Social Life: Bournville Tenants Village Council

When the Bournville Tenants Estate first came into being in the early 1900s, it was run predominantly by residents. One group ran the management committee, and another group ran the recreation committee; the latter generally known as Bournville Tenants Village Council. The Village Council undertook the 'management and control of the games, the fixing of the fees, and the collecting thereof, and the maintenance of the Courts and Playing Greens of the Recreation Grounds [...] and generally to promote the Social, Educational, and Recreational life of the village'.

In 1909 they produced a card which listed the names of the first Council members, as well as laying out the Constitution.

Click to enlarge.

Chairman: James Jones (24 Woodlands Park Road), Vice-Chairman: T. Bryan (Oak Tree Lane (also chairman of management committee)), Hon. Secretary: Chas. B. Green (10 Woodlands Park Road), Hon. Treasurer: J. G. Nicklin (14 Woodlands Park Road), Committee: W. E. Barnett (28 Woodlands Park Road), J. E. Blackadder (34 Woodlands Park Road), T. Brown (16 Woodlands Park Road), W. L. Barber (The Nook, Northfield Road), A. Banister (Northfield Road), A. B. Clements (6 Woodlands Park Road), W. Cunnington (Clyde Cottage, Northfield Road), J. Charlton (12 Woodlands Park Road), P. D. Keogan (Cropthorne, Northfield Road), C. O. Murdoch (13 Kingsley Road), G. E. Mountford (Northfield Road), A. W. Neal (Oak Tree Cottage, Northfield Road), T. J. Ward (2 Kingsley Road).

Click on the Constitution to enlarge.

It is uncertain when the Tenants Village Council ceased to be active, but below are some of the events that it arranged on the estate. 

1927 (June 18): Coming of Age Celebration (21st Birthday - see here).
1937 (May 12): Coronation Festival (see here).
At least the 1920s: Bowling and Tennis activities (see here).
At least 1928 to 1939: Winter Sessions (see here).
1953 (June 2): Coronation Festival (see here).

This item is held at Birmingham Archive.