Toni62
master brummie
Kelly. ( sorry )
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Radiorails
master brummie
I note Peter Graham is now a guest here. I wonder what period of time he refers to? There were two or three lady flower sellers in Corporation Street, opposite what was Martineau Street, not long after WW2 and probably some time after that. Around 1946, maybe 47 I was with my Nanny and her friends who were shopping in Corporation Street. However my interest - most likely in the trams and buses - caused me to lose sight of the others. I never found out which shop - or was it Pattisons - that they had gone into. Realizing I was now 'lost' I went to one of those lady flower sellers and told her my sorry tale. I asked for 2d (old money), as that was the childs bus fare, which would get me to Hall Green and from there I could walk the rest of the way home. When they arrived home I was in big trouble. Severely chastised for being inattentive and causing them so much anguish and also it was mentioned they had visited the Police, to report me missing and that they were searching for me. Actually I have always believed this story of theirs but on reflection, as I type this, I think it was a scare story so that it should not happen again. For instance there was no Police follow up nor did they visit my home in case I had returned. I now believe that they came out of whatever place they were in, started looking for me, made enquiries and were told by the lady flower sellers that one of them had given me 2d and I had gone home. On reflection my impulse was rather hasty, but in a large bustling city a young eight or nine year old possibly found it all rather daunting. If this is so, then I hope they gave the lady the 2d, if not I still owe it to her! As no mention of money was ever made at a later time I have the feeling that my debt was squared.
Toni62
master brummie
Was that Nellie & Kathy Kelly.I note Peter Graham is now a guest here. I wonder what period of time he refers to? There were two or three lady flower sellers in Corporation Street, opposite what was Martineau Street, not long after WW2 and probably some time after that. Around 1946, maybe 47 I was with my Nanny and her friends who were shopping in Corporation Street. However my interest - most likely in the trams and buses - caused me to lose sight of the others. I never found out which shop - or was it Pattisons - that they had gone into. Realizing I was now 'lost' I went to one of those lady flower sellers and told her my sorry tale. I asked for 2d (old money), as that was the childs bus fare, which would get me to Hall Green and from there I could walk the rest of the way home. When they arrived home I was in big trouble. Severely chastised for being inattentive and causing them so much anguish and also it was mentioned they had visited the Police, to report me missing and that they were searching for me. Actually I have always believed this story of theirs but on reflection, as I type this, I think it was a scare story so that it should not happen again. For instance there was no Police follow up nor did they visit my home in case I had returned. I now believe that they came out of whatever place they were in, started looking for me, made enquiries and were told by the lady flower sellers that one of them had given me 2d and I had gone home. On reflection my impulse was rather hasty, but in a large bustling city a young eight or nine year old possibly found it all rather daunting. If this is so, then I hope they gave the lady the 2d, if not I still owe it to her! As no mention of money was ever made at a later time I have the feeling that my debt was squared.
Jeannie
master brummie
I remember buying my mum 4 large chrysanthemum blooms every month for 10 Bob from the sellers, buying 6 was more than I could afford from my Wages ,but she loved them
Phil
Gone, but not forgotten.
Mary Sutton & Katie Kelly who I believe were the sisters first mentioned in this thread, they both spent their whole working lives selling flowers in the Bull Ring I believe there was another sister Nellie who died first then Mary went and lastly Katie. Please forgive me if I've got this wrong but I've pieced it together from bits and pieces of information it's possible Mary & Nellie might be the same person. Mary is the black & white photo and Katie is the Colour photo.
Toni62
master brummie
3 sister. Mary Kate & Nellie.
Phil
Gone, but not forgotten.
Thanks for the clarification Toni, as I said I wasn't quite sure.
Radiorails
master brummie
I have no idea. As my post mentioned I was only eight or nine years old at the time and was not on first name terms with ladies who had not been introduced to me or me to them.
devonjim
master brummie
You know how it is when you remember half a story but I think one of the flower ladies in Corporation St worked with a man who worked for education department, at a store to the north of the city from where equipment eg. camping gear, could be hired for youth organisations.
Anyone know what their maiden names were.
Toni62
master brummie
Kelly.
I am trying to find out what their mothers maiden name was and if it was Sheridan.
There was 3 sisters Nellie Mary and kate Mary and Nellie didn't speak to one another for years.
Mrs Mary Sutton, flower seller, opening the outside escalator to New Street. Viv.
berniesims
proper brummie kid
Mary Sutton's son Billy took up the stall on New Street Station. He always gave my mom large bunches of flowers on her way home from work.
my sister was a modern day flower seller in the 80s...i used to go with her to the wholesale market and helped on her on her stall in the bull ring market....happy days when our city centre was full of great characters and hustle and bustle...sadly those days are fast diminishing... 
so pleased that i saw these great days for myself
lyn
so pleased that i saw these great days for myselflyn
You are correct with the 3 sisters, Mary,Nellie and Katie.