for help.
Here in Wednesfield I am proud of all the volunteers that run sporting clubs, expand and develop culture through Dance, and especially the volunteers who run Art and Crafts clubs.
As Wednesfield in Bloom and the Wednesfield Canal Festival with Hands on Wednesfield. Developing other opportunities will I am sure see an expanding role for Volunteers, and of course the enhancement they make to our historic city.

Wednesfield In Bloom- You Have Done It Again Six Gold Awards Urban Category On The Trot!

I want to say ‘Thank You‘ also to all the Bloomers, no matter what level of time you gave this year, that helped create this year’s Heart of England in Bloom bid a success. You are all marvellous!

The help has been immense. Support from Wednesfield business and retail here in the Village, and Bentley Bridge, and also in Ashmore Park is very much appreciated.

There are local Shops and retailers for instance here on Ashmore Park who do much to support and encourage the activity of the ‘Wednesfield in Bloom’ volunteers, the whole year round.
The sporting clubs on Ashmore Park who play their role also. That enthusiasm is also replicated in the Village itself. Our ‘Wednesfield in Bloom’ activity is phenomenal.

It’s a huge geographic area that (WIB) cover every year. It also grows in size and complexity each year. It has to if we are to be successful, not just in the Heart of England competition,
but in what we are all trying to achieve every year. We all want to improve the environment we live in, create vibrant colours, make people proud of the areas that we live and work in.

It takes huge efforts every year to create the conditions to make our bid successful. It is a huge strain on the Leadership team, of Jan and Julie, and on the number of volunteers that we currently have working on WIB in our community. Wednesfield in Bloom are always trying to recruit more help and assistance. If you can help and like the sound of what we do
contact any of the bloomers and ask them when the next meeting is!

Wednesfield is a very generous community. I am constantly amazed at how our community contribute time and financial resources into the WIB requirement, we have for the flowers, the shaping of the themes, the physical work on irregular corners etc.

As a Wednesfield in Bloom volunteer myself, I just love turning up and doing that little bit of work, and having members of the Public thrust a few £’s as a donation to Wednesfield in Bloom for the buying of flowers.
The individuals and couples that bring plants from their own gardens to contribute to the beds that we set out. The organisations like The Bentley Bridge Retail Park that has invested many thousands of £’s in continued donations in support of the ‘Wednesfield in Bloom’ volunteers endeavours, not just this year but in past years since Wednesfield in Bloom started!

We have had lots of help from the individual time given by the Bloomers themselves, huge help from Wednesfield schools, who have taken ‘Wednesfield in Bloom’ into their schools, made it part of their curriculum. Created beautiful wheel barrows of creatively designed flowers for Public display. The Public Houses that display flowers on their premises, and encourage the environment by their own colourful arrangements, and supplying ‘Bee Food’ for pollinators.

The individual householders that make sure their gardens are a picture in the beginning of July, when the Heart of England Inspectors are out and about viewing and making their notes.
Finally I want to thank Wolverhampton Homes for their hard work, their willingness to work with the community on Ashmore Park, the hanging baskets that they supplied, on the shopping Precinct, and Continental Landscape for filling three new containers with flowers around the shops.

Then there are the Shops in Wednesfield High Street and our own Ashmore Park shops – All of whom make a huge contribution to the vibrant flower displays
that are planted, looked after, and tended almost the whole year round.

Wednesfield North and Wednesfield South Councillors who have supported WIB by physical activity, watering and giving their own time to WIB to help with others to deliver a fabulous Gold Award for our community.

Wednesfield is a really great community. This sixth Gold Award in the Urban sector category is really an immense achievement- well done everyone!

Details of Robert Hill’s funeral.

Rob will make his final journey on Wednesday 11th October from his home Orchard Road via ‘The Molineux’ 🧡🖤 travelling to Bushbury crematorium for his service at 1.30pm. Everyone is welcome.

We then would like to invite everyone to celebrate Rob’s life at the Emerald club, Wolverhampton. WV1 1PP.

As everyone knew Rob was a massive Wolves fan – so if you would like to wear something Wolves or anything black and gold please do. 🧡🖤🐺

Immediate family flowers only please. Instead if you would like to donate to Compton Care and Crohns & Colitis UK please do so. Both these charities were close to Rob’s heart. The link is attached if you wish to donate.

On behalf of all the family, thank you for all the kind messages of support, it really does mean a lot to know Rob was loved by so many xxx

Tribute to Robert Hill, 1960 - 2023

ROBERT-HILL-1960-2023.MUCHLOVED.COM

Tribute to Robert Hill, 1960 – 2023

Dedicated to the memory of Robert Hill