Hunt for trophies to remember glory days

Trophies and old photographs from the glory days of Cape Hill brewery are needed to put the finishing touches to the new look Portland Pavilion.

The pavilion was built in 1950 as a sports and social club for workers at Mitchells and Butlers' brewery and although the Smethwick site closed in 2002, the sports club is still in the original building.

The venue's facilities are currently undergoing a £750,000 facelift, funded by Persimmon Homes, which is currently transforming the old brewery site into homes.

New community leisure activities being created include: a new football pitch, tennis courts and multi-sports areas.

Brewery Mitchells and Butlers placed a great deal of emphasis on the welfare of their staff outside work and there was a whole community life that came along with employment at the site.Since it was built in 1950, the pavilion has been home to range of sports and social clubs. Across the years these have included football, cricket, tennis, boxing, squash, judo, table tennis, snooker, bowls, drama and fishing.

In its early days the world class track was also used by schools on sports days.

And local people have seen the Baggies and Aston Villa play at the centre.

Many of the teams at the site predated the facilities.

Harry Mitchell, the son of the founder Henry formed the first football team: Mitchell St George, in 1886.

He even managed to persuade Preston North End - then one of the best teams in the country - to play against the side in their first match. The Mitchells and Butlers cricket team were even more prolific - the driving force behind the creation of the world's first cricket league, The Birmingham League.

In 1954 the company set a record, with M&B teams winning both division one and two of the Birmingham District League.

The facilities, in Portland Road, Edgbaston, have also hosted national bowls competitions.

Photography, gardening, golf,cricket and fishing cubs also sprang up over the years. The Mitchells and Butlers Dramatic Society was formed in 1932 - and is still going strong as Portland Players Amateur Dramatic Society. As well as the drama society the Portland Pavilion still plays host to 12 football teams, the M&B bowling club and is home of the Warley Amateur Boxing Club.

As part of the relaunch later this year the club is due to host a charity match between Romulus Football Club and Aston Old Boys. Those behind the upgrade are now appealing for anyone with old photographs to come forward. These will be displayed in the upgraded pavilion.

Michelle Kelly, who works at the Pavilion said: "We don't have anything at the moment, so we would like anyone who has old photographs of the teams, or social events here to get in contact."

Anyone who can help with the appeal should contact Michelle on 0121 434 5130.

By Sally Walmsley