The Sons of Rest is a social organisation that has provided leisure facilities for men of retirement age in and around Birmingham and the Black Country in the English West Midlands since 1927, and more recently for women.
The Sons of Rest
Sign on The Sons of Rest building in Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham, seen in 2009
Leisure facilities for men (and more recently women) of retirement age
The movement was established when a group of retired working men, veterans of World War I, met in Handsworth Park, Birmingham, in 1927.[1][2] One of them, Lister Muff (1852[2]-1938[3]) proposed that they form a club.[2] The name was suggested by W. J Ostler recognising that they had been "sons of toil" during their working years.[2]
They originally met in an old cab drivers' shelter in the park in summer and the park's bowling pavilion in winter, but appealed for funding for their own building, where they could meet and play games such as cards, draughts and dominoes.[2] Their appeal succeeded, and the first building was opened in Handsworth Park in 1930.[1][2]
City of Birmingham Federation of The Sons of Rest membership badge
The appeal was supported by the chairman of Birmingham Corporation Parks Committee, Councillor George F. McDonald, who became the first president of "The City of Birmingham Federation of The Sons of Rest", on its inauguration in August 1932.[2] The organisation's anthem, Sons of Rest, was written by one of the early members, Charles Smith, who was aged 81, and blind:[2]
United in our Brotherhood, Our aim is for the best We've passed our many milestones long, Still happy Sons of Rest.
We sit and talk of days gone by, And how we stood the test, Of hopes deferred and joys fulfilled, The stalwart Sons of Rest.
Then let us all with one accord Proclaim "how we are blessed," And let contentment fill our minds, God bless the Sons of Rest.
At its peak, the organisation had 3,000 members and 29 buildings, located in parks.[1][2] A number of the buildings survive and are still in use.[1]
Plaque in the Handsworth Park building, commemorating Lister Muff
The Handsworth building was replaced in 1937.[2][3] A public campaign prevented its demolition in the 1990s[2] and it was subsequently refurbished.[4] It is now managed by The Friends of Handsworth Park[2] A 2018 mosaic mural by Claire Cotterill, on an external wall, commemorates the movement.[2][5]
Some branches such as that at Darlaston, rebranded as Sons & Daughters of Rest, and admit women.
Buildingsedit
This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (March 2020)
^ abcd"The Sons of Rest". Birmingham Images. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
^ abcdefghijklm"Sons of Rest". Handsworth Creative. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
^ ab"The Sons Of Rest Building". Friends of Handsworth Park. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
^"Sons of Rest". Walker Cunnington Architects. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
^Cotterill, Claire. "Sons of Rest by Claire Cotterill seen at Handsworth Park, Handsworth". Wescover. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
^Greatrex, Jonny (30 October 2013). "Erdington Sons of Rest veterans' club destroyed in blaze". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
^"Building". Friends of Cotteridge Park. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
^"The History of Kings Heath Park, 1951-1960: 1955 Clippings". The History of Kings Heath Park, 1951-1960. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
^"Details Page for Planning Application - 20547005". Birmingham City Council. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
^"Small Heath Park Lodge: abandoned?". The Birmingham Press. 29 June 2011. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
^"Lease of life for Sons of Rest centre". Express and Star. 4 March 2009. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
^"Buffery Paradise Centre, Sons of rest, Paradise rd, Dudley, dy28nb, West Midlands, England For Hire". Halls for Hire. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
^Leona (3 April 2018). "Sons of Rest Revamp to Help Local Community in Wednesbury". Sandwell Council of Voluntary Organisations. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
^George, Rob (28 July 2018). "New Sons of Rest pavilion opens its doors to Gheluvelt Park visitors". Worcester Observer. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
^Field, David (24 January 2017). "Tuesday's letters: Come and enjoy park". Worcester News. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
^"Photographs of the Willenhall Sons of Rest". Black Country History. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
^ ab"Sons of Rest sites saved from axe". www.expressandstar.com. 1 October 2008. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
Further readingedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to The Sons of Rest.
Sons of Rest Birmingham (1938). Sons of Rest. History of the birth and growth of the movement in Handsworth Park, 1927-1937.
