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Clarendon Street Aston

N

Nick Hamer

Guest
Hi,

I'm a new member iterested in getting in touch with anyone who remembers Clarendon Street, Aston.

My dad Ray Hamer lived at number 38, between 1928 and 1953. May Gran, Mabel Hamer lived until the late sixties.


Nick Hamer
 
Hi Nick....I was born at number 27 in 1953, and lived there until 1969, I cannot recall your grandparents?, it is Clarendon Street off Park Lane you are talking about?, I am not sure if there was more than one.

Nick.....It is the same street I was born in....I can recall the lady that lived there, but the surname Hamer doesn't ring a bell, the Taylor family lived one side of her and the Roberts the other....do you have a photo of her?
if you go to the main astonbrook site you will find a photo of Clarendon Street taken in 1953....
 
Last edited:
Clarodon Street

Hi John,

Thanks for getting in touch.

You have the right lady. The Taylors and the Roberts families lived either side.

I remember Mrs Roberts. She had a daughter, Betty who had two sons, Michael and I think the other was named Paul. She would be in her late seventies now if she's still alive.

Betty moved to a house nearer to the Clarendon Pub on the same side of the road as number 38.

I well remember the advertising hoarding with the Policeman on it with the big boots. Is there a photo of it anywhere?

Nick
 
Photo

I have some photo's of my Gran will send you one.

Nick
 
Nick.....Betty married someone named Harborne or something along those lines....Paul was a childhood friend of mine we are about the same age...there were two pubs in the street, one on the corner of Parklane and Clarendon St which was on the same side of the road as your grandmother, the other The Clarendon Arms was on my side on the corner of Upper Webster Street.....www.astonbrook-throught-astonmanor.co.uk
has a photo of the Policeman boots, plus the Clarendon Arms and the barbers.....you can find them under Clarendon Street.... I still cannot recall the surname Hamer....but I do remember your nan...she was a nice old lady, never moaned at us kids playing in the street like some of the others did, its a pity that my dad and uncle have both died, they were both born in Clarendon st...my dad 1928 my uncle 1932 they would have known you dad, and probably been mates.....
 
Clarondon St

hi John

Spoke to my Dad last night he remembers some of the family names from the 1920 list of residents, Holt Vaughan, Watts who's son was a friend of his.

I've gave him a copy of your post on clarendon street, no doubt he will give me some furthe info when he has read it. I would think he must have known your dad as they were both born in 1928. Did your dad go to the school in Burlington Rd?

My dad's dad was a barber, when he died 1942 i think my dad had to pay to have his hair cut at the Barbers shop in the photo.

Betty Roberts now lives in Erdington. My dads sees her quite often so he tells me!

Nick
 
Nick....I remember your nan as Mrs Hammond....don't know we called her that.....both my dad and uncle attended Burlington Street junior school, and Upper Thomas Street senior boys....my uncle Ron got run over by a number 8 bus,
I can recall Mrs Watts son Lenny, but cannot remember what he looked like...I have attach a photo of Mrs Watts which was passed to me by the daughter of Lily Shale who is also on the photo.., I have also attached a photo of my dad in his army uniform...might jog his memory,

my dad was Kenny Colin, and my uncle was Ronnie, my uncle sid lived at number 46 for a few years...Sid was quite a few years older than my dad and uncle...
 
John, I'm pretty sure the lady on the left of your photo is the Mrs. Watts of Clarendon Street, who was friendly with my parents, perhaps she used the Clarendon pub as they did. I do know she made the wedding cakes for my two eldest sisters when they married in 1946 and 1949. Did she also have a son called Alf? we used to know someone who was either Alfie Watts or Wells - well it was a long time ago.
 
