Recent content by Oldcogger

4 That is correct, he farmed it until the 80s then moved to Canvey Island, as we were still in touch with Paul and Pam at that time. Pam moved with him and Paul moved to a flat in the city, and we still keep in touch. When I got married in 1970, my car was a few days from being untaxed, so I...

The farm was late Tudor, so I believe, and had to be supported by two huge wooden supports to stop it from falling over. As a young electrician, I screwed an outside light to one, as it was dark in the farm yard. Inside the long kitchen with an old, large fire grate, and there was a circular...

Because of the path for the Luftwaffe in the early days of WW2, the heights of Hill Top Farm was the perfect place to install 2 anti aircraft guns. That site was later used as a POW camp for German prisoners and can remember it being occupied. As a small boy, I was given a jam jar full of water...

The farm was, and the fields still are, part of Birmingham City Councils Estate, and each farmer was a tenant. I, and many friends, went to Hill Top Farm in our teenage youth, when Joe Ryman farmed it. His son Paul was my Best Man in 1970, and is still in Birmingham. His daughter Pam now lives...

I have walked that path many times in my youth, and can remember the slack heap by the side of Sandwell pool (Wassan pool). I was actually standing with my uncles dog on the heap as a massive earth scraper was removing it, for use as the base of the M5/M6. The slack was actually on fire and...