hiya astonian
sounds like you know a lot about the hockley area, especially around ford st. i dont know much about the kirby's at all but this may help pinpoint which family you associated with.
my father was named colin hugh kirby, he was as i said in the police around his 20's, he was also a harmonica player and won a few medals in an international competion in germany, both as a solo and in a group of harmonica players - havent a clue what they where called, i know he took my mother - maybe before i was born, or not long after, i was born 1957 so it was around that time, my mother was called eunice mary howell, her father was called edwin, she had 3 sisters - maureen, joan, and jeanette. they all lived in ford st, i dont really know where my father lived or any of the other relatives.
does any of this ring a bell
thanks
pcm