January 01, 1970
sons, rest, social, organisation, that, provided, leisure, facilities, retirement, around, birmingham, black, country, english, west, midlands, since, 1927, more, recently, women, sign, building, cannon, hill, park, birmingham, seen, 2009formation1927, 1927, f. The Sons of Rest is a social organisation that has provided leisure facilities for men of retirement age in and around Birmingham and the Black Country in the English West Midlands since 1927 and more recently for women The Sons of RestSign on The Sons of Rest building in Cannon Hill Park Birmingham seen in 2009Formation1927 1927 FounderLister MuffFounded atHandsworth Park Birmingham EnglandTypeVoluntary organisationServicesLeisure facilities for men and more recently women of retirement age The movement was established when a group of retired working men veterans of World War I met in Handsworth Park Birmingham in 1927 1 2 One of them Lister Muff 1852 2 1938 3 proposed that they form a club 2 The name was suggested by W J Ostler recognising that they had been sons of toil during their working years 2 They originally met in an old cab drivers shelter in the park in summer and the park s bowling pavilion in winter but appealed for funding for their own building where they could meet and play games such as cards draughts and dominoes 2 Their appeal succeeded and the first building was opened in Handsworth Park in 1930 1 2 City of Birmingham Federation of The Sons of Rest membership badge The appeal was supported by the chairman of Birmingham Corporation Parks Committee Councillor George F McDonald who became the first president of The City of Birmingham Federation of The Sons of Rest on its inauguration in August 1932 2 The organisation s anthem Sons of Rest was written by one of the early members Charles Smith who was aged 81 and blind 2 United in our Brotherhood Our aim is for the best We ve passed our many milestones long Still happy Sons of Rest We sit and talk of days gone by And how we stood the test Of hopes deferred and joys fulfilled The stalwart Sons of Rest Then let us all with one accord Proclaim how we are blessed And let contentment fill our minds God bless the Sons of Rest At its peak the organisation had 3 000 members and 29 buildings located in parks 1 2 A number of the buildings survive and are still in use 1 Plaque in the Handsworth Park building commemorating Lister Muff The Handsworth building was replaced in 1937 2 3 A public campaign prevented its demolition in the 1990s 2 and it was subsequently refurbished 4 It is now managed by The Friends of Handsworth Park 2 A 2018 mosaic mural by Claire Cotterill on an external wall commemorates the movement 2 5 Some branches such as that at Darlaston rebranded as Sons amp Daughters of Rest and admit women Buildings editThis list is incomplete you can help by adding missing items March 2020 Name Location CompletedDate listed Geo coordinatesNotes DesignationImageRef Handsworth Park Handsworth Park Birmingham 1927 1927 The first site rebuilt 1937 restored and enlarged 2006 nbsp Upload Photo Adderley Park Adderley Park Birmingham nbsp Upload Photo Brookvale Park Brookvale Park Birmingham Destroyed by fire 2013 6 nbsp Upload Photo Cannon Hill Park Cannon Hill Park Birmingham nbsp Cannon Hill Park Cotteridge Park Cotteridge Park Birmingham Demolished in the late 1990s 7 nbsp Upload Photo Digby Park Digby Park Small Heath Birmingham Destroyed by arson nbsp Upload Photo Kings Heath Park Kings Heath Park Birmingham nbsp Upload Photo 8 Selly Park Selly Park Birmingham nbsp Upload Photo 9 Small Heath Park Small Heath Park Birmingham nbsp Upload Photo 10 Ward End Park Ward End Park Birmingham nbsp Upload Photo Britannia Park Britannia Park Blackheath nbsp Upload Photo Darlaston Sons amp Daughters of Rest Darlaston nbsp Darlaston Sons amp Daughters of Rest Buffery Park Buffery Park Dudley 1950 1950 nbsp Upload Photo 11 12 Haden Hill Park Old Hill West Midlands Destroyed by fire 2000 nbsp Upload Photo Walsall Arboretum Walsall Arboretum Walsall nbsp Walsall Arboretum Brunswick Park Brunswick Park Wednesbury nbsp Upload Photo 13 Cripplegate Park Cripplegate Park Worcester nbsp Cripplegate Park Gheluvelt Park Gheluvelt Park Worcester Replaced by a new building in 2018 14 nbsp Upload Photo 15 and others at Coleshill Willenhall 16 Hill Top West Bromwich nbsp The organisation uses rooms in Lightwoods House seen here in 2018 In addition to the above other branches meet or met in hired premises These include Hamstead Great Barr 17 Eli Fletcher Oak Road West Bromwich 17 Lightwoods House SmethwickReferences edit a b c d The Sons of Rest Birmingham Images Retrieved 6 March 2020 a b c d e f g h i j k l m Sons of Rest Handsworth Creative Retrieved 6 March 2020 a b The Sons Of Rest Building Friends of Handsworth Park Retrieved 6 March 2020 Sons of Rest Walker Cunnington Architects Retrieved 6 March 2020 Cotterill Claire Sons of Rest by Claire Cotterill seen at Handsworth Park Handsworth Wescover Retrieved 6 March 2020 Greatrex Jonny 30 October 2013 Erdington Sons of Rest veterans club destroyed in blaze Birmingham Mail Retrieved 6 March 2020 Building Friends of Cotteridge Park Retrieved 6 March 2020 The History of Kings Heath Park 1951 1960 1955 Clippings The History of Kings Heath Park 1951 1960 Retrieved 6 March 2020 Details Page for Planning Application 20547005 Birmingham City Council Retrieved 6 March 2020 Small Heath Park Lodge abandoned The Birmingham Press 29 June 2011 Retrieved 6 March 2020 Lease of life for Sons of Rest centre Express and Star 4 March 2009 Retrieved 6 March 2020 Buffery Paradise Centre Sons of rest Paradise rd Dudley dy28nb West Midlands England For Hire Halls for Hire Retrieved 6 March 2020 Leona 3 April 2018 Sons of Rest Revamp to Help Local Community in Wednesbury Sandwell Council of Voluntary Organisations Retrieved 6 March 2020 George Rob 28 July 2018 New Sons of Rest pavilion opens its doors to Gheluvelt Park visitors Worcester Observer Retrieved 6 March 2020 Field David 24 January 2017 Tuesday s letters Come and enjoy park Worcester News Retrieved 6 March 2020 Photographs of the Willenhall Sons of Rest Black Country History Retrieved 6 March 2020 a b Sons of Rest sites saved from axe www expressandstar com 1 October 2008 Retrieved 6 March 2020 Further reading edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to The Sons of Rest Sons of Rest Birmingham 1938 Sons of Rest History of the birth and growth of the movement in Handsworth Park 1927 1937 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Sons of Rest amp oldid 1188888537, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
