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As a child, who was your local ice cream man? During the ‘70s in Brandwood, Kings Heath I remember a chap called Dougie who sold the usual vanilla flavoured stuff that was squirted from a pump dispenser would do the rounds. I wasn’t a regular customer. Then another chap appeared on the scene, he...

That’s putting mildly.

It’d be great if your Dad could share his memories of the Jewellery Quarter here, Mark, both in general and of running DRH in particular for so many years. It can’t have been easy as it was very seasonal, in the months leading up to Christmas everyone was working flat out to fulfil orders, then...

Hello Mark, I can’t tell you how pleased and surprised I am at your reply! No.8 was exactly as you described it and you even remembered the dartboard. I wonder if you remember the old valve Pye radio that sat close by, it was always switched off at lunchtime for darts sessions. Yes, I remember...

At the foot of Allens Croft Road near the junction with Brandwood Park Road in Kings Heath stands an Elim church. A brick building now, when I lived close by in the 70s and 80s it was a good deal smaller and I seem to remember it was of wooden construction. Off on a tangent I know, but very...

I remember Gabriel’s from back in the early to mid 90s, I did some repair work to an outside tank or hopper if I recall correctly. I never went inside but I think at the time they were involved in stainless steel castings. The place sticks in my mind because while I was perched precariously on...

Nether Whitacre Church Hall.

I remember one of these corrugated steel churches in Kings Norton, close to the canal where Parson’s Hill meets Wharf Road on the bend of the road. Think it was painted green, but possibly black. No longer there, it was replaced by houses some time ago. Outside of Birmingham I’ve a feeling...

Thanks Viv, I always appreciate old pictures of Kings Heath, Kings Norton, Cotteridge, Stirchley etc.

Removed.

Many happy returns, Froth.

I can’t help with any photos of my own home I’m afraid, but if you’re attempting to replicate a home from the 80s there are some variables you need to nail down. Early or late decade? Working or lower middle class (if you’re building a council house/flat.) Age of the people who live there? A...

I love a hot drink to take to bed. Hot milk with honey and cinnamon is very nice but my favourite is Ovaltine. I remember these adverts from my childhood (themselves harking back to my parents youth) and they made a big impression on me, what a lovely, cozy, wholesome image they portray. I...

Welcome, leonardbrit. Done well I agree it can look sensational but I’m well aware I’m very much in the minority. Unfortunately, in the UK it often seemed to go hand in hand with cost cutting and poor construction methods, the results of which were frequently inflicted by ideologues on a deeply...

“What’s for tea, Mum?” “Mince and onions.” Mince and onions, boiled potatoes and tinned peas. Seemed fine to me at the time, but I tried some tinned peas again not long ago and dear god they were awful. I don’t know what liquid they’re packed in but they smelled like someone had micturated into...

As a nipper I remember eating a lot of minced beef, rabbit and neck of lamb stew. This would’ve been because it was cheap. I rarely buy lamb neck now, it’s delicious buy very expensive for what it is. What changed? I also remember my Dad eating tripe, heart, brains and pigs trotters. I used to...

It’s a matter of opinion of course, but I regard the TV License fee as an enormous scam anyway.

Received an email today claiming to be from Screwfix, smelled a rat straight away and a quick check online confirmed it as a scam. A lot of retailers ask for your email when paying (I refuse to give mine) and by doing so they’re really not helping the situation at all.

That’s a nice memory to have of your Dad, Paul. As the great Carl Sagan said, “To live in the hearts of others is to never die in those we leave behind.”

Thanks for the heads up.