Judy and Bryan Bates

Bryan Bates lived at No.57 Nelson Street until 1958. No.57 was originally a house, then a haberdashery shop run by Margaret Price (his grandmother) until 1925, then her husband Matthew Price (his grandfather) ran it until his death in 1939.

Then Emma Price (now Emma Bates) ran the Mirror Laundry for some time before reverting back to a private house and she ran the Fish and Chip Shop next door at No 55 (not on the photo).

Nos. 53 and 51 houses were next, then the pub on the corner called King Edward.

Hickman's the Greengrocer was on the opposite corner.

Barbara Easy nee Cawley

I have been reading through your site and came across an article by Irene Smith nee Trapp. Irene mentions her aunt and uncle who were Wilfred and Gertrude Watkins. They lived at 9/60 Osler Street, just two doors up from my grand and granddad who were George and Caroline Cuff. Grandma Cuff and Mrs Watkins were great friends, and I recall sitting on Mrs Watkins steps in the summer shelling peas with them both. Both my granddad and Mr Watkins were keen gardeners and used to share produce depending on what ripened first. I lived at 3/50 Osler Street with my mum dad and brother, they were Arthur and Beatrice Cawley and my brother Bernard. Irene mentions her cousin Pat Farren nee Watkins, and asks if anyone remembers her. I remember Mr and Mrs Watkins very well and also Pat. In fact I have a 1942 photo on my wall of Pat when she was bridesmaid to my mum and dad at their wedding. This was 26th December 1942 and took place at St James Church, Edgbaston which was near where dad lived before marrying mum. They didn't marry at St Johns because Gran feared there was more chance of being interrupted by a bombing raid at St Johns!  Old Mr and Mrs Watkins were very kind people and I grew up always knowing I could pop in and say hello whenever I wanted to. Next door to them at Number 10 in our entryend was another branch of the Watkins which included Charlie who (in those days) was called "simple". I have pictures of him and his older brother too which probably go back to the 30's.  Tommy Watkins was another child of Mr and Mrs Watkins and when we were moved from Ladywood to Quinton in 1962, Tommy and his family moved into the same cul-de-sac as us at Corfe Close.

My grandfather was born at 7/50 Osler Street in 1880 and lived his life there until 1964 when the houses were demolished. He married Grandma at Summerfield Church on 10th July 1920. Mum was born in October 1921 and was their only child. At the end of their lives Grandma and Grandad moved to Quinton to be closer to us in their old age. Granddad lived to be over 97 years of age, and as a consequence of this I have many photo's which cover almost one hundred years of Ladywood living, covering 3 generations from granddad, via mum and dad, to my brother and myself.  His picture is shown in an old book of Birmingham I was given years ago, but it is sad because the details are incorrect. It also shows the back yard at granddads house all derelict with no flowers nor chickens nor sheds etc., which means it must have been photographed within the last two weeks of him living there because in fact he was well known as a fabulous gardener who ran a beautiful flower and fruit and veg garden. The shed was taken down by my dad just before Granddad and Grandma moved to Quinton. The site is now the site of the Buddhist Temple and a few years ago, I called by one summers evening only to see that Granddads lupins were now growing wild by the gate. A kind gentleman invited my onto the site and I brought away a couple of lupins, which I took the seeds from, and now they grow here in my own garden.

For a number of years mum worked as one of the school cooks at Osler Street, which is the school that Granddad, Mum and I all attended.  The friendship and close community there was a terrible thing to loose, and I doubt we will ever see the likes of it again.

Julie Walters (the actress) states in her autobiography that her dad lived "In the slums of Ladywood in Icknield Port Road" and this shocked me because I doubt any of us thought of them as slums and we all made sure we were clean tidy and the step was Cardinal Red every weekend. We didn't have much, but we looked out for each other, and in many ways we were richer than we are now. A posh address doesnt get you friendship as we enjoyed there where every adult was an "Auntie or an Uncle" and took care of you whilst you played endlessly in the horseroad. 

Dad suffered with emphaesema for many years and died at the age of 47 in 1965, mum died in 1973 aged 51 of leukaemia. Grandma passed in 1970 aged 88 and Granddad in 1979 aged 97.1/2

I hope this is of interest to you and that perhaps you will pass on the details to Irene Smith nee Trapp for me. My mum always spoke very fondly of the Trapp family, but I didn't know them myself.

Graham Mould

Hi Mac,

Looking over your site again and think I found some connections.

In the Monument Road photographs there is a picture of the United Methodist Church. A youth club operated for many years at that church in the back hall behind the pulpit. The club was accessed by the door on the left side of the building near the TEA sign. I was a member of the club.

In the Osler Street School section is a photograph of Class 2A. Near the center of the middle row is a boy named George Norgrove who was a mate of mine. I see a Keith Norgrove has provided you with info on Osler Street School. I think Keith and George were brothers but cant be sure.

The attached photograph was taken by me when a group from the youth club went to Bromsgrove for a weekend camp. I believe the lad in a white shirt surrounded by a lad with jumper with crosses, a lad behind with glasses and a lad below with a gap in his teeth and with a hand on his shoulder is the same George Norgrove.

As I recall he lived in Leslie Road which was the road to the left from at the Reservoir Cafe near the Tower Ballroom which is shown on the Reservoir Road photographs.

Cant remember his name but the older man mid left-hand side of the photo with white shirt and a smirk on his face was the Club leader.

Michael Birkett

I was born and bought up in Eyre Street, which was the next street up from Steward Street. For the first seventeen years of my life when I went into the Coldstream Guards for six years.

The people that I recall from those days were numerous because there were so many, in our yard alone there were eight families who included the Woods, Murrys, Ecclestones, Torn (Mrs Torn was married to a Polish man and played the piano) Birketts (us) and the Ralphs.

I used to hang around with some lads who lived on the hill, Paul and Brian Dashy, Johny McCree, the Coxes who lived by the canal and many others depending who was flavour of the week at the time, I would like to hear from anybody who remembers me as I am disabled now confined to a wheelchair and have a lot of time on my hands.

I went to Seward Street School and then onto Barford Road and worked at the butchers shop next to the florists for a guy called Ray and then went to work at the Venus Fish and Chip Shop before I left to go into the army in 1963

Barbara Neave

Jo Bowkett wanted to know the words to the song we all sang on Saturday morning at the Edgbaston Cinema.  This is as much as I can remember:

            We are the boys and girls who line up,

            minors of the ABC

            We like to laugh and have our singsong

            Such a happy crowd are we

I can't remember any more of the words but the tune is fixed in my head.

I loved Flash Gordon and the terrible Emperor Ming, and I really liked Tarzan and Hopalong Cassidy. We used to play lots of games based on Roy Rogers and Trigger.

I can remember the fact that we all wanted to be monitors which meant getting there very early so I never made it.  I also remember that people with birthdays would be invited up on the stage by the manager and we would sing the birthday song to them.

My name then was Barbara Bowkett.  I lived in Wyndham Road.  I didn't know there was anybody else with the same name living so close.  Are we related, I wonder?  I went to St George's School.

Lots of my friends went to Osler Street.  Does anybody know Ruth Marshall or Jill Pointen?

Paul Weston

Whilst continuing to unearth the family archive I came across the attached two photo's which may have Ladywood and district connections and therefore might be of interest to your website followers. They might also be able to help with the identification of teams, persons and location.

As you can see the photos show 2 cup celebrations by local works teams in Birmingham.

I am on the photos and present on both occasions. More importantly so is Joe Hyde, my step-grandfather who, I recall hazily, was the team's driver. (In 1950 I'm fairly certain the team went to away matches on the open back of a lorry - whilst I sat in the cab). My cousins John and Michael Weston (both active members of the 8th Boys Brigade) were certainly members of the 1956 cup winning team and can be seen on the later photo.

Now - the teams? I'm far from certain; but I know Joe Hyde worked for Elkington’s and then the Birmingham Mint during this period.

Yvonne Wale

I have been looking through the photos on your fascinating website and it prompted me to look again at some old photos I inherited from my Dad's sister, Doris Luckman nee Hardwick. Many of them are from the Spring Hill area and I remember visiting another of Dad's sisters when I was about 5 or 6 years old I think. Her husband, Arthur Luckman, had a wallpaper shop on Spring Hill possibly at number 171 and, I may be misremembering  this, I seem to remember that there was a door at the end of their backyard that led into the Verraccia ice cream factory! You may be able to put me straight on that one!

