THE Black Country is noted for its characters, and they don’t come much larger than life than Brian Fanthom from Langley - who pub customers of a few years ago will remember for his amazing tablelifting feats, achieved with the bulldog grip of his teeth.
Brian and Mary's wedding day.
Around the Oldbury and Smethwick area, he would lift those old cast iron pub tables, carrying a variety of added weights, high off the ground, to the astonishment of onlookers who would pack the venues wherever he put in an appearance.
On one occasion, Brian, in the Queen’s Head, Langley (later renamed The Model Inn), gave a lift to a pub table, plus landlady Kath Brundle!
Brian’s granddaughter Rachel Cruickshanks has recently contacted us, to remind us of his amazing feats, and to also tell us that this great local character has just celebrated his golden wedding anniversary with his wife, Mary Anne (nee Roberts). They walked down the aisle on 6th February 1960 at St Michael’s church, Causeway Green Road, Oldbury.
They lived originally in Barrs Street with family before moving into their family home in Greenwood Avenue, where they remain today.
They have five children — Brian, Andrea, Beverley, Roberta and Craig — eight grandchildren Samantha, Rachel, Paul, Melissa, Chad, Nathan, Chelsea and Charlie and five great grandchildren Spencer, Evie, Millie, Alexa and Brooklyn.
Rachel tells us that (on dentist’s advice!) Brian’s table lifting days are well past him, but he and Mary are nevertheless enjoying retired life, although Brian has recently given up his pigeons after being an avid racer.
Rather than picking up pub tables with this teeth Brian now prefers to sit behind them with a pint in hand. They are keen holiday goers and love spending time with their large extended family.