69CE. Grammar School Lane, Halesowen, Dudley, West Midlands With thanks to Dwight for informing me of these Survivors. Located near the A458 roundabout are two 25 ft (8 m) Stanton 8 concrete columns with side-entry brackets, and Thorn Alpha 1 90 Watt SOX (low pressure sodium) lanterns fitted. Seeing these rather iconic lanterns still going strong in 2024 is very welcome indeed, especially when the lanterns remain in nightly service. The installations are old, however, and both brackets exhibit signs of spalling at their joints with the columns, so their time will be limited - I suspect that they should have been replaced by now, but the narrowness of the road, coupled with parked cars on one side, has granted them a temporary reprieve.

The first installation to be pictured is the one at the junction of the roundabout.

The bracket is of an unusual design, and isn't the 'F'-type that was used frequently with the Series 8 column range. It resembles the 'B'-type that was common to the earlier Series 6 column, but without the distinctive rear fin section. Possibly, this is a redesigned 'B'-type that was an option with the Series 8 range, but wasn't common.

The Alpha 1's acrylic 'Opticell' front section is in good condition, with only slight dirt accumulation. A Telensa Telecell now controls the lantern's switching, replacing an earlier one-part NEMA photocell.

Looking the other way, the other surviving column is positioned on the opposite side of the road.

This is an 'F'-type bracket, and is in particularly precarious condition.

Apart from some minor cracks and dirt ingress, this Alpha 1 is in good condition too.

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