I have attached a photo of the wallpaper shop. It shows my Uncle Arthur standing on the doorstep and is quite clearly from 1931.

My dad (Ernest Charles Hardwick b. 1921) was brought up at the Sand Pits (1 back of 133) and at Hill Top Cafe (197 Spring Hill) and I have attached a photo of the cafe with my Auntie Nell on the doorstep.

Dad went to Steward Street School. Among the photos is one of the 1935 gymnastics display. I have assumed that he must have been in it which is why the photo was in the family album - do you think that is likely to be correct? He would have been about 14 at the time and probably not very tall! I like to think that he is there and possibly almost at the back of the left hand row but it might just be wishful thinking on my part!

Memories of Alan Jones

Photograph of the rear entrance to block 50 Ladywood Road.

The children in this photo starting top left - Carole Jones my sister; next to Carole, Linda Bousfield.

Middle row - Brian and Susan Cahill.

Front row from left to right - Maureen Whetton; Two girls in middle unknown; Boy on right John Bousfield.

The photograph below is the same address, 50 Ladywood Road, but taken in 2010

Hi Mac,

I have just found a picture on memories of our street, sent in by Allan Jones of some children sat on a step. He says  who the children are, but two girls in the middle are unknown! Guess what, the one the left is  me! Carol  Wright  from the Eagle & Ball pub over the road. I had ginger hair and was about 5yrs old, I remember all in the picture, but cannot remember the name  of the little girl on my right.  We always played together, but what I remember most is that she always wore trousers, which little girls never did in those days! My brother Stephen Wright, used to play with Allan Jones, Susan, Maureen and John were my best friends.The unnamed girl Iwould love to know her name or hear from anyone in the picture, can they remember me ?

Gordon Dodd

A friend of mine is doing a family tree for me.  She came across this site as part of her search.

My nan (nanny Robinson) and her husband ran the Vesper Bell until she retired and it closed.

I remember going to the pub on many occasions with my parents.  My mother was raised by nanny Robinson and lived at the pub.

We were scurred through the bar and upstairs where nan would sit and tell us stories. We were regularly told of the haunting in the private quarters, strange whispering noises.

Ray Drew

I was born in Summerhill Street, where I lived until I was married in 1957 and I have some wonderful memories of Ladywood. Growing up through War years and in the early 50’s my Dad played darts for the Robin Hood on the corner of Summerhill and Garbett Street. They had a cracking darts team. My two best mates were Jackie Jackson and Joe O’Malley who lived in King Edward’s Road.

I went to Nelson Street School and when I was eleven moved to Barford Road School. We played football or tipcat in the street until just before dark and then bombings started and we spent the night in the shelter, then there was no street lights then everywhere was blacked out when they were going to switch them on the again the town was the first place and me, mom and dad took me round town for the big switch on. There was thousands there all walking round happy and smiling.

John Taylor

I lived with my parents Doris and Ray Taylor at 1/10 Steward Street which was next door to the school. The house was rented from the adjacent factory of Cramwell and Cheshires. The house was gas lit (my first job when returning from school was to light the mantels and light the fire).

My brother Robert and I attended Steward Street School from around 1949/50 starting in the Infants. The name of my first teacher was Miss Kettle. The other two teachers that I remember were Mr Share and Mr Shepherd, as they used to pop round to our house and watch the cricket in the lunch break (we were one of the first to have a telly in the street). We eventually moved out of the street, via a rather spurious 3 way exchange of houses. Watty Green was a local bookmaker who lived next door to the Cross Keys public house and the council wanted to move him out so he had our house (as he didn't want to lose his customers) and we moved into a new council house in Northfield.

My mother’s twin sister Maisie and her husband Syd Rudge lived next door to us (the front back to back house). Together with their daughter Jacqueline. Directly over the road from us lived Mr. and Mrs. Humphries with their children Raymond, Billy, Roger and little sister Barbara. There was a local blacksmith who regularly won "lorry driver of the year" awards. He also did stock car racing (which he kept "garaged" in our yard). This was a real old Armstrong Siddely, with all the glass removed and big steel braces fitted. It was an ideal plaything for my brother and I.

At the Spring Hill end of the street Billy Landon had his builder’s yard. Opposite him was Mr Gibbons the Grocer, I was a friend of his son Johnny Gibbons. Round the corner from this shop was the "pie lady" who sold meat pies from her window ledge and next door to her was the greengrocer Len Shaw and the butcher Chris Featherstone (my dad used to help him every Christmas to prepare the turkeys ready for the customers. This entailed working late in the evening (most people didn't have fridges).

The picture of the street party which it is suggested may be of the coronation could also have been the "Festival of Britain" party.

Things I remember about the school: Playing marlies (local slang for marbles), skimming fag packets, rolling metal hoops, hop-scotch and all the usual fun and games.

This was a very poor area and I can remember children being called out in morning assembly and being sent home for "inappropriate clothing" this, in fact was turning up to school barefooted, as the parents didn't have enough money to buy shoes. The children usually re-appeared a while later wearing cut down wellington boots (presumably a cheaper option).

One day we were all sent home, as a sign of respect, when the king died.

School trips were things such as a day out at Manor Farm, Selly Oak and the occasional "exotic" trip to New Brighton for a day at the seaside.

That's about as much as I can recall at the moment.

Hope this helps, 

Carol Parker

Hi, just discovered this website, wondered if anybody remembers the Eagle & Ball  pub, I think was on the corner of Morville Street/Monument Road? I lived there with my parents, who ran the pub in the late 50s, early 60s.

Mom and dad’s names were Cyril & Brenda Wright, my brother is Stephen, I am Carol Wright. 

The pub stood on its own for many years, as everything around had been demolished, finally so was the Eagle & Ball, to make way for the new road. The pub was replaced with the Squirrel, named after my dad’s nickname Cyril the squirrel!

I went to St Georges School and can remember children in the flats opposite, the Bousfields, John and Allen; Maureen, Brian Whetton, who were older than me.

Does anybody have any memories of us? Dad died about ten years ago aged 80, mom is still alive aged 84 would love to hear from anyone who knew us; i now live in Bromsgrove where we moved to from the pub.

Raymond Flavell

As an ex-Brummie, now living in Bewdley I have many memories of Ladywood. I lived in Spring Hill Passage.

Someone was asking about Cook’s Pie Shop, Spring  Hill, I have fond memories of Mr. and Mrs. Cook, as a lad I used to run errands for them and as a treat they would give me one of their famous meat pies (lovely jubbly) and as I got older too old to run errands I still called into to see Mr. and Mrs. Cook, then it was time for me to do my national service I still called in when I was on leave.

Then when I got married she made our lovely wedding cake and gave it to us as our wedding gift. Mrs. Cook was a lovely, lovely woman.

I also remember Arnald’s Faggot and Pea Shop, faggot, pea’s a slice of bread, a spot of vinegar, lovely jubbly. I also remember Ray Arnald, the son of the owners played marbles with him many a time

There was also a shop on Spring Hill called Neal’s grocery shop on the corner of Steward Street and Spring Hill.

The black doctor, Dr. Lewis, I also remember him he had a surgery at the top of Ingleby Street at the bottom of the entry where my Aunt Girty lived.

The Church tower was referred to as St. George’s, I think it was St. Peter’s, the church where I married in George Street West.

Marie Phillips (Soraya Wali)

I was looking on this page to find the Crown Inn of Cope Street, corner of Springfield Street and The Freeth Arms in Icknield Port Road. This was run by Beat and Len Phillips. We lived opposite in Springfield Street and I used to run errands for them.

I remember Clements shop in Springfield Street.  She used to give me a Three penny bit if I just went to one shop, usually Tuckers the butchers on Monument Road. If I went to more than one shop then I used to get sixpence, however, she used to put the money in a dimple bottle and give it to mom to get our Christmas presents with. I am sure she only sent me because she felt sorry for us and it was a way of giving us money, but without mom losing her pride. That definitely taught me the value of money. She used to take a few kids every year to Rhyl, because she had two 6 berth caravans in Towyn. We all used to pile in to her Morris estate. The kids that were taken were Janet and Tony Gardiner  who lived in Cope Street, Charlie Sharp whose mom ran the shop in Cope Street, next to the Crown and a couple of others. I have photographs of those kids so I will get them on here when I find out how. That was around 1964/5.

Beat and Len then moved to the Freeth Arms in Icknield Port Road and I went to Follett Osler. They ran that for a while and then retired from pub life and moved to a house in Weoley Castle so I ended my school days at Ilmington Girls School where I left in 1968 at 15.

