Chairman Jean Corns welcomed 38 members to the June luncheon at the Kingfisher Hotel, Wall Heath.

Unfortunately speaker Pat Bickford from Moseley Old Hall was unable to come due to illness but, thankfully, local expert John Sparry stepped into the breach and took us on a tour of nearby old properties of distinction once owned by local wealthy industrialists.

He began at Ashwood Lodge Farm where his grandmother worked for farmer Giles. Next came Summerhill Grange (now the site of Summerhill School) once owned by a Mr Peacock, which became a school for the blind and Summerhill Court the beautiful home of Mr Herman Smith was later to be demolished for housing development. Across the road Summerhill House built in the 1700s with a toll house, then the home of the Briscoe family, thankfully survives today in the form of the Harvester Restaurant and Hotel, but Ashwood House which became a private lunatic asylum, is long gone. He ended the tour at the Kingfisher Hotel built in 1934 by MrTanfield. It was quite unique in its heyday with a thatched roof, Olympic size swimming pool, fountain and high diving boards. Most people arrived by bus or bicycle which you could leave at a nearby cottage for tuppence.

The next luncheon on 8th July will be an open meeting when friends can be invited to hear speaker Elli Target with her inspiring story of her father's escape from the Germans following his work with the Norwegian Resistance and his remarkable journey to freedom.

There is no luncheon in August but members are invited to a coffee morning at the home of Ann and Mike Rogers to raise funds for speakers.