War Memorial Band Stand

(Recreation Ground)

On Monday March 1st 1920, a public meeting was held in the Colley Lane Council from which a War Memorial committee (WMC) was elected consisting of; Rev R A Norris, Rev F Guy Morris, Messrs. Starling, Green, Reece, Beasley, Westwood, Hipkiss, B Hodgetts and the clerk of the Parish Council Mr Bird.

On Monday, January 3rd 1921 the WMC decided to appeal for subscriptions to incorporate a recreation ground or public hall into a memorials scheme. A battle followed between the WMC, and the Discharged and Demobilised Sailors and Soldiers (DDSS) and the British Legion over what form the public hall should take. Several sites were considered to erect a building, including the common land that now sites the war memorial and land at the bottom of Ladysmith Road. Eventually, it was decided to site a band stand on Homer Hill Recreation Ground which was placed under a Trust by Cradley Parish Council to serve as a place of recreation.

It took several more years to raise the remaining funds and decide on plans for the band stand, but once all was complete, Viscount Cobham agreed to declare the bandstand open and also unveil the cenotaph memorial on Saturday, January 28th 1928.

The Lord Lieutenant reminded everyone in his speech:-
  There are those who have suffered intensely, who have made the great sacrifice, not only men who were crippled with wounds and disease, but the women who gave their men into the struggle and whose men did not come back again, happy are they for they have earned the undying gratitude of their country.

Following the ceremony, Mr. R. Green, as Vice-chairman Halesowen Urban District Council received the deeds from Mr. Hipkiss, chairman of the Memorial Committee.