Hi Sue,
Does your dad mean the Holmes who had a drapers shop in Victoria Street near the Green Lane end? Their shop was bombed and Mrs Holmes killed. Mr Holmes a little later opened a shop in Green Lane between Palace Road and Charles Road. I knew him quite well and last saw him at Somerville Road School in 1995. The school was celebrating its 100th anniversary and had invited old pupils to attend. Mr Holmes was fit and well then but getting on in years. He remembered all my family who had been customers of his for years.
Old Boy
I was born in 172 Churchill road 1937 lived there til I was 14 I remember ...... the bread shop in Blake Lane ...... .