Recent content by devonjim

Next to Clarendon Chambers, was Clarendon Hotel, more a "pub" in it's latter years, my dad was "gaffer" when it closed down in early 1960's

Mike, am i right to associate this view with "The Austin Village" https://www.austinvillage.org/ "Sure" I used to walk alongside Kalamazoo to visit friends who lived in the village? was 1950's!

A friend was doing an artist impression of Auchinleck House from the original drawings for Murrayfield Real Estate. He thought the brick panel to the right looked too plain and did a sketch, more of a doodle really, which became the colourful artwork in this picture.

As a DIY person I remember in late 1970's having to buy timber in metric feet, each 300mm long, mind you I am fairly certain the same timber was sized say 2inX2in ! always thought it was a right muddle!

When first married in 1968 we lived in Stockfield Rd just a few minutes walk from this library, being free to use it was used regularly. As closing time, eight pm, approached the caretaker would sing out in a resonant voice "five minutes please". That phase has remained in our household...

My wife worked in an office at Cadbury's in around 1970, as a woman she was on temporary staff, the men were graded permanent. Always thought that was quaint.

Hard to imagine now that on the land opposite Notcutts Garden Centre until the 1940's was a horse racing course. Later it became the golf course. http://www.greyhoundderby.com/Shirley%20Park%20Racecourse.html

I've noticed that "Barber's Poles" have become red, white and blue, surely the traditional red and white poles were linked to the history of when barbers dressed wounds and the red and white represented the blood and bandage.

Please explain why the prices in men and womens hairdressers are so different. There seems to be a factor of X2 between the prices for women v men, for very similar "dry cuts".

So that was what was above my head as I waited on Coventry Rd for the bus home from school 1951-56.

A bit late! Glad you had a great family day! Do it again next week for Mothering Sunday?

This evening watched an old gardening prog on TV, The Wild Gardener presented by Colin Stafford Johnson, a repeat from some fifteen years ago, enjoyed it first time around just as good this time. Highly recommended!

Forge and Halesowen to me means Walter Somer! https://www.blackcountryhistory.org/collections/getrecord/GB145_p_770/

The Kingswood name persists in the area, there is an unitarian chuch with the name nearby, was there a Kings Wood once upon a time?

Not totally relevant! In 1940's knew of a lady who lived as a neighbour to Kingswood Farm in Druids Lane, she lived at "The Laurels" she was called Laura Bliss I guess she would have been born at the turn of the century. The gatepost of her house is still there today on google map oppoosite to a...