My name back then was Soraya Wali, which I changed to Marie Phillips in 1972 as I ended up living with Beat and Len and had my name changed by deed poll. My three brothers were Geoffrey Wali, David Wali and John Wali.  Geoffrey was picked by the school, think it was Stewart Street to be in the school play which was televised at Christmas. I have a cutting somewhere, I will have a look for it.

Anne Bowen nee Waterhouse

I was born in 1946 at 50 Browning Street, it had been a grocers shop owned and run by my grannie Frances Waterhouse (nee Copson), but was now just a house.

My siblings Gladys, Frances, Mary, Beattie, Alfie and Jean were all born at the original family home at 1 Back of 52, which everyone called The Cottage. My arrival on the scene meant there was insufficient space, so mum and dad exchanged homes with grannie. We all went to live at No 50 and grannie (now a widower) went to live in The Cottage with her married daughter, also called Frances (Frances Leather, nee Waterhouse), her son in law called Frank and their two children called Frank and Brendan.

My grandfather Alf had started a coal dealership at No 50 around 1930 and after his death in 1941 this passed to my father Fred. In the early nineteen fifties when I was about 5, a large family called Forrest lived next door at No 52, a closed pub previously called the Sportsman Inn.

I remember Frenchies across the road because we used to use the flagstones on their pavement for hopscotch, also Perry's, a sweetshop. I went to school at St John's Infant and Junior schools. I used to have two particular school friends called Ann Stowe and Valerie Ling.

Nearby, in St Vincent Street there was a haberdashers called Ralphs and Hardies a grocer shop. When the redevelopment of Ladywood started we were in one of the last houses to be demolished. In the mid nineteen fifties we were moved not far away to Johnstone Street so that my dad could remain near the wharf and continue with his coal business. He followed up his old Ladywood customers who had been rehoused elsewhere and continued to deliver coal to them in all parts of Birmingham. Sadly my father died in 1957 and the business closed.

As a teenager I went to Osler Street Girls Secondary Modern. We were again amongst the last houses to be demolished in Johnstone Street and we were rehoused in Acocks Green around 1960. After the move I kept in contact with Ledsam Street friends Sheila Barnett (sadly now deceased) and Veronica Hall. I guess there are Ladywood people all over the Midlands and probably even further afield. I now live in West Wales.

Bernadette Hart

Jeff Lawlor

I know you hear it a lot but your site is just the best for us Brummies and a few other people from, I’m certain around the World.

Anyway, on looking at a couple of photos sent in by Michael Morris with his two younger brothers having their photos taken, I think it is Nelson Street School and the reason is, because Michael’s older brother was named Johnny and he was my best friend and he went to the same school as me, which was Nelson Street.

We all lived in Clement Street and Nelson Street was the next Street away from us. I actually lived at 4 back of 17 Clement Street which was the entry to the side of the Ivy Green pub (which in your photo of Clement Street is shown as a cafe!!!. The Ivy Green pub ran from Edward street and into Clement Street ( you could actually walk into the bar in Clement Street and walk through to the bar in Edward Street!!! but only if you were a customer!!!

I often wonder what happened to my friend Johnny,  I remember when they moved into our street, I think they moved there from Wales  (1954ish),  certainly the Mom and Dad were Welsh, how ironic that I now live in Wales!!!! 

Jeff Lawlor  (Clement Street)

Joe Brown

I was just looking in Flickr at B17 Harborne  Group  and saw a picture of the canal  looking towards the Rail crossing . It is all green there now. You will see the comment I left for that picture I am now 85 this year and recall kids swimming in there and the water was putrid . .

Incidentally later when I was a Telegram boy working from Broad Street P.O  I would sit on my bike and watch the LMS  trains running along the far side of the canal  out towards the Country, great memories.

Gordon Wilkinson

Hi, my name is Gordon Wilkinson.

I am the younger son of Dot and Len Wilkinson. It's been a while since I last looked at the wonderful site Old Ladywood, and was pleased to see an article from Norman Shaw.  I remember Norman, Barry and Pam, as will my brothers Derek and Ken.  We lived at 11 Parker Street, next to the Carbon Dioxide Company.

I always remember the fun we used to have in the street.  Cricket against the wall, football and hide and seek. The Church of Redeemer was still standing in the 50's and we were always made to attend Sunday School. The Botanical Gardens were always fun to go to, although one occasion sticks in my mind, and that was the Coronation Day party in 1953.  It was held in the factory, dad had all the wagons removed and there was plenty of food and pop for all.

I wonder if Norman and Pam remember the procession down Parker Street with all the children and plenty of the adults in fancy dress. It was a wonderful day.

Susan Jeavons

I have just found your site and found a picture put on by Brenda Fazackerly of Monument Road up to the Nag’s Head- just exactly how I remember it. I lived at 25 Hyde Road from 1954-1963 when we were rehoused to Northfield. Someone else mentions music lessons from Mr Leonard Timmins at Hyde Road, I think he had our house before he moved to Ironbridge and he was a great friend of the family.

I have been doing some research into family history. My dad, Austin Jeavons and his sister Olive and brother Harry grew up at the back of 25 Hyde Road. His parents Henry and Clarie had previously lived at 20 Alston Street. Henry had been brought up by his granddad on Sherborne Street, does anyone know where I can get an old map of Ladywood?

I went to Follet Osler 1959-63 and remember the headmistress Miss Ray and a lovely Polish teacher Mrs Varineska, she was a survivor of the concentration camps and had a number tattooed on her arm.

Our doctor was Dr Gattas  - a double - fronted house just further down Monument Road from Icknield Port Road and we went to him for many years after we moved and then to his house on Bristol Road South. No appointments in those days- you waited your turn by remembering who had come in- it seemed like forever. No ambulances available either- I had acute appendicitis aged 6 and Dr Gattas sent me into the Children’s hospital by bus!

Another early memory is going to the public baths –was that on Icknield Port Road? I remember being fascinated by the missing enamel on the bottom of the baths.

Hyde Road of course no longer exists and the only landmark I recognise is St. John’s Church. I’d love to see some old photos of the Oratory School and Hyde Road

Alan Vaughan

Please find attached an old photo of Nelson Street School circa 1959/60 - I am front row second from left.

My Mother (Betty Vaughan) and Father (Wally Vaughan) used to be Licensee's of The Nelson, just up the road from the School. We left Ladywood and moved down to Brighton around 1964.

I am just starting to research family history back in Birmingham and have found your site absolutely amazing.

Many thanks

Alan Vaughan

Don Sharp

Whilst going through some old printouts I found one of yours with the Ladywood Boys Club Football Team Mid 50s.There is one name missing from this team and I am sure that it is my late brother David (Dave ) SHARP, who used to live in Sherborne Street, before the heart was ripped out of it during re-development.

He worked at the club with Edgar WATKINS the leader of the Boys Club before he was called up for National Service in the R.A.F.

I later became an assistant leader to Edgar and I can remember that I was standing on the front step of the old dispensary when I heard that President Kennedy had been shot in Dallas. The club later moved to a new home in the Ladywood Community Centre. We then became the Ladywood Youth Club, we were twinned with a Youth Club in Frankfurt, Germany. The youth from Frankfurt would visit Ladywood for two weeks and were housed in the club, with our leaders and helpers were drafted in to prepare and serve meals. We would the take our youth to Frankfurt for two weeks, we were housed in the private wing of a youth hostel in Sachsenhausen district of Frankfurt.

Regards from Australia

Don Sharp

See the SPORT page

Freddie Wood

I was born in 1944 at 2/213 Holliday Street, which is on the other side of Broad Street, our side of the road was Ladywood and the other side Edgbaston. There’s not many people write in about this part of Ladywood, but I remember David Tysall and his family and friends that he mentions and I also went to St Thomas’s School.

There were only about 30 houses in our street it was mainly factories and a “bombed peck” ( there were still underground air raid shelters well into the 50’s). It was also used as our cricket pitch, albeit a bit bumpy. It was a fabulous place to play cowboys and Indians or pretend to win WW2.

The old peck was bordered by the main railway line into New Street station and we could climb the wall and a bit of train spotting.

At the junction of Holliday Street and William Street it was quite wide and on one side of the road was a telegraph pole and 10 foot away was a lamp post, ready-made goalposts for our game of shots in. We always had someone dogging for the local bobby (he was very quick to take your name and address if he caught you playing football in the street).

There was a place in William Street called the Perfecta, it was some sort of recycling company we could take a pile old newspapers or a sack of old clothes and get a tanner or a shilling for them.

