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Has anyone had a celebrity or well know person walk past them on a Birmingham street, or perhaps seen one “off duty” in an unexpected setting in the city? I know some may find it difficult to suppress a feeling of overwhelming jealousy when I say this, but Bob Price and Cyril Fletcher once...

I remember being sent there to buy odds and sods when I worked in the Jewellery Quarter in the 80s. Mouse and rat traps (the building I worked in was infested), ammonia, white emulsion paint, all manner of cleaning fluids etc. It didn’t really stand out from the many other hardware shops that...

Of the modest number of bands I’ve seen play live, a couple in particular stand out. I was lucky enough to see Fleetwood Mac play with the Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Christine McVie, Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham line up. I was worried I’d be disappointed as they were all around 70 at the...

Twenty odd years ago I took a car to a main dealer for an MoT and was given a list of failures and a bill of around £600. I had the corroded back box replaced then took it to a different garage who showed me in person that all the other “failures” were, in fact, nothing of the sort and it passed...

Thanks Pauline, will do! John.

You’re welcome, I’ve been told it’s an excellent place and your post reminded me to pay it a visit.

They really are in remarkable condition. Perhaps the Transport Museum in Wythall might be interested? John.

I lived on the Vale for a couple of years in the mid ‘80s when I was in my teens, having moved there from Kings Heath though not by choice. Not wishing to offend those who have fond memories of the place, and I’m sure many people have, but I wasn’t a fan. I’d never heard of it before and when I...

I’ve recently received text messages supposedly from the DWP about the winter fuel allowance and from the Department of Welfare Grants (no, me neither) saying I’m entitled to free money. I’m expecting a text offering me some magic beans any time soon.

I took a girlfriend to see Ghostbusters there in 1984, and I’m sure I saw a few other films there too. “The Pictures” was an ideal place for a young chap to take a girl even in the twilight days of the cinemas, especially on a first date. Grand old buildings, dark and cozy with threadbare seats...

I’m sorry to learn of your father’s passing and always appreciate anyone’s involvement in the running of this very valuable site. RIP, Postie. John.

I remember buying rugby kit from the Quaife and Lilley store in Kings Heath in the ‘80s, I think it was at the top of Station Road, near the park. My mate had a cricket bat made to order by them, at least he said it was anyway. Can’t begin to imagine how much something like that would cost now.

If you think they’re tales worth telling, go ahead. Maybe best not to name names, though.

Hello Paul, I grew up just down the road from Dingle Mead all through the seventies, I lived next to Dawberry Fields. Like you I’d sometimes play by the canal, Lifford reservoir (though I was strictly forbidden to) and on the railway embankment and remember the area with a great deal of...

Now you mention it, I recall being told Billy’s had something to do with Paul Henry. Out of all the pubs I mentioned I liked the Old Wharf and the Spotted Dog on New Canal Street best. I remember there being a cockatoo (or parrot) at the Spotted Dog for a while. I’ve just looked at the pub on...

From Wikipedia: “In the 1970s, Morris read children's bedtime stories for the Post Office to be heard via the telephone. Children could dial 150 and hear a different story over the telephone each week; these included the Peter Pixie stories written by Olive Hyett.”

As a child I remember calling a number (when I was allowed to as I was told it was expensive) and listening to a recording of the late Johnny Morris reading a “Bedtime Story”. Looks like the same sort of thing to me.

That would have been within earshot of my house if it were tested.

Lyn, the “Bull” name sounds familiar to me. As I recall, the factory siren was a continuous note with an intermittent lower blast sounded on top of it. It’s hard to say what direction it came from but I think it was from the other side of the railway embankment, so that would be Stirchley...

I remember hearing sirens being sounded as a kid quite regularly when I lived in Brandwood in the ‘70s, I believe one was a factory siren but another time I was told one was a test of an Air Raid siren. Does anyone else remember air raid sirens being tested at that time?