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Out of interest, I use G-Mail and never get any junk e-mails (touch wood). I also have a Hotmail e-mail account, and I get junk e-mails fairly regularly, which is why I never use Hotmail for anything I consider important. One small tip: I change my G-Mail password fairly regularly. G

Lady P's post about the old Birmingham Eye Hospital jogged a few memories of my own. I remember the big hall where the specialists sat on high chairs at wooden desks, and my Mom used to say it looked like a Victorian counting-house. Like many medical men back in the 1950's, most of them were...

This is a very interesting thread, Lyn, full of memories, and many thanks for starting it. First, I used to love going into town with Mom when I was young - we'd walk down and catch the No39 at Witton Circle, then spend an afternoon (during the school holidays, of course) touring the shops...

Sorry to hog the posts here, but regarding American cars. I was transferred to Ohio by my employer in 1977, and I was supplied with a quite old Chevrolet Chevelle, which the Yanks called 'mid-size' and I called 'enormous'. If I recall, the engine was a 5400cc V8. By my reckoning it did about 12...

You're not far wrong there, William. It was rumoured that the largest non-production department at Longbridge in the bad old days was Purchasing - someone at the factory told me that there were over 900 people employed in Purchasing, which may or may not be true...but I won't argue with that...

I was employed in the automotive supply industry for many years until I retired. Unfortunately, I also knew Longbridge in the days of Red Robbo. What was actually going on at the time is still unclear, but it was the beginning of the end for Longbridge. Matters did improve, but the simple and...

My memory was plainly at fault! Thanks for the correction. G

I thought the Porchester Arms was on the corner of Porchester Street and Summer Lane. I vaguely remember playing darts there in the mid-1960's. As far as I recall, Porchester Street ran from Summer Lane to Clifford Street, but in later years was shortened by a park and no longer reaches Clifford...

We lived not far from IMI Witton, and I do remember that titanium-plant explosion as well as the later ammunition one. My late father was employed as an installation and maintenance electrician for Birlec Furnaces Ltd, and I know he did some work on furnaces in the IMI titanium plant. He liked...

You'd got one correct! The other one is a small bald-headed fellow.... I used to visit Tyneside on business on occasion. Loved the genuine Geordie (Newcastle) accent, but when I was in Gateshead I could hardly understand a single word. Likewise, people I know who come to the Midlands don't...

I worked in and around the Black Country from about 1966 onwards, and never heard the term 'YamYam' until about 10 years ago! Someone told me it was all started by a DJ on a local Wolverhampton radio station....might even be true! Re: differing accents around Brum, this is perfectly true. I had...

Don, A couple of houses down from Wigleys lived the Bates family, who were close friends of my parents. Did you know them by any chance? Walter, Mary and daughter Sue. We kept in touch for a few years with Nancy Rowand after she sold the Model Mecca and moved into a flat near Brookvale Park...

In the photo of Witton Square (Circle?) can just be seen the name on its open gate part of the name The Clifton Case Co Ltd. This was run by the Shorthouse family, and my dad was a friend of Mr Charles Shorthouse, who very occasionally visited our house. The company moved to Shady Lane (in the...

I'd forgotten all about the 'Dr Ambednar Centre', whatever that might have been. I always thought that the butcher's was at the shop to the left, but I may well be way out. If the good Doctor's 'Centre' wasn't where the butcher's was, then what was there? G

Brummiebell, I'm going back the best part of 70 years, so don't rely too heavily on my memory. The other thing I recall about that butcher's is that I think it was referred to as a 'pork butcher'. The 'Rat Pan' was a very up-market and select hostelry for the better class of gentleman, a.k.a...

Nan used to say that she hated Princetown and Dartmoor, and couldn't wait to get away. I think she may have been no more than 15 when she left, and I also have a feeling that she never saw her parents again. Had she been able to (write, that is) she could've put a best-seller together with the...

The butcher's I remember was on the corner on the left, where the new houses are. As far as I can recall we knew the shop as 'Tonks', and I have a vague memory that he knew my dad as a regular at the Rat Pan. G

My paternal grandmother was born on Portsea Island in 1872 or 73. When she was about 12, her father got a job (as a carpenter, I believe) at Dartmoor Prison which meant the family had to up roots and move. Nan says they travelled to Dartmoor by horse and cart, and as they'd be living in...

I saw Dave Pegg playing bass with another band a couple of years ago. And Dave Swarbrick was (briefly) married to a friend of ours some time ago - sorry about the name-dropping! For my money he was the outstanding member of Ian Campbell's band. Yes, the crack at the 'Jug' was to get in the bar...

WStreeter, yes, Ian Campbell was big back in the Sixties, probably the first British 'folk group' that made the big time in this country. I used to go to the Jug Of Punch at Digbeth Civic Hall when he was the resident band - the place would usually be packed out. The band was talented and...