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Walford Road, Sparkhill
- Thread starter KPNUTS
- Start date
R
RobertH
Guest
Hello KPNUTS,
I remember it very well. We lived in Benton Road when I was a child and our garden backed onto theirs, so I often had to go in to retrieve lost footballs! There was also a bakers on the corner of Medlicott and Walford Roads, which advertised the prizes it had won for baking "Hovis", Skinners the bike shop, who made my first proper bike and also sold fireworks every November, and Scaife's the newsagent. Their daughter was in the year ahead of me at Golden Hillock primary and won a scholarship to King Edwards High School for Girls. Everyone was very proud of her.
I remember it very well. We lived in Benton Road when I was a child and our garden backed onto theirs, so I often had to go in to retrieve lost footballs! There was also a bakers on the corner of Medlicott and Walford Roads, which advertised the prizes it had won for baking "Hovis", Skinners the bike shop, who made my first proper bike and also sold fireworks every November, and Scaife's the newsagent. Their daughter was in the year ahead of me at Golden Hillock primary and won a scholarship to King Edwards High School for Girls. Everyone was very proud of her.
Hi RobertH,
This is great!! In the early 60's we lived in Walford Road close to the Emmanuel Church on the corner of Golden Hillock Road. I went to Golden Hillock Primary before we moved out of the city. When were you there? Do you remember anything about the Fortey family, names, their daughter etc.? I am trying to pinpoint where the family is on my tree, as to which W.J. started the fruiterer shop and whether one of the sons carried it on. Thank you so much for your response.
Regards,
KP
This is great!! In the early 60's we lived in Walford Road close to the Emmanuel Church on the corner of Golden Hillock Road. I went to Golden Hillock Primary before we moved out of the city. When were you there? Do you remember anything about the Fortey family, names, their daughter etc.? I am trying to pinpoint where the family is on my tree, as to which W.J. started the fruiterer shop and whether one of the sons carried it on. Thank you so much for your response.
Regards,
KP
I remember it too . we lived i at 64 Osbourne and I used to go to Emanuel church . I remember bonfire nights up there . Do you remember the sweet shop on the corner of Walford rd and Osbourne Rd . I used to love going there with my Tanner pocket money spending thrupence on a quarter of raspberries and blackberries and a chocolate log 
I remember Medlicot rd to .. I walked up there loads . I went to Montgomery St School
Regards Jean
I remember Medlicot rd to .. I walked up there loads . I went to Montgomery St School Regards Jean
Hi Jean, I used to be in the choir at Emannuel and also was a member of the Brownie Pack. Living so close to the church I remember the line of poplar trees that grew right against the brick wall next to the neighbour's garden. I went past there last year and saw a building next to the church which seemed like an extension, so maybe all the poplar trees have gone now. My best friend and her family lived at the Vicarage with the Vicar's family.
Regards,
KP
Regards,
KP
jennyann
Gone but not forgotten. R.I.P.
Hi KP: Here's a link to St.John's Church which has an old drawing of Emmanuel Church which is no longer there. www.stjohnsparkhill.org.uk/history.htm
jennyann
Gone but not forgotten. R.I.P.
Sorry, should have put this on previous post. There is a photo on Virtual Brum site of Walford Road. It's in their "Then" and "Now" section with two photos
https://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/sparkhill.htm
https://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/sparkhill.htm
Other memories of the Walford Road area:
Having been brought up in Osborn Road, I remember Mr Clee's TV shop (corner of Osborn and Walford), the shop on Walford road (corner of Fallows Road ) run by a German woman called Helmi Chilton and next door to my best friend (at 180 Walford) Peter Maskell; his dad worked for the Pru and garaged his car on Hangleton Drive.We used to go to the Ansell's off licence (Osborn road farther up) which was run by two sisters to get his Dad's beer in a jug. Almost opposite 180 Walford lived their friends, Gwen and Cliff.
We lived on the corner of Holder Road and in 1953 my father (John Rawlings) organised the coronation street party with Mr Horace Brown of 2 Holder Road. Other local neighbours were the perrotts (next door to us) and just up from us was a lttle terrace called the Limes where my sister's friend Rita Scargill lived.
My sister Carol Rawlings weent first to Conway Road school (Head was Myfanwy Edwards)and then to Sparkhill Commercial school. I went to Golden Hillock Primary and to Moseley Grammar in 1958. The head of Golden Hillock was Miss Burwood and one of my teachers was Miss Pargeter; also Mr Barnett, Mrs Bayliss.
When I was a student I worked at the Coop Wines and spirits shop on Sparkhill opposite Showell Green Lane.
On the Stratford Road I remember Westwoods Greengrocers, Rains Pen Shop, Taberner's cooked meat shop. My friend Peter Maskell worked on Saturdays at Burton's shop on Sparkhill. Does anyone remember Eaton Smith's barbers on Walford near Stratford Road? Is Dyson Richards Funeral Directors still on Stratford Road and the chip shop on Walford Road?
