Aston is a town within the City of Birmingham, in the West Midlands of England. Lying to the north-east of the Birmingham city centre, Aston constitutes an electoral ward within the council constituency of Ladywood.

History[link]

Canal boat in Aston, Birmingham

Aston was first mentioned in the Domesday Book in 1086 as "Estone", having a mill, a priest and therefore probably a church, woodland and ploughland. The Church of SS Peter & Paul, Aston was built in medieval times to replace an earlier church. The body of the church was rebuilt by J. A. Chatwin during the period 1879 to 1890; the 15th century tower and spire, which was partly rebuilt in 1776, being the only survivors of the medieval building. The ancient parish of Aston (known as Aston juxta Birmingham) was large. It was separated from the parish of Birmingham by AB Row, which currently exists in the Eastside of the city at just 50 yards in length. It was partly included in the borough of Birmingham in 1838, and a further part, Saltley was added in 1891.

Aston Hall

Aston University

Old buildings which became popular within Aston included the Aston Hippodrome and the Bartons Arms public house. Gospel Hall on Park Lane was opened in 1892 and demolished in the 1970s to be rebuilt at the top of Park Lane in 1979. The original hall had a seating capacity of 73. Another meeting place was the Ellen Knox Memorial Hall which was next door to the Midland Vinegar Brewery. The brewery was owned by the Midland Brewery Company was built around 1877.^[1] It was located on Upper Thomas Street. The brewery was a three storey brick building with rounded corners and semi-circular windows. The roof was slated. Other industry that was located in Aston include the Premier Motor Works which produced cars during the early 20th century. The works were situated at the junction of Aston Road and Dartmouth Street. On Miller Street was a tramcar depot which had a storage capacity of 104 tramcars. It opened in 1904.^[2]

Aston underwent large scale redevelopment following World War II. South Aston was designated a renewal area whilst a new town to the west of this.^[3] This became "Newtown" and is a large estate consisting of sixteen tower blocks, five of which have since been demolished. The project was approved in 1968. Three 20 storey tower blocks on the complex contained 354 flats alone.^[4]

Today, Aston is famous for Aston Villa F.C. and Aston University (the campus of which is not in Aston but actually located to the far south of Aston in Birmingham city centre). Aston University is one of three universities in Birmingham. Aston Villa have played at Villa Park since 1897, and it has traditionally been one of the largest football grounds in England that has staged many notable matches at club and international level. The park has also hosted other sports and events including international level rugby league and rugby union.

Much of Aston consists of terraced houses that were built around the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. Some of these houses were demolished in the late 1960s to make way for the Aston Expressway, which links Birmingham city centre to the M6 motorway. In the late 1950s, Aston was the location of the famous 'Venus Baby' case of Cynthia Appleton (87 Fentham Road).

By the early 1980s, Aston was suffering from severe deprivation with many of the terraced houses being outdated for the requirements of the time. Many of them lacked bathrooms and indoor toilets, whilst the vast majority were suffering from decay as a result of a lack of maintenance. There was speculation that the homes would be demolished, but Birmingham City Council made money available to the homeowners for them to be brought up to modern standards.

In recent years, Aston has been the location of racial tensions due to the high number of immigrants, mainly Pakistani and Afro-Caribbean. The crime rate is higher than the city average and higher than the UK average and is one the most high crime and deprived places in the UK and many high profile incidents have been reported in national news outlets. On 2 January 2003, gunmen shot at three innocent teenage girls who were celebrating the New Year in the Lozells area of Aston. Two of the girls were killed and another was seriously injured. More than 18 bullets were fired from at least two weapons.^[5] Four men were later tried and found guilty of murder in March 2005. Marcus Ellis (the half-brother of one of the two dead girls), Nathan Martin and Michael Gregory were sentenced to life imprisonment with recommended minimum terms of 35 years on two charges of murder and three of attempted murder. A fourth man, Rodrigo Simms, received life with a recommended minimum of 27 years for the same crimes.^[6] A fifth defendant, Jermaine Carty, had walked free from court after being cleared of possessing a firearm.^[7] The four men convicted were members of a notorious local gang known as the Burger Bar Boys, who had been trying to gain revenge on members of their rival gang the Johnson Crew - a notorious local gang with roots stretching back to the mid 1980s.^[8]

Gun and knife crime is still heavily present in Aston.

Capgemini have a major technical centre located in Aston.

