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Hi Andrew! Remember me? Keith Wilson. I have just given your father the newly completed history of All Souls Cricket Club (80yrs old). If you contact him you will read some of the happy, funny memories of those cricket tours plus photos of your father and grandfather. If you are...

Arrow, I believe the barrage balloon site in Handsworth Wood was sited on the Handsworth Grammar School playing field in Romilly Avenue. Not 100% sure but I think it to be so. Regards. willey

Lets salute the stoicism and ingenuity of our mothers as they struggled with the constraints of rationing both with food for ever-hungry children and securing clothing for fast-growing children. They could certainly show the present day "whingers" how to cobble up a healthy meal from bits and...

Wrights Ropes ground circa 1950. It was somewhere in the Aston/Nechells area from memory. I think it was an old industrial tip that had been levelled. The pitch took up the entire flat area so that when the ball went out of play it required a suicidal slither down the slope in order to...

The rubber road was built from rubber blocks and was an early experiment to see how the surface stood up to traffic. The fact that it was not taken up on other roads suggests it was a non-starter either on wear, safety or costs points of view. willey

I too agree with the fore.going comments. Too many modern day views are judgements taken out of the context of the times. The mindset of the people who suffered the German onslaught and faced the prospect of defeat were in no mood to go soft when the tables were turned. When the opportunity...

Degsy, Yes, absolutely certain. It was a maternity hospital at that very time, hence the problem in stitching faces. I personally played cricket for many years with the men concerned and they confirmed the details of event many times over the years. I am under the impression that they did...

Hi All. Just an aside to this thread. Back in 1950c, our cricket club - All Souls Cricket Club - were playing a match against Durex Abrasives on their ground in Marston Green. Two of the A.S.C.C. batsmen received cuts to the face from the opposition's fast bowler. Both men were...

Re: st georges place.. Hi TOPSYTURVEY! I believe the above photo of the outing has my grandfather in it. He is the one standing under the "W" of Wimbush - the sixth face from the left. Do you know the occasion of the outing? Regards. willey

GER22VAN, I agree with your sentiments entirely. At this time of year one's thoughts are brought into sharp focus with regard to the many sacrifices in all conflicts. Regards. willey

Astoness. I have never seen that photograph before. It really captures the atmosphere of the place and yes what a poor place it all is now. Better to live in the memory I think. Big Gee, I too remember R. Watts. My mother placed an order one Xmas during the war for a Meccano set...

Astoness, Great picture! Remember the scene well. My wife used to take our young son to watch the diggers at work. He is 53 yrs old now. Where did the time go? regards willey

The picture show the first class bath. This had separate changing rooms. The second class bath next door had no such refinements - you changed behind a communal curtain. For this reason, male and female swimmers used the second class bath on alternate nights. The good old days! willey

Hi Stitcher! I bought a "Zennox" tape to digital converter for a similar price to that of Sospiri. The "Zennox" works simply and effectively. I bought mine following an advert in the "Daily Telegraph" about twelve months ago. Would expect it to still be around. Try the after sales...

Hi All. The "Birchfield Picturedrome" was first opened in 1913 under that name. My wife has an inscribed cigarette case given to her grandfather by the architect on completion of the building. He was the builder. Hope this clarifies any confusion. Incidently, the Odeon was the...

natty, Sorry I can't help you with the Ancestry Family Tree but have you considered constructing your own tree using Excel spreadsheet software? I have produced many of my own which are tailored to my own requirements rather than that of someone else's ideas. You can draw the actual tree...

Shortie, It is most definitely was the "Odeon". That was how it was originally designed and built. The outside was in keeping with the internal decor. Middle Eastern in appearance. It subsequently had all the cement rendering removed and the brick frontage was the final alteration up...

TOPSYTURVEY, Great to see the old library again. I well remember going into the place as a small lad to get my books out such as "Biggles" books and ones by Percy F. Westerman. Great! By the way, the shop on the left of the picture became a "Civic Restaurant" during the '50's. It was...

Big Gee, Correct!

Hi. Yes, I grew up with the sound of the machine gun firing from Kynochs. The sound helped my fertile brain when playing at soldiers. Ir is little known that I saved our Country virtually every day from the safety of our back garden without ever being seriously wounded. With regards to...