Recent content by BrianR

I don't know if the fraise "THE BACK OF RACKHAMS" came to be in the first half of the 1900's or if it was coined in association to the current building. The saying as I understand it was meant to be a nod and a wink to the Idea that a lady on hard times may be able to make ends meet if she...

My late mother often spoke of going to the 'Pally...……' in Erdington, during WWII . I think you will find that to be the 'Palais de dance.' Working late as they did for the war effort, mom went there straight after a shift at Fort Dunlop. Mom had changed in to a new whit flowered dress she had...

Did anyone go to Sir Josiah Mason in Erdington when it was used as a temporary home for what was to become 'Brownmead' school in Shard End.

The windows behind the 'Guinness' sign are 'Lora Dixon's' dance studios. In the sixties, Spencer Davis held a weekly Rhythm and Blues night in there. It was very basic but the Music was amazing. Everyone would keep the group in beer, the top of the piano would be coverd in Pints. Simple Times.

My dad grew up in the Rhonda, Wales. Mooch was often used by him and so I took it as a normal part of speech. Looking back I can't say that I heard it used by others in brum. Having retired I now live in Ross on Wye which is on the Welsh boarder and clos to the Rhonda, Here I find the word Mooch...

I think "Gullies" for alleyways. Snicket? Never come across that one in Brum. Hope I'm Being helpful, not critical. Life long Brumy.

Lora Dixons dance studios on the corner of Navigation street and John Bright street, above what had been "Zismans" the shop where Teddy Boys got their suits and by the mid 60's had become "Drum Land" ( Drum Specialists shop) was where we had many good nights dancing to the Spencer Davis group...

The history of Sir Josiah mason's building did not end with it's end as an orphanage. In1963 the orphanage was used to temporarily house a new school. The new estate, Shard End, had been built without any infrastructure so children were being bused to schools in older districts of...

I started working in the jewellery trade. To get to work I would walk in to Hall St. from Gt. Hampton St. with Lucus's factory on the right hand corner. Some mornings I noticed that on the flat roof of the factory the apprentices would be out, dressed in just P T shorts and vests doing...