The Ogley dirt farmer.: Brownhills canal festival 2014.

Brownhills very own canal side festival.

I have been looking forward to visiting this year’s instalment of the canal side festival for some time now. Its not a huge event for Brownhills by any stretch of the imagination, but its ours and its something we need to keep going. We have very little going on in Brownhills that might ever attract a visitor from other towns, but this event has potential.

I took a stroll into town with my mother as well as the two dogs (Charlie and Harry). On the way down Silver Street we were passed by a vintage motor that stopped to be directed into the old market area to park. I took a couple of snaps as the attendant showed the driver where to park, as i thought i might not get another chance.

The first stall we happened upon was the Bird of prey display. Many people were to gravitate here throughout the day. I feel that in Great Britain we have an attraction to raptors. I don't know why this would be, but we have plenty of top quality displays dotted about across the country that are always well attended.

I walked along the water front taking snaps as I passed stalls. I was attracted to the main stage where Mr Brian Dakin was about to kick off the activities. A spars gathering of visitors had seated themselves centre stage, they were busily demolishing ice creams. Brian focused in on the ice cream eating spectators with some well aimed jokes.

The presentation was a mixture of anecdotes and songs featuring the use of the Black Country language past and present. He threw in a bit of banter regarding local rivalry, occasionally deriding Brownhills. This was well accepted by the crowd, with some cutting banter heading back to Brian on the stage.

I thought Brian’s appearance was well received, although it was a tad early in the day. He did drop a minor clanger though! He announced that the Mayor would soon be opening the show, only to be objurgated by one of Richard Shepherd MP’s Tory side kicks. He shouted “it’s not the mayor it’s the Right honourable Richard Shepherd”. Brian was apologetic, saying he had been told “it would be the mayor opening the show.” I personally thought the blazer wearing side kick was not very convenable, he in fact made himself look like a right pillock.

On the subject of the right Honourable Richard Shepherd, he looked very unwell. In fact my mom commented that” he looked like death warmed up”. I do hope he is not suffering some ailment and hope he gets back to good health soon if he is.

I did not stay for the day; therefore i missed the other events on the main stage. i know there were to be shows from spotlight and a local choir amongst other things.

Whilst we were listening to Brian, a fire engine pulled up. The kids always love to see a fire engine accompanied by fire men, so do some women apparently. The fire engine pitched up next to the birds of prey and soon had an audience of inquisitive passers by.

Next to the fire engine, a stall with scale model naval vessels resided. The gentleman who had hand built these models was only to keen to talk to anyone interested. He was a very pleasant fellow indeed.

Over on the Market the vintage car had parked up next to a 1943 coal truck. My mom was telling me how when she had her appendix taken out, a coal truck very much like that picked her up from the hospital. The owner of the truck was from Birmingham, he said that he knew all of the old coal merchants in Brum. He was exactly the same age as his truck, they both celebrated their 70th birthday last year.

coal truck owner.

The canal is understandably the centre piece of the event, it was in full use by all sorts of vessels. Canoe's, kayak's, narrow boats and paddle boards were all out in force. The much under used canoe club was looking splendid, with people coming and going throughout the morning. Buntings had been raised and the patrons brought out in numbers. The pathway had many stalls from many different organisations, i photoed as many as i could.

The air by 11am was ringing with the tones of black country radio and laced with the scents of the bacon butty stall. There were a lot of locals now streaming in, with the market car park filling up nicely. The sun was occasionally making a welcome appearance though one or two showers were also threatening.

People on the whole seemed happy to have spent an hour or so looking around the event. I thought there were enough stalls to keep people interested and plenty of variation in those stalls.

If any improvements were to be made, i would say one stall relating to old world Brownhills/local history stall would have attracted a lot of people.