Alexandra Taylor: Writer

Moseley writer Tim Stimpson has had an amazing twelve months. He’s played a major part in the ground-breaking, headline-grabbing Rob and Helen storyline on the Archers, which led to an Outstanding Contribution award for the soap at this year’s BBC Audio Drama Awards. And now, after fourteen years in Ambridge, he’s turning his hand to another much-loved, but very different British soap, EastEnders. Tim came to Birmingham University in 1998, where then-Editor of the Archers, Vanessa Whitburn taught a module. Her advice was to “pester someone who can help you”, and Tim took her at her word, pestering her into giving him work experience on the show, then invitations to script meetings then opportunities to write trial scripts. His persistence paid off and in 2003 he was asked to be a part of the Archers writing team, where he’s been ever since. In contrast, Tim’s move to EastEnders was a lot less calculated. In 2016 Sean O’Connor, the then-Editor of the Archers, took over the helm...

Bassist John Dalton played his first live gig with The Kinks on York Road in Kings Heath in 1966. Fifty years later he’s returning with The Kast Off Kinks to bring the band’s hits back to Birmingham. But this time round it’ll be a very different experience for John. “Back then it happened so quickly,” he explains. “I met the band on Thursday, had Friday to learn the music and then played with them on Saturday night. I didn’t know any Kinks songs before that, but the set was only about thirty minutes so I just about got through it! Nowadays we normally play for around two hours and we obviously know the numbers really well.” John is also no stranger to Birmingham. “My dad’s family lived in Balsall Heath and I used to spend my summer holidays there. We went to the Lickey Hills, Cannon Hill Park and saw the cricket at Edgbaston. It was really nice to be coming back to play.” John toured the world with the Kinks for seven years at the height of their fame and, after a long and...

Winterbourne House and Garden is a haven of tranquility, tucked away between the Bristol Road and Birmingham University, where you can escape the stress of city life to take a leisurely stroll around the Edwardian villa and its grounds. The estate was bequeathed to Birmingham University in 1944 and students still come down to collect samples from the extensive botanical collections. As well as the 1903 Arts and Crafts house packed full of antiques, a botanic garden with over 6000 plant species, a woodland walk, a hazelnut tunnel and a 1930s Japanese bridge, there are a wide range of activities for the inquisitive and adventurous of all ages. Inside the house are interactive exhibitions which tell the fascinating story of the estate and the people who lived there, including Margaret Nettlefold, who designed the Grade II listed garden. The family firm, GKN, was once the largest screw, nut and bolt manufacturer in the world. Occasional free tours (check in advance for days an...

“Parks for Play started over ten years ago,” explains Laura Watts. “I was involved with Dens of Equality, which promotes inclusion through leisure, learning and play. A group of local parents with children on the autism spectrum were having problems accessing existing leisure services and asked us to set something up with them. We began with play schemes in the community and within two years we were running sessions in Kings Heath Park.” Inclusivity is at the heart of what they do. “Everyone is on wheels at some point in their life. If you design something around those with the greatest need, it works for everyone. It’s about making sure no one is excluded.” Laura tells me that 40% of parents with disabled children are single, compared to the national average for all children of 25%. They need reliable, consistent support services to enable them to go to work. As well as holiday play schemes and outreach programmes, Parks for Play runs the only specialised after school club in...

Nestled amongst the trees of Kings Heath Park is The House. Built in 1832, it still features the tiled hallway and stained glass windows of an impressive private residence. Many local strollers, joggers and dog walkers regularly visit the Victorian Tea Rooms on the ground floor, but do they know what else goes on in the erstwhile bedrooms, drawing rooms and parlours, now owned by the city council? Regular readers of My Moseley and Kings Heath will already be familiar with Kings Heath Shed and Thrive, community organisations that operate from The House as paying tenants. But it’s council services that occupy the majority of the rooms. On the ground floor is the Park Ranger service, whose dedicated team oversee the health and wellbeing of our local parks. They monitor wildlife, ensure the park is a safe for all visitors, organise school visits, deliver training to park volunteers and put on a wide variety of public events. Feel free to pop in to report problems, ask questions or...

