Tag: tipton

June 29th – I find myself running errands to Tipton a lot lately, which I don’t mind at all – it’s a decent ride from Darlaston, and there appear to be plenty of curiosities to investigate when I get there.

In Coronation Gardens, for instance, there’s a statue to a prizefighter who holds legendary status. Wiliam ‘Tipton Slasher’ Perry was one of the greatest local pugilists of all time, and held the title of English Champion from 1850-57; he was a noted character and the pub he used to hang out at – the nearby Fountain – was centre of his empire and is still a shrine to the fighter today.

William is regarded now as one of the greatest sons of the town, despite dying an alcoholic.

Today, his statue stands in classic fighting pose, his familiars pigeons. I wonder how many pass by and not know who the statue is remembering?

June 24th – A shellshocked day, really, and the nation was politically in turmoil following the EU Referendum result. A Prime Minister resigned. Disarray in the opposition. Uncertainty about the future.

In Tipton, dodging the rain on an errand, I spotted this. Sometimes the most British answers are the best ones.

A Cuppa Tay is always best.

July 17th – I found these unidentified, dainty little white flowers growing on a grass verge on an industrial estate in Tipton. I don’t know what they are, but they seem related to bugle, the purple-blue flower I featured here last week. I’ve not seen either in great number before this year, but something in the season has favoured them and these wonderful little flowers are profuse.

Can anyone identify it, please?

June 2nd – A grey, windy morning, but the temperature was rising. Running around on errands in the morning after the rain had stopped, I noticed all these wonderful wildflowers on one roadside verge neat Tipton.

There are all sorts here from common but beautiful daisies to oilseed rape, gone  feral near the crash barrier.

It may have been a chilly, grey spring, but the flora is thriving, and I don’t think I’ve ever known a spring this lush and beautiful.

March 20th – Almost a lost afternoon. I slunk out of work to get another ride in around the canals to Wolverhampton, but suffered a mechanical failure. After a failed bodge fix, I grabbed another bike and escaped late, in bad humour.

A run through Bloxwich and on to the canal at Sneyd opened up to a great ride – up to Wolverhampton, back down the mainline through the Coseley Tunnel to West Brom, then back through Great Bridge, Toll End, Moxley and Darlaston. 

It was surprisingly grey, but not a bad evening at all.

The ride was fast, enjoyable and fixed my bad mood a treat.

March 8th – It’s been a varied week; today I found myself visiting Great Bridge. I was in a hurry to get there, and went straight through Walsall and Wednesbury along the main roads. On my return, it seemed like a decent afternoon, so with time to spare I hopped on the canal at Brickhouse Lane and headed along the Tame Valley Canal. At Toll End, I passed the rear of the old MEB headquarters – now owned, I believe, by Central Networks. One of the many things they do here is train overhead linesmen, and to do that you need a forest of poles with an assortment of equipment. I’ve passed this spot when there have been ten or so trainee engineers working up in the air. An odd spectacle.