Recent content by Clive F

I didn't arrive at Yardley until 1957 but I well remember the factory smell at the end of the playing fields. I don't know if the smell was from MEM or AP Springs. A group of us used that area as it was out of sight for a "jumpers for goalposts" kick around in the dinner break, hopefully to not...

I went over it on a few motorbikes but the best sound was an Ariel Arrow 250cc 2 stroke.

The Valley, Yardley Wood Road had a Gents Only. It was my father-in-law 's watering hole and I loved it in there. Regular clientele, industrial language but never any trouble.

I was surprised to hear mention in #8 of Walsh, Medlicott Road. My brother and I started off with a 1937 Morris 8 which required regular maintenance and Walsh was our "go to" guy to get serious engine and cylinder head work done. It was only a house and I remember he had his name in the fanlight...

What a pity that the startling difference in Viv's two photos is the amount of litter in the later one. Sparkbrook was a very tidy area in my youth but it's just a reflection of the general malaise we have to endure nowadays.

Just wanted to say that The Fox holds special memories for me. I slipped an engagement ring on Mrs F's finger in that pub 61 years ago. Still going strong!

This question was years ago but I can't see that anyone has addressed it. The factory was on the left hand side of Sydenham Road walking away from Montgomery Street. City Electrical Factors was on the corner of Anderton Road and Sydenham Road.

Lovely photos again Mark. Thank you.

Lynn Given the year I'm reasonably sure she would have been a conductor. I don't think they had women drivers in the early 1950s. Clive

That badge with a DD prefix is a bona fide badge for a bus driver of conductor. If it has a red surround it's a driver. If it has a green surround it's a conductor.

In the 1960s along with many others, I sat my Civil Service entry competition exams at Central Hall as did my wife. It's always held a special place in my memory. Daunting at the time of course. I never understood where the word "competition" figured in the procedure but it certainly did!

New Hall Valley is Sutton Coldfield's second jewel in nature's crown hundreds of years after Sutton Park. It's amazing that it's been created, both formally and naturally in less than thirty years. Of course, the natural part, Ebrook and Plantsbrook were always there to be developed but those of...

I qualified to work for the civil service in my final year at school in 1962. I was directed to the GPO and my first job was on the Post Office counter at the post office at 79/80 Coleshill Street. It was a rather quiet post office apart from Thursdays as that was pension day and there were...

I'm another former Yardley Grammar School pupil, 1957-62 and I have fond memories of the tuck shop and Mr and Mrs Woolley. My fading memory tells me that they hadn't been at the shop very long before I arrived at the school. Lovely people who I'm sure had infinite patience to cope with all those...

Saturday morning detention at Yardley Grammar School around 1960 for either playing football in the lunch break or caught smoking or both. Dear me - misspent youth!