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NEWSLETTER No. 12 -  Winter 1984/85

WEST MIDLANDS BRANCH, BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION

 

Membership

Members are reminded that all branch subscriptions are payable on 1st January each year, except for new members joining in the previous three months. Subject to the agreement of the A.G.M. it is proposed to increase our subscriptions with effect from 1st January, 1985 to the following rates: £1.50 adults, £2.00 family, 50P junior (unchanged). This will be our first increase in subscriptions for two years, but has been forced upon us by increasing costs in the production of our newsletter and, of course, postage. We shall do our best to hold the new rates as long as possible. Madge Payne has offered to act as branch Membership Secretary, and, in future, all subscriptions should be sent to 90 Kelsey Lane, Balsall Common, nr. Coventry, W. Midlands and not to the Treasurer. Cheques/POs should continue to be made out to BBCS (West Midlands branch).
 

West Midlands:

Allen, Miss B, "Cherrytrees", 10 Dyers Lane, Hockley Heath, Solihull
Armstead, S, 42 Konsdale Drive, Styvechale Grange, Coventry
Baines, C, 9 Station Road, Hagley, Stourbridge
Bowerman, Mr & IIrs K, 84 Reddicap Hill, Sutton Coldfield
Brookes, Miss J, 14 Mulwych Road, Tile Cross, Birmingham
Cooke, J, 105 Fosbrooke Road, Small Heath, Birmingham
(J) Cutler, N, 21 Primrose Hill, Wordsley, Stourbridge
Davies, S, 189 Siddeley Avenue, Coventry
Fawcett, J, 103 Rotherham Road, Holbrooks, Coventry
Furlong, P, 34 Brewster Close, Stoke Hill Estate, Coventry
Green, Mr & Mrs T, 58 North Street, Upper Stoke, Coventry
Hopson, P, la Knox Road, Blakenhall, Wolverhampton
Howson, M, 228 Alcester Road, Moseley, Birmingham
Gould, Mrs A, 90 Brandwood Road, Kings Heath, Birmingham
Grainger, Miss J, 35 Bader Road, Perton, Wolverhampton
Gregory, F & son, 15 Hintlesham Avenue, Edgbaston, Birmingham
Haden, E, "Blue Cobwebs", 28 Sandy Road, Norton, Stourbridge
Faulkner, Mrs A, 17 Latham Road, Earlsdon, Coventry
Kwiatkowski, S, 2a The Mount, Erdington, Birmingham
Laws, B, 79 Wyken Way, Stoke Heath, Coventry
Lakin, C, 211 Ralph Road, Shirley, Solihull
Leach, Mrs M,. "Jandell, Tamworth Road, Bassetts Pole, Sutton Coldfield
Morgan, C, 110 St. Nicholas Street, Coventry
Marsay, C, 36 Mantilla Drive, Coventry
Millington, F, 243 Farren Road, Wyken, Coventry
Morphew, M, Flat 14, 48 Handsworth Wood Road, Birmingham
Markham, Miss S, 3 Needlers End Lane, Balsall Common, Coventry
Nall, G, 33 Elmcroft Road, Yardley, Birmingham
O'Connor, P, 26, Edgewood Road, Rednal, Birmingham
Payne, Mrs M, 90 Kelsey Lane, Balsall Common, Coventry
(J) Penrose, N, 12 Hole Farm Road, Northfield, Birmingham
Pingvey, D, 47 Rectory Park Avenue, Sutton Coldfield
Porter, D, 48 Penny Park Lane, Keresley, Coventry
Reeve, J, 1,72 Stroud Road, Shirley, Solihull
Reynolds, M, 67 Jockey Road, Sutton Coldfield
Iggulden, K & family, 150 Masser Road, Coventry
Johnson, Mrs V, 38 Arlington Court, Old Swinford, Stourbridge
Salmon, P, 36 Collingbourne Avenue, Hodge Hill, Birmingham
Steere, D, 2 St. Luke's Road, Holbrooks, Coventry
Thompson, C, 59 Barnett Lane, Wordsley, Stourbridge
Wharton, A, 2 Ashfield Grove, Halesowen
Wheatcroft, S, 155 Rugby Road, Binley Woods, Coventry
Wright, Mrs J, 19 Eastlands Grove, Coventry
Robinson. G, 77 Edinburgh Avenue, Rushall, Walsall

New members:

Gloucestershire:

Radley, E, Elton Farm, Newnham
Smith, R, 1 Seven Wells Cottages, Springhill, Moreton in Marsh
(J) Webb, J, 99 Gloucester Street, Winchcombe

