-
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
Percy Shurmer
- Thread starter Phil
- Start date
Phil
Gone, but not forgotten.
It amazes me that I simply am unable to find a written word about this great Birmingham man, a character, benefactor,councillor and M.P the list could go on. I have tried Solihull Library, Birmingham Library, The British Library and even Google'd him.
His name turns up nothing on any of the library search engines, and Google only turns up the schools, buildings and parks named after him.
If any one could tell me the date he died which I believe was in 1959 and also where he was buried it would be of a great help.
Thank you to those who have replied to this enquiry.
Cheers,
pmc1947
His name turns up nothing on any of the library search engines, and Google only turns up the schools, buildings and parks named after him.
If any one could tell me the date he died which I believe was in 1959 and also where he was buried it would be of a great help.
Thank you to those who have replied to this enquiry.
Cheers,
pmc1947
B
billc
Guest
pmc1947
have you tried this
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Percy_Shurmer
hope it may help
and this one
https://web.ukonline.co.uk/brian.david.williams/diary/1958.html
have you tried this
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Percy_Shurmer
hope it may help
and this one
https://web.ukonline.co.uk/brian.david.williams/diary/1958.html
Last edited by a moderator:
postie
Gone but not forgotten. R.I.P.
Percy Shurmer was born in 1889 and died 29th May 1959.
He was known as the Miskin King, he would smash them up forcing the landlords to replace them at regular intervals with proper bins. ( a miskin was a little lean to with a corrugated roof ).
He used to take crowds of local kids out for the day to give them a break, they were known as Shurmers Sparrows. He lived in Belgrade Road and made most of his speeches in Dymoke St, standing on a chair.
When he became M.P. the locals chanted " who put gas in yer house"and " Who put slabs on yer pavements. "
Although only a little man, he had a heart as big as Brum.
He was known as the Miskin King, he would smash them up forcing the landlords to replace them at regular intervals with proper bins. ( a miskin was a little lean to with a corrugated roof ).
He used to take crowds of local kids out for the day to give them a break, they were known as Shurmers Sparrows. He lived in Belgrade Road and made most of his speeches in Dymoke St, standing on a chair.
When he became M.P. the locals chanted " who put gas in yer house"and " Who put slabs on yer pavements. "
Although only a little man, he had a heart as big as Brum.
Last edited:
sylviasayers
master brummie
Hi pmc - I have read a number of articles about Percy Shurmer by Carl Chinn, mostly on his page in the Birmingham Evening Mail on Saturday nights. Perhaps you might look for those if you go to the Central Library.
Phil
Gone, but not forgotten.
As I've said Postied I know a little about the man. He was a friend of my grandfather and when I was young I met him several times I sometimes used to deliver election pamphlets around Balsall Heath for him.
I never went to one of his parties though, perhaps he thought my grandfather would be insulted. My grandfather often told me about his trick of standing on a chair, and about his catchphrase " Lets be perfectly honest with ourselves".
But as you get to a certain age you don't want to listen to people going on about times past. Then you begin to age yourself and you think I wish I had listened and learnt more. The only trouble is its too late they are gone and so is part of out history.
Cheers,
pmc1947
I never went to one of his parties though, perhaps he thought my grandfather would be insulted. My grandfather often told me about his trick of standing on a chair, and about his catchphrase " Lets be perfectly honest with ourselves".
But as you get to a certain age you don't want to listen to people going on about times past. Then you begin to age yourself and you think I wish I had listened and learnt more. The only trouble is its too late they are gone and so is part of out history.
Cheers,
pmc1947
W
Wendy
Guest
There is a piece about Percy in Carl's book Our Brum. There is a photo of him and his sparrows also one of his funeral.
Pomgolian
Kiwi Brummie
:angel: I lived in Dymoke St as a child as you may have already read on a few threads. I remember the man who stood on a chair in the street shouting (well thats what it seemed like to me at the age of 4 to about 10). I know my Dad knew him at the time, coz he always said hello to him and stood talking to him for what always seemed like ages to a young child. One day when I bemoaned about having to stand while he talked to that little man who shouted all the time. My dad said "Uncle Percy (that's the way all male adults were addressed to us kids 'Uncle') may be a talker and not very tall... a bit like you are bab, but he is a 'Big man' and if you grow up to be half like him you'll be doing ok.
That meant nothing to me at the time and I had forgotten all about it till reading this thread and now it all makes sense at last, as I had no idea who 'Uncle Percy' really was.
I have been a member of this amazing site for what seems like forever (4.1/2 yrs) and you'd think I would by now be 'all memoried out' (not a word I know), but no you guys are still able to bring back memories long forgotten Thanx pmc1947 for bringing back that memory of my childhood, Percy and my Dad.
Pom :angel:
That meant nothing to me at the time and I had forgotten all about it till reading this thread and now it all makes sense at last, as I had no idea who 'Uncle Percy' really was.
I have been a member of this amazing site for what seems like forever (4.1/2 yrs) and you'd think I would by now be 'all memoried out' (not a word I know), but no you guys are still able to bring back memories long forgotten Thanx pmc1947 for bringing back that memory of my childhood, Percy and my Dad.
Pom :angel:
W
Wendy
Guest
pmc1947,Its in the first Our Brum no volume the cover is a sort of yellow/orange colour.
Chris it's nice after 4 years plus you are still discovering memories. I am relativley new and I am finding things every day!
Chris it's nice after 4 years plus you are still discovering memories. I am relativley new and I am finding things every day!
Phil
Gone, but not forgotten.
Thank you again Moma P, I'll be on to Amazon for a copy.
Pomgolian, I think everybody who lived in the area where he came from knew Percy Shurmer it was hard not to. I also think it is a shame that so little has been written about the man. I think if he had managed to get elected as an M.P. at an earlier age or he had lived longer he would have gone on to be a greater man than he was.
By the way my wifes family came out of Dymoke Street.
cheers,
pmc1947
Pomgolian, I think everybody who lived in the area where he came from knew Percy Shurmer it was hard not to. I also think it is a shame that so little has been written about the man. I think if he had managed to get elected as an M.P. at an earlier age or he had lived longer he would have gone on to be a greater man than he was.
By the way my wifes family came out of Dymoke Street.
cheers,
pmc1947