The Sons of Rest

rdf:langString The Sons of Rest

rdf:langString The Sons of Rest

rdf:langString Adderley Park

rdf:langString Handsworth Park

rdf:langString Brunswick Park

rdf:langString Buffery Park

rdf:langString Cannon Hill Park

rdf:langString Cotteridge Park

rdf:langString Haden Hill Park

rdf:langString Britannia Park

rdf:langString Brookvale Park

rdf:langString Gheluvelt Park

rdf:langString Kings Heath Park

rdf:langString Selly Park

rdf:langString Small Heath Park

rdf:langString The Sons of Rest

rdf:langString Walsall Arboretum

rdf:langString Ward End Park

rdf:langString Cripplegate Park

rdf:langString Darlaston Sons & Daughters of Rest

rdf:langString Digby Park

rdf:langString no

rdf:langString yes

rdf:langString yes

rdf:langString yes

rdf:langString yes

rdf:langString Sign on The Sons of Rest building in Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham, seen in 2009

rdf:langString Lister Muff

rdf:langString Handsworth Park, Birmingham, England

rdf:langString Gheluvelt Park, Worcester

rdf:langString Old Hill, West Midlands

rdf:langString Adderley Park, Birmingham

rdf:langString Britannia Park, Blackheath

rdf:langString Brookvale Park, Birmingham

rdf:langString Brunswick Park, Wednesbury

rdf:langString Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham

rdf:langString Cotteridge Park, Birmingham

rdf:langString Digby Park, Small Heath, Birmingham

rdf:langString Handsworth Park, Birmingham

rdf:langString Kings Heath Park, Birmingham

rdf:langString Selly Park, Birmingham

rdf:langString Small Heath Park, Birmingham

rdf:langString Walsall Arboretum, Walsall

rdf:langString Ward End Park, Birmingham

rdf:langString Destroyed by arson

rdf:langString Destroyed by fire, 2000

rdf:langString Destroyed by fire, 2013

rdf:langString Replaced by a new building in 2018

rdf:langString The first site; rebuilt 1937; restored and enlarged 2006

rdf:langString Leisure facilities for men of retirement age

rdf:langString The Sons of Rest is a social organisation that has provided leisure facilities for men of retirement age in and around Birmingham and the Black Country in the English West Midlands since 1927, and more recently for women. The movement was established when a group of retired working men, veterans of World War I, met in Handsworth Park, Birmingham, in 1927. One of them, Lister Muff (1852-1938) proposed that they form a club. The name was suggested by W. J Ostler recognising that they had been "sons of toil" during their working years. They originally met in an old cab drivers' shelter in the park in summer and the park's bowling pavilion in winter, but appealed for funding for their own building, where they could meet and play games such as cards, draughts and dominoes. Their appeal succeeded, and the first building was opened in Handsworth Park in 1930. The appeal was supported by the chairman of Birmingham Corporation Parks Committee, Councillor George F. McDonald, who became the first president of "The City of Birmingham Federation of The Sons of Rest", on its inauguration in August 1932. The organisation's anthem, Sons of Rest, was written by one of the early members, Charles Smith, who was aged 81, and blind: United in our Brotherhood, Our aim is for the bestWe've passed our many milestones long, Still happy Sons of Rest.We sit and talk of days gone by, And how we stood the test,Of hopes deferred and joys fulfilled, The stalwart Sons of Rest.Then let us all with one accord Proclaim "how we are blessed,"And let contentment fill our minds, God bless the Sons of Rest. At its peak, the organisation had 3,000 members and 29 buildings, located in parks. A number of the buildings survive and are still in use. The Handsworth building was replaced in 1937. A public campaign prevented its demolition in the 1990s and it was subsequently refurbished. It is now managed by The Friends of Handsworth Park A 2018 mosaic mural by , on an external wall, commemorates the movement. Some branches such as that at Darlaston, rebranded as Sons & Daughters of Rest, and admit women.