St James Church Frederick Road Aston

[StephenGP]

My grandparents and parents were all baptized and married at St James, Aston. They lived on Ettington and Whitehead roads and during the 1920s there was a very strong youth group associated with the church. My father was a bit of a musical prodigy and put on shows with his friends in the hall on Witton Rd. My parents moved to Castle Bromwich in the 1930s but they kept close connection with their St James' friends. As a kid in the 50s I remember many visits to gatherings at the Witton Road Room. I can still recall the smell of the fumes from the coke-fired heaters throughout the room as well as the stage and lighting. In the early 60s, my dad continued to do his musical shows with the 126th Birmingham scout group in Castle Brom, visiting St James and putting on shows near Christmas for St James' senior citizens in the hall. One story has stayed with me. During every church service in the 20s the vicar would announce upcoming events. According to my parents, on one occasion he referred to the Witton Road Room as the Witton Rude Room and, of course, it stuck for everyone. When the church was demolished in the 60s my father got one of the pew benches and installed it in our kitchen.