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COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT: Midlands Veterans Club

Words by Tracy Fisher

The newly established Midlands Veterans Club (MVC) based at Banners Gate Community Hall, a fifteen minute walk from Kingstanding Circle, is reaching out to local Armed Forces veterans in the area who would like to meet like-minded people for ‘banter, laughter and support’.

Adjusting from military to civilian life can be challenging, even years after service many still miss the comradeship and military banter. With an estimated 17,770 veterans living in the Birmingham area, according to the 2021 Census, local veteran clubs are vital support networks.

Founder of the MVC, Walsall born Gary Hall is a former 1st Battalion Staffordshire Regiment soldier and served two tours of Northern Ireland. Having left the Army due to family illness and bereavement, he later served with the Army Reserves attached to 143 Plant Squadron Royal Engineers as a Sapper.

Gary Hall in group photo with Prince of Wales Divivison, Lichfield, in 1983 / Image supplied by Gary Hall

After joining West Midlands Police (WMP) as a Traffic Warden, he later transferred to the Royal Military Police and eventually rejoined WMP as a Constable, with a career spanning almost 24 years.

“The veterans club was something I had wanted to do for a while,” told Gary, “I reached out to two friends who had served in the military and we formed the club.”

The MVC is made up of Army, Royal Navy, and RAF ex-service personnel and at the time of writing has 28 members, including two senior veterans aged 88 and 93 years old. The veterans regularly meet at Banners Gate Community Hall, which Gary helps to run as a voluntary Business Manager and Trustee of Banners Gate Community Association (BGCA).

He said: “We meet once a month at the moment, but this could change and become every two weeks depending on the numbers.

“We are there for all veterans, to just chat or to signpost to professionals for help or advice, to make new friends and share stories and have banter, we would like to give all the support that we can.”

British army soliders / Photograph supplied by Adobe Stock Images

The MVC has recently been successful in gaining some support through funding and small grants.

“We have been granted £200 by Tesco Princess Alice Drive, Sutton Coldfield,” highlighted Gary – thanking community officer Linda Kelly for here help, “for a Remembrance Day wall plaque to place on the outside wall of our community centre.”

MVC also received £450 through the Small Sparks Fund, supported by Luke Weston from Help the Heros, which has enabled the club to pay for room hire and a permanent base until 2027 – with an additional discount from the BGAC.

Memorial plaque for British Armed Forces / Image supplied by Gary Hall

The club is also looking for new members and wants anyone who might be interested to get in touch. Gary explained: “The Midlands Veterans Club is for all veterans and their families; we would like to hear from those with military backgrounds, whether regular forces or Territorial/Reservist and their immediate families. We would like to hear from anyone who would like to help us raise funds too.”

Gary is also looking to reach veterans who might be in need of more support or housing.

He adds: “Once fully established we want to hit the streets looking for veterans that need help due to homelessness or falling on bad times. We will be there to help them and guide them to the help they need”.

For more on the Midlands Veterans Club visit www.facebook.com/groups/midlandveteransclub or call 07932 174 550 / 07871 770 498

If you are from a community group or an active volunteer anywhere in the Erdington constituency then we want to hear for you. Please email: community@erdingtonlocal.com

This article was first published in the Erdington Local monthly newspaper on 16 October.

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COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT: Erdington Historical Society – keeping Erdington’s wartime story alive

Commonwealth War Grave at St Barnabas Church / Photograph by Ed King

Words by Nicola Murray

Walking through Erdington today it’s easy to miss the traces of the Second World War. A few scraps of concrete near Marsh Lane, a memorial tucked behind St Barnabas Church, bomb-scarred bricks at Stockland Green Methodist Church.

As Armistice Day approaches, the Erdington Historical Society (EHS) is working to make sure the town’s wartime story isn’t forgotten.

The society was originally founded in July 1950 but lasted only around four years. It was then reformed in 1985 and has run ever since.

