Fun-packed festivals are a real knockout

The heroics of bare-knuckle fighter William Perry, better known as The Tipton Slasher, were brought back to life at a fun-filled festival in the town.

While at East Park in Wolverhampton people turned the clock back to the nineteenth century with a Victorian-themed party.

And hundreds of bikers took on more than 12 miles of cobbled roads and bridleways in the 62-mile Tour of the Black Country

The festival in Tipton's Coronation Gardens marked the 21st anniversary of the William Perry statue, which was installed in the park in 1993 for £25,000.

Perry was born into a canal boat trade in Park Lane, Tipton, but went on to become the boxing champion of England from 1850 to 1857.

He was so strong that when he was at his prime it was a challenge to find opponents to 'come up to the scratch' in the ring and fight him.

But following his death he was left with a simple grave at St John's Church in Kates Hill, until in 1992 when a group was formed at the Noah's Ark Inn in Tipton to set up a statue.

Among those who formed the committee was Jim Holland who gave a talk at the event, which attracted around 500 people.

Mr Holland said: "Today is an immensely proud day for all of us involved in those initial discussions for the statue.

"He is buried in Kates Hill, but his grave was neglected, it was forgotten and there was nothing in Tipton to remind us of him.

"He was a great man and fully deserves such recognition as we gave when we installed the statue and events such as today."

Along with Mr Holland at the Noah's Ark Inn was Martin Collinson, Steve Woodward, pub landlord Pete Golding and Tipton and Coseley Building Society chief executive Chris Martin.

The building society organised the event along with The Tipton Community Association, Tipton Civic Society and Black Country Society.

Also giving a talk atSunday's event , which attracted 500 people, was Tipton historian Chris Smith. He is publishing a book later this year on the boxer.

He said: "He was the modern day footballer. From his background it was quite amazing to see him welcomed in by the English gentry, toured around the country and fighting in front of capacity crowds."

Meanwhile the East Park Extravaganza was held to celebrate a £1.5 million refurbishment to East Park, just off Hickman Avenue in Wolverhampton.

The renovations have seen the return of some of the traditional features which would have been familiar to visitors when it first opened its gates in 1886.

They include a complete refurbishment of the Lysaght Memorial Clock Tower, which was originally erected in 1897, a year after the park opened.

And the renovated bandstand was put to good use when a traditional style brass band played music from the Victorian era.

The thousands of visitors to the extravaganza, which was organised by Wolverhampton City Council, were treated to a trip to a bye-gone age.

The event featured a Punch and Judy show, morris dancers and maypole dancing, as well as two Victorian-themed plays written by Wolverhampton playwright Jefny Ashcroft.

Intrigued onlookers clapped and cheered as they watched Daisy, Daisy, celebrating the history of bicycle manufacturing in the area, and We All Love a Paddle, in recognition of the RNLI, which was prominent at the original opening ceremony in 1896.

And scores of people answered the appeal by event organisers to turn up in traditional Victorian dress.

Amongst the costumed throng was Queen Victoria herself - played with a sturdy constitution by Central Youth Theatre student Katherine Lea, aged 17, from Codsall.

Edith Peate, a veteran visitor to the park having first gone there 62 years ago, took her 7-year-old granddaughter Hannah around to see the sights.

She said: "We have had a really fun day and it would be nice if more things like this were put on.

"I was only five when I first came here, but it looks as pleasant now as it did all those years ago. They have made a really nice job of it."

Organiser Mac McCoig, who started planning the event 10 months ago, said the extravaganza was a fitting way to celebrate the history of the park.

The 62-mile Tour of the Black Country on Sunday yesterday (SUN).

The route was a test for the cyclists and their road bikes and is based on the classic multi-terrain Paris-Roubaix race.

It was organised by V-Sprint cycling club, headed by former Cycle Speedway World Champion James Varnish, who is also the father of Team GB rider Jess Varnish.

"The bikers will certainly face some blood, sweat and punctures along the route," Mr Varnish said at the start line at the Aldersley Stadium near Wolverhampton.

"Events like this are a way of putting something back into the sport and getting more people involved in cycling.

"The turn-out is great, as is the help offered by the 24 volunteers along track. This is a unique event for this country, and hopefully the first of many."

Among the riders taking part was Stuart Armitage, aged 43, of Monksfield Avenue in Great Barr. The technician said: "I love cycling and events like this for me are perfect. It's getting outside, pushing yourself and the challenge.

"I'm not surprised so many people are here, it's a great event."

He added: "The Olympics have really got people inspired into cycling, I've never seen so many people about on the roads. It's cheaper than driving and it's a great way of keeping fit."

The race event toured West Midlands, Worcestershire, Shropshire and Staffordshire. It included 15 unpaved stretches and finishes back at Aldersley Stadium on a large outdoor velodrome.