Warwickshire:

Bonham, W, 278 Camp Hill Road, Nuneaton
Mitchell, B, 127 Watling Street, Grendon, nr. Atherstone

Worcestershire:

Badham, D, 4 Dolphin Close, Worcester
Bingham, Mr. & Mrs. J, 23 Leswell Street, Kidderminster
Chetland, G, 37 Woburn Close, Friarscroft, Bromsgrove
Millward, A, 26 Warwick Street, Stourport on Severn
Wood, G, 18 Longfellow Road, Beechwood Park, Worcester
Worton, L, 52 Buttermere Road, Burlish Park, Stourport on Severn
Day, Mr. & Mrs. J, The Bungalow, Dodford Childrens Holiday Farm, Dodford
Foot, P, Mill House, Knightwick, Worcester
Freeman, Miss D, 79 Meadow Road, Malvern
Richardson, T, 61 Winchcombe Road, Sedgeberrow nr. Evesham

Change of address:

Lewis, S to Rose Cottage, Baveney Wood, Cleobury Mortimer, Salop
Newton-Lewis, Mr, & Mrs. P to 14 Oakfield Drive, Kempsey, Worcester

Other Members:

Heath, Miss W, 601 Portswood Road, Swaythling, Southampton, Hants
Butchart, Mr 6. Mrs R, 33 South View, Uppingham, Rutland, Leics
Snape, K, Highfield, Billinge End Road, Pleasington, Blackburn, Lancs
Sellars, G, 3 Great Lane, Greetham, Rutland, Leics
Pyle, Dr. R, Box 123, Loop Road, Gray's River, Washington, U.S.A 98621
                   219c Huntingdon itoad, Cambridge
Wildridge, B, 18 Haig Close, St Albans, Herts
Colston, P, 35 Friars Walk, Tring, Herts
Robertson, D, "Oaklands", 30 Hilfield Lane, Aldenham, nr Watford, Herts

MEMBERSHIP TOTALS: Glos: 8; Herefords: 5; Salop: 6; Staffs: 8; Warks: 18;
Worcs: 28; West Mids: 44; Others: 8                                                  Total 125

 

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A XMAS QUIZ     (courtesy of Merseyside branch)

How many species of moth can you spot in the following detective story:


The dew was still on the ground when I arrived early one autumnal morning in November to investigate the theft of the Cumberland Gems from Foresters Lodge. As I reached the station I realised strangers were not welcome and even the chimney sweeper and gypsies frowned at me. I was greeted by an old lady and her common pug (I have the dog's tooth marks to show that the dwarf pug didn't like me either). The old lady was all lace border, gold spangles and beautiful brocades but seemed so confused about the affair I asked to see Lord March.

His Lordship was obviously a drinker but soon showed me photos of the missing coronet, the triangle brooch of little emeralds, and the delicate crescent of large emeralds. He was uncertain why the magpie who'd stolen those had left a valuable silver heart with a gold spot in the middle. He explained the Chinese characters around the edge indicated its eastern origins. I knew immediately that something was wrong. The heart I was holding had Hebrew characters on it and the gold spot looked more like burnished brass - someone had made a substitution. I asked to search the lodge though this upset his Lordship's guests - Mr. Miller, a small Quaker, Earl Grey, a noted nonconformist, and Dot Clay, the actress who was as quiet as a mouse. The Cook (proud as a peacock despite being a common rustic sort) objected to me dissecting her cabbages and turnips but the red-necked Footman was most upset of all and watched me like a hawk. (In the absence of a Butler this common Footman was my prime suspect). A glance around his room confirmed my suspicions - the barred carpet had dark streaks on it which I resolved to investigate later. This I did while the Footman was serving his Lordship's lobster and discovered the carpet was peppered with burns. Ironically it was December before I realised the scorched carpet was the result of him making the counterfeit heart. That common carpet with its purple bars also had strange hairs on it and I knew then where the gems had been hidden. The Footman breathed fire and brimstone when I arrested him and asked what evidence I had. I told him I could produce the gems and took them all into the hall where I pointed at the stag's antlers, the stuffed leopard, the tiger, and, last of all, the fox. At that stage the Footman twitched uneasily and with a triumphant yell I put my hand in the foxes mouth and, like a magician, withdrew the marble coronet and other jewels. He knew then that the hairs on the ruddy carpet had given him away.

Answers in the next newsletter - I have a copy of the 1927 edition of South's "Moths of the British Isles" on sale at £16 vgc for those wishing to cheat!