Members meet on the second Tuesday of every month at St Barnabas Church in Erdington Town Centre. Doors open at 6:30pm for tea and coffee, and then a speaker will begin at 7pm. Check out their website to see what topics they are covering in upcoming months.

Erdington Historical Society meeting at St Barnabas Church / Photograph supplied by Erdington Historical Society

“We’re keen to preserve our legacy,” says Paul Perkins, a member of the research team and acting Treasurer. “Erdington is not very well documented compared with the major cities, so I try to spread our history as much as I can.”

Much of that work centres on the war years, when the town found itself in the firing line of enemy bombers. Paul explains that Erdington sat within a triangle of important industrial targets, including the Spitfire factories, meaning stray bombs often fell on local streets. “We received more than our fair share,” he says.

At the heart of this tragedy are the stories of ordinary people. Families were bombed out of their homes, while the wounded were cared for at Highcroft Hospital. Residents queued at Erdington Baths for gas masks and ration books.

Images and photographs from second world war / Photograph by Ed King

After the war, some families who had lost their homes lived for years in wooden barracks on Spring Lane, where a school now stands. Today, a public air-raid shelter on Marsh Lane survives only as fragments of concrete emerging from the ground.

Many of these stories could easily have been lost. Paul explains that a significant number of local records were destroyed in a fire, making the society’s work all the more important. Through research and talks, EHS helps piece together the forgotten history of the community.

There are also moments of pride. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission website used a photograph of a St Barnabas grave on its homepage. “Of all the places in all of the country, they chose a grave from Erdington,” says Paul. The grave is a private one, not an official war grave, but it stands as a symbol of the lives lost in the war.

Map of Erdington in 1884

For Paul, sharing EHS’s research is personal. He has compiled a timeline of more than 30 pages and a collected over 1000 photographs, while also delivering talks on Erdington’s past. “Once I am gone, my legacy will be that people know as much as they can about local history.”

As Armistice Day approaches, he believes remembering matters most. “It’s important that we leave something behind, and that we don’t forget the people who paid the ultimate price.”

For more information on Erdington Historical Society visit www.stbarnabaserdington.org.uk/erdington-historical-society

If you are from a community group or an active volunteer anywhere in the Erdington constituency then we want to hear for you. Please email: community@erdingtonlocal.com

This article was first published in the Erdington Local monthly newspaper on 16 October.

To be the first to get your LOCAL NEWS delivered through your door and support independent community journalism, SUBSCRIBE LOCAL and email for more information at: subscribe@erdingtonlocal.com

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COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT: Castle Vale’s rich military history still remembered today

Memorabilia from Remembrance Day event at YoungStars Community Hub on Castle Vale / Photograph by Tracy Fisher

Words by Tracy Fisher

As the country comes together for Remembrance and Armistice Day, it is tradition to pause and reflect, walking in the shoes of those we have never met. Yet Castle Vale’s residents do this every day with the estate’s rich military history beneath their feet.

Aviation has been at the core of Castle Vale’s history since 1909 as a privately owned aerodrome built on grassland. It wasn’t until the start of World War One in 1914 that the aerodrome was requisitioned by the government for use by the Royal Flying Corps.

Over the next decade Castle Bromwich Aerodrome (CBA) would be home to a further nine RAF Squadrons including 605 Sqn Auxiliary Air Force, which was formed as a Bomber Unit on 5 October 1926.

The squadron, now 605 Sqn Reserves, is based at RAF Cosford and recently celebrated the centenary of its formation. The Squadron Standard remains laid up at St Cuthberts Church on Castle Vale.

165 Castle Bromwich Squadron RAF cadets on Castle Vale / Photograph by Tracy Fisher

As World War Two approached, the Air Ministry earmarked land opposite CBA for a shadow aircraft factory to build Supermarine Spitfires. Construction of the site began in 1938 and Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory (CBAF), the current home of the Jaguar Land Rover factory, was created. Production of the Spitfires eventually began mid-1940 with an estimated roll out of 320 a month.

