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Solihull Online would like to hear your memories of growing up in Solihull
during the 30's.
If you would like to add to this page, we would love to hear from
you.
Click on the links below to view memories of that period
1930's | 1940's | 1950's
| 1960's | 1970's | 1980's
| 1990's
This page was last updated on
05 May 2008
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Posted Monday, May 5, 2008
RAWLINS, Richard Reuben. If someone out there is related to Richard
Reuben Rawlins I'd love to hear from you. Thank You
Carol
Kennedy
Posted Monday, May 5, 2008
My mum grew up in Alston Road,no 49 I think, with her sisters Irene,
Freda and Dorothy and brother Dick (George). Irenes family are here from
Canada to visit, sadly Irene died last year. Any body remember them
especially anyone still living in the area ?. Frances now lives in
Devon.i would love to hear from anyone
Anneliese Tranter
Posted Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Would like to trace descendents from my Great Aunt Harriet. Uncle
Harry Bliss and Harriet lived in Delrene Road, Shirley and had twin
daughters Joan and Marjorie. Information wanted please.
Pam Eves
Posted Monday, April 7, 2008
Hi Derek Finch., the local window cleaner who lived next to you
was my dad, Ron West, I was usually known as young ronnie west I was
born in 1941 at no 6,, in the late 40,s my aunty cath [ryan] lived at no
12, she moved to a prefab up lode lane, and my gran and grandad lived at
no14, Mabbott.
Ronnie West
Posted Monday, March 17, 2008
Does any one have photos or know of the history of the grove on
the corner of grove road from around 1910. thank you
Robert Towner
Posted Monday, March 10, 2008
Does any one have information on St Christopher's House, Olton, Solihull
1935 36 37 38. I believe it was a children's home.
J Gallois
Posted Monday, December 3, 2007
Hello Lorraine, I too lived in
Damson Lane. See my entries in the 1940s column and also photo in the
50s date 23rd May. I remember the Matthews family well and went to
school with them. I lived at No 104 Damson Lane
David
Collett
Posted Monday, November 26, 2007
My family lived at 59 Damson Lane, does anybody remember the Matthews
family who lived either next door or a few doors away, my great aunt Lotty
had the sweet shop in Damson lane can anybody give me any information this
please, thanks
Lorraine
Posted
Thursday, November 1, 2007
I was Anne Fairfax when I lived with my Grandparents in the 1960's in
olton --181 Ulverley Green road. They were Jack and Dorothy Pritchard and
moved in in the 1920's when all was country from the hollow in between
Acocks Green and Olton. I have My mother is 89 and has a lot of memories
--her name was Vera Lloyd. then she became Fairfax. Ihave a picture of Dove
house farm and Lane from 200 years ago. I will get a copy and send it to the
Solihull History society.
Anne Marie Hitchcox
Posted
Monday, September 24, 2007
Hi trying to find out any info on the Dewson family, Sandy or, more
importantly a young servant girl working in the area back in the mid 1930's
either Elizabeth or, Sylvia Brown? Any information would be really
appreciated as we try to piece together our family history.
Sue Gaskell
Posted
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Does anyone have any recollection or information about Maud Marchant or
Keen and Miss Flippance, owners or managers of The White Cat Cafe in
Solihull, from 1927 onwards?
Gill
MacKenzie
My grandmother lived in 1560 Coventry Rd, Yardley it was the paper shop.Her
grandparents Charles & Sarah Ladbury owned the store. Does anyone remember
the family? This would have been in the 1890-1950's.I know my gran had to
deliver papers when she was very young then go to school and then work in
the shop when she came home.
Barb Knight
I am trying to trace descendants of the Nock family, Jane & Harry, who lived
in the Solihull area. The latest address I have for them is Dove House Lane,
Olton in 1926. Harry was a builder. As I am not from the area, can anyone
enlighten me as to what the Dove House Lane is/was like?
Phil
Summers
My father in law was born at number one Lode Lane. Can anyone tell me if it
was a home for unmarried mothers in the early 1900s. Many thanks
Wendy
Matthews
I have been looking for a Cunningham family 25, Arden Road, Small Heath
Birmingham. Alice, Stuart (Alfred) and daughter Dorothy. They originally
lived in Fentham Road. I believe they had connections with Wordsworth Road
too. I have picture of it leafy splendour, quite different now. Mr
Cunningham died suddenly 19131. Alice Cunningham moved back to staffs, and
daughter Dorothy, b 1918? She had a sister. I wonder if there is anyone out
there who has a memory, or relatives of this family? Be great to hear from
you.
Ps I am so glad we have this website.
Rebecca
Galilee
Does anyone remember a family called Nokes who lived in Arden Road. There
were four children but the two youngest Margaret (Peggie) later Wignall and
Nora (later Barugh - my mother) would probably be the ones that someone
might remember. Every Monday from 1914 until 1935 my grandmother Sarah
(Langley) Nokes taught wood carving to a class of boys providing all the
wood and the tools and all money made from selling the finished items was
sent to Medical Missions. Granny was given a Bible at a 21st party given by
the children whom she had taught. The inscription reads "To Mrs. Nokes from
The Kings Messenger with love and remembering all he rgoodness and loyalty
during the past twenty-one years". Does anybody remember anything about
these classes ? Both Mummy and Peggie went to Eastbourne House School which
I believe has now been demolished. Although not a resident of Solihull,
because my cousins lived in Kineton Green Road and I belonged to Knowle and
Dorridge Young Conservatives, I spent a lot of time there going to the
dances at the The Track and spending evenings at The Old Sils Rugby Club -