At the bottom of Holliday Street was a long bridge that went under the Gas Street canal, it was called “under the gullet” by the local people. Next to that was a council depot and we used to go in there to watch the horses unhitched from their carts after going round collecting rubbish, the road sweepers all had horse and carts in those days, the men then used to walk the horses through a disinfectant dip which came up above the horses legs and then take them to the stables for the night.

Roy Rogers came to Birmingham in the fifties and his horse Trigger was stabled at Holliday Street depot stables and there was a plaque over the stall that Trigger used.  That council depot was used as an antique market in the eighties and nineties and it was just as I remembered all those years ago and Triggers plaque was still there.

I left Ladywood in the late fifties when they pulled the old house down (before it fell down) and we moved to Kings Norton which we thought was very posh, but I’ll never forget my childhood in Ladywood.

Photographs of the late Tom Fry

Just a brief note to announce the sad death of Thomas Walter Fry (Tom), who I think lived in Icknield Port Port, Ladywood. Tom was born in May 1926 and died on the 6th December at Birmingham City Hospital. He was 84.

He was a Brummie through and through and especially devoted to his beloved Ladywood. His father was also called Thomas died around 1967 when he lived in Northbrook Street; and his mum Lillian (Lil) died in 1960. He was devoted to his mother, but frequently remarked that she was a Kirby, distantly related to a well-known Aston/Ladywood family? He told dozens of stories about the Kirby's!

Tom was a Blues fan (in opposition to his strict father who was a Villa fan!) and latterly a member at Warwickshire, where he spent some of his happiest times of the last few years. He was a very private man, who nonetheless had a lot of friends. I understand that many of his close friends from his days as a young man in the fifties have also now passed away, but I believe a number of your readers will have memories of Tom.

To his great regret, Tom never married, though he came close to marrying the love of his life, Bridie, in the 'fifties. Despite not marrying, he carried out a fantastic act of kindness by adopting me as his son, when my mother died in 1972. This is something I will be eternally grateful for. 

I would like to thank Alan Brunt for sending me these photographs and the information about Tom.

If anyone remembers Tom, or can identify the photographs, please contact me

Response -

The group photos of the men are from a Sunday coach trip from the Belle Vue pub Icknield Port Road.

I know most of the face's but can’t name all of them.

Names include Wally Liggins, Fred Kilby, Fred Logan, Bill Pickering, Teddy Macgregor, Ted Hughes, Howard ?, 

By the way I think they were taken on the same day, note the clothes.

Albert Moulsdale

When we were kids, in the fifties, me and my mates, unwittingly "invented" the skateboard.  It started with one kid putting a hard book onto one odd roller skate.  Remember skates used to be strapped onto your shoes in them days.  He sat on it and skooted down the street.  We used to have races that way.

After a bit, one bright spark decided to separate the two parts of a skate and nailed them onto a longer piece of wood. This progressed from sitting to stooping, but I can't remember if anyone actually mastered standing upright!

If only someone had had the foresight to see what potential there was in that simple, improvisation.

Bill Burton

Re Stan’s memories - Memories - it's me on my moke at the rear of 166 Icknield Port Road - made from an old pram and a length of plywood shelving rescued from some re-fit at Pimms.

I remember the moke went on to be improved with the fitting of a seat - made from a wooden whisky crate with one side knocked out. I also remember once hurtling down the Icknield Port Road pavement, with a mate sitting on the back end, and turning sharp left into Marroway Street - the two back tyres rolled off their rims and we skidded on the rims and rolled over in a heap into the gutter - seat belts and air-bags all failed.

Stan Humphreys

I look up “oldladywood” on a regular basis and have sent in a few photos. What makes me sad though are the photos I would like to be able to send you.

The shopper’s at Hickman’s on Saturday morning with their brown paper shopping bags full of produce. The long queue at the chip shop on Friday evening, just up the road from Hickman’s, trailing outside the door with chips wrapped in newspaper.

Signs painted on the bridge in Vincent Street, just by the bombed out flour mill.

Myself on one of the many mokes I made flying down the hill towards Hickman’s with no brakes. One of our rafts we used to make to play on the canal, or one of the bonfires we used to have every year.

The fountain in town full of bubbles after my sister poured a box of washing powder in. The one and only car in our Nelson Street mid-1950.

One thing I can do though Mac, if i can find an old pram is to make a moke, just to photograph in case this technology is lost forever; but even then the wheels are just not the same these days. It just would not look right without wire spoked wheels, small at the front and bigger at the rear.

Derek Faulkner

The photo of the Reservoir Inn, known, as I remember, as "the Tavern" brings back memories of being sent to “the outdoor" towards the end of the war by my grandmother for a jug of ale. No one seemed to bother that a 6 year old was the customer as long as I handed over the coppers. I then had to go back round the corner into Osler St and make sure not a drop was spilt.

The smell of the beer seemed stronger then but was soon overpowered by the smell of the shared washroom and toilets as I went down the entry.

Jean Hopkins

Hi, I was recently looking for images of Follett Osler School and discovered your site.

My brother (Ian) was mentioned by Ken Richards, Ian sadly died some 5 years ago, having joined the air force in around 1970. Ian was the eldest, myself (Ivor) the second, Terry was the 3rd then there was Alison, Peter, Julie and Paul.

I left Osler Street School in 1966 and remember Mr Upton. The friends I had then were Colin Curtiss and Geoff ??, who, like me used to stand and watch the other kids playing, my family had moved from Copthall Road, Handsworth to Monument Road opposite the church near the Nags Head pub, corner of Icknield Port Road and Monument Road, up an alley that had a hair dressers one side and a pet shop the other.

Ian heard one of his friends (Fazely) was moving away from Ladywood and mum had managed to get there house. We had for a short period, lived at the back of the mace shop (I did deliveries on the bicycle after school for them) and a toy shop. My father was a radio and television engineer (Radio Rentals) and did his house calls in a Commer van for some time.

My bedroom overlooked the church, which I have highlighted..

Cox's Bakery

Reference Cox's bakery shop I remember it well my brother Trevor and I on  a Saturday after doing our chores were allowed to get a jam and cream doughnut between us, such luxury

Shirley

Yes, it was on the corner of Coplow Street (the bakery) and Icknield Port Road (the shop entrance). They baked on the premises and also (from memory) had another shop on Dudley Road.

The Icknield Port Road shop had a photograph on the wall of the actor who portrayed Walter Gabriel in The Archers (he lived nearby).

That’s all I can remember.

Len Smith

Yes, I remember the bakery very well, I lived just down the road from it in the Port. The bake house was on the corner, the shop was next to it in the Port.

We could smell the bread baking in the morning, I can smell it still if I think about it. Miss Roberts was the manageress and another lady worked in the shop can't think of her name. They had other shops; one was on Dudley Road and also in Winson Green Road, for a time the manageress was a girl named Jean Harman,

By the way they sold Great Bread Pudding!    

Stephen Owen

I lived above the shop, which my parents ran on the corner of Morville Street and Ruston Street during the period 1953 to 1965.

I recall that our neighbours were Mr. and Mrs. Cotterill and I recall they had a child called Sharon living with them.

I was only 10 years old at the time and still remember holding a conversation with Mrs. Cotterill when she and I were sitting on the outside toilet separated by a single wall.

I also remember hearing Mrs. Cotterill instructing Sharon not to put too much slack on the fire before Mr. Cotterill came back from work.

Stephen 

Memories of Allan Clarke

Hi, been looking at your site. What wonderful memories it evokes. I lived in the "port" up the Monument Road end, 345 was the house number, it was the last one on the left before the "bank house".

I lived there from 1945 (born in Dudley Road Hospital) till around 1963, when we moved to Browning Street due to redevelopment. I lived with my mom Win & dad Joe, my two sisters Margaret and Barbara. The house was a two up two down with a kitchen at the back, which resembled more a lean to. We had one 13amp socket in the whole house. So when mom wanted to do the ironing we couldn’t watch the TV.

All I remember we had some happy times in that house, but come winter, except in the back room where we had a coal fire halfway up the chimney, it was like living in a freezer. Frost would appear on my pillow overnight where I had been breathing on it. The bed had so many blankets on it once mom had tucked you in there you stayed till morning!! You couldn’t  move - Ha Ha.

No photo"s are available due to them being lost through no fault of mine, so looking on your wonderful web site brings back lovely memories, and for that I thank you most sincerely.

If anyone does remember my family it would be lovely to hear from you.