The factory’s pivotal position during the war effort was strengthened with visits from then Prime Minister Winston Churchill and US First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt in 1942. Churchill made a point of speaking with factory workforce, including female riveters and test pilots.

Most notably, Chief Test Pilot Alex Henshaw. Each plane built had to be ready for combat missions and it was Henshaw, along with a team of 25 test pilots, to ensure their readiness.

Chivenor Primpary School pupils and teacher in front of Remembrance Day poppy display / Photograph supplied by Chivenor Primary School

Delivery of the tested Spitfires was the responsibility of the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA). These incredible civilian female pilots were indispensable in their role of ferrying Spitfires to other parts of the country. In 2022, a new housing development on Castle Vale, honoured the women of the ATA in recognition of their achievements with street signs bearing the names of Spitfire Pilots Mary Ellis, Elenor Wandsworth, and Joy Lofthouse.

Despite being heavily bombed during the Birmingham Blitz, by the end of the war CBAF had produced around 12000 Spitfires and 350 Avro Lancaster Bombers.

The factory ceased production in 1945, and post-war the airfield continued as a training ground until 1958. In 1964, a new era began with the development of Castle Vale housing estate.

Families of women who flew in the Air Transport Auxiliary at opening ceremony for Castle Vale housing development bearing their names / Photograph by Ed King

While Castle Vale is no longer is an active aerodrome, its military connection lives on. From the imposing ‘Sentinel’ Spitfire sculpture (aka Spitfire Island) guarding over the Vale, to the wartime features that still adorn Jaguar Land Rover. The former RAF houses, military street names, the flag flying high in Centre Park, and its military veterans.

But it is the long presence of 165 Sqn Castle Bromwich Air Cadets and its air cadets who will be the next generation to continue Castle Vale’s military legacy.

If you are from a community group or an active volunteer anywhere in the Erdington constituency then we want to hear for you. Please email: community@erdingtonlocal.com

This article was first published in the Erdington Local monthly newspaper on 16 October.

To be the first to get your LOCAL NEWS delivered through your door and support independent community journalism, SUBSCRIBE LOCAL and email for more information at: subscribe@erdingtonlocal.com

 

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OPINION: A message from Paulette Hamilton, MP for Erdington

Paulette Hamilton MP at her Erdington consituency office / Photograph supplied by Paulette Hamilton MP

Words by Paulette Hamilton MP

One issue I have always been passionate about is building a care system that works for everyone. Growing older shouldn’t mean worrying about whether you can afford the care you need or being forced to sell your family home to pay for it.

That is why I welcome the Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s commitment to creating a National Care Service, with free personal care based on need rather than ability to pay. I know how important good care is when a loved one becomes older and more vulnerable.

I lost someone close to me in September, so I understand personally how much families rely on a care system that is there when they need it.

The NHS is one of Labour’s proudest achievements, founded in 1948 on the principle of healthcare free at the point of use. I believe social care must work alongside it as an equal partner, particularly as our population grows older.

Locally, I continue to stand up for residents. A new application has been submitted to convert a family home on Tyburn Road in Pype Hayes into a 5-bedroom HMO. I have formally objected and encouraged local residents to do the same.

Paulette Hamilton MP at opening of new nursery facilities at Pegasus School on Castle Vale / Photograph supplied by Paulette Hamilton MP

It was a pleasure to officially open the new nursery at Pegasus Primary School in Castle Vale. The school received £150,000 in government funding, creating 40 new nursery places.

This is the kind of investment our communities deserve, and I will keep fighting to bring more of it to Erdington, Kingstanding, Castle Vale and South Oscott.

For more on Paulette Hamilton MP for Erdington visit www.paulettehamilton.org

This article was first published in the Erdington Local monthly newspaper on 16 October.

