i worked at a factory in redditch originally called wh smart they were pork butchers and had several shops in birmingham it was sold to walls meat who turned it into a cannery it eventually became mattesons canned meats . The personnel manager was a man by the name of !don marlow! He was also secretary of the brunswick club for many years .i worked on the maintenance crew in the factory and we were often sent to the brunswick club to do various jobs in the club and being an electrician myself i was often there .the factory closed in 1986 and don passed away soon after. The factory as wh smart was originally in wrentham st by the cinephone cinema on the bristol rd it moved to redditch in the early 1960's. Don was a very nice man and he was like a father to all the young girls and lads who worked there . He would employ young people who had been in trouble with the law give them a chance and get them back on the straight and narrow . He was also a great football player in his younger days . He walked with a limp as a result of a football injury ,so i was told .i hope there is somebody who remembers don marlow regards to all joe fitzpatrickdoes anyone have any information on the brunswick club, moseley road ?
I know it was an active club around 1930, but that's about it - any info whatsoever would be received with gratitude.
Ian.
I have answered this question on the thread dealing with the plaque. I was never aware of any such plaque at the Brunswick Club and I never heard of one and during my time at the club at one time or another I was in every part of the club from the cellars to the attic.
There were other clubs just as old in the locality, there was Tindal Street old boys next door and a couple of doors further away there was the Balsall Heath Labour Club.
hi philHi Joe
It's possible we might have met at sometime, I knew Don Marlowe from before he worked at Smarts. I always considered him a personal friend and remember when he had the Old Moseley Arms in Tindal Street where he took a little back street pub and turned into the most popular pub in Balsall Heath. I knew Don for about 30 years and he was the person the word gentleman was invented to describe. Just a word about his legs it wasn't a footballing injury it happened one Christmas holiday time outside the Brunswick when he was helping to push start a members car and some idiot drove straight into the back of the car he was pushing trapping Don between both cars. Both legs were shattered and after they bolted his bones back together and fitted callipers he defied those who said he would never walk again. Sadly the accident resulted in him having to give up the Old Mo but when he was able to get about again he took the job at Smarts and took a more active interest in the Brunswick Club.
Here is a photo of Don in the members bar of the Brunswick with Bob Brooks club president behind him, if I remember correctly it was taken around Christmas 1975 or 76.
Hi PhilCol
Putting my thinking cap on and trying to remember I think I might be in error in saying that the Committee might have been taking turns serving behind the bar in 1976. I now realise it wa later than that and in 1976 Bridgit and Lionel (see attached photo) were still steward & stewardess. If that is so I have probably got the wrong person that I think was your father.
View attachment 128146
Hi PhilCol
On Sunday nights my wife and I would have probably been behind the bar by 1982, it used to be pretty quiet on Sunday night with most of the customers being in the snooker room and only about half a dozen in the bar. Mostly Jimmy Jennings and his mates, but having to be up for work Monday morning I used to close and lock up by 12.30 at the latest.
Hi Phil.. could you please tell me where exactly was the BRUNSWICK CLUB in Moseley.. l know it's gone Phil.. but what's even built on its site..or maybe you have the old address as in the road number.. you have posted some real good posts about it in the past.. so thats what i would be grateful to know just where exactly it was... thanks Phil...Hi Col,
I'm sorry but I don't recall you, but it's possible that you might remember me in 1976 I think I might have been looking after the bar on Tuesday and Sunday nights with my wife Pauline. Something else Don talked me into. If your wedding was in the snooker room then it must have been near Christmas as that was the only time the tables were taken down, unless you paid for them to be taken down specially.
It used to be 464 Moseley Road. The building is still there but it's a Ladies Gym/Spa called Odara.Hi Phil.. could you please tell me where exactly was the BRUNSWICK CLUB in Moseley.. l know it's gone Phil.. but what's even built on its site..or maybe you have the old address as in the road number.. you have posted some real good posts about it in the past.. so thats what i would be grateful to know just where exactly it was... thanks Phil...
Hi.. could you please tell me where the BRUNSWICK CLUB was... nearest place to it..or the address..please...hi phil
my father myself and my 2 elder brothers were members of the Brunswick club. I also had my wedding reception in the snooker room in 1976. don was a very good friend of my fathers.
col