• Welcome to this forum . We are a worldwide group with a common interest in Birmingham and its history. While here, please follow a few simple rules. We ask that you respect other members, thank those who have helped you and please keep your contributions on-topic with the thread.

    We do hope you enjoy your visit. BHF Admin Team

BAB,when are you too old to be 'Bab'

The term going round the Wrekin meant not the shortest route. The Wrekin is a large hill in Shropshire on the borders of England and Wales.
 
My auntie always was called Bob - it was a derivative of Bab, as she was the youngest in the family!
 
Wrekin

The term going round the Wrekin meant not the shortest route. The Wrekin is a large hill in Shropshire on the borders of England and Wales.

Thank-you so much,Moma.
Funny how you remember the liitle things when you are a kid:)
 
Bab

When I got married my father-in-law always called me Bab which I hated. He only stopped calling me that though when my son was born as he then became the Bab (baby) of the family, or Babby as F-I-L would say.

He also called me Wench which was another name that I didn't like.
 
Round the Wrekin

I still say "Going round the Wrekin", especially with the bus services that we have in Tamworth.

Some say "Going round the houses" instead as they go through and round the housing estates.
 
bab

My mom called me bab up until she passes away, i still call my daughters and there children bab.My grandson pointed out to me when he was about three that his name was Ryan and not bab. Tend to call it strangers as well. Shop assistants there all known as bab
 
sayings

Another one mom used to say she never swore but she would say "Bleedin Ell"
 
I used to hate being called Bab but that was when I was in my teens. I love it now and when I returned "home" recently for an uncle's funeral I realised how much I missed being called it. I felt all emotional when being greeted by "alright bab?" and "how's me wench?".

Didn't realise I used it myself until my youngest brother (over 40 and father of 4) shouted at me for calling him bab and referring to him as "the babby" :rolleyes::D

xxx
 
There you are Folks:)

"All around the Wrekin" is a phrase common in Shropshire, Herefordshire, Wolverhampton, Stafford and around to mean "the long way round", in the same way that "round the houses" is used more widely. "To all friends around the Wrekin", meanwhile, is a toast traditionally used in Shropshire, especially at Christmas and New Year.
In 1981 an event was undertaken by local school pupils and adults called "Hands around the Wrekin", whereby a large group of people all held hands, surrounding the hill at the base.
 
I worked at Lucas Aerospace 1961-1989,Works Engineers, an Electrician named Harry used the name Bab for every one, i was a Machine Tool Fitter and if we went on a job together he would say "Lets go Bab", he said that all the time i worked there, i remember a film but not its title i think it was on the telly, and one of the cast kept saying "What about the Babbie Harry?", we had a lot of laughter with Harry over it!.
 
To hear the words Bab, Ducks, Love, etc. spoken many times just take a shopping trip to the Fruit and Veg market in the Bullring (sorry don't like the new spelling) and those words will ring in your ears over and over if you are a lady shopper. Love it!
 
I love the expression & think its just a wonderful affectionate term that tells me I'm well & truly 'home' when I visit dear old Brum. A year ago, we were in the Tescos in town & my son was paying for something at the till when the lady said "there you go bab"......he looked puzzled until I explained it to him......he thought this was most strange (he's North East born & bred with a dash of Brummie!!:)). Most definitely a well loved Brummie term, (like Bostin eh?).
 
Yo Folks :) a friend of mine, Turkish fellow runs a Fish & Chip shop nearby,
His wife recently presented him their first baby, lovely lttle boy :)

He proudly calls him,,"My little Kebabby" :D Good brummie eh!
 
My Auntie Eve, who was the youngest in the family was always called 'Bob' and I think it was because she was the baby in the family. She was always called Auntie Bob by my cousins right up until she died.
 
I know this thread started a while ago, but I've just found it - looking for something entirely different! Anyway, I had forgotten the term, having lived in Yorkshire for over 30 years and then, while down in Birmingham sorting out the family house I started calling the dog "Bab", and generally lapsing into Brummie. We never, as a family, used the term, although my older brother used it to his stepchildren, so why did I suddenly start using it? It is no bad thing, I must say!
 
hi all. my mom and dad still call me bab. mom even puts it in her text messages to me... bless em

wales.
 
Another one is "Nip". My Aunt used to call my Dad "Nip" (even in his 60s) because he was the yougest of three. 2 girls and 1 boy. Nooooooooo!
 
Memories....... - A friend at college used to call me 'Nip', and I always call my husband 'Bab'. Don't know why because he is older than me, not exactly a 'Bab', but the word just comes out!

Anthea
 
Having lived around various areas of the country, Bab is not something I have heard outside of Brum.
Whilst I don't know when you are too old to be called Bab, my sisters and sisters in law still call children Bab. Our parents used the term, but I only remember it being used when talking to children.
 
Lets be proud of our 'bab' and 'babby' - we Brummies get a lot of bad press because of the way we speak, but these sayings belong to us so lets use them with pride.
 
My mom still called me bab on my 70 birthday.
I use it all the time,and don't know I'm doing it.
Worcester people sometimes use it.
 
being sent to coventry was an old brummie saying
if people did not want to know you or speak top you ;
and just of late i am getting that impression .;
 
Don't think you are ever too old to be called 'Bab'. I think its so personal. Ann
 
Well, i beg to be different, there's always one.

I was born and brought up in Birmingham but i was never taught or used
Bab, Babbie, Bostin', and i never went to towun on the buzz either.

They may be terms of endearment to some but to me they sound awful...
 
Being taught was not was not what it was about Neville,it just came natural,and you spelt babby wrong.
 
Back
Top