Recent content by Martyn

I recently inherited a box of photographs dating from 1930s - 1940s perhaps into the 50s. All but three have no names, dates or locations on the back, so I haven't a clue as to who the subjects are. I think they are from my grandmorther's side but could be family members or friends or probably a...

You could say that Alex Cropley didn't break his leg, it was in fact broken by an Albion defender who would have found himself in court for assault had it not happened on a football pitch.

When I was a bit younger, and before the days of health & safety, I loved taking my life in my own hands and running down the embankment at the back of the Witton End after a match.

Villa were formed in 1874, they moved to Villa Park in 1897.

Some interesting AI enhanced pictures of Villa Park, some better than others:

There are plenty of YouTube videos explaining how to get this free security update and it took me less than a minute:

And there are hacks to get around it, for example:

Here's a few record shops that no doubt disappeared along with 78rpm records: Scotchers, Corporation Street Beresford's, Dale End & High Street, Erdington Beesley's, Park Road, Aston O.E. Miles, Wheeler Street, Lozells P.J. France, Church Road, Yardley Allen's, High Street, West Bromwich...

Kings Norton Toll House is at the end of my latest walk if you fancy some exercise:

A pic from 1921 showing the cottages' locations next to the once mighty GEC

First pic is looking down from Deykin Avenue to Lock 13, the other is a boat leaving Lock 12 in front of cottage 79.

The three in question are on my latest walk: at 9.05 (Edstone), 11.18 (Wootton Wawen) and 15.50 (Yarningdale)

Could you upload a few of the other inside pages?

The second John Biscoe was built by Fleming and Ferguson Ltd, Paisley, for the Falkland Island Dependencies Survey (FIDS). According to the Witton News, she was an 'all-electric ship and the whole of her equipment was designed and built by the GEC'. Launched in 1956, passengers on her maiden...

My copy of the July/August 1956 edition of Witton News mentions some apprentice activities at Castle Bromwich Hall and this is from Bill Dargue: After the War the General Electric Company at Witton rented the Hall as accommodation for their apprentices. There were usually 75 students...