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Does anyone recall a prep school run by a Miss Florence Price on the top floor of 11 Linwood Road? Aged 5, I attended this school circa 1945-46 before being transferred to Benson Road Infants in Winson Green. At Miss Price's, we wrote with slate pencils on wood-framed slates. I have lots of...

William, "General paralysis" is probably a reference to "General Paresis" or "General Paralysis of the Insane" (GPI) - see the entry on Wikipedia at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_paresis_of_the_insane Incidentally, I lived near All Saints Mental Hospital from 1940 until 1971. My work as...

Thank you Vivienne. So the photo was taken at least a decade later than I imagined. From the message on the back, I believe the PC was posted about 1960, which fits in nicely with the time-span you have indicated.

Many thanks Mike. Later than I thought! I would never have been able to identify those vehicles!

I'm hoping someone can help date the photo in this picture postcard of the Bull Ring. I found it among a collection of old PCs passed on to me in 2000 when my mother died (aged 97). Unfortunately, the PC is undated and there is no stamp or postmark but it was posted in the early 1960s. I'm...

As you say, Richard, the book gives a valuable insight into the development of Birmingham up to the beginning of WW2. Understandably, the Cadbury's Quaker ethos shines through, particularly in the accounts of the social aspects of the City: working conditions, housing, civic planning, etc. I...

Ten years after the 1933 photo of the Cadbury factory was taken, the same company published a profusely illustrated 56-page educational booklet for children, entitled "Our Birmingham". I have a copy of this, inherited from my father (died in 1961). I don't recall seeing this fascinating...

Thanks for all the info about G H Houghton & Sons. I just discovered, from the 1921 Census, that my late 'Uncle Frank' (Frank Leslie Penny 1899-1975) was at that time working for G H Houghton & Sons in Heaton Street as a Woodworking Machinist (musical instruments & cases). My brother and I...

I visited Hobart in 2004 and tried some of the locally-produced Cadbury chocolate. I judged it to have a different taste from the Birmingham variety. I prefer our Brummy taste, but I'm sure Tassies enjoy their own home-grown Cadbury's taste.

Thanks to both of you for your helpful responses. I think mikejee has answered my query because Kelly's confirms that Dixons was in Union Street before 1963. My brother worked there when he left school (in 1963). He was fairly sure it was then in Union Street. He was right. John

Can anyone help me identify, as precisely as possible, when Dixon's Camera shop moved to Union Street from (I think) New Street in the 1960s? Many thanks, John Ball

Shaun, I had a stillborn brother born in 1943 at Dudley Road Hospital (Birmingham). The hospital wrote to my parents to provide them with the funeral arrangements. I assume Loveday Street Hospital would have done the same. In my case the burial was at Witton Cemetery, about 4 miles away. I still...

Robin tentatively referred to Mr Darby as "Frenchie". When I was at HGS (1951-1959) we called him "Arthur". I don't know why - his initials were R B Darby. I have no recollection of anyone being beaten by him. John Ball 1A (1951-52), 2A (1952-53), 3A (1953-54), 4A (1954-55), 5A (1955-56), VI...

Thanks to all of you for your contributions. I certainly remember there were smoking restrictions on the No 11 Outer Circle buses taking me to and from school in the 1950s. As schoolkids, we always scrambled upstairs, hoping to claim a prized front seat. We were ignorant of the dangers of...

I need help. I'm trying to relive a bus and tram trip to Cannon Hill Park that I made as a child in 1942 with my Dad and my Nan. Dad was a heavy smoker - would we have needed to travel on the upper deck ('on top') so Dad could smoke? When were smoking restrictions introduced? I know we caught...

Thanks Covroad, I found this quiz far nor challenging than the previous one. I scored 5/8 but three of the five were pure guesses. The only answer I was really certain about was the Red Lion on Soho Road. There was a bus stop right outside the pub, where, for eight years, I caught the No 11...

I surprised myself by getting 9/9, because I didn't recognise two of the photos I guessed it was the ICC under construction because I would have recognised the other three options. I didn't recognise any of the 1928 pubs - I struck lucky with a pure guess.

Many thanks Mike. I much appreciate your interest and expertise. Incidentally, it was my father (not grandfather) who was born "Back of 28". At this time (1896) his father (Frank Ball) was a railway porter at New Street Station.

Mike - My dad was born at "Back of 28 Holloway Head" in 1896. Bearing in mind your point about the change of numbering of properties, where do you think No 28 was located? Would even numbers have been on the south side of Holloway Head, and No 28 be located between the Horse Fair and Exeter...

Thanks again MWS. I'll follow up James's sister's line tomorrow, as well as looking for James and his family. And I'll follow your suggestion, Lyn, re the Surname Interests section. I need a break now!...