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

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 customer’s 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
 

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.

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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