Allan Clarke   

Memories of Valerie Mears

I'm trying to locate a friend, Patricia Gee.

My name was Valerie Mears and we lived at 13/321 Icknield Port Road, Ladywood.

These photo's were taken on holiday with my parents and sister Rita, also my brother Ken at Margate in the 1950?

Memories of Irene Smith, nee Trapp

My name is Irene Smith and I was Irene Trapp. Born in 1938, I first lived ay 3 Portland Terrace, Friston Street and when I was 6 in 1944, we moved to Rann Street number 132. We gave up our house and my grandma Bright's in St Vincent Street; she lived up the first entry past the doctors, Louis Glass and Sam Glass for the large house in Rann Street.

I always attended Osler Street School infants, juniors and seniors. I remember some teachers there. Infants was Miss Shakeshaft and Miss Ray was the head mistress, and in the seniors were Miss Butler who taught Art, Mrs Trigg, Maths and Miss James was the fourth form Senior Girls and Miss McCloughlin was the head. She moved on to Illmington Road Girls School at Weoley Castle and Miss James took over as Headmistress.

I was very good at Sport and went on to run for Birchfield Harriers, but mother put a stop to all that I'm afraid, but I was Sports Champion of the School for the whole four years in Seniors and when I left they gave me the medal to keep. I went to Brownies and then to Girl Guides and does anyone where some of them went to - Jean Hyde with red hair, Joyce Davis quite a big tall girl, Vera Hawkins and I had a friend in juniors, Pauline Pickering and I think she lived in Osler Street. Valerie Allbutt is another one, and she had a brother named Roger and they used to live at the first big house next to Hyde Road on Monument Road, but they went to live at Quinton at the back of the Holly Bush Pub somewhere. I also recall Gifford’s the Off Licence at the top of Friston Street and used to go there for gran for a jug of ale and to the cooked meat shop just around the corner and get some chitterlings and tripe.

Friston Street

I used to also go a youth club and I think it was at the bottom of Grosvenor Street and I remember going camping with that club to the Lake District. I walked into a wasps nest and got stung all over and had to spend 3 days in a sick bay. I have been scared of wasps ever since. I recall Vic Ellis from that Street and also a girl named Maureen who lived down the first entry at the top and I think there was a newsagents there. Also an Annette Bielby who lived in the house on Ladywood Road, opposite Beaufort Road and next to the place that Furber’s the Undertakers had before they moved to the end of Ladywood Road and Alston Street. Annette was a good friend.

If anyone remembers me I would love to hear from anyone. I have been married now for 51 years and have 4 daughters and have 5 grandsons and 2 granddaughters. We now live in South West France. My cousin Albert Trapp still lives in Birmingham. I also have another cousin there who is in Northfield, Pat Farren, who was Pat Watkins and she lived in Osler Street with her mum and dad Wilfred and Gertrude Watkins. My Uncle Wilf and Aunty Gert were lovely to me and I will never forget them.

Don't forget if there is anyone out there who DOES remember me at all.

Best wished to everyone out there and we shall always remember Ladywood with great affection.

Irene Smith   Nee Trapp

Memories of Alan Jones

This photo is taken at the bottom of St Vincent Street, this building used to be the community centre, from memory every Tuesday and Thursday night it also doubled up as a boys club where you could play darts, snooker, table tennis etc.

This photograph is of a grocery store in Vincent Street July 2010, this shop was for many years Grants newsagent, Grants were originally located on the old Ladywood Road opposite the park.  Mr & Mrs Grant were a great couple, I had a paper round for about 2 years when they were located in Vincent Street.

This photo is of Franke Hairdressers in Vincent Street as they are today July 2010.  In one of the photographs for Ladywood Road and the corner of Broad Street, next to the pub you can see a barbers pole, this is where Frankee was located prior to the redevelopment.

Memories of Alan Jones

Photograph of the rear entrance to block 50 Ladywood Road.

The children in this photo starting top left - Carole Jones my sister; next to Carole, Linda Bousfield.

Middle row - Brian and Susan Cahill.

Front row from left to right - Maureen Whetton; Two girls in middle unknown; Boy on right John Bousfield.

The photograph below is the same address, 50 Ladywood Road, but taken in 2010

Memories of Alan Jones

Here is a photograph of Dad, either known as William or Bill Jones, now deceased 20-11-09.

All I know about this picture is Dad was fixing a lightning conductor to the top of a flag pole at a factory in the jewellery quarter area.  Very doubtful if anyone can recognise the street from this.

Second photograph - Dad working on a coal gas plant somewhere in the Saltley area of Birmingham.  First man on right of picture is Bill.

The company Dad worked for was Elvin's, based in the Hockley area, if I remember correctly this company was run by a Miss Shaw?

Memories of Val Hanson

I was amazed when I stumbled across the pictures of Parade Service Garage taken during the 50's.  These pictures were taken before and after the demolition of Devoties (spelling ?) Sweet Shop, which had been on the corner - this allowed the garage to double in size. 

I know because the proprietor of the garage at the time was Larry (known as Harry) Weston, he is  the tall gent stood against the wall in the second picture, and was my father.  I worked for my father when I left school in 1953 and learned to drive in the garage van - how times have changed.   I often wonder what has happened to all the folk from those days.

Regards

Memories of Norman Shaw

My name is Norman Shaw I was born in November 1939 and lived at 22 Parker Street with my family. I had an older brother called Barry he was born in 1937, unfortunately he died a few years ago.  I also have a sister called Pam, who was born in 1950. It was Pam who told me about your site.

My Nan, Alice Hadley, lived at number 20 Parker Street.  She was a bookies runner and she also used to "lay dead people out" - I'm not sure how you would describe that today. When I was approximately 18 years old we moved to 12 Bellis Street.   

I have spent many happy sessions trawling through all the different peoples entries on your site. I saw several photographs of my young self on your site at St George's School and Osler Street School.

I remember the Wilkinson family well, I was really proud to know Len he was a REAL gentleman in every sense of the word. I remember most of the families in Wellington Terrace and I wonder how many of them are still alive. 

Regards

Memories of Alan Beet

I have no idea when the 'Charra' outing was or who was on it, but the speed was only 12 mph!!!

Memories of Barbara Johnson

Memories of Fred Cooper

I looked at your old Ladywood pages, just great. My name is Fred Cooper and I lived in St. Mark’s Street with Mr. & Mrs. Gillespie, daughter Frances, 2 sons David, sorry I forget the other boy in the 1950s.

Then met a girl, one of the Price girls and got married to her.

Ladywood, what a place, just wonderful, from ice skating, snooker on Sunday, a game of darts at the Turf Inn on Sunday, listen to Billy Cotton at Sunday dinner time, quite hard times then.

I was in the army at Catterick camp, then away to Germany.

When I read the dreams of all those people looking in their mirrors, such wonderful people. I cannot remember many though, I wish I did. All the old Ladywood alas has gone. Many people reading your pages must sit and day dream of many wonderful times then and many good ones.

Anyone wishing to contact me I will answer.

Memories of Kelvin

Our yard/garden (luxury) at 58 Ingleby Street showing the chimney tops of Spring Hill shops 1956ish.

That's me on the floor (Kelvin) and big brother Chris on the horse with the Lance, typical. Between the bottom of the garden (note the corrugated iron patch) and the shops was the sausage factory and to the left of the yard was a nut and bolt factory.

The yard/garden was later made famous by an escape from The Green running down the entry through the yard and over or through the corrugated at the bottom, closely followed by the Old Bill. I can’t remember who he was but I think he was quite infamous.

Memories of Robert George

I have just been "trawling" through the site, and under St. Vincent Street I noticed a photo titled " the school", I remember when the school first opened maybe 1959/60, thereabouts.

My family moved to Ladywood when the new flats and maisonettes were built. We lived in Ladycroft, No.2. I still remember Mr's Ralphs little paper shop in the street, which ran over the canal.

 
I still have very fond memories of playing in the streets around Ladywood, going to the Park and the Reservoir. Walking into town to visit the museum was always a thing to do when on holidays. I never tired of going there or spending time at Cannon Hill Park catching tiddlers from the lake.

 
I wonder if anyone else who regularly visits your site, went to the "new school" also I was there until 1962, when my parents emigrated to Australia.

Some of the people I remember from the school, John Stokes (best friend, wonder what happened to him); Richard Ball (neighbour);  Lynn Phipps (first girlfriend) and a teacher, by the name of Mr Wall, my last teacher before leaving Brum. There was also another Robert George (no relation) who lived nearby.

