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Tavern in the Town and The Mulberry Bush Pub Bombings

  • Thread starter Thread starter Kandor
  • Start date Start date
Mo,

I'd just caught a taxi from New Street Station. We got to Digbeth, and it came over the radio and they were calling for all taxis to return. So I only just missed it. But I was up Brum the very next night (it was really quiet), and many more nights afterwards.

Ann
 
Ann - The ironic part was that most of those killed and injured especially in what we called the Hole in the Wall were young Irish people.:(Mo
 
I know Mo. That didn't matter to those that planted them. They were sad days and months for Birmingham. And sad for years, I guess, for those directly affected.

Ann
 
Hi all, I'm new to the boards, so deepest apologies if i've posted this thread in the wrong forum!

Basically I'm a second year university student, having lived in Birmingham until the age of 18. I'm studying Screenwriting at Southampton Solent university and our latest module is docudrama - where we should produce a peice that we feel passionatley about.

I have decided to do a docu-drama about the Birmingham Pub Bombings of 1974. Although I wasn't even born when these events took place, I've heard all the stories from my dad, and have realised that it's still an important part of our local history. After all it was the biggest terrorist attack on homeland prior to 7/7.

I have always felt that the events of that day, and the traumourm that those who were injured or those that lost loves one that day went through, was overshadowed by the controversy of the Birmingham six, and for my docu-drama want to keep it about the victims of that terrible November night, and how their lives were changed forever by it.

I've done some research into this already, having gathered over 100 pages of internet research, i've also watched a few documentaries on the events of that day. As i'm currently in Southampton the libraries down here don't have much on the topic, and a search on the website catalouge of Birmingham libaries doesn't show much on the subject (how suprising is that!?)

So basically my question to you all is whether or not you can help me with my research, by giving my some advice on where to go next to further look into this topic, as I really feel that it should be written as accurately and honestly as possible.

Many thanks in advance to anyone who takes the time to reply!
 
hi there, my! this brings back some awful memories. I was 19 at the time and going out with a girl when it happened. I remember being at her house on our own when the news came through about the bombings. I was watching the TV when they announced the name of the pubs involved and my girl friend burst into tears, she cried out that one of her work mates had gone to the tavern to have a night out. I assured her that she would be alright. How wrong could i be, the girl in question had been killed that night, she was a bubbly lass and i had met her a number of times, oh what fun she was. The next few nights were the most upsetting i can remember, there were real fears of reprisals. Thankfully everyone kept their heads and the terrible situation began to dilute. At times i remember that girl and even now over 30yrs later i can see her beaming smile,what a waste:(
 
I have noticed that the BBC did a documentary 30 Years On: The Birmingham Pub Bombings.

Has anyone got a copy of this that they would be willing to lend me to watch? I would obviously return it to you after watching.

I'm suprised Birmingham Library doesn't have an archive copy of it.
 
I recall the Documentary made by the BBC ......... ragga :)
Does this short clip help ??


[ame="https://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=2VL_5y8R8Gk"]YouTube - IRA atrocities - The Birmingham Pub Bombings[/ame]
 
Thanks ragga.......phew that certainly bought back the memories of that awful night!
 
It would aid you to contact a survivor of the bombings or a member of the emergency services involved at the scene.

I recall that one of the forum members claimed to be a survivor on that night, but not sure if he's still an active member.
 
Hi everyone,
Have just re-read Chris Mullin's "Error of Judgement" and re-watched ITV's 1990 World in Action report, "Who Bombed Birmingham" in which the producers name the actual bombers..in the programme the producers allude to a police report dated 1975 that names the real bombers, in effect clearing the B'ham6 but ignored by the authorities because of reasons best known to them.
Have searched high and low for an online copy of this report but no luck,
anyone out there have any suggestions ?
Many thanx
Sid
 
Cheers Langstaad,
Have seen both links previously, do you know of any links to police reaction to World in Action report ?
Was anyone disciplined ?
Sid.
 
I may be wrong but I believe the Police Officer involved took early retirement before the report was published.
 
I remember that night well. I was 18 and had been at night school in Kingstanding. Myself and a friend would have normally gone into town and into the Tavern after classes had finished before splitting up to get our respective buses. On that night however the bus was late and so when we got into town we decided to skip the drink.
I remember hearing the first bomb go off as I got on the bus down in Bull St, it sounded like a large empty skip being dropped from height and echoing between the buildings.
I didn't think much of it until I got home and found my mom distraught with worry as she had by then heard about the bombs and knew that I and my brother were both in town.
My friend went to catch his bus in New St and was looking in HMV window next to the Tavern when the bomb went off. He was blown back across the road. My brother was in Boggart's night club further up the road and felt the whole room shake as the bombs went off. A lucky escape for all of us. If that bus had been on time, I probably wouldn't be here now.
 
We used to use the Tavern as a meeting place before we went to either the Windsor or the Alhambra, there was always a few guys in there who we used to chat to. If I remember rightly one was called Lenny, another Molly, Graham, who we went down to work in St Ives with and another one called Joe who we went to the Isle of Wight Festival with. I was working away from Brum when the bombs went off but I remember comin home for a while and seeing the animosity to the Irish families who had lived and grown up alongside us
..Anyone remember Molly and Lenny and the others?
 
