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Hat sizes now seem to be measured in centimetres circumference. I take a 7 5/8”, which I was amused to discover is very close to 24” circumference (61cm. approx). Now, whenever asked for my hat size, I say that I have a two foot head!

Sorry Myrddin, I didn’t intend to correct, but maybe to flush out one of the many experts here who might like to inform us about nineteenth century road construction methods. I’ve always wondered how they managed to keep the tram tracks clear, what with all the horse-drawn traffic churning up...

I may be wrong about this, but I’d always thought that tarmacadam wasn’t widely used until motor cars came along. Major roads in rural and sub urban areas would have been surfaced with gravel or clinker perhaps?

An update to this. I developed a temperature of 100°F the following day, and felt rather unwell. It’s come down over the course of today to something approaching normal for me. I can’t remember feeling this bad after a ‘flu shot!

I can remember the Pattisons cake shop on the north side of Villa Road in Handsworth. Marvellous cream cakes mmm.

Yes - I had these too.

It’s really not good enough

I received an SMS from my medical centre a week ago, stating that I was now eligible for my first vaccination there. I had to log onto SystmOnline in order to book this, and slots seemed to be going fast. This was to be the AstraZeneca Oxford vaccine, and that there was no need to wait...

I can remember being provided with bus tokens in order to attend metalwork classes. We didn’t have a workshop at Harry Lucas, and so were sent to Gem st, and then later, Warren Farm Road school.

I had a silent ‘no number’ call today, followed later by the; ‘BT unauthorised use of your account, which has been suspended’, (or some such words) automated call. This as always, followed by an exhortation to dial ‘1’. I have my ‘phone service with Plusnet, and these calls can be diverted by...

I remember Plotneks. On Hamstead road, and I think near Charleville road. They sold all sorts of cheap electronic parts. I can remember buying a soldering iron from them, which failed very quickly!

I too had forgotten about the Sons of Rest. My grandfather was a member and wore the little enamel badge. I suspect that at that time, l probably found the idea of such an organisation slightly ridiculous as you do when you’re young. Gramps was a regular attender at the Small Heath park branch...

I’ve only just seen this thread, and I was intrigued to see a photo of the Timpsons Soho road branch. My father was a Timpsons manager for many years, and Soho road was his last shop before he was forced to retire in 1965 due to poor health. He worked for Timpsons from leaving school to the age...

Another picture from ‘Summerville’ school, taken in 1934.

Some of the older forum members may be interested to see this photograph, taken pre-war (around 1938/1939 l guess). My mom is in the picture and her next school would have been Marlborough school I think, but the war and evacuation intervened. I attended Somerville Road myself for about a year...

I can remember (just), drinking my first proper ‘pints’ in the Frighted Horse. Mild, at 1/10 if I recall correctly. This would have been in the late sixties, when I was on day release at Handsworth Technical College. Day release didn’t finish at around 5pm, but rather, there was a break of an...

I have an old piece of card, which has the autographs of Villa’s players in their March 1934 game against Arsenal at Highbury. I doubt if it has any value, since the signatures are in pencil and rather faded, but I‘m sure that Villa fans would be interested to see it. They were collected by my...

Are you thinking of ‘The Grove’ Lyn? That was off the north west corner of the square, and the houses had front gardens.

One from ‘77 or thereabouts...

I lived in ‘The Square’ for seventeen years from 1960. Quite a unique street for Birmingham, which as far as I know, doesn’t have many squares. Our house had I presume, changed little since it was built. No bathroom or indoor toilet, no hot water and just the one electric socket. When we moved...