Memories of Derek Cull

What a fantastic site, full of memories for me.

My names Derek Cull, and I lived with my parents and sister at 2/97 St. Mark’s Street, I think it used to be known as 'The Big End'.

One of my oldest friends is Dave Marsh, who used to live in 'The Little End'.

I went to Steward Street Infants and Junior School and Barford Road Senior School, in fact it was at Steward Street where I met my oldest friend Barry Reeves, whom I have kept in touch with since 1956.

I have fond memories of friends from St. Marks Street, Steward Street, Barford Road and Springhill Baptist Church, where I was in The 92nd Company of the Boys Brigade.

If anyone reading this remembers me or my sister Irene, I would like to hear from you

Memories of Shirley Ray, nee Allington

What memories looking at Coplow Street again. I lived at 3-73 Coplow Street and Tustin’s shop was at the bottom of our row of houses. I attended Barford Road Infants and Junior Schools and then went on to City Road Senior School, where the headmistress was miss Aston.

My name then was, Shirley Allington, our next door neighbours were a family named Kirton.

At the bottom of the road was the canal and round the corner was the shop were I used to get faggots and mushy peas for my dads tea.

Thank you I will be able to show my granddaughters and my daughter were I lived and went to school. My name now is Shirley Ray and I am 72 years of age.

Best wishes

Memories of Tom Magee

I have just been sent the great website by my baby sister Carole and was scrolling down as you do and found the above young lady and this brought to mind my school days with her elder brother John at St Peters.

I can well remember coming out of school onto St. Mark's Street and climbing over the canal wall and dropping down on to small wall that led down to the tow path, this was very scary at the time but one of those things that young boys do !!!

John and I would the walk along the tow path until we could get out on to the street by the Foxall Café, where Mrs. Foxall would give us a bottle of fizzy pop, a great treat in those days. I can also remember the fret saw machine that was in one of the upper rooms of the Albion Pub that also held the pubs stock of crisps and cigarettes. I would then walk home to our house at 16 Ryland Place, off Broad Street. It was between Ryland Street and Ruston Street.

Foxall's Cafe

It was from there that I moved school to Cardinal Newman in Poplar Avenue, off Sandon Road. Whilst at the school we moved house to 29 Reservoir Road, just off Monument Road. After leaving school I had a job at Thomas Plants on Bath Row, then moved to Dockers Paints in Rotten Park Street (my father worked at the Salvage Dept at the Council Depot in Rotten Park Street and used to play me up if he saw me on my way home wearing my suit and tie, I think he was proud of me really). It was from there that I joined the Royal Air Force spending most of the time away in foreign parts, I really enjoyed it.

As luck would have it I met the girl I was to spend the rest of my life with, Susan Jennifer Baggus from Bearwood, maybe it was the uniform. When I came out of the RAF I managed to get a job at M&B at the Cape Hill Brewery, I stayed there for 16 years before moving to my present job with Wolverhampton Council.

We have two sons Tom and Paul, Tom works in the USA and Paul is Head of Design at Coventry University and is expecting his first child in a couple weeks, our grandchild is Joshua who is ten and nearly a black belt in karate. We are very proud of them.

If there is any one out that remembers me please contact me through Mac.

Best wishes to you Mac, you have a great site.

Tom Magee

Memories of Paul Bates

My name is Paul Bates and I used to live at 1/67 Clark Street, Ladywood from 1958- 1967.

I was reading the memories and came across Judith McKenzie (Pearson). I remember her sister Susan very well and I think she would remember me or if any one else can remember us - the Bates Family.

There was Mom Olive & Dad Cyril; the twins Olive & Rita, then John, me Paul, Colin and Peter. Our gran, Liz and granddad Ted Thomas, lived at 67.

Our house was across from the school just down from the top gate.

One of my friends I remember was Steven Poppet, who lived in Winson Green by the nick, his mom had two bald tiny dogs.

My mom used to wash cloths for people to earn money due to dad being ill most of the time or being in hospital having ops.

Another girl I remember is June Atkins.

I spent most of my childhood walking around the Rezza and climbing trees.

Most names have now drifted into the woodwork with me, so if you can jog the gray matter please contact me through Mac.

Memories of Brenda Fazakarley - nee Noon

What a great website you have created!  I have never spent so much time on my computer - it is all so fascinating.

Just after the war ended ice cream became available. I started school in Hockley in September l939 so could not remember what ice cream tasted like.

On the corner of Osler Street, opposite the Tavern Pub, was a little sweet/tobacconist shop (the name escapes me) and the ice cream used to arrive on a Monday and as I recollect so much was sold at a time.  When the ice cream was on offer we would all dash up and queue all down the street waiting for our treat and when the allocation for that day was sold, that was it, until the next time. We were only allowed a small amount - in any event there was no such thing as a frig or freezer in Ladywood.

Our GP was Dr Louis Glass who later became Mayor of Birmingham - he had four sons, and his brother Sam was also at the practice. The surgery was just off Monument Road in Oliver Road and I went to him for many years after moving to Northfield.  After our second baby arrived I thought it sensible to change.  Louis Glass was a lovely doctor.

There was also the music teacher, Mr Timmins in Hyde Road where I attended for a few years for piano lessons.

The Crown Cinema was one of our haunts, as well as the Edgbaston - I remember seeing Gone With The Wind at the Edg. You had to be over 16 to get in to see an A category and we used to put on a headscarf to make us look older - sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't. 

I also remember another shop on the corner of Leslie Road and Reservoir Road just near the entrance to the Res.  Mr and Mrs Dukes owned the shop and my mum used to shop there; they sold groceries and a bit of fruit and veg. As I recall they were a very obliging couple.   They had one daughter - a very smart young lady who was secretary to Mr Kunzle at his lovely Five Ways shop.  I can see that shop now and at Easter time they would display huge beautifully decorated eggs. Mr Kunzle was a very charitable gentleman who had a chalet in Switzerland for disabled children to go on holiday. He was obviously Swiss.

His confectionery was lovely. Kunzle's was on the corner of Broad Street, north side, and Bannister & Thatcher the pharmacist was next door and there was a nice provisions store, rather high class, a bit further along.  When I was about eighteen I worked at a firm of solicitors at No 57 Calthorpe Road for many years, but of course that was after we had moved to Northfield.

As there were no travelling fair grounds during the war years, Billy Butlin took out a seven year Lease in Edgbaston Reservoir and because Louise Wassell and myself were such great friends I spent a lot of time in there with her, much to my mother's annoyance. We used to get free rides!  Most of the fairground people went into the Wassell's cafe for refreshments and also the Tavern.

Opposite our terrace was where Wathes, Cattel & Gurden kept their horses and milk floats for the dairy - that was on the same side of the tavern. Reading through all the memoirs I have not seen the dairy mentioned.

There are lots of Brummies here in Bournemouth, but I have yet to meet someone from Ladywood, even better still Osler Street School! 

Memories of Brenda Fazakarley - nee Noon

re: Last junior class 1944/45

My brother sent me a print out of our old school a couple of years ago and I have just found it again and thought I would reply at long last.

I lived at 11/119 Osler Street and there was a wall at the bottom of our garden and the school playground the other side. How well I remember Mr. Davenport (daddy Davenport as he was nicknamed). You could hear him yelling at the children in our back garden.

Relating to the photograph sent by Val nee Powell I remember quite a few of the children in my class as follows :-

They were Doreen Kilby who lived in Hyde Road, May Tindall who also lived by there, Lilly Freeman lived in Leslie Road, (I was very friendly with her), June Perks, Mavis Pountney LOUISE Wassell (BettyWassell was her older sister and would not have been in that class), Joy Riley from Clark Street and myself Brenda Noon - I am on bottom row, third from right and I think Louise would be second from right.  Louise was a tiny girl with very blonde hair.

Louise and I were great friends for many years - they had the coffee shop just in Reservoir road and her family were travellers with the fair and when Butlin’s fair opened in the Edgbaston Reservoir they had a couple of stalls in there and a lot of the fair men used to go to the cafe. On busy bank holiday weekends I used to help to do the sandwiches with Louise. I was also very friendly with Lilly Freeman who lived with her grandmother in Leslie Road; also I was quite friendly with Joy Riley and Doreen Kilby.

Regarding the boys there was Roy Hicks, Sammy Hanson, Patrick Moon who lived at the bottom of Osler Street - there were about seven children in the Moon family and the kids used to get us mixed up as we had such similar sounding surnames!  Also Jim Clark who lived in our same terrace, Johnny Clarke was a couple of years older and like Betty Wassel could not have been in that form. I was born 5th April l934 and Jimmy Clarke 12th April '34. We all grew up together.

