Bordesley Green February 2014 News
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BORDESLEY GREEN GAZETTE February 2014 History from Bordesley Green, The Ideal Village & Little Bromwich CHRIS SUTTON: Crossover Resource & Learning Centre, 619 Bordesley Green, Birmingham, B9 5XZ. Tel: 0121 753 0668 Email: [email protected] Facebook: Bordesley Green History Website: www.bghistory.org.uk In December 1963 a school teacher named Barbara Wright was the first to hear a word to send shivers – “Exterminate!” For Birmingham born actress Jacqueline Hill it was just a day of work on the BBC’s new children’s serial Dr Who but the appearance of the Daleks prompted a mania in 1964 to rival even the Beatles. Satisfying the desire for more Daleks came a range of toys and the world of tie in merchandising firmly took hold, with an increasing range of products linked to films and tv. For me it was James Bond, Batman, Dr Who Jacqueline Hill’s close encounter and the Gerry Anderson series such as Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet. It was pretty much the same for Bordesley Green born Steve Home is where the art is Woodhouse too. He has spent many years combining his interests and imagination culminating in his Art Toy Guys project with Trevor Boddington. I caught up with the pair at their Custard Factory workshop in Digbeth. It all began in 1996 when Steve’s growing collection of toys and annuals, unexpectedly developed a practical side when he started attending Bordesley Green Day Centre – off Broadway Avenue and Broadway Close (and since closed down). The Centre was intended to offer support and care for Steve as he uses a wheelchair and has cerebral palsy and epilepsy, but they were limited in what they were able to offer him. Despite having a 50 hours package of care a week they just couldn’t fill it. Luckily for Steve he found a kindred spirit in carer Trevor Boddington. Barbara’s Close Encounter Th e pair, as Trevor remembers, soon established they had a lot in common. “When I went into Steve’s room, he had a massive set of hand-made shelves and they were chock full of everything from when he was a kid, little Matchbox cars, Action Men, Annuals, everything was kept –played with and knocked about, but clearly loved. All saved by Steve and his mum and dad”. Trevor had his own collection of similar items so the connection was there right away which the pair began to explore. “Steve loves colours, textures and shapes of things, objects, memories, nostalgia – and we gelled it all together. We found a way, slowly, to make it worthwhile”. Trevor recalls: “One key difference for us was that everyone else attending there (around 80 people) were transported in from their homes by Council Minibus. We opted instead to walk each day from Blake Lane down to Broadway Avenue. This may not seem important but walking there and back, rain or shine, was our first step toward independence”. This independence, particularly so for Steve, led to the pair taking time to explore the local area here. The pair got to know many people and made friendships which endure to the present day. I wondered if it had been easy getting about but Trevor says that despite the wheelchair being powered and heavy they have encountered few difficulties aside from the odd shop with a big entry step. “One good example”, says Trevor, “is the bakery (Stockton’s), who, on our polite suggestion, purchased a removable access ramp. In return we drew them up a ‘ramp access available’ sign”. Other places the duo received a warm welcome include St. Pauls Church, The Crossover Cafe and Resource Centre (where they took their first steps on computing together), McDonalds, Gardner’s sweet shop, The Discount shop and the corner Mini-Mart (Nisa now). All these places in their own ways offered a support and encouragement while Trevor and Steven spent the next eleven years attending the centre. When it closed the pair were sad but they have much to be grateful for as Trevor points out, “We have such independence, great friends, our own projects and so much to do. We will always be grateful to Bordesley Green”. (cont) The pair set up a base at the Custard Factory for their Art Toy Guys project. Their style can be anything from a completely original piece of work to one closely inspired by tv or film. The working materials come from a variety of sources. “ There’s the junk element, people coming along with bits and bobs, great stuff like key-rings, broken calculators or whatever, and those ingredients come into it because the bits and pieces tell us how to make something if you like. We have found stuff on the street we have used too, just walking along the pavement”. Steve’s cerebral palsy is no obstacle to their work together.” Steve gets across his ideas by talking about it, and by his expressions and my feelings. Looking at something in front of us that creates a spark. Or it (Above) The Waddington’s “Blast Off” becomes the James might be something Steve had and his dad would say, Bond “You Only Live Twice” board game. “Oh we went to see that when Steve was 9”, and Steve would smile and we would go find a dvd and (Right) watch it and say, “What about this?” Fabulous The range and volume of creations the pair have custom built made are amazing. It’s hard to miss the Mount models of Rushmore heads from “North by Northwest” or their The Time recreation of Portmeirion (“The Prisoner”) but there Machine are many more delights. Their “You Only Live Twice” and the new game is converted from Waddington’s Blast Off, Library of which the duo got for about 20p in a car-boot sale. Birmingham “Most of the bits were missing but the box was there. You can play it, we did the cards for it as well. There was no “You Only Live Twice” board game in the way there was one for “Thunderball””. (Left) The guys were getting ready for half-term week in “We did a Spiderman Birmingham with a return visit for them to the Library fighting Doctor Octopus of Birmingham. “We are there working on junk and were very happy landscapes. The idea is for kids, or anyone, to join in with it when we finished and make things with us – cities, towns houses it. Then we took it whatever. We are in the Foyer and we will be taking completely apart and at our model of the library”. the same time a friend of There were several things I fancied buying but their ours gave us a load of policy is not to sell or take commissions. “They are keys and we put them just for our pleasure and exhibition. We view it as with the Doctor Octopus paying tribute to a film or character out of love”. The figure and made pair welcome help to keep going and run sessions at Keyman”. their workshop. “We gladly appreciate donations of Trevor Boddington any kind as obviously we use up a lot of stuff – paint, glue, card and other bits and bobs. It's amazing some (Below and Right) The Art of the things people bring to us - old radios, phones, Toy Guys were a huge hit at obsolete gadgets, television remote controls. Plus, the Library of Birmingham. people come to us with suggestions, or ways to link up. We all draw, paint, chat, make things, it's a way of surviving”. They may well be doing that but they deserve much respect and credit for all they do, and in particular their encouragement to others and generosity in sharing so freely what they do. Trevor and Steve can be contacted at [email protected]. Videos of their work can be found on Youtube by searching for 2arttoyguys. Trevor’s website is at www.madcap.pcriot.com 175 Green Lane – Henshaw’s home Views from Bordesley Green rederick Henry Henshaw (1807 – 1891) lived in Green Lane, before the area F became known as Bordesley Green. His paintings are exhibited in many art galleries and command high prices at auction when they occasionally come up for sale. He was born in Birmingham and educated at King Edward’s before transferring to the Grammar School on New Street. There he was taught to draw by renowned artist Joseph Vincent Barber (from Handsworth) to whom he was articled from the age of fourteen. In 1826 he went to London to study the works of English landscape artists and Turner in particular. He exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1828 and soon established himself as a successful artist. He lived at The Cottage, 175 Green Lane from 1833 until his death there in 1891, although from 1837 until 1840, he sketched on the Continent, mainly in France, Switzerland and Italy. Henshaw Road in Small Heath is named after him. A good place to see his work first hand is Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. (Top Left) This is Frederick Henshaw’s home at 175 Green Lane. At the time he lived here there was little but farm land towards the Broadway area. Bordesley Green East and the estates there had yet to be built. (Top Right) Five barred gate at Yardley. Henshaw’s work predominately focuses on bucolic scenes of beauty such as this simple composition. (Bottom Left) Bridge over the River Cole at Yardley. Another beautiful local scene, this is also how much of the Bordesley Green area would have been at the time.