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Did You Have a Paper Round ?

Dave,I started in 1958/9 delivering papers but worked at the shop as well stocktaking for Maurice his drinks,smokes etc right up until 1965 when I sailed for OZ.I see you live on the Pheasey;I did deliver there on odd occasions especially if the train was late from London with the morning papers and the paper kids had given up on them arriving.I passed the shop last year on a visit and see it was still in business.Cheers Les
 
Thanks Les Born on the Pheasey :), lived there until 15 1959, then the sea called :),

Paper round based at Clairs on the Queslett Road, near the Trees Pub, covered Kings road then down Shady Lane, time around 56-58 ?, yes on a Sunday :(, lots of extra weight :(
 
I had a paper-round with Oliver's Newsagents on Witton Road, near to the junction with Norris Road. The manager was a Mr Allen (I think) and he'd happily dock you a tanner from the five bob a week he paid his paper-boys if you were late turning up in the morning. I hated him, and he hated me. The worst 'drop' was the TA Barracks next door to Villa Park, where there was a very large hound whose aim in life was to chase off paper-boys and posties. One morning the bugger caught me, and held onto my ankle as I threw the papers in the general direction of the door. He really hurt me, but I beat him off with my canvas bag. Naturally the doggie's owner complained to Mr Allen, I was later sacked on the spot, and when my dad found out what had gone on he went down to Oliver's and told the horrible Mr Allen where he could stuff his papers. After that episode I used to take great delight in stepping into Oliver's to buy a magazine or sweets and giving Mr Allen a certain look...my old man must have scared the hell out of him. Happy days! (Not)

Big Gee
 
I had a paper round around the old prefabs off the College road Kingstanding / Perry Common when I was 11 in 1970.

I used to do the Hurstwood and Maxted road area of prefabs which were mostly occupied by old people. The roads never really went anywhere so were not used as a shortcut and it was really quiet and peacefull.

I loved doing that paper round, the old people were so nice and it was so quiet, dont think I ever missed a day !
 
What a smashing thread I wonder if our John got good tips in Little Aston............well he wouldn't tell me woud he!:)
 
I didnt actually have a proper round to myself but used to help gillian flello whose parents owned the newsagents in frank st.highgate..she used to give me pocket money and sweets .one night we were delivering the argus pink sport paper and id gone down an entry to deliver to one house ...a huge great alsatian dog came out barking and i made haste down the entry and it ran after me and because there was no room for it to get past me it climbed up and over my back badly scratching me and in my hair ..i screamed blue murder and all came running .needless to say that was my last day delivering papers and from that day since i wont walk with a dog behind me .i cross the road ..it was terrifying ..i was only 10 yrs old ......and to add insult to injury the dog ran off with my school beret ......
 
Hy husband used to have a paper round (not for long, though) for the newsagents in Beauchamp Avenue, Handsworth Wood. He got ten shillings for the round, which was a very long one. Not all the houses had papers so it was sometimes a bit of a stretch between houses, so he did it on his bike. When he was getting a bit fed up of doing all this and being the greedy person he was (is), when he spied an unopened box of 'Snowballs' - (marshmallow covered in chocolate and then dessicated coconut), whilst loading up his bag he popped them in his bag and covered the box with papers - this was, by the way, in the summer. Needless to say near the end of his round, some of the papers got melted 'snowballs' on them (he had, I assume, opened the box in order to gorge on the delights inside). Not really knowing what to do for the best, and knowing he would be reported (quite rightly) if he delivered newspapers covered in sticky stuff, he removed all the front pages! I am sure many people wondered why they had their Birmingham Mail deliverd starting at page 3. It gives us a laugh, remembering. I just hope no-one on this forum ever recieved the Mail without a front cover!
 
Lloyd said:
Yes, in about 1962/3, for Gibbs' newsagents opposite the Kings Head, Hagley Road. I remember the long route well.
Bearwood Rd, Poplar Rd, Anderson Rd, including across and part of Bearwood Rd, Lightwood Rd, Adkins Lane, Herbert Rd, then cross Hagley Rd for Lordswood Rd, (some very good wealthy tippers there!), Blakeney Ave, Hamilton Ave, then Hagley Rd back towards the shop. I got 12/6 a week for that, twice a day seven days a week (only once on Sunday of course, but the rich buggers all had two or three big papers with extra magazines in, Lordswood Rd had to be done separately as there was a bagful just for them!) Saturdays after the morning round clean the stock room, help restock the shelves and sometimes serve in the shop for an extra 10/-.
One Saturday there was a downpour and the drain to the back yard blocked and the flood threatened to come in the shop and stock room, I cleared the muck and dead leaves from the drain (yes, my arm down it to past my elbow scooping the muck out!) and got an extra 15/- for saving the stock! (The tobacco stock was down the cellar and would have been ruined if the flood had come in the shop).
Gibbs' had another shop on the corner of Bristol Rd and Longbridge Lane.
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Remember VICKS??..Norman Rd, Warley, thats where I worked from...1960.
 
