Wolverhampton People of the past had Big Hearts and Sympathetic Traits
Charitable playing footballers were the subject of my last post so I thought I would continue with this theme a little longer.
From my vast Library it is so easy for me to find pictures and stories regarding the “hands in their pockets” generosity of Wolverhampton businessmen, from all walks of life, in those hard times between the wars.
During the period after the Great War there were two big charities pursued in Wolverhampton to help with hardship caused by that recent conflict: The Chief Constable’s Boot fund and the Children’s Holiday Camp Fund.
This small post comes from a program of events staged by the Wolverhampton Butchers’ Association in 1926 to assist the Chief Constable’s Boot Fund
It was reckoned at that time The Sporting Fraternity ( and this included in its domain the many butchers of the old town) were never backward in coming forward with substantial aid.
The Committee consisted of just a small group of the wholesale and retail butchers of the town, which at that time numbered over 100. Thinking back to the times just before the war it was a question if any town dweller could walk 200 yards from their home and not pass a butcher’s shop.
The cartoonist who pictured these big-hearted men was one Edwin Hingley, a colourful character of great wit, a little of which is noted here.
I especially like the Stop Press News in the left corner and I quote: “Many of the above are copies taken from Old Prints dating back to the SAUS- AGE- Thus explaining The presence of the HAM in WOLVERHAMPTON.”
And these gentlemen certainly put their shoulders to the wheel and found that the outcome of this event exceeded all expectations, and it was proved that nothing more popular could have been arranged than this football match at the Molineux Grounds.
The Match took place at the Molineux Grounds on Thursday April 29th, 1926; even His Worship the Mayor Ald. F.A.Willcock was on hand to kick-off.
The officials were two or three ex-Wolves players, the referee being their former captain Val Gregory, and Tom Phillipson and Harold Shaw, two other heroes of the twenties, the linesmen. The outfits were kindly loaned by that well-known sport shop owner from off the Dudley Road, Mr F.C. Poyner.
The team players, of course were all butchers whose names (with the exception of a couple I see) have all now gone along with the shops and businesses they once traded in. Some will be recalled by many old Wulfrunians with great affection, especially those who, as small children, had reason to live close by these businesses, as many of us did.