In our yard there was also Gordon and Horace Wood who lived next door to us, Brian Lane, Elsie King and other siblings, John and Jim Clarke. Gordon and Horace Wood's mum used to clean at the school.

I well remember Miss Watson because I was head girl; or rather school captain as it was called in my day.  In l945 I passed my eleven plus and was offered a place at George Dixon Grammar School, same as Sammy Hanson - the only two who of us who were lucky. However my mother was in Dudley Road hospital for many months having her second baby - after eleven years! Dad was worried to bits about her and so I never showed him the letter about my GD place and it was not until they went to parents' evening in July they were told about the exam - of course it was then too late because we had not accepted it.

However I went into the senior school, took another exam the following year and finished up at Sparkhill Commercial School.

My brother was born on 25th May l945 whilst all the end of war celebrations were going on.

After the war Louise's family went back to travelling the fair grounds and we kept in touch for many years, often meeting up when they were at a B'ham fairground. Through life's inevitabilities we lost touch, but we named our daughter Louise, as I always loved the name.

The Wassel family were much better off than my parents - they had a radiogram! and when the cafe was closed in the evenings, Louise used to play records and we would dress up in lace curtains, shove the tables together and dance.

Unfortunately I do not seem to have any school photographs - but I have a feeling somewhere in the archives I have a photograph of the street party celebrating the end of the war.

In l952 we moved to a council house at Northfield, near Weoley Castle and when I married we lived on the new part of Bourneville estate. Mr. Davenport had a son and daughter and I used to see him in Northfield when I went shopping. Eventually of course I read his obituary in the B'ham Mail one evening.

In l974 my husband, son and daughter moved to Bournemouth and have lived here ever since.

I do have a very good memory and keep trying to think of some other names.

I know in our street we had the Cook twin boys, but they were a couple of years older than me, and Jean Berrows who lived at the front of our houses who was also a couple of years older.

Then we had the McCormack family on the other side of the street. Dave, the eldest, then Pat and Johnny the youngest - all very clever children. They moved into grannies’ house in Mostyn Road, much posher than Osler Street.  Pat was about 3/4 years older than me, but we were friends for many years. We were both keen ballroom dancers and her auntie was a teacher at the Laura Dixon studio in the town - Pat and her mum moved to Cornwall, but sadly Pat died at the age of 50 in Saltash, Cornwall. Johnny Mac went to Dartmoor Naval College and did very well for himself. Pat visited us in Bournemouth on a couple of occasions before her death - she remarked what a long way we had both come since Osler Street!!

When I started this I didn't think it would be this long.

I would love some feedback if anyone is out there from Osler Street.

Been thinking again and very well remember IRENE SMITH - I think she lived around or in Parker Street. I do not remember her at all in junior school, but I do remember her in the senior school. I did not stay in the senior school long because I went on to Sparkhill Commercial.

I didn't like that very much and I had rheumatic fever when I was fourteen and was absent from school for a whole year. However, in spite of that awful illness, I am still alive and kicking. I thought Osler Street School was a really great school.  I only remember going on one school outing on a Midland Red Bus and that was to the Odeon Cinema on the Wolverhampton Road, Warley, to see Henry V - my first introduction to William Shakespeare and I was absolutely bowled over by Lawrence Olivier and became a firm fan, due to his brilliant performance in that film.

Irene Smith married one of the Hickman boys. Hickmans had the fruit and vegetable shop in Monument Road, just past the Municipal Bank on the corner of Icknield Port Road and opposite was the Co-op store where most of our mothers shopped.

There were seven Hickman children and the family lived further up Monument Road after Reservoir Road - it was a big house if I remember. It would have to be with such a big family!   All the family served in the shop and they used to take it in turns to go to market at about 4 o'clock in the morning. Hickman’s sold fruit and veg of course, wet fish and poultry, rabbits, turkeys at Christmas etc.  I can see Mrs Hickman now with her ruby lips and black hair, always serving, and a real businesswoman. Hickman’s was a fantastic shop.

I wonder how many girls remember the Dolls' Hospital further down Monument Road on the same side as the bank where we used to take our dolls when they were broken, and of course Spring Hill Library (a listed building) where I used to frequent every Saturday morning. We couldn't afford books, (except for Christmas pressies) neither did we have a bookcase, no room for such luxuries in those small back houses and I do wonder how we managed to read in that dreadful gas light, although I remember we did eventually get electricity. 

At the bottom of Osler Street was the garage where we used to take our accumulators for the radio to be charged. We had two and one would be in the radio and the other at the garage being charged. I had that job - how I hated it. I also remember in 1947  (a terrible winter) fetching coal from the wharf in Icknield Port Road, 28lbs at a time (quarter of a hundredweight) and pushing it all up Osler Street - then we had to take the darn wheelbarrow back when it had been emptied.

Those were the days!

Brenda Fazakarley - nee Noon

Memories of William Workman

These are some photos of my brother and sisters, Susan, Val, Ken, Pete, we lived at number 53 Shakespeare Road.

We lived at 2/19 Garbett Street before we moved to 53 Shakespeare Road, were all the families living these days. Ray, Sue, Pauline Ward, the Owens that lived next door to the outdoor.

John Cross that lived next door to the Vine pub, the Powell’s that had the shop, and also the Carters, the Berks. Peter Jones, John Beasley, John Lorimer.

If anyone remembers these people please get in touch. 

Memories of Christine Robertson

These photographs were taken at Wilmot Breedon when my father, William Drew, received his watch for 25 years service

Memories of Jean Johnston

I attended Osler Street School in Birmingham from 1957-1962 when we went to New Zealand to live. Some of the people in my class where June Gordon and Peter Heath.

I remember going over to the big hall for lunch and how we used to moan about what was served up especially when cabbage was on the menu. It was great to see the old school and going through the photo's found 2 Strawford boy's but not sure if they are related or not.

I do remember having to walk across the playground to go to the toilets and we always rushed when it was cold.

We lived in Clark Street in Victoria Terrace in a back-to-back house and we were the last house in the terrace at 7 back of 34, as they used to put it in those days. I now live back in England, as New Zealand was not for me.

Memories of Pete Lambert

Just sitting here thinking about my teenage years in good old Ladywood, I lived at 26 Summerhill Street with my Nan and granddad, Teddy and Emily Lambert, also in our house lived my aunt and uncle Doreen & Bobby Wise. My Nan often used to play the piano in the Robin Hood that was just across the street. My uncle Bob played in the darts team in Kelsey’s on the corner of Edward Street and King Edwards Road.

I remember Gerry's grocery shop run by Gerry Marshall and his wife Nancy. My nan used to send me there very often to get a few bits on the tick until pension day. There was also Hickman’s, the veg shop just past Nelson Street.

I remember a few families in the street like, the Fiddlers, Dave, Doug, Dennis, Jean, and also the James family, Sid and Mike, The Cain family, The Brunts, Tony and his sister Jacky,

I went to Barford Road School and left in 1958. I was in Mr. Peasnell's class when I left.

In those days my evenings were spent hanging around outside the exit doorway of the ice rink in Goodman street where me and all my mates could hear the rock ‘n roll music that was being played inside, we would be there seven nights a week hanging around listening to the music.

I remember some of my mates, Tony Brunt, Monty Morgan, Billy Jordan, Colin Jordan, Gordon Packham, Malcolm Murphy, Terry Fuge, John Donnovan, Keith Timms, and also the young ladies that hung around with us, Jacky Brunt, Jean Davey, Mary Dunkley,

If there is any of the old crowd that remember me please get in touch, as I would love to hear from them.

Pete Lambert

Memories of Carol Langham

I have just found this site and I am from 1/79 Edward Street.

My family name was LANGHAM, my father was called Bill, my mother was Cath and mine is Carol. My sister was Catherine, my brother Bryan, we lived there from 1948 to 1959. I went to Nelson Street School and then to City Road School.

We lived next to the shop, which Sally Chambers owned, they had a daughter called Brenda, John Cox also lived next door to us. There was a Mrs. Townsend at the bottom of the entry. I remember Janet Ireland, Peter Savage, Vera Wheeler and a few more.

Looking back we used to have fun all day, there were so many things we did and so many places to go. I went down there last week to see how it had changed it was so sad, the only thing left is the big step at the top of the road.

I will keep looking on this site to see if there is anybody else who remembers us.