Sylvia....You are correct about Mrs Watts being on the left of the photo, one of the other ladies is a Mrs Shale...but I have forgotten which one...I can only remember Lenny Watts..I cannot recall a Alfie?...Mrs Watts was killed about 1967 which some boardings fell on her while she was shopping in the new shopping centre in Newtown Row....she was the local caterer for most of the weddings or other events around the area
 
John, thanks for your info. I knew Mrs. Watts made the wedding cakes for my sisters, and after I had posted yesterday I was thinking about Mrs. Watts and had a vague memory she had been in an accident, but didn't remember the details or that she had been killed, what a shocking thing to happen. The Alfie I recall must have been Alfie Wells, when I was growing up I was the youngest in our family by ten years and mom and dad and my oldest sister and her husband used to go round to the Clarendon most Saturday nights, the landlord I remember was named Cliff don't know his surname. In those days pubs closed - or at least stopped serving at 10 p.m. and very often a crowd would come back to our house with a few beers and mom would make sandwiches and someone would play our piano for a couple of hours. Little Alf as he was known was one of them together with Jimmy Slater and Charlie Tabberner - who was involved on the Admin. side of the Villa in later years, they were all young unmarried men then - probably about the mid 1950s.
 
John

Here's a photo of my Gran outside 38 Clarendon St taken in Aug 1946. The other photo is of my Gran with her husband Tom not sure when the photo was taken.
 
JKC said:
Nick....I remember your nan as Mrs Hammond....don't know we called her that.....both my dad and uncle attended Burlington Street junior school, and Upper Thomas Street senior boys....my uncle Ron got run over by a number 8 bus,
I can recall Mrs Watts son Lenny, but cannot remember what he looked like...I have attach a photo of Mrs Watts which was passed to me by the daughter of Lily Shale who is also on the photo.., I have also attached a photo of my dad in his army uniform...might jog his memory,

my dad was Kenny Colin, and my uncle was Ronnie, my uncle sid lived at number 46 for a few years...Sid was quite a few years older than my dad and uncle...
Click to expand...


Interesting I sent this photo to someone a couple of years ago.

Far left Mrs Taylor (Violet I think, my Gt Gran's best friend lived not far from her in Clarendon Street)
Middle: My Gt Gran Lily May Shale, nee Lyons, nee Hollingsworth.
Right: My Gran Elizabeth Bracey nee Lyons
 
JKC said:
Sylvia....You are correct about Mrs Watts being on the left of the photo, one of the other ladies is a Mrs Shale...but I have forgotten which one...I can only remember Lenny Watts..I cannot recall a Alfie?...Mrs Watts was killed about 1967 which some boardings fell on her while she was shopping in the new shopping centre in Newtown Row....she was the local caterer for most of the weddings or other events around the area
Click to expand...

Yes Mrs Watts was a caterer and my Gt Gran Lily Shale worked with her. Anyone remember my Gt Uncle John Lyons (lived with his mother Lily Shale) I was always told he was rather sweet on Mrs Watts, he never married.
What a shame to think of Mrs Watts being killed in this way, I remember her as a nice kind lady and always smiling
 
Nick Hamer said:
Hi,

I'm a new member iterested in getting in touch with anyone who remembers Clarendon Street, Aston.

My dad Ray Hamer lived at number 38, between 1928 and 1953. May Gran, Mabel Hamer lived until the late sixties.


Nick Hamer
Click to expand...

Hi Nick

I used to visit my Great Gran in Clarendon Street most weeks. Her name was Lily Shale, her unmarried son John Lyons lived with her. Best friend was Violet Watts, they worked together in catering also.

I see someone has put on the photo I sent to him on this forum. Lily Shale in the centre, Mrs Watts far left and my Nan, Elizabeth Bracey on the right.
 
My Great grandmother was lilian watts, she was unfortunatly killed by a falling plank from scaffolding during the redevelopment of the 60s, she died on june 19th 1968, she had 2 sons, leonard and henry, henry being my grandad who i loved dearly.
She lived next door to her parents, charles and elizabeth holt.
They lived at 42 clarendon st, my father is graham watts who has fond memories of lilian and stayed with her at clarendon st in the 50s and 60s.
My auntie christine watts probably stayed with lilian for longer as she was older than the others.
If anyone has any stories or memories about my family then pleae get in touch
 
Mrs Lilian Watts was my great gran, she had 2 sons, Lenny and Henry or also known as Harry
 
My Gt Grandmother lived at 32 Clarendon Street for many years and her best friend was Mrs Watts, not sure what her first name was. I knew her quite well as she was usually round my Gt Grans when we visited.
I have attached a photo, was this your Gt Gran on the far right. My Gt Gran, Lily May Shale was on the far right.
 