Politics[link]

The 2004 Council Election was marred by vote rigging by the Labour Party candidates who were subsequently removed from the council. In a subsequent by-election, all three council seats were gained from Labour by Liberal Democrat candidates. In 2006 Labour recovered one of the three seats it lost as a result of the affair and one of the remaining Liberal Democrat councillors, Abdul Aziz, defected to the Respect Party. Aston is therefore now represented by one Labour, one Liberal Democrat, and one Respect councillor.

Aston has adopted a Ward Support Officer with the current holder of the title being Pat Whyte.

Demographics[link]

Aston railway station

Villa Park, Home of Aston Villa F.C.

The 2001 Population Census found that 27,917 people were living in Aston with a population density of 4,185 people per km² compared with 3,649 people per km² for Birmingham. 50.4% of the population was female and 49.6% was male. This was above and below the national and city average respectively.

Aston has an area of 6.4 km²/ 451.5 hectares. Aston is a very diverse community, ethnically, with 70.6% (19,030) of the area's population being of an ethnic minority compared with 29.6% for Birmingham. 36.9% of the population was born outside the United Kingdom, over double the city average of 16.5% and nearly four times the national average of 9.3%. The largest ethnic group was Asian at 49.8%. More specifically, the Pakistani ethnic group was the largest at 27.2%. White British was the second largest ethnic group at 26.00% and Black British was third with 21.51%. The smallest broad ethnic group was Chinese and Other at 2.2%, double the city average of 1.1%. Islam was the most prominent religion in the ward with 44.3% of the ward's population stating themselves as Muslim. Christianity was the second most prominent religion in Aston at 32.4%.

The ethnic make-up of the area drastically changed in the 1950s and 1960s with immigration from the Commonwealth. Most of the immigrants were from the Indian subcontinent, though a significant number were from the Caribbean.

A total 99% of the residents lived in households, above the city average of 98.3% and the national average of 98.2%. 1% lived in communal establishments. There was a total of 9,939 occupied households in Aston at the time of the census resulting in an average of 2.8 people per household, above the city average of 2.5 and the national average of 2.4. 37.7% of households were owner occupied, below the city average of 60.4%. 33.5% of households were rented from Birmingham City Council, above the city average of 19.4%. 454 households were stated as being vacant. 41.7% of the total households were stated as terraced, above the city average of 31.3%. 28.2% of households were stated as purpose built blocks of flats, just over double the national average of 14%.

11.6% of the population was of a pensionable age, below the city average of 16.7% and the national average of 18.4%. 57.7% were of a working age, below both the city and national average. The largest age group in the ward was 25-44 at 28.1%, compared with the city average of 28.3%. This age group is also the largest for Birmingham and the country.

46.7% of the residents were in full time employment, below the city average of 59.9% and the national average of 61%. At 20.6%, Aston had an above average unemployment rate with the city average being 9.5% and the national average 5%. 35% were in long term unemployment, below the city average of 36.3% but above the national average of 30.3%. 20.2% had never worked. The manufacturing industry provided the most employment to the ward at 18.2%.

Education[link]

There are three secondary schools in Aston: Broadway School (Broadway has also got a campus in Perry Barr), King Edward VI Aston and Aston Manor School. There are seven primary schools: Aston Tower Community Primary School, Birchfield Community School, Lozells Junior & Infant & Nursery School, Manor Park Primary School, Mansfield Green Community School, Prince Albert Junior and Infant School and Yew Tree Community School.

King Edward VI Aston

Aston Cross[link]

Aston Cross was once the home of Ansells Brewery and HP Sauce, and there is a campus of City College, Birmingham there. Aston Manor Brewery was started in Thimblemill Lane in 1982 by former employees of Ansell's after Ansell's Aston Brewery closed.

From 1956 to 1969, Aston Cross was the Midlands base of television broadcaster ATV which had its Alpha Studios on Aston Road North. The ATV office building later became the studios of radio stations BRMB and XTRA-AM. Although both stations moved to Birmingham's Broad Street in the early 1990s, the building is still called Radio House. Launching in February 1974, BRMB was the UK's fourth commercial radio station and, while in Aston, was the most listened to station in the West Midlands.