To be the first to get your LOCAL NEWS delivered through your door and support independent community journalism, SUBSCRIBE LOCAL and email for more information at: subscribe@erdingtonlocal.com

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OPINION: Councillor Robert Alden and Councillor Gareth Moore – Erdington, Local Conservatives

(L-R) Cllr Robert Alden, Katie Lam MP, Cllr Alex Yip / Photograph supplied by Birmingham Local Conservatives

Words by Councillor Robert Alden

Cllr Gareth Moore and I continue to raise residents’ ongoing issues with the Council’s fortnightly bin collection and food waste pilot.

We continue to demand the City Council scrap their fortnightly collections and reinstate weekly bin collections.

This month we met with Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Katie Lam MP, to discuss issues in Birmingham including the scourge of badly run exempt accommodation.

We explained our campaign calling on the Government to change the law to make exempt accommodation need planning permission so that it can finally be controlled, its growth stopped and local family housing saved.

We also visited Botham House on Orphanage Road to see the completed building project. When the developers looked to sell the block there was a risk an exempt accommodation provider was going to buy it and convert it to exempt accommodation.

Thankfully we have managed to stop that and, working with Birmingham City Council, the block is now going to remain as older person accommodation, as originally intended. The Council is using it to allow older residents to downsize and so free up larger family homes for use by families.

(L-R) Cllr Rober Alden, Katie Lam MP, Cllr Alex Yip / Photograph supplied by Birmingham Local Conservatives

Botham Place is named after the prominent 19th-century Birmingham architect J.R. Botham, who designed the historic Sir Josiah Mason’s Orphanage.

We’ve also chased the Council housing department about the cleanliness of tower blocks in Erdington and the need for the CCTV to be reinstated to keep residents safe.

For more from Erdington’s Councillor Robert Alden and Councillor Gareth Moore visit www.facebook.com/ErdingtonNews

This article was first published in the Erdington Local monthly newspaper on 16 October.

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OPINION: Councillor Ray Goodwin – Castle Vale, Labour

Cllr Ray Goodwin on Castle Vale High Street, outside Spritfire House / Photograph supplied by Birmingham Labour

Words by Councillor Ray Goodwin

Castle Vale has always been a community that punches above its weight. As we move into autumn, I am reminded once again that our greatest strength is our people.

Our recent community festival was a fantastic example of what makes the Vale special. It brought residents, local organisations and community groups together, showcasing the pride, talent and determination that exist across our neighbourhood.

We should never underestimate the power of bringing people together.

However, there is still work to do.

The household waste collection pilot continues to cause frustration, with residents raising concerns about missed collections and outstanding bins. I want the pilot to succeed, but that means listening to residents, resolving problems quickly and ensuring the service delivers what people have been promised.

As we approach winter, we must also recognise the pressures facing many households. Rising living costs, the challenge of keeping homes warm and the strain on family budgets will leave some residents struggling.

Working alongside organisations such as Spitfire Services, Upcycle Birmingham and Pioneer Housing will be vital in ensuring people know where to turn for help.

Being a councillor is about more than attending meetings or making promises. It is about listening, challenging decisions when necessary and working with residents to find practical solutions. Castle Vale is not without its challenges, but it has something incredibly valuable: a community that cares.

My commitment remains simple: to keep listening, keep speaking up and keep working to make Castle Vale a better place for everyone. 

For more on Councillor Ray Goodwin www.facebook.com/thisiscastlevale

This article was first published in the Erdington Local monthly newspaper on 16 October.

To be the first to get your LOCAL NEWS delivered through your door and support independent community journalism, SUBSCRIBE LOCAL and email for more information at: subscribe@erdingtonlocal.com

 

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OPINION: Councillor Jex Parkin and Councillor John Lambert – Kingstanding, Reform UK

(L-R) Cllr John Lambert and Cllr Jex Parkin at Local Elections count at Utilita Arena, Birmingham in May 2026 / Photograph by Ed King, Kingstanding Local

Words by Cllr Jex Parkin (Reform UK, Kingstanding) and Cllr John Lambert (Reform UK, Kingstanding)

£20 Million. Your Neighbourhood. Your Say.

