Thank you so much to everyone who turned up last Friday (19th November) at Armoury Road to make the first BSA memorial event an outstanding success, I was astounded at the number of BSA motorcycles that attended, thank you very, very much.
A special thank you to Tony Rohan the RC (Holy Family, Small Heath) priest who stepped in at the last moment when the vicar of the local Anglican Church refused to come, amazing when you consider that's where the list of the BSA dead are (St Johns, Sparkhill).When Tony arrived I pointed out to him that it might be a good idea if he took my confession before the event-he replied he didnt think the event would be long enough for that!!!
We did a record number of radio and TV interviews that weekend with 4 on Radio WM, one for both Central TV and BBC Midlands Today. Have to say though that without Muslim Respect Party leader, Salma Yaqoob turning up (with her husband.children and friends) it would have been a different story. There is a large amount of interest in Salma, who seems to be a regular on BBC Question Time and according to The Guardian, the UKs most influential Muslim woman and tipped to be the first Muslim MP in Parliament. Salma also encouraged local Asians to attend the event and the present owner of the remaining BSA factory, Ali Merza also turned up to give his support."
BSA Guns directors, Peter Martineau and Simon Moore were also present and they too pledged the companies support for the erection of a monument at Armoury Road.
A profile of Salma is here.
Cannot say I have been too impressed with MPs lately and certainly not councillors, none of the Small Heath councillors even replied to invites nor did local MP John Hemmings who is on record as saying there shouldn't be a memorial at Armoury Road as there are other ones in Birmingham. Salma not only attended our event she embraced it, asking if she could make a speech and pledging support for our memorial campaign.
You can catch the interview with Carl Chinn on his show last Sunday on the BBC I player Radio WM (about 10 mins into show)
Carl has also actively supported this campaign and also mentioned on his show the lack of interest shown in remembering the Birmingham civilian war dead in Birmingham until BARRA was formed.
Carl also talks about the Birmingham Pub Bombings which took place in November 1974, some very interesting and harrowing interviews with those who were involved, don't miss it!
Some of you missed the excitement at the end of the Armoury Road event when we were stormed by a police special patrol group-someone had reported to the Police that there were young boys seen with guns and motorcycles at Armoury Road! Young Boys, I ask you, still the light was bad!!!
There is now a new Flikr account has been opened to display the pictures
If anybody has any pictures of the event, or interesting BSA pictures, please send them to me at madeinbirmingham At
gmail.com
I am very grateful to the Yardley Photographic Society who turned up to take pictures for us. We hope to invite them to all our events in future-the club started in Small Heath.Robert Jones is the man that took the 'great' pics on Flikr ( cant alf tell he knows what he is doing)
The wreath laying will now be an annual event and its full steam ahead for a memorial, hopefully on that corner of Amoury Road and Golden Hillock Road and perhaps another one on the Poets Corner Island to BSA.(Poets Corner??? Anyone know any Birmingham poets?)
Also on the day was the 70the Anniversary Air Raid Event at the Birmingham Council House, run by local history teacher Doug Smith. Our members provided some useful support for Doug with displays. We also provided an M20 motorcycle, courtesy of Don Hallam, who also dressed appropriately and and a BSA Gold Star displayed by Mick Volante of the local Gold Star Owners Club in the Council House foyer. Thank you to all at the council house, it was a splendid event even though we had trouble convincing several council security employees that there was actually an event there when we arrived a 8.30am!. Ken Broomfield provided machine guns and a variety of other military equipment which added to the display but must have worried a few at the German Christmas Market outside!
Warwickshire Home Guard Group & The Birmingham Air Raids Association were there too BARRA's website is
Very nice to catch up again with Malcom Frier of BARRA after nearly 30 years! Birmingham's ambassador to the Olympic Games 90 year old Tommy Godwi
n also attended.
We feel the campaign has now reached a turning point now an I hope to be able to approach the Lottery Commission for funding next year.
More details of the campaign to get an on-site memorial to both BSA and the 53 BSA night shift workers who were killed in Birmingham's worst air raid on 19th November 1940 can be found at www.madeinbirmingham.org
We thank Carol Nash Insurance for their continuing support of the website and our events.
CAROLE NASH MOTORCYCLE LIVE 2010
27TH NOVEMBER – 5TH DECEMBER – NEC BIRMINGHAM
Best wishes JP
The website is still really being updated-honestly!
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