Wythall Works
After the poor weather during the summer, October and the start of November have been kind to us and allowed outdoor work to continue.
The phone box in the bus station is now complete, all the missing glass having been replaced. Also a number of panes that had Perspex substituted for glass have had the latter reinstated. Leo Coley who has done the work on the phone box under Pete Murphy's watchful eye has now moved on to glazing the cantilever bus shelter. The same pair are to reconstruct the AA box, which is to be located on the other side of the station road and paid a visit to Avoncroft recently to look at the AA boxes there. The final job involving glass to be completed is the provision of opening windows in the café. These were fitted in mid October. Just before the clocks went back lights were provided to illuminate the ramp past the café and shop building.
Whilst all the trees on the Museum site do make it attractive, the down-side is that they shed lots of leaves at this time of year. Mick Doolan, occasionally assisted by others, has been doing a sterling job in sweeping them up nearly as quickly as they fall. Another routine but vitally important job for keeping the site looking good is dealing with the rubbish. These days Maurice Collignon normally sees to this on a Wednesday ready for collection on Thursday whilst Bob Williamson is in charge of the recycling department!
Those who do not regularly visit the Museum site may not realise the workers mess room is now a portacabin located near the Shire Hall. On its arrival it was fitted out with kitchen fittings taken from the railway carriages and provided with steel entrance steps modified from those which used to give access to the carriages. Subsequently Steve Johnson managed to acquire a substantial and more suitable genuine bus industry table for the eating room. The latest addition has been a patio table and chairs so volunteers can sit outside to enjoy their breaks! The slight damage to the top of this table has been repaired in what I am told is true Walsall fashion with a patch of unpainted aluminium fastened with four pop rivets by the owner of two Walsall buses.
A vehicle on which it is unusual to record work having been done is the Birmingham AEC Regent 486. Dick Lolley secured the loose bonnet side and then decided it would look better with the front nearside mudguard in place. This was located and fitted improving the exhibit considerably.
Phil Ireland
Chapel Lane, Wythall, Worcs B47 6JX
Tel : 01564 826471 e-mail us
A registered educational charity no 507191
