Maurice Birch, 79, has made it his life`s work to sketch all his memories of old Aldridge for his children, grandchildren great grandchildren.  He has published a book featuring 40 years of his sketches, poems and memories of growing up in Aldridge when it was still a village for his family. 

Entitled Aldridge On a Roll, it is based on artwork he created on a large roll of paper he bought from a car boot sale in Cannock in 1969.  Maurice has sketched for his family nearly every building before they were demolished forever.

"Hopefully it will be a legacy showing the way Aldridge used to be", he said.  "It was the most beautiful village when I was a boy.  It`s still a lovely place to live but many of the buildings have gone. " 

Maurice first sketched his artwork on normal drawing paper before tracing it on the huge roll of paper and going over it in pen.  He works from his conservatory in Aldridge.  Although the sketches are in black and white on the roll, colour has been added to the ones in the book.   

"I love Aldridge", said Maurice who has two great grandchildren.  "I wouldn`t want to live anywhere else.  Nobody can replace it.  It is like Heaven to me".    The railway station, the old Avion Cinema, cottages, churches and pubs are among the buildings Maurice has created with pencil followed by ink on his roll.  "I just wishes my children could see Aldridge as it was and, hopefully this way, they will" he said.

Prior to publication the illustrated history measures 55 feet and Maurice unveiled it at the  Mapseekers Studio and Gallery in Aldridge and the Aldridge Social Club in 2013 at a charity event in aid of the Mayor of Walsall`s Appeal.  In a burst of activity Maurice then doubled the number of drawings over the next 12 months to 110 feet of illustration.  "I began drawing the old almhouses which have been knocked down now" said Maurice.  "I moved on to the Moot House near Aldridge Parish Church where I got married in 1965.  I put Aldridge Parish Church on and the old Cooper and Jordan Boys School next door which I had attended."

Maurice has also drawn the buildings that sat along Aldridge High Street but were demolished in the 1950s & 1960s.  "I remember them as a boy.  There was a mixture of pubs and shops.  It was a busy high street".  Aldridge On A Roll, published by Mapseekers Archive Publishing, had positive reviews from Aldridge Councillors Tim Wilson and John Murray plus the Aldridge Residents` Association.  Praise has also come from Andrew Wood, Chairman of Aldridge Local History Society. 

"The feedback I have had" said Maurice "so far has been very good".   However, Maurice suffered his 5th stroke in July 2015 and work to complete his roll had to be suspended. However, with the support of his wife Beryl that he describes as his "rock" Maurice has now added 17 more illustrations to help come to terms with health issues and the roll is now completed.     

Satan On Vacation  

by Maurice Birch  

The Devil came to Aldridge with mischief on his mind,

Mixed with venomous intentions of a devastating kind.

He loathed our little village so his motives he deployed

To doing wicked things born of the nature he enjoyed.

He greeted his disciples with false gestures and a smile

And promised all the world to anyone he could beguile.

Then, inspired by his achievements to demonstrate his wrath,

He marched them up and down destroying all within his path.  

He disposed of ancient  buildings discarding anything with charm,

Then he flattened the assembly rooms, the duck pond and Manor Farm.

Still, the Devil unrelenting, oblivious to his same

demolished Primrose Smith`s old cottage at the end of Hobs Hole Lane.

Today we look at Aldridge and witness Satan`s fun,

We should have spurned him long ago and warned him not to come.

For so many people now sadly rue the day

That the Devil came to Aldridge to spend a holiday.  

To order a copy of Maurice`s book please contact:

Maurice Birch at maurivor.birch@virginmedia.com.