Politicians have a remarkable talent for telling communities what they need. Asking first? Apparently, that’s the radical bit.

Kingstanding South-East could receive up to £20 million over ten years through Pride in Place. Better parks? Safer streets? Somewhere for young people? Bringing neglected buildings back to life?

But whose priorities should come first?

And here’s something important: you don’t have to live here to have a view.

Live in Kingstanding? Work here? Run a local business? Shop here, enjoy a pint at the pub, use local facilities or visit relatives? If you have a connection to Kingstanding South-East, we want to hear from you.

Kingstanding Together, an independent community association, is running a five-minute survey for people who live in or use the area.

Because when the projects are announced, we already know the complaints:

“Nobody asked us.”
“What a waste of money.”
“Why didn’t they fix what matters?”

Well, you’re being asked now.

The survey isn’t a vote on individual schemes. Kingstanding Together doesn’t control the funding. But your answers will be shared with the Neighbourhood Board and Birmingham City Council to help inform their decisions.

And we’ll be asking what happens next: who decided, why, and did it actually improve our neighbourhood?

Twenty million pounds is too important to leave to guesswork.

Have your say: www.kingstanding.org/pride-in-place/survey

For more from Cllr Jex Parkin (Reform UK, Kingstanding) and Cllr John Lambert (Reform UK, Kingstanding) click here.

This article was first published in the Erdington Local monthly newspaper on 16 October.

To be the first to get your LOCAL NEWS delivered through your door and support independent community journalism, SUBSCRIBE LOCAL and email for more information at: subscribe@erdingtonlocal.com

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ERDINGTON POLICE: Partnership working to seize goods on Erdington High Street

(L-R) Officers from Trading Standards with Erdington Sargeant Millard with illegal goods after raid on High Street premises / Photograph supplied by West Midlands Police

Words by West Midlands Police

Operation Fearless and Erdington neighbourhood officers have been working with Birmingham City Council’s Trading Standards team to seize thousands of pounds worth of illicit goods from Erdington High Street.

Since launching in Erdington in January 2025, Fearless has maintained a presence there, and now has a renewed commitment to tackling High Street organised crime.

On three days in early October, Fearless officers and neighbourhood policing colleagues attended three separate stores on the High Street, carrying out searches of the premises and linked vehicles.

With Trading Standards, they seized a total of more than 150,000 illicit cigarettes, as well as thousands of packets of hand-rolling tobacco, and other unlicensed and counterfeit goods such as tablets and energy drinks.

The value of the goods seized stands at more than £150,000, and an investigation into the shops and those involved is continuing.

Illegal goods confiscated after raid on High Street premises / Photograph supplied by West Midlands Police

Det Sgt Chloe Morgan, from Operation Fearless, said: “Joint operations like this are so important in acting on community concerns around shops selling illegal goods, profiting from them and putting the public at risk.

“Neighbourhood officers are based in Erdington and have excellent knowledge within the community. They are listening to locals, and we are all working together alongside local authority partners to act.

“Op Fearless has a proud history of serving the Erdington community, we know how important the High Street is to everyone in Erdington, and we urge locals to keep passing on information and concerns so we can continue to protect legitimate businesses and keep the public from harm.” 

For more on the police and crime in Erdington visit www.westmidlands.police.uk/area/your-area/west-midlands/birmingham/erdington/

 You can also follow the Erdington police team on Twitter www.x.com/ErdingtonWMP

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This article was first published in the Erdington Local monthly newspaper on 16 October.