My sister married Roy Gazey who lived at 22B Formans Road.They got married in 1960 at St Saviours Church, Saltley which was my father's church.
Having been brought up in Osborn Road, I remember Mr Clee's TV shop (corner of Osborn and Walford), the shop on Walford road (corner of Fallows Road ) run by a German woman called Helmi Chilton and next door to my best friend (at 180 Walford) Peter Maskell; his dad worked for the Pru and garaged his car on Hangleton Drive.We used to go to the Ansell's off licence (Osborn road farther up) which was run by two sisters to get his Dad's beer in a jug. Almost opposite 180 Walford lived their friends, Gwen and Cliff.
We lived on the corner of Holder Road and in 1953 my father (John Rawlings) organised the coronation street party with Mr Horace Brown of 2 Holder Road. Other local neighbours were the perrotts (next door to us) and just up from us was a lttle terrace called the Limes where my sister's friend Rita Scargill lived.
My sister Carol Rawlings weent first to Conway Road school (Head was Myfanwy Edwards)and then to Sparkhill Commercial school. I went to Golden Hillock Primary and to Moseley Grammar in 1958. The head of Golden Hillock was Miss Burwood and one of my teachers was Miss Pargeter; also Mr Barnett, Mrs Bayliss.
When I was a student I worked at the Coop Wines and spirits shop on Sparkhill opposite Showell Green Lane.
On the Stratford Road I remember Westwoods Greengrocers, Rains Pen Shop, Taberner's cooked meat shop. My friend Peter Maskell worked on Saturdays at Burton's shop on Sparkhill. Does anyone remember Eaton Smith's barbers on Walford near Stratford Road? Is Dyson Richards Funeral Directors still on Stratford Road and the chip shop on Walford Road?
My sister married Roy Gazey who lived at 22B Formans Road.They got married in 1960 at St Saviours Church, Saltley which was my father's church.
Hi, dyson funeral directors is no longer there, however the chip shop is still on Walford road
I grew up in Roderick Road near Walford Road & went Golden Hillock Sch 1957 to 1963 and Moseley Grammar 1963 to 1970. I was in the same class at Golden Hillock with Janet Scaiffe. I remember having a bike from Mr Skinner and the chip shop in Walford Rd. I think Westwoods was more than one shop - a grocers, fish shop and a flower shop. Taberners was on the other side of Stratford Rd between Burtons and the Salvation Army. I thought the Walford Rd chippy was run by a Greek couple. The German lady ran the chippy on Stratford Rd near the Mermaid. My dad was a member of the Conservative Club by the Mermaid chippy.
Carolannep
Brummie babby
Does anybody remember the couple who had the corner sweet shop in Walford Road in the very early 1960's? Margaret and Dennis MORGAN was their name? What was the shop called? Dennis was killed in a car accident in late summer 1963.
mw0njm.
A Brummie Dude
i remember learning to roller skate at the rink 
birminghamhistory.co.uk
Embassy Roller Rink Walford Road
anyone remember the embassy roller skating rink just off the stratford road sparkhill, i had many happy hours there, hire the skates, really loud music, and always packed, just thinking i had a great childhood, without causing problems for others those were the day's.(its a mosque now or an...
birminghamhistory.co.uk
BrianE
knowlegable brummie
I too was born at 28 Roderick Rd in 1944 also went to Golenhillock Rd School 1949-1955 Miss Burwood was head mistress. Do you remember the Whitehouse family at no 26.
Hi everyone!
Does anyone remember W.J. Fortey - Fruiterers at 105 Walford Road, Sparkhill, close to the corner of Medlicott Road? It was there back in the early 1950's and apparently owned by cousins of my mother.
Regards,
KP
pjmburns
master brummie
It was Hodrien's in 1950 (phone book).
Listed as Hodrien's in 1940 Kelly's as well.
Perhaps the Fortey Family were managers? Hodriens had more than one shop.
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BrianE
knowlegable brummie
May I ask are you Colin Horton and was your mother’s name Muriel. Also your father had a Ford Prefect, there were very few cars in those days.
Brumbrum123
New Member
I lived in sparkbrook during the eighties and remember the shop on the corner of walford road and medlicott road being known as walkers but ran/owned by an indian family
BrianE
knowlegable brummie
I do remember this small shopping centre I would be asked to go there with or for my Mum as a boy in the 1950’s it was not far from my home in Roderick Road, Wrights bakers sub shop was on corner of Medlecott Road and Walford Road and a little further along Waterford Road was the post office where we purchased and cashed postal orders, the number eight inner circle bus run along Waldorf Road we would catch the bus at the middle bus stop between Medlecott Road and Osborne Road and travelled in the direction of Balsall Heath.This was a regular trip particularly on Sundays to go to Chapel. In those it was a very quiet and safe suburb in which do you live. All the people are very friendly and neighbourly.