Just reading through these memories with interest. Slow Boat in Digbeth opposite St.Martin's , together with Heaven's Bridge both Chinese restaurants were owned by my best friend's Dad. Dr. S.S. Chang. He and his wife had fled China at the time of cultural change, & come over to UK in the 1950's by freight boat ( banana boat I think I was told. They arrived in Scotland, but soon moved down to England).
Dr.Chang's main job was working for Lucas in his professional capacity as a doctor of engineering. He was very much an entrepreneur, inventor and had an interest in all sorts of businesses. I remember he was once on ATV today launching an invention of his - my friend was embarrassed at his being on TV,I don't remember what that was now.
As well as the two restaurants, he had a Chinese take away called the Happy Gathering, and then wing yip supermarket, which I think was not far to the rear of the Slow Boat.
Old man Chang ( as my Dad used to call him) with his wife and family used to treat us to occasional meals with our family there. I remember my Dad being offered the head of the large cooked fish as a delicacy, at the start of our meal. My Dad was well travelled with work, he had worked with Chinese people abroad and knew it was a great courtesy to be offered it. He accepted and enjoyed it, which delighted old man Chang.My Dad was always happy to try street food wherever he went and lived the chance to soak in the local culture eg. In 1960's Persia- not something my Mum would have begun to try!
My friend and I used to go to help to cash up at the end of the evening, at Slowboat,we were both still at Grammar school so we enjoyed that. Bit like playing at shops. I remember it seemed very grand inside either with very wide steps up to the first floor or possibly even an escalator.
It seems a lifetime ago now. Dr Chang's wife died in the late 1970's and his children were all university age, so he sold up and went to be head of department at Hong Kong polytechnic. He met a new lady out there, who became his wife. They eventually settled in the USA. He died a couple of few years ago in his 90's.
Happy days. I think they set up the restaurants and take aways / supermarket to fill a void in the market being Chinese themselves. They didn't ever work in the kitchens just ran the businesses from a distance.