To be the first to get your LOCAL NEWS delivered through your door and support independent community journalism, SUBSCRIBE LOCAL and email for more information at: subscribe@erdingtonlocal.com 

 

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BACK TO SCHOOL: Sports, smiles, and success – Year 6 triumphs at Griffin Sports Festival

Chivenor children taking part in games at Midlands Hub Griffin Sports Festival / Photograph supplied by Chivenor Primary School

Words and photograph supplied by Chivenor Primary School

On Thursday 1 October 2026, some super sporty people from Year 6 went to the Pingles Stadium in Nuneaton to compete in the Midlands Hub Griffin Sports Festival (GSF)! It was a beautiful day with no rain and enough sunshine to keep us all warm.

In total, eight different Griffin schools taking part, each with a team of 18 pupils. Going to GSF is a massive proud tradition for our school, and going to Pingles Stadium to compete is an exciting rite of passage when you get into Year 6!

We practiced so hard at school beforehand, taking part in after school clubs and lunchtime games to try and improve our skills. At the stadium, we took part in so many amazing sports like running, handball, football, and athletics.

We even took part in a long jump where we had to run and jump into a sandpit, and a 400m run around the huge track, which was very tiring!

We tried our best and came away with two medals which we were very proud of. It was an incredible day, and we are sure the Year 5’s are looking forward to taking part in this amazing festival next year!

Meanwhile, the children left behind at school had a fantastic time too, taking part in all the special learning activities and taking on a fun sports quiz!

The fun continued with a bouncy obstacle course on the playground, and our parents even came into school throughout the week for special sports-themed reading workshops.

For more on Chivenor Primary School visit www.chivenor-gst.org

Chivenor Primary School is part of Griffin Schools Trust, for more information visit www.griffinschoolstrust.org

Chivenor Primary School is part of the Erdington Local BACK TO SCHOOL programme, working together to celebrate school life from staffroom to classroom.

If your school would like to know more about going BACK TO SCHOOL with Erdington Local, please email: edking@erdingtonlocal.com

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This article was first published in the Erdington Local monthly newspaper on 16 October.

To be the first to get your LOCAL NEWS delivered through your door and support independent community journalism, SUBSCRIBE LOCAL and email for more information at: subscribe@erdingtonlocal.com

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COMMUNITY ANCHORS: Autumn – a season for kindness and consideration

Young people enjoying activities with Urban Devotion Birmingham 9UDB) / Photograph supplied by UDB

Words by Urban Devotion Birmingham (UDB)

Autumn can be beautiful; crisp mornings, multicoloured leaves, watching the squirrels burying their nuts in the park.

But it also means colder nights, waking up and getting home in the dark… things that can bring a sense of heaviness. A sluggishness that suggests that humans, like bears, should be preparing to hibernate.

As nice as that sounds, it’s not a realistic option to all hunker down under our duvets until the daffodils start to appear. So what do we do?

At UDB we encourage the children and young people we work with to be aware of how they are feeling, the impact of those feelings on their behaviour, and develop skills to help them handle those feelings when they come. Something that’s good for all of us to do!

Something I’ve found helpful is saying aloud three things I’m thankful for each day.

For you it may be music, walking, art, gardening… all of us will have things that give us a boost when we are feeling low, and knowing what they are can really help in those moments.

It also helps to stay active and connected with others.

If you’re a child or young person, we host weekly spaces where you can connect, play, chill, and eat cheese toasties! All for free.

For young people and adults, being part of a team and making a positive contribution to our community can help our mental wellbeing and we’d love you to consider volunteering with UDB or another local organisation.

For more on Urban Devotion Birmingham scan the QR code above or visit www.urbandevotion.org

Urban Devotion Birmingham is a key partner in the Erdington Local COMMUNITY ANCHORS programme, supporting independent local and community journalism.

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This article was first published in the Erdington Local monthly newspaper on 16 October.

To be the first to get your LOCAL NEWS delivered through your door and support independent community journalism, SUBSCRIBE LOCAL and email for more information at: subscribe@erdingtonlocal.com