Hi All

Is there a society for the victims of the Birmingham pub Bombings? The reason I ask is I am building a model of Birmingham New Street set during 1986/87 and I was planning to model the Rotunda and the Mulberry Bush pub below it. My plan is to copy the memorial plaque and mount it on the front of my model as my own memorial. Obviously I wont do this if it causes offence. So how do I check?

Regards

Jim
 
Memories of the night of the Pub Bombings.
Yes all those years ago but it is still quite clear for me. I was 30 minutes away from being in the Tavern in the Town.
I had planned to meet my friend Bob Hill, at this home in Nechells (I stayed in Erdington at that time) I drove to his house. His father came to the door and asked me to come in and wait as Bob had not yet returned from his work. I sat in the living room with his Mom and Dad.
Bob eventually arrived home, then after a quick wash and change, we headed off to the city in his van. As we reached the town, we were stopped as a police car was blocking the Inner Ring Road from approaching traffic. We were turned away, and headed for a pub back in the Nechells direction, there was some local radio report that said keep out of the city but no details were given as to why.
Once there we heard the news that the Tavern had been blown up. We were shocked as was everyone, but we were even more so with the knowledge that if Bob had been home from work on time, we would have been in the Tavern at the time of the explosion.
I think of the many things that have happened to me in my life, and consider how things would have been if I had not been delayed that night.
One of my collegues had a brother who was in there that night, he wasnt killed fortunately, but he still has the memory.....
 
Hi All

Anyone able to link me to a victim group for this. Also I am looking for the date the Mulberry Bush closed along with a picture of it in its normal, every day state.

Best regards

Jim
 
I'm pretty sure theres a pic of King Kong on the forum somewhere with a clear view of the mulberry bush in the background.

And another of a midland red bus with it in view as well if that helps, good luck
 
Hi Jim

Is this any good to you, I don't know if it was before or after the event. I hope it can be of some use to you. I will look to see if I can find any more. I have others that were taken on that terrible night but I am not going to post those because obviously would be of little use to you.

Phil

CityTheMulberryBush.jpg
 
hi guvenor
just read your thread where you stated the producers named the bombers
from my recollection nor the mp involved never did named the bombers to producers of
the media ; i watch that programe and they never apprended the bombers either
and the chaps they caught on the train was the wrong guys they was decent hard working folk on there
way to a funeral but the real bombers was still here in hiding and still are rubbing shoulders with us
the authorises today have learnt alot and are very highly aware of such people around today
despite warng from the goverment and the police to joe public askingus to be viligient
most people do not remember after afew days of it being mentioned on the news or in the papers
and forget it it people was permantly vilient it would be safer for us all
even with todays warnings with our strifes in the world you have got to be viliegent
have a nice day guys and remember keep them peeled Astonian ;;;
 
Dianne said:
Hi all,

This is first time I have saw this thread and it has re awakened memories I have tried so very hard to forget.

I was a victim of the Pub Bombings, I was outside the Tavern (just about to go in) when it exploded , I had already heard rumours that the Rotunda had been hit by a bomb and I was rushing into the Tavern to meet my friends to tell them we needed to go home.

My friend never made it , she was one of the youngest victims, I remember
the chaos and carnage the screams were the worst memories, I was one of the lucky ones, I escaped with just a few phospherous burns and a perforated eardrum, others were horrifically injured, I can re-live this now as I am typing.

Please God - never let this happen to our children..

Please - put this to rest.......

RIP all the innocent victims

Dianne
Click to expand...
don't know if you still post here Dianne, or not

thanks for sharing this
I am really sorry you lost your young friend

I, and my friends were only 15 yet used to frequent city centre pubs in 1974 [yes, I know, we shouldn't have]
it could have been us :(

I hope you can continue to get over it
 
hi I remember the great out rage against the Irish here in Cambridge, I always felt so sorry for the hard working and good Irish people I knew and drank with. I also understood the feelings of the other side, the bus driver killed in London the nineties was someone I knew from my old regiment, we lost 7 dead from my Battalion, and shared their sentiments. Although catholic and having my mom born in Kildare, and nanny from Monastreven, going into paroxisums of anger whenever she heard the name of Eamon de Valera she called the( butcher of the Irish and Ireland) and it has to be said some of the Irish lads I knew saying them self's that these people are murderers and how they hated them.
A very sad tale from a long long sadness between the Irish and English the most inter married cultures on the planet. I was in Belfast and Londonderry and Dublin in 2008 and was astounded how they all seem so united now.
paul
 
Thank you Phil

That is just perfect. Another question if I may, does anyone know when the Mulberry Bush closed? I am sure I have read an article that mentioned it and what happened to it afterwards but I can't for the life of me find it! After it closed I am sure it remained a pub under a different name and I have a vague memory of seeing carlesburg logo's there. Which I thought a tad odd as the Rotunda above it had Castlemain XXXX logos around the base.

Best regards

Jim
 
Hi Jim

If memory serves me, The Tavern in the Town was renamed The Yard of Ale and The Mulberry Bush was renamed The Bar St Martin.

Phil
 
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