Places of interest[link]

• Aston Expressway
• Aston Hall
• Aston University
• Aston Villa Football Club and Villa Park
• Aston Reservoir
• Spaghetti Junction
• King Edward VI Aston
• Former Norton motorcycle factory
• Church of SS Peter & Paul, Aston

Notable residents[link]

• All the original members of the heavy metal band Black Sabbath were born and raised in the Aston area, including Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Bill Ward and Geezer Butler.
• Victor Johnson, (1883–1951) was a track cycling racer, who in 1908, won a gold medal at the Olympics, became 'World Amateur Sprint Champion' and the 'British National Quarter-mile Champion'.
• The author Arthur Conan Doyle, worked in the area for a short period.
• John Benjamin Stone, a politician and prolific photographer, was born in Aston and took over his father's glass manufacturing business in the area upon his death.
• Albert Ketèlbey, composer, conductor and pianist, was born in Aston on August 9, 1875.
• R&B singer Jamelia lived for a short period in Aston.
• Leicester City F.C. winger Lloyd Dyer was born in Aston and Gustard was also a resident.

See also[link]

• Witton

References[link]

• The City of Birmingham Baths Department 1851 - 1951, J. Moth, 1951
• 2001 Population Census information: Ward profiles

External links[link]

• Birmingham City Council: Aston Ward
• Aston Library
• Aston History
• The History Of Aston by Aston People

v t e Government of Birmingham Birmingham council constituencies and wards Edgbaston Bartley Green Edgbaston Harborne Quinton Erdington Erdington Kingstanding Stockland Green Tyburn Hall Green Hall Green Moseley and Kings Heath Sparkbrook Springfield Hodge Hill Bordesley Green Hodge Hill Shard End Washwood Heath Ladywood Aston Ladywood Nechells Soho Northfield Kings Norton Longbridge Northfield Weoley Perry Barr Handsworth Wood Lozells and East Handsworth Oscott Perry Barr Selly Oak Billesley Bournville Brandwood Selly Oak Sutton Coldfield Sutton Four Oaks Sutton New Hall Sutton Trinity Sutton Vesey Yardley Acocks Green Sheldon South Yardley Stechford and Yardley North

Chris Thomsen (born c. 1970) is an American football coach. He was previously the head coach at Abilene Christian University, before resigning December 16, 2011 to accept a coaching position at Arizona State. Before the start of the 2012 season, he left Arizona State to accept the position of Offensive line coach for Texas Tech.^[1]

Career[link]

Thomsen is a 1993 ACU graduate and a former Wildcats tight end. Following his graduation, he remained at ACU, first as a graduate assistant and then working his way up to offensive line coach, recruiting coordinator, offensive coordinator, and, finally, assistant head coach. In 1998, the Wildcats finished 18th in the nation in passing under the direction of Thomsen, who was the offensive coordinator.

In 1999, Thomsen left ACU to go into private business, but eventually returned to coaching as he became offensive coordinator at Wichita Falls High School in 2001. With Thomsen calling the plays, the Coyotes won back-to-back district titles and led the district in scoring both seasons (34 points per game in 2001 and 42 ppg in 2002). In 2002 they set the school's single-season record for most points in a season, and the quarterback set the school's single-season record for touchdown passes.

Following a two year stint as offensive line coach at the University of Central Arkansas, Thomsen returned to his alma mater, succeeding Gary Gaines as head coach. In 2006, he led the Wildcats to an 8–3 record and the program's first berth in the NCAA Division II playoffs. He was named the Lone Star Conference South Division Coach of the Year.

Thomsen was the head football coach for the Abilene Christian University Wildcats located in Abilene, Texas. He held that position from the 2005 to 2011 until accepting a position at Arizona State.

In 2008, Abilene Christian finished the regular season undefeated for the first time since 1950. In the NCAA Division II Playoff second round the Wildcats knocked off rival West Texas A&M University 93-68, the 93 points an NCAA playoff record.^[2] In December 2008, Thomsen applied for the vacant head coaching position at Northwestern State University and was named among the six finalists.^[3] Other finalists included Bradley Dale Peveto, co-defensive coordinator at Louisiana State University and a former Northwestern State assistant, who eventually got the job.^[4]

In 2011, Thomsen left ACU for an assistant position at Arizona State but left before the beginning of the 2012 season.^[5]

Texas Tech[link]

On February 3, 2012 it was announced that Thomsen would be leaving his position at Arizona State to accept the position of offensive line coach for the Texas Tech Red Raiders^[6]

Head coaching record[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

Maurice Jones (alias Meurig Prysor) (1863-1957) was a priest and university educator.

