Danny Ryan and friends in BBC Radio WM studio with Carl Chinn

Harp readers will recall from last months edition that Danny Ryan and his friends, Peter Scanlon, Barry Hamill, Kojie Ogbeide and Paul Yafay (Abdullah’s) were working together to organise a major reunion for people that grew up, lived or worked in the Balsall Heath/ Sparkbrook areas of Birmingham in the late 60’s 70’s and 80’s. This event will be at the Irish Club, Deritend on Friday October 13th 2006.
Having spoken to Danny recently, prior to himself and his friends being invited on to popular Radio WM presenter Carl Chinn’s radio programme, Danny said, ‘Ticket demand for this reunion has become unprecedented. I knew that when I started this campaign that interest would be well received, but since the article last month in the Harp and Carl giving us the opportunity to broadcast the event, the phones have not stopped. People are coming from all over for this, including calls received from Ireland. This certainly has grabbed people’.
The lads helping me have been working hard to ensure that when people have been in contact that those people have received tickets and I would personally like to extend my appreciation to them as one could imagine, this is major undertaking. Given the event is free, there will be no admittance on the evening without a ticket. Danny urged people to get to the Irish Club early if they have a ticket, as the doors will be open at 8.00pm and closed just before 10.00pm.
He also said that for those people who do not possess a ticket; please do not come down, as you will only be turned away. There is an expected audience on the evening of 600 plus people.
Danny said ‘I intend to commence proceedings at around 9.15pm and I am delighted that Carl Chinn MBE is coming along on the evening, to take us all down memory lane. Carl is an ambassador for Birmingham, a truly genuine guy and he also knows Balsall Heath/Sparkbrook very well.
The evening will be nostalgic and I would also like to extend my appreciation to the Balsall Heath Local History Society who will be attending on the evening with some old photographs of yesteryear.
Tickets for this event, albeit the last few remaining can be obtained from Paul Yafay on 449 0269. Or you can log on to the website for further information.
www.balsallheathreunion.com