Present your sweetheart with a bunch of fascinating facts about our favourite Valentine’s Day flowers. 1. Tale as old as time… The oldest fossilised remains of a rose were found in Florissant, Colorado and have been estimated to date from 35 million years ago. 2. Ancient associations Roses have been associated with romance for thousands of years since being linked to Aphrodite and Venus, the goddesses of love in ancient Greece and Rome. 3. Growing old The oldest living rose bush grows up the wall of the Cathedral of Hildesheim in Germany and is believed to be up to 1000 years old. 4. National symbol The rose was adopted as the national flower of England by new Tudor king Henry VII in the 15th century. He combined the red rose of Lancaster with the white rose of York to symbolise the country’s unity after the Wars of the Roses. 5. A thorny issue Technically, roses don’t have thorns, they have prickles. Thorns have deeper roots in a plant’s stem, but prickl...

It would be easy to assume that in this age of ebooks, wifi and online gaming that our Victorian public libraries may have outlived their usefulness. But far from being left behind, these fantastic resources are as relevant to our modern communities as they ever have been. “Where else can you find a friendly, open space with free access to information with expert staff who can help you find exactly what you want?” asks Elaine, who works at Kings Heath Library. “We have a huge mix of people through the door, of all ages and ethnicities,” adds colleague Sam. “Many come in to use the computers, as well as to borrow books, and we’ve got an extensive local history collection including photos scanned from originals brought in by local people.” You won’t be able to find those on the internet. Other assets include piano music, audio books, maps and a community room, available to hire at reasonable rates, for anyone who would like to put on an event. On Mondays it’s used by the Cit...

“That’s the cell,” says Stuart, indicating a storeroom with a grilled metal security door. “We get put in there if we’re naughty.” Stuart, one of the trustees of the Mosley and Kings Heath Men’s Shed, is giving me a guided tour of their impressive workshop. He’s quick to dispel any misconceptions that it’s a men-only space. “Yes, it is aimed at older people and specifically men, but it’s not exclusive to either of those groups, and several of our members are women. If people can get to us, they’re welcome,” he says. “Even people with physical problems that mean they’re unable to use the equipment, they can supervise the work room, or just come for a chat.” The Men’s Shed movement started in Australia in the mid 1990s in response to concerns over social isolation and depression in older men. It has now spread to dozens of other countries, and there are over 200 sheds in the UK, with more joining the network every week. “It’s a place to spend time, to potter, make someth...

I’m sitting with Carrie and Fran in Loco Lounge, talking about death. A little morbid for a Monday afternoon? Well, no actually. Carrie and Fran run ‘A Natural Undertaking’, and their open and positive approach towards the subject has helped them win several accolades, including the title ‘Green Funeral Director’ in this year’s Good Funeral Awards. “We’re so touched that the families we’ve worked with went out of their way to support and nominate us,” says Fran. “That means the world to us. It’s a big challenge, in the middle of the UK’s second biggest city, to try and put a bit of green in everything, but we do what we can.” Carrie was born in Marston Green Maternity Hospital and, apart from a short stint in Manchester, has lived in the area her whole life. Fran came to university in Birmingham twenty four years ago and never left. They’re passionate about the area and supporting other independent businesses. “We work with a number of florists, celebrants, caterers, venue...

The festive season is when our local pubs come into their own, so what better time to celebrate the entertainment they’ve been providing in our neighbourhoods for hundreds of years.  It was the Romans who first brought taverns to the UK, but the real boom came after the introduction of gin in the 17th century. Now there are around 48,000 pubs across the country, 73 of those within a 5 mile radius of Birmingham city centre. A time traveller going back to experience a 17th century alehouse would perhaps be surprised at how little has changed. Just like the bands that you can enjoy today (Hare and Hounds and The Station in Kings Heath, Patrick Kavanagh and The Bull’s Head in Moseley), live music has always gone hand in hand with the drinks on offer. Many premises also included a card room or a billiard room, and by the end of the 18th century, saloons or lounges were another common feature. This was a room where, for an admission fee or higher drinks prices, singing, dancing,...

