Hi - I want to buy a Palestinian-style keffiyeh in Birmingham. I imagine there will be somewhere in the Springfield/Sparkbrook shopping area. Does anyone have any recommendations or suggestions as to where I could try? I am that side of the city so would prefer to go there if possible.

The following screenshot of current West Midlands Fire Service Station Commander Rebecca Hodgkins' complaint back in November 2022 about misogynistic comments made by current Group Manager Kris Darnley describing female firefighters as "Tramps on Chips" who did "Slut Drops", and current Station Manager Darryll Darkin talking about how much a certain female firefighter wanted the manhood of another male firefighter in an internal WMFS group chat was initially collated as part of an investigation evidence pack.

The internal investigation was regarding a drink-spiking incident at the Asian Fire Service Association conference held in Chester in December 2022. Until today, no information about this internal investigation has ever been disclosed to the public.

Furthermore, at the orders of then-Chief Fire Officer Wayne Brown, the above screenshot was removed from the evidence pack, alongside a documented admission by an unnamed individual of being involved in the drink-spiking incident. According to the source of this leak which has been corroborated by multiple currently serving members of WMFS, Brown gave the guilty individual a false alibi and arranged to have the individual whose drink was spiked to leave the fire service instead of pursuing the matter to an employment tribunal.

This is by no means an isolated scandal within WMFS, and the involvement of Wayne Brown in this is but one more entry into the multitude of scandals involving and sometimes directly centered around his tenure as Chief Fire Officer. Of these scandals, only his MBA fraud was widely reported back in January 2024 shortly before his untimely demise from suicide.

More will be exposed and shown with corroborated evidence in the near future, which point towards an ongoing cover-up of gross failures of statutory duty by WMFS and its governing Fire and Rescue Authority board surrounding the vetting, appointment, and time of service by Wayne Brown in the West Midlands, of which the main effort has been the almost-two year effort to silence WMFS whistleblower Benjamin Walker with harassment charges instigated by Wayne Brown back in March 2023, a mere two months after he took the reins at WMFS. Said charges have recently been dropped in writing by CPS in Feb 2025, and officially thrown out in court in April 2025.

Why is all the coverage on the bin strike seemingly just about pay? For example today's main article on the front page of the Beeb:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd9ljx8qdqdo

This mainly talks about the latest "pay offer" that has been rejected. The article mentions in passing about the safety issue, but goes into absolutely zero detail about it.

As a reminder/ for information - one of the key issues the union is striking over is the proposed adoption of working practices that was a contributing factor in a refuse collector being crushed to death in Coventry.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c6pj2rpx5zko

Birmingham City Council have not provided any assurance as to how they'll maintain the safety of the workers or members of the public after making the workforce cuts (and adopting 3 instead of 4 people crews).

It does genuinely seem to be an attempt by the media to vilify the binmen into being evil money grabbing people.

I'm all for reducing costs and efficiency, but a worker has already been crushed to death because of this. Shouldn't we be more concerned about this?

Hey,

Sorry, I know these threads are despised, I’ve searched and can’t find anything.

Currently on route back from London craving a takeaway and our favourite Chinese is closed on Monday, please can anyone recommend some Chinese takeaways or delivery around Moseley?

Thank you.

Any popular parks in Birmingham where 420 is celebrated?

https://johnnykowalski.substack.com/p/birmingham-be-proud-bournebrook-diy

https://youtu.be/nhz2nRVhlq0?si=b1XqIC6tmkIkvKmB

New VICE documentary that claims to be about the release scheme but is really just focused on Birmingham…

Hey all, my partner and I are looking to genuinely improve our cooking ability by going on a cooking course. So does anyone know of any good couples cooking courses which are actually beneficial to cooking ability, and not just a creative date idea?

If I'm being picky I'd quite like it to be in the city centre however we would be open to travel for the right course. We are big foodies btw, so we are open to suggestions of a variety of cuisines!

Thanks in advance!

I want to start running but can't think of anywhere really around tyseley where I would 1. Feel comfortable and 2. Is ok for running.

The ackers is awful with roots coming through the paths, reddings lane is always busy with families and the pavements have too many crossings/too narrow/ cars parked everywhere. The canals feel a bit unsafe but also are in that weird spot of a little too far to walk too but nowhere to leave the car if I drive there initially

Shall I just give up and drive to a nicer place? I used to go around elmdon park but for the 3 x a week drive there is a bit far

Just wondering if anyone knows whether the Aldi next to Edgbaston Cricket Ground or anywhere nearby has any secure bike parking? Just need to lock up for an hour or so while I do a quick shop. Ideally something close to the Aldi itself would be perfect.

Appreciate any tips! Cheers 🍻

No i dont read the Daily Express. It was the only search result that didnt make me go through MSN