Born on 21 June 1863 at Trawsfynydd, Meirionnydd, he was educated at local school then, with scholarships, proceeded to Friars School, Bangor and Christ College, Brecon, and then Jesus College, Oxford, where he gained a first class degree in divinity in 1886, an MA and BD in 1907 and a DD in 1914.

From 1890 to 1916 he served as chaplain to the Forces, and on his return, was offered the benefice of Rotherfield Peppard (Jesus College being the Patron of the benefice), and remained there until 1923 when he was appointed Principal of St David's University College, Lampeter. When he arrived, the college had less than 70 students, and he worked steadfastly to increase their number. When he left in 1938, there were more than 200 students. Jones' involvement with higher education did not come to an end on his departure from Lampeter, for he was later external examiner for both Oxford and the University of Wales. He was also a Fellow of Jesus College.

He was a member of the Gorsedd of Bards, with the bardic name of Meurig Prysor, and was treasurer of the Gorsedd from 1925 to 1938, when he was elected Gorsedd Bard. He was attendant druid from 1947 to 1957, and only narrowly missed election to become archdruid in 1955. In that same year, however, he was made a Fellow of the National Eisteddfod. He was also chairman of Cymdeithas Ceredigion Cerdd (The music and poetry society of Ceredigion) and Vice-President of the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion.

He died on 7 December 1957 in Addington, Surrey, and is buried in the churchyard there.

References[link]

• The Dictionary of Welsh Biography, 1940-1970, The Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion, London.

Brittan Golden is an American football wide receiver for the Chicago Bears of the NFL. He played college football at West Texas A&M. After going undrafted, he was signed by the Bears.^[1]

References[link]

External Links[link]

Danny Raymond Mason (January 6, 1938 – January 14, 2007) was a golf coach and physical education professor who was affiliated with Texas Tech University in Lubbock for more than three decades.

Under Mason's leadership, the Tech team qualified for four NCAA tournaments. In 2002, Mason was inducted into the Texas Tech Athletic Hall of Honor^[1] and was awarded the title Associate Professor Emeritus. Mason, a kidney transplant recipient, won five Texas Transplant Games golf tournaments and participated in the National Kidney Foundation golf tournament on three occasions.^[2]

Mason was born in Monahans, Texas, as one of five children to Charlie Everett Mason and Trudie Mae Mason. Upon graduation from Monahans High School in 1957, he attended Odessa College on a golf scholarship. In June 1958, he married Betty Ann Mason née Pickett (born 1939) and then transferred on a golf scholarship to Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas. He was a member of the 1960 NAIA championship team. He earned his bachelor of science degree in physical education, with a minor in biology, from Lamar University in 1961.^[2]

Mason next took summer graduate courses at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas, and accepted thereafter a teaching fellowship from Texas A&M University in College Station. He completed his master's degree in education and obtained a Texas guidance counselor's certificate in 1962. He coached and taught at Texas A&M for two years before moving on to Texas Tech. However, his Tech service was interrupted by a stint at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, where he obtained his doctorate in education and again coached golf.^[2]

In 1969, he returned to Texas Tech, where he remained for thirty-one years in coaching and/or academic positions. He coached the golf team until 1979^[3] and was an associate professor of physical education until his retirement in 2000. Mason's associations included Phi Delta Kappa educational fraternity, faculty sponsor for Phi Epsilon Kappa, and service on the National Golf Foundation Board of Educators and the National Kidney Foundation Board for Region II. He was the founder and director of the Junior Golf Academy for fifteen years and the Coaches Golf Academy through the Texas Tech Continuing Education Division at Junction.^[2]

Mason was voted "Father of the Year" in 1968 at Springdale Baptist Church in Springdale, Arkansas, and again in 1978 at the Melonie Park Baptist Church, an Independent Baptist congregation in Lubbock. He served as a deacon in various Baptist churches for more than four decades. He was on the Mission Board at the Melonie Park Church. Services were held at his church. In addition to his wife, Mason was survived by three children, Rodney Mason of Lake Jackson, Michele Mason Henderson of Waco, and Kent Mason of Lubbock; a sister, Lena Davis of Mesa, Arizona, and six grandchildren. He is interred at Resthaven Memorial Park off Frankford Avenue in Lubbock.^[2]

References[link]

Grave of Coach Danny Mason at Resthaven Memorial Park in Lubbock