Congratulations to Carters of Moseley! They’ve just been awarded a star in the 2016 Michelin Guide. Birmingham now has five Michelin starred restaurants, more than any other English city outside London, and is fast gaining a reputation as a delicious destination for gastro enthusiasts. Our little corner of Birmingham is particularly special. When Carters were awarded the Good Food Guide Readers’ Restaurant of the Year in 2015, the publication’s editor commented, “I wish every town had a restaurant of this standard.” We’re very lucky having such an acclaimed eatery on our doorstep, but posh nosh isn’t the only dish our neighbourhood has to shout about. There’s a smorgasbord of options to suit every palette and pocket, all within a fifteen minute walk. For that all important first date, when you want to impress without breaking the bank, my advice would be to take a trip to the Mediterranean, courtesy of Byzantium in Kings Heath or La Plancha in Moseley. You can share a tempting...

Every December thousands of people flock to Birmingham from all over the country, hoping to find gifts for their loved ones in high profile shopping destinations such as the Frankfurt Christmas Market or the Bullring.   But here in Moseley and Kings Heath, we have no need to brave the heaving crowds or pay over-inflated tourist prices in the city centre. By staying close to home this Christmas we can support our local traders and save a few quid into the bargain. Forget the German-style stalls lining New Street this year. Kings Heath and Moseley will both be holding farmers’ markets and craft markets in December - perfect for picking up locally grown veggies for the Christmas table, a beautiful piece of artisan pottery for your sister, or a jar of something tasty for your best mate. The Moseley Christmas Lights will be switched on, with accompanying stalls, activities and entertainment, on Saturday 5th December and the MAC is also holding craft markets packed with hand mad...

October 31st. Halloween. You’re walking home. It’s dark. You hear a noise behind you and spin round, heart thumping. There’s nothing but the empty street, a crisp packet blowing along the gutter. You pick it up and stuff it in a nearby bin, laughing at your own jumpiness. Halloween is just an excuse for a party, a cultural tradition born out of Pagan superstition and modified by Christian mythology. It’s not real. It’s just another night. But then you catch a movement out of the corner of your eye. Something dark and shadowy which disappears down a side road before you get a proper look. Your first instinct is to run, to seek the warmth and security of home. But, no! You refuse to give in to irrational fear. Humming your favourite tune under your breath for comfort you decide to follow. You find yourself at the entrance to Martineau Gardens, a large sign announcing their Halloween Story Night. Did the creature head in here? Paying the £5 adult entry fee you slip inside, lookin...

For two months this summer Birmingham was invaded by dozens of owls, spreading their wings as far afield as Sutton Coldfield, Winson Green and Bournville. ‘The Big Hoot’ involved 89 fibreglass sculptures, each one decorated by a different artist, and placed all over the city for everyone to discover and enjoy. Three of the owls flew all the way to Kings Heath. One landed in Kings Heath Park, one in the Village Square and one outside the library. The latter was painted by local artist Karoline Rerrie, who lives just down the road in Selly Park. She was delighted that her owl ended up so close to home. “It took me two weeks to paint him,” she says, over tea and cake at Maison Mayci. “I did feel quite attached to him by the time I’d finished. I don’t know how they decided which owls went where, but I didn’t find out where he was until the map went up online.” Originally from Northamptonshire, Karoline settled in Birmingham after completing a degree in Graphic Design at what w...

If you’re a fan of fireworks, then November is the month for you. The pops, bangs and lights in the sky usually start well before Bonfire Night, often featuring at Halloween events from the end of October. But it’s another festival that will keep them going long after Guy Fawkes has been reduced to ashes - Diwali, the festival of lights. Diwali is a five-day religious celebration enjoyed by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains, of whom there are over 50 thousand in Birmingham. It coincides with the Hindu new year, and celebrates the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil. The date is linked to the Hindu lunar calendar, so changes from year to year. This year it starts on 11th November. The festival is one of the most significant in Indian culture and is celebrated for slightly different reasons by each religion. One of the most popular stories told is the legendary return of King Rama and his wife Sita from exile and imprisonment in the 15th century. On their arrival in their kingd...