Memories of Lin Randall

My name is Lin Randall, nee Chapman. I lived at 101 Coplow Street, Ladywood between 1956-1965. We lived with my nan, Gertrude Smith, who was a newspaper seller at the top of the Parade in Birmingham.

My nan looked after my aunt, her daughter, Gert was disabled, everyone knew her!

My mum is Joan Chapman and dad is John. He originates from Dublin. As a child I attended Barford Road School, loved looking at the pictures couldn’t see Mrs. Johnson, my reception teacher.

A fabulous site hope someone can remember my family.

Memories of Christina Grove

What a wonderful site and a great chance to wallow in nostalgia.

I was born in 3/33 Sheepcote Street in one of the courts at the back of the Albion Inn in 1951. My parents then took over Foxall’s Cafe in 1956 from my grandmother after the death of my grandfather a year earlier. My father made the lettering above the cafe using a contraption called a pantograph, (I think!) This enlarged his handwriting onto a large sheet of paper that he then transferred to a piece of wood. He cut it all out with a jigsaw and when finished (painted bright red on a cream background,) It looked pretty good. Before the building was finally demolished about 10 years ago after years of neglect by the then owners I went back to see the old place. I now wish I had taken the sign before it was destroyed but sadly I didn't take the opportunity.

In 1958 we moved into The Albion Inn. It was known as the pub on the island as a canal surrounded it. Although rather tatty looking in the photo, I remember it as a little gem of a Victorian pub. It was all polished wood & brass with a red tiled floor. The cellar was enormous with 2 levels. The lower level had an arched ceiling, which reminded me of the kind of undercroft you see in old churches. Apart from the bar, outdoor and snug on the ground floor there was also a large kitchen and a living room. Upstairs there were 2 bedrooms and a bathroom plus a huge 'club room' with a small stage! To the rear of the first floor over the large entry next door was another large room with a raised 'stage' area, which became our playroom. In the ceiling above the stairs was a beautiful stained glass skylight. On the top floor there were 3 more bedrooms, which were never used whilst we lived there.

My older brother & I both attended St. Peter's Catholic Primary School off Broad Street, roughly where the Convention Centre now stands. Most of our spare time was spent basically running wild around the back streets of Ladywood! - Sheepcote Lane, Ledsam Street, Clement Street, Ryland Street etc. Plus of course forays into the city centre. There were plenty of old air raid shelters to play in and also lots of bombsites too.

My family go back many generations living in Birmingham. My father lived in Shakespeare Rd. & attended St Marks School. Most of his family lived in & around the Jewellery Quarter and Deritend right back as far as the 1820's.

My aim is to find out as much as I can about the area they lived in and your site has been a real help.

Many thanks,

Memories of Julie Jones

Just had to drop you a line to say how much I have enjoyed browsing through your webpage of Old Ladywood.

I was born in Beech Street in 1957 and my father worked at Bellis's as we called it.  One of my earliest memories was going to meet Dad from work and waiting by the big metal gates for him to come out.

I went to St Georges school and I married in 1976 at St Johns - so you can see, I was and still am a Ladywood girl through and through.

Thanks again for bringing my memories to life with your fabulous collection of photographs.

Julie Jones (nee Campbell

Memories of David Todd

I'm now almost 72 and have decided it's time to get some memories down on paper.

Your website is great, but there is so much I would like to know and so much I could contribute from my own background that I do not know the best way to start.

Some brief details. I lived until 1955 in a 2up, 2down back to back in a "close" of six houses at the upper end of St. Vincent Street-3/265 or (better sounding!) 3 Chatsworth Place with my mother, Winnie and father George. We moved to Bartley Green.

I went to St. George's School from 1943-1949,moving to KES Five Ways for one year before moving again to King Edward's School Edgbaston, a.k.a "The High School".

My father's family (Grannie Todd) lived in a former farmhouse at 203 Ladywood Road and were well known in the area, as my uncles were scoutmasters in the troop which met in Icknield Square before and after WW2. Grannie enjoyed a drink and was a "regular" at weekends at the Working Men's Club in Reservoir Road, and I went there at times with my parents, sitting in the large snooker room, which doubled as a concert room.

My grandmother (Grannie Field) lived lower down the street up an entry roughly opposite Johnstone Street.

Ladywood was my world until the move-school: visits to the cinemas in Ledsam Street, Monument Road (The Edgbaston) and Icknield Port Road (The Crown), shopping in the shops in "our" Street and the Co-op in Monument Road; baths and swimming in the Monument Road Baths; using the tram to go to town; fairs in the "Rec" at the corner of Ladywood and Monument Roads; in the 1950s (inspired by Norman Power) regularly attending St. John's Church and its drama group, youth club and cricket team.

Memories of Dennis Smith

My name is Dennis Matthew Smith and I was originally from Cape Town, South Africa.

I moved over to the UK a number of years ago I brought over some treasured items.

My late Dads birth certificate, his SAAF photograph and a family photograph with his mom, sister and brother.

Starting a short course on family trees at the local library it was with shock at we came across your site not only that, but photograph of my dad birth place namely Blythe Street. 

I also found my late grandfathers marriage details. His address was - 48 Blythe Street

I have enclosed photograph of family before moving to S.A. and his photograph.

My granddads name was: George and Florence Smith - 48 Blythe Street

Family background was superimposed many years ago.

The family comprised of Winifred, Tom and Frank (my dad) and Florence (formally McCay)

My grand father is killed in the 1st world war at Gallipoli

Memories of Keith Fisher

I was born in1940 at 2/52 Marroway Street. My auntie Vi insisted we call it 2 The Elms. Auntie Violet and Uncle Percy Moore lived at 6 The Elms. I remember the area and Marroway Street well. We moved to Stourbridge in 1962, so I spent my formative and teenage years there.

Both 2/52 and 6/52 had horse chestnut trees in the front garden, which were a source of conkers as I was growing up. Our front garden also had an air raid shelter, which we used during the blitz. A bomb in the street demolished several houses and the blast took off part of our roof. That was the bomb mentioned by Olive Walker (nee Dance) who lived at 56 Marroway Street. Her brother was one of my playmates and the enclosed photo shows me (centre) and Barry (on my left) and Terry Newberry who lived at 52 Marroway Street. This photo was taken in the garden of 56 Marroway Street about 1948.

At just under 5 years of age I went to Barford Road School then later to Dudley Road School. I also sang in the choir at Christ Church near Summerfield Park. I have fond memories of going to the pictures either the Crown or the Grove near Cape Hill or very occasionally the Lyric. I enjoyed football in the street and putting pennies on the tramline in Icknield Port Road.

I remember Phillis and Kathleen Smith (mentioned earlier by Chris Moon) Josie Russell (she lived in Wiggin Street) and Kenny Moss; there were a whole group of us who used to play in the street (very few motor cars).

After junior school I went to Holly Lodge Grammar School in Smethwick. I remember I used to hide my cap on the way home but I rarely got the ‘mickey’ taken for my school uniform as I was friendly with all the local rogues.

My father and Uncle Percy used to frequent the Belle View pub and some Sunday lunchtimes we went to the gardens of the pub. When I was older I frequented the Belle View and the Bricklayers Arms as well as the Tower Ballroom.

My father worked at Wiggins and my Uncle Percy worked at McKechnie Brothers in Rotton Park Street. I visited the McKechnie factory several times and was always amazed at seeing hot billets being rolled and wire being drawn. My uncle was a foreman so it was easy for him to show me around. One of our neighbours was a train driver and he took me to the shunting yards near Monument Road, it was a real thrill to be in the engine while he shunted a few carriages around.

After I left school I started work at INCO in Wiggin Street and even though I only had to cross a bomb site and down a short entry, I was nearly always late for work.

Memories of Sandra Evans

Sandra Evans nee Soanes and her cousin Sylvia Smith, then of Beech Street, this was taken in her gran's garden in Gt. Tindal Street in about 1956

Memories of Mike Green

My brother and I at Edgbaston Reservoir around 1938?

How many people will remember when the car park there was once used as a zoo?

Observe the lions' cages.

Kind regards

Mike Green

Memories of Joyce Rowe

This is a photograph of my husband with his friend taken at Rhyl on 30th July 1948, I think Billy Hinks, whose wedding photo was one of the first to be published on your wedding page, we found it amongst some old photos of days gone by in Ladywood.

It would be lovely for them to get in touch with one another again after some 60 years.

Joyce Rowe, wife of Gordon, married at St. Johns Church in 1954.