Recent content by Anne Watton

My sincere condolences to you all.

Tom Fitzpatrick - a Birmingham boxer who married my Gran's sister.

Castalla, Guest Keen & Nettlefolds (GKN) was a factory in Thimble Mill Lane, Nechells previously called Newtons. They made screws amongst other things. My Mom worked there as a capstan operator on the twilight shift (6pm-10pm) for many years. We used to go to the Christmas parties,

I remember Whirlygigs, soft toffee in a long, curly shape covered in chocolate. As soon as you bit in to them the chocolate started dropping off. Was a con really, notmuch in them but appeared to be bigger than they were. Does anyone remember Big K creamy Banana ice lollies about 1973? I loved them!

My brother worked at Lynne's Candy Cabin in the precinct. I remember The Co-op, The Spot, Harry Hodgkiss butchers, Fosters, The Opticians where I had my ears pierced when I was 13. Any more?

What a fantastic photo, my husband's Gt Uncle Joseph Watton who was in the Australian army in the 1st World War!

I have to say, Yardley cemetery have been so helpful in confirming the location of my Aunt's grave. Anne

Thanks Dwilly, Just found out my Aunts grave number, the map was really useful. She is buried very close to my parents and baby brother, which we didn't know. She was only 17 when she died in childbirth. Her baby survived, so sad! Anne

The milkman came every day to us in Kingshurst, and the baker. The Corona pop man came once a week as did Davenports and the veggie man plus the portable chip van. Used to have 6d worth of chips plus some batter bits. Yuck, no wonder I have high cholesterol!

Stera was a bit like UHT now, we only used stera in tea, never drank coffee (only camp in the sixties} and pass was used as a drink, or with cornflakes. My GDad asked me if I wanted a glass of milk and gave me stera, out of respect, I drank it but it was hard. Anne

I wouldn't fancy being in that brew house. Full Stop! How spoilt are we nowadays?

Hello Old Boy, the only way to find out if you hadn't had your chimney swept was when it caught fire, the fire brigade came and you were in trouble. I saw one sweep recently who gives a certificate to prove he's been. As you say an insurance company would use it as an excuse. especially if they...

To be honest, how cruel is that?

Oooh FarmerDave, what are you like? Might save myself £60 next year and put greedy Gertie down the chimney. She's the one who comes running when I go outside. So funny to see her running as fast as she can to get to the food first. Just gave them the leftover Sunday dinner What do you farm?

When you think about it, one coal fire to heat a three bedroom flat. Waking up to frost on the windows Brrrr. Fortunately, my bedroom was the other side of the wall where the fire was, I used to snuggle up to the warm wall. Nowadays people in this country think they are hard done by if they have...