this was of course in the mid-sixties. This is a great site and brings back
lots of memories of one's misspent youth !!
Sally Allbrook
Does anybody remember a gentleman called Archie Langley who was in
partnership as a builder with Jack Bastock in the 1930s? They were both MG
Works drivers in the Three Musketeers Trials Team. Any information or
contacts would be appreciated.
John Reid
Hi Derek Finch. I lived at No26 Mill Lane My Gran & Grandad were in No4 &
an Auntie in No2. In 1953 when you moved into No8 I was in the Army but if
you were still there after 1955 it is possible that we would have known each
other I am sorry but I cant place you I have two brothers Roy & Brian. I
have a family web site with some pictures of Mill Lane that you might like
to look at site name :-
www.gradotti.co.uk. I hope that you find it interesting.
Graham Roberts
In the thirties I used to visit my Aunt who lived at 8 Mill Lane. Journey
was from Bordsley or Small Heath Station (Birmingham) to Solihull Station.
There was always a horse drawn taxi cab at the station but my pocket money
didn't run to this so I always walked to Mill Lane. Much later - in 1953 - I
took over the tenancy of 8 Mill Lane for the princely weekly rent of seven
shillings a week! I believe Sainsbury's now occupies the site?
Many more memories of that time: The Rima Tea Shop, Wrensons & a Jewellers
shop -all in Mill lane. The local window cleaner lived next door.
Happy memories.
Derek Finch
I was interested to read about Ross Lillicrap's reference to Shirley
College because I was also there, but in 1935.I think that I was the
eleventh boy to join the school which, I think, had only opened in the
previous year. Bert (Bertie) Jones
Albert
L Jones
Nobody from Solihull ever contacted me from my first rendition, so I
guess nobody out there remembers me or the Solihull motor cycle club, my e
mail has now changed & I would love to hear from someone, I am now in my
77th year. Good old Solihull.
Ross.Lillicrap
I remember this but not all that well as age has gotten to me in my years, I
was born in 1915 and we didn't have much to begin with but when I was 15 years old is when
it all came crashing down, I was scared and very young at the time, at least it felt like
it.
I had a lot of responsibilities in that day and some things became harder to do b/c There
were so many people who did what we did in order to stay alive and food was hard to find
I hope that I will be able to remember more one day.
Angel
A good friend of mine has just sent me this site, and I thought you might
like to have my memories of Solihull.
My late parents moved from Kings Heath, to a new house in Blossomfield Rd number
302,seventy years ago when I was aged five, I went to Sharmans Cross Junior School, my
Mother used to walk me to school in the morning & come & meet me in the afternoon,
I then progressed on to Shirley College in Bills Lane, Mr Jones being the Principal, I
left there at 14, & had various jobs till I went into the RAF in 1945, for two & a
half years.
After demob; I ran my own Taxi service called Red Line Taxis for some years till petrol
came off the ration & my business collapsed, in this preceding period I was a motor
cyclist, & a founder member of the Solihull M/Cycle Club. meeting at the Masons Arms,
Freddie Wedgebury the licensee being the then chairman of the club.
I subsequently married the daughter of the licensee of the Malt Shovel, Alec Purdie at
that time, but sadly she died in hospital under tragic circumstances in 1977, leaving me
& our four children.
Since then many changes have taken place in my life, & I am now living on the South
Coast. But I have many happy memories of Dear Old Solihull.
Hope you may find this of some interest.
Ross.W.Lillicrap Email qsl@g0jqj.fsnet.co.uk
I found the interesting article written by my Dad and wondered if
anybody remembers him? - Margaret Ashworth - Now living in
South Carolina, USA.
During this time my father had a 200-gallon petrol tank put in the forecourt
of the shop. It was branded R.O.P. (Russian Oil Products) and was dispensed by a
hand-operated pump. The petrol was first pumped into glass half gallon bottles then hand
lifted into the customers petrol tank. The price was 10 pence a Gallon or 5½ d for
half a gallon. I had three older brothers and as we became old enough we were designated
tasks to assist in running the business. Turning the handle on the ice cream maker,
carrying the pop through from the store (2d bottles of R Whites minerals with
a 1 d deposit on the bottle), washing mugs, filling shelves in the grocery shop and making
up penny packets of biscuits etc. The cigarettes and tobacco glass fronted cabinet was
never locked! The most popular brands were - five's of Woodbines, Park Drives and for the
more affluent, Black cat, Gold Flake and Senior Service (with real photos) and tins
of tobacco Oh and of course Twist.
Bill Gilbert
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Bill Gilberts recollections of growing
up on the Mount
( Now Cheswick Green ) in the 20's,30's and 40's provided the incentive to produce this
website over two years ago.
You can read his notes here.
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Now it's your turn?
What are your fondest memories of childhood? Some will be personal to you but others will
be shared by many of us.
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Shirley Golf Club now
stands on the site of
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See Geoffrey Dean's Postcards of Solihull

Tony Aitken Photos
Thanks to Tony for his Solihull pictures

Read Dave Cuby's Catney Ghost Story


Solihull in Wartime 1939-1945 Edited by Sue Bates features memories
and photo's of the 40's
It is priced at £6.95


"But the next thing you know there's a war going on
Through the hardships, and shortages, terrors and pain
We strove to survive and live once again"
Poems of Winifred Trow |