I too got my sports gear from there for Camp Hill in 1969 and for some years after. I believe Eric willmont's son Richard took the shop over, he worked at the shop in school holidays and believe he was a pupil at Saltley Grammar. Sadly I am sure I remember reading in the Evening Mail that Richard committed suicide as the business struggled to keep up with the changes in retailing. The shop was two shops knocked into one I believe numbers 1047 and 1049. I well remember the used tennis balls, I believe the family where members of Springfield tennis club in Petersfield Road in Hall Green. I well remember Bernard Coopers shop as it stocked the uniform for my primary school, Yorke House School in Scool Road in Hall Green, I was most impressed as a small boy by his Rolls Royce registration number HC 4 which he parked at the top of Station Drive leading down to the coal yards and row of small coal merchants offices. He also had a shop in Kings Heath on the corner of the High Street and Vicarage Road, opposite All Saints Church, where I later married my wife who lived in All Saints Road. I wonder if anyone remembers another men's outfitter called Huins who also sold school socks. I also have fond memories of many other shops, Wrensons, George Mason's, Enterprise Hardware, an independent record shop who's name escapes me, my Mum's favourite Katherine Draisey, Ruperts Pets with puppies in the window, Boots chemist which was taken over by Edgar Glaser who previously had his shop in School Road but saw the advantage of being directly opposite Dr Johnson's surgery who's son Andrew I went to primary school with. Cookery Nook who sold my favourite Edna May lemon curd. I also remember a newsagent with a yellow and black frontage, for some reason I think it may have been called Houghtons and later became a dry cleaners. There was also South Midland Tyre Services who's Director was Dennis Amiss the Warwickshire and England cricketer on the junction of the Stratford Road and Cresswell Road. Either side of Bernard Cooper were two Trend Decor decorators shops and next to them a pet shop called Gay Pets or possibly Cor Pets. Just off the corner of Stratford Road and Welby Road was Maurice Woodhead Electrical Shop, Mr Woodhead fascinated me when he tested every bulb you bought, particularly when it was a red one for our 3 bar flame effect electric fire, after that was a car sales garage I think run by Des Sheridan and also the Hull family, followed by an office for Links Driving School who's Mr Parker taught me and my brother to drive. Then came a knitting shop who's name I can not remeber and the Jill Ireland light shop. You are now on the corner of School Road where there was a Barber and fishing tackle shop and just down from there in School Road was Ralph Huggett's newsagent and sweet shop. I also remember that on the other side of the Stratford Road just down from the School Road traffic lights was the Hedges L260 Snuff building. Hall Green gave me the happiest chidhood you could have, so many great memories.
[/QU
Sorry to go on but therE was also the Atco showroom on the corner of School road just before the Horse ShoeS Pub. Atco was later demolished to become a car sales pitch, run by a gentleman who drove a purple Rolls Royce Silver Shadow, registration number NOB 1M.