It’s inspired a film, a television series, a musical, a game show and a play, as well as numerous books and computer games. But did you know that internationally renowned board game ‘Cluedo’ was invented right here in our little corner of Birmingham? Anthony Ernest Pratt was born on Brighton Road in Balsall Heath in 1903. He worked as a professional musician, travelling all over the world giving piano recitals on cruise ships and in country hotels. He would often have been present at popular ‘murder mystery’ evenings, which were all the rage amongst the landed elite. Dinner guests at sprawling country houses would be entertained by finding a ‘body’ in one of the rooms, and would spend the evening solving clues to discover which one of them was the ‘murderer’. During the Second World War Anthony was living in Kings Heath, and worked in a factory making parts for tanks. "I was leaning on the fence of our King's Heath home and it dawned on me that this wretched war was k...

It’s many a child’s dream to tiptoe downstairs on Christmas morning to find that Santa’s wheeled a shiny new bicycle into the front room. But if, unlike Santa, you have no idea what to look for when choosing a bike for your little angel, fear not! My Moseley and Kings Heath is here to help. Firstly, the frame. Kids are attracted to bright colours, but Sean from Moseley Mechanix on Moseley High Street warns against being dazzled by a funky paint job. “Look at quality not shininess,” he advises. “Some poorer quality, cheaper bikes are made to look attractive, and parents think they’re getting a good deal, but they spend more than they’ve saved having to replace parts over and over again. Kids don’t look after bikes, they chuck them around, so quality and durability are important.” Better quality models will also maintain their resale value, helping you save money as Junior grows. Secondly, safety. “Kids should never use hand-me-down helmets,” says Arif from Bike Pro on Kings Hea...

If you’ve ever had to explain Bonfire Night to someone from another country, then you’ll be familiar with the bewildered expression that can accompany the description of how children are encouraged to make and burn effigies of a Catholic man who failed to blow up parliament over 400 years ago. Mention other related rituals, such as asking for ‘a penny for the guy’, eating toffee apples and setting off fireworks, and it gets even more bemusing.  Like many traditions, our modern day customs are the result of decades of evolution and bear little connection to the events of 1605 that sparked them. The vast majority of people waving sparklers and tucking into baked potatoes are more concerned about whether it’s going to rain than about the religious tensions of 17th century Britain that prompted Guy Fawkes and his co-conspirators to plan an attack on James I’s government.  So, to celebrate this uniquely British festival and indulge in everything a modern Bonfire Night has ...

Armistice Day on 11th November will mark 96 years since the end of the First World War. Red poppies will abound in the run up to Remembrance Sunday, but how many of us know how the tradition began and that other colours are available? In 1915, John McCrae, a doctor serving with the Canadian armed forces, was so deeply moved by what he saw on the front line that he wrote the poem ‘In Flanders Fields’. It begins: “In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row,” Three years later, Moina Michael, an American academic, wrote a poem in reply, ‘We Shall Keep the Faith’, in which she promised to always wear a poppy as a symbol of remembrance. She went on to promote the idea of selling silk poppies to raise funds to assist disabled veterans, a practice taken up by the American Legion Auxiliary in 1921. Red poppies sold in the UK today raise money for the Royal British Legion, which offers support to current and former military personnel and their families. ...

I've lived in Birmingham for over twenty years, and in Kings Heath for sixteen. I've passed the turning to Moseley Hall Hospital hundreds of times but it wasn't until a friend of mine recently ended up in a ward there that I ventured down the hill and found to my surprise that the 18th century hall is still standing. This unexpected discovery prompted me to find out more about it. There's been a grand house on the site since the early 1600s, but the present hall, a Grade II listed stone building with four pairs of columns, dates from 1795. It was rebuilt after riots broke out across Birmingham in 1791, mainly targeting religious dissenters, such as high profile scientist Joseph Priestley. Moseley Hall was just one of the many hotels, chapels, businesses and houses burned in the 'Priestley Riots'. Since its restoration, illustrious owners have included the High Sheriff of Worcestershire and Richard Cadbury MP. It was the Cadbury family that, in a typical show...