I was there about the same time and can remember: Les Smith, Allan Corbett (he went to work at Car Lighting), Hedley Hindmarsh, Tony Ticer, Dave Rowley ( died a few years ago), Tom Gillette, Mr Winkley and Martin Broadbent. I was an auto- electrician with Les Jeans. Gordon (the swimmer), he was the workshop foreman/tester. I sometimes see him in Sutton. Roger the workshop foreman. Terry Blizzard (mechanic) who was a friend of Dave Rowley.
When I worked there, the petrol pumps had gone and a showroom was built for the BMW's. The Minerva café supplied an excellent sausage and tomato sandwich, it was their 'signature dish'.
Yes, Allen Corbett became a rep at Car Lighting which, I think, was in Moseley Road. I now remember Les Jeans and Gordon played water polo at a high level. When I was there I think Terry Blizzard was in the Service Reception. I was with Allan Corbett in the part of the stores that issued parts to the workshop. I had acne and glasses!!
I remember Dave Rowley spraying air freshener into the back of a Type 2 van that was used by a fish merchant. Were you there when there was a fire in the paint stores?
I don't remember the paint store fire.
Garage I worked at in a Ryland street had a Johnsons ? Fish merchants van in for accident repairs, think it was one of the Austin J series, when we started to strip out the double skinned rear floor we found it full of maggots. Much panic followed before we pushed the van to the steam cleaner and that was the end of the maggots.
My dad ran Smithfield during the late 70’s and early 80’s for the Labrookes - Clive Shakesheff. He became the Group Operations Director for the group when they were awarded franchises for Porsche, Mercedes Benz and Jaguar (Monarch Cars) My brother and I have very fond memories of going to the dealership in digbeth every Saturday, drinking hot chocolate and eating sausage sandwiches, wandering around the new cars.
Who was the author of The Hidden History?The site of this garage, is of course just a very small part of the history of the old city. Most history of that place and the area lie beneath the surface. Quite interesting excavations and the subsequent finds have given much information of the areas past, illustrating the various industries that were undertaken in the early and late medieval times. Most seem to have been located there due to the amount of water/river that was a large feature of the place. It revealed that some of the area, where the garage was, was built-up ground enabling structures to be built.
Digbeth and Deritend have so much hidden history* that is still being discovered.
* "Birmingham The Hidden History" - if you haven't got a copy, treat yourself to one.
birminghamhistory.co.uk
Smithfield owned the Renault dealership in Marston Green, John.
Thanks Bob.
I now remember some of us used to go to that pub at the top of Digbeth, the pub with the Galleon on the outside wall. What was the pub called? Any memories of it please?
The Royal George.
Thanks for the info, me not remembering that was bothering me. Much appreciated.