What an amazing photo, thank you so much. I believe it to be my gt gran lilian watts.. do u have more?
 
I have this one which I let someone have some time years ago and notice it has ended up on this site.

Not sure what wedding they were attending but the photo shows Mrs Watts far right, Lily Shale my Gt Gran in the centre and Elizabeth Bracey my gran on the right.

I remember Mrs Watts as always smiling she had a lovely nature and I know both my Nan and Grandmother were very fond of her. I had forgotten about the accident to Mrs W, I do remember my mother telling me years ago that she had been killed by a plank falling on her.
 
Can't see Mrs Watts in this one but my Gt Gran is far right, my Gt Uncle Johnny Lyons is drinking from the cup and my mother in a dark jumper near to him. Don't think I was born.
 
Thats amazing thank you. Would you remember the Watts kids in the 50s. The eldest was christine then henry, shirley graham and wendy.
My father is graham.
 
No I don't remember any of the children or Mrs Watts' husband. I don't think I went to her house very often but she seemed to be at my Gt Gran's quite a bit. They also did a lot of catering together. Sadly my Gran and mother are both dead and they would have known much more about the family.
 
I know, it would be amazing to go back in time wouldnt it... Both my great nan and nan are also dead now, My aunties remember mrs shale ans speak very highly of her.
 
My Great Grandmother was living at 32 Clarendon Street in 1861. I would be interested to know whether your great grandmothers house was the same one
 
my mom and uncle lived in clarendon street but moved sometime during ww2 my grandad worked at the H.P. but moved to pelsall becouse he got a job at a power station in walsall .i dont know the house number but i will try to find out from my mum .mum went to school in burlington street i think and mums aunty had there house when they left for pelsall. moms maiden name was beryl parkes and my uncle was barry parkes. grandad's name was leonard and nans was florence. grandad also played football for H.P.he was the captain.mom had a freind with the sername of harborne dont know if its the same lady as menshioned on here.great site only found it by chance so i am new on here will get somemore info if i can thanks
 
brum baby....you sent me the pictures a few years ago now, there were to appear on another website was in the process of being created "Our Aston", by Rod Birch and myself, we had a few computer problems and it was never went live, then Astonbrook through Aston Manor came to the fore, and what data, photo's etc I had was uploaded to that site including the photo of Mrs Shale and Mrs Watts....I am not to sure without checking through my old emails and I have 1000's to check you sent me other photo's as well....couple of football teams and a story of "Will" who worked at the Wolseley after WW1.
 
Hi yes I did send you the photos of my gt gran Lily Shale and her friend Violet Watts who both lived in Clarendon Street. I did not send you any other photos.
Looked at the Astonbrook through Aston Manor site, it is very very good
Roz




aston lad said:
brum baby....you sent me the pictures a few years ago now, there were to appear on another website was in the process of being created "Our Aston", by Rod Birch and myself, we had a few computer problems and it was never went live, then Astonbrook through Aston Manor came to the fore, and what data, photo's etc I had was uploaded to that site including the photo of Mrs Shale and Mrs Watts....I am not to sure without checking through my old emails and I have 1000's to check you sent me other photo's as well....couple of football teams and a story of "Will" who worked at the Wolseley after WW1.
Click to expand...
 
If there are any photos of Lilian Watts or any of the Watts or Holt family that anyone can put on here I would appreciate that very much, I had some off this site but they seem to have vanished. Lilian watts was my great gran, famous for her cake making and unfortunatly she was killled during the new aston being built. If any stories or memories that you can remember then please share. Thank you so much.
 
Hi Lisa
Yes I have a lovely photo of Mrs Watts with my Gran and Great Gran. Gt Gran, Lily Shale Lily Watts were great friends and I remember Mrs Watts quite fondly. I have some photos of her and my Gt Gran on holiday also. I knew she had been killed, was it something to do with a supermarket, can't quite remember/ I think her and gt gran worked together in some form of catering and I do remember hearing about her cake making. I think she was a widow when I knew met her on my visits to Clarendon Street and family talk always said she was sweet on my Gt Uncle Johnny who was a bachelor. Anyway if you want to e mail me or send your e mail address I will be happy to send the photos over to you. Have you got any of her
Regards
Roz
 
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