During the 1940s we lived in Knowle Road, Sparkhill and there was a Birch family living almost opposite us and kept a little general shop to the left of the entrance to the allotments. Their son John was a mate of mine and would be about the same age as me (I'm 81 now). Also in our gang was Dickie Amott who was living in Weymouth according to his elder brother John, who last time I communicated with him was living in Bermuda. Sorry but I have no idea of John Birch's parent's names.
Maurice