COMPRESSORMAN said:
Remember VICKS??..Norman Rd, Warley, thats where I worked from...1960.
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Used to cover for my mate when he went on holiday so about three weeks a year in total. A temp really used to be paid 21 shillings an old guinea. Sunday papers with the extra supplements meant if you rode a bike you had to get the balance right .
 
Time Traveller 66 said:
Used to cover for my mate when he went on holiday so about three weeks a year in total. A temp really used to be paid 21 shillings an old guinea. Sunday papers with the extra supplements meant if you rode a bike you had to get the balance right .
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10 Shillings I got and rode a bike...also had a job delivering groceries again on a bike with a basket on front of handle bars, cant remember the shop on the Bearwood rd. Set me up for work at 15 which I hated, had no less than 7 jobs before getting to 20. Then I got one at Dudley hospital, rose to group transport manager in just 18 months. Left there went as a rep, company went bust so I bought same goods direct from manufacturer supplying same customers, expanded and did that for 47 years, obvious I was not meant to work for anyone else but myself. Anyone else had a wide variety of jobs in their lives?
 
Paper round, hairdressing Saturday girl.Saturday girl and holiday job in Gills toyshop, chambermaid, hospital dietetics cook, membership clerk, admin assistant DHSS, residential social worker, care worker in boys demand assessment centre,secondary school teacher, FE lecturer, then 30 years of secondary school teaching at various levels. Now retired but still work running a couple of holiday lets.
Since 13 I have always worked and earned my own money.
 
COMPRESSORMAN said:
10 Shillings I got and rode a bike...also had a job delivering groceries again on a bike with a basket on front of handle bars, cant remember the shop on the Bearwood rd. Set me up for work at 15 which I hated, had no less than 7 jobs before getting to 20. Then I got one at Dudley hospital, rose to group transport manager in just 18 months. Left there went as a rep, company went bust so I bought same goods direct from manufacturer supplying same customers, expanded and did that for 47 years, obvious I was not meant to work for anyone else but myself. Anyone else had a wide variety of jobs in their lives?
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One hell of a work ethic excellent.
 
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cba said:
I did a lot of careers teaching during my career. I also ran work experience schemes in schools. I believe that trying different jobs is as much about finding out what you do not want to do, or are not suited to, as trying the job you think you want.
cba said:
I did a lot of careers teaching during my career. I also ran work experience schemes in schools. I believe that trying different jobs is as much about finding out what you do not want to do, or are not suited to, as trying the job you think you want.
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Spot on my parents told me get a trade and you will always have a job . Plus it may save you money in the future. Took their advice stood me in good stead.
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spot on i wanted to join Army but my parents suggested i get a trade i got a apprenticeship did that then joined Army got that out of my system
But the paper round and working on the Milk was my doing
 
It was the paper round that started me off, but I didn't like it so as soon as I was 14 Sent to the local hairdressers.
Missed 2 other jobs off, dental and opticians receptionist. Hated the dentists! Only lasted a week or two.
 
Sorry. My fault I was trying to show that a paper round is often the beginning of the work ethic for many of us.
 
I had a paper round between Newtown Row and Blews St park near St Stephens church. I can't remember too much about it but I recall it was really difficult getting people to pay up when it was collection time.
Dave A
 
adap2it said:
I had a paper round between Newtown Row and Blews St park near St Stephens church. I can't remember too much about it but I recall it was really difficult getting people to pay up when it was collection time.
Dave A
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The papershop i worked for they came in the shop to settle up i recall posting some bills minus papers
 
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My Father ran a newsagent's in Woodcote Road, employing several 'newspaper boys' (I don't recall there ever being a 'newspaper girl'). If any of them didn't turn up, guess who got to deliver the 'papers! I remember the massive ledger for all of the customers that paid weekly. Each customer had a page of little tear off tickets and each ticket had to be initialed and given to the customer when they settled their weekly account. Once a year the ledger was dismantled and a new page of tickets inserted for each customer. It was a right faff!
 
Biscayne said:
My Father ran a newsagent's in Woodcote Road, employing several 'newspaper boys' (I don't recall there ever being a 'newspaper girl'). If any of them didn't turn up, guess who got to deliver the 'papers! I remember the massive ledger for all of the customers that paid weekly. Each customer had a page of little tear off tickets and each ticket had to be initialed and given to the customer when they settled their weekly account. Once a year the ledger was dismantled and a new page of tickets inserted for each customer. It was a right faff!
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Bang on thats how i recall it
 
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