I lived in Saltley in Ash Road, till I was 21 in 1961 (b 1940)
I remember the air raids, the shelter at the top of our garden, the neighbours in the shelter looking up as I went down the steps with mom, I remember the night lights in the shelter.
We lived at 172, my Aunt Ev Jackson, moms sister, lived at 174, moms brother, Uncle Sid Jackson lived at 182 with my Aunt Elsie and my cousins Alan & Peter Jackson.
The Jackson family, that is moms parents and her brothers & sisters, my aunts & uncles in the making, all lived at 174. The Edkins family lived at 172 before us. Grandma Jackson died & is buried in St Saviours fronting Ash Rd near where the graveyard ends. I used to go with mom but I doubt I could find the spot nowdays.
I used to attend St Saviours Church with mom and later on became a Server and a Bell Ringer. I can still remember the bell numbers for a simple tune we played - 1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8 - 1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8
1.3.5.7.2.4.6.8
I have a photo of a bunch of us servers all robed up taken outside the back door that led back into our robing room, The Sacristy. I have another of me coming over the Bombed with the Church at my back, coming to Ash Road where they later built a run of maisonettes beginning at the end of the graveyard. The original houses were destroyed by a parachute mine in the Blitz.
I am photographed walking over a mound of earth & bricks.
I also remember playing in the Bombed in Arden Road near the off-licence in Ash Road. Two houses were taken out there.