Recent content by JohnCCD

I spent many happy days fishing at Brookvale as a kid in the late 60s and 70s. I caught Roach and Perch but mostly Gudgeon. My favourite place though was fishing for Tench in Bracebridge pool very early morning at the beginning of the season. I live in Somerset now but if I'm passing by I'll...

If the nasty 60s addition on the top had to be removed then it would be a distinct improvement. Let's hope the original is undamaged

Does anyone know what the final outcome was? Was it just the 60's addition at the top that was damaged? Thanks.

Lovely historic buildings like this would be cherished in most parts of the world . It's such a shame they're not looked after here - unless they're in London.

Thanks Maz! That's really interesting. He was mostly deaf which would have stoped him being called up. I didn't know he'd ever been a clerk to borough surveyor.

Thanks for looking Maz and Vivienne. My father was 21 in 1939 and his parents were Thomas and Sybil so that's not him unfortunately. I vaguely remember my mum saying he had been a fire watcher. Is that the same as a warden?

Here is a news paper story from The Walsall Free Press dated 30th January 1858 about an illegal game of whist in the Scott Arms. Robert Cragg, mentioned in the article, was my 3xGreat Grand Father.

Thanks Vivienne! I think he lived in Handsworth but it could have been Sutton or possibly Great Barr. He may well be listed as Thomas Evans Day. He liked to use Evans Day instead of just Day.

I believe my father was an ARP warden. If anyone comes across a Thomas Day in the records I'd be very interested and grateful for the information. Thanks!

I believe my father was an ARP warden. If anyone comes across a Thomas Day in the records I'd be very interested and grateful for the information. Thanks!

Yes. I remember that shop. It was a small outdoor. Used to sell sweets and such as well. I spent a fair proportion of my youth in Erdington Library or the swimming baths next door. Even met my first girlfriend there. Very glad to hear that it's still thriving.

I'd gone to New street station that night to meet my girlfriend off a train. I must have got there about the time the bombs went off but didn't hear anything. When we tried to leave the station the police stopped us and escorted us down the ramp at New street. They made us go quick because they...

True. I didn't mind being called bab. It made me smile for the rest of the day. They don't much use "darling" down here my lurver.

I'm 68 and live near Bristol. Our local garden centre has a butchers run by Brummies. Last time I bought something there, one of the butchers called me Bab! I don't know if he had clocked I was from Birmingham but I can't help thinking that calling old blokes Bab is going to cause some confusion...

I've just come across this thread and very interested to see the discussion of the rubber stamp companies (Yes - sad. I know) Ash Rubber Stamp was bought by the H.B.Sale company just before the first world war. My grandfather, Thomas Harold Day was a grandson of Henry Bailey Sale and he became...