Solihull Online would like to hear your memories of growing up in Solihull during the 50'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 19 March 2008

Posted Wednesday, March 19, 2008
My memories are from when I lived in steel grove south yardley, all the families who lived in this grove had several children, I was one of 6 in our familiy. the house next door had 5 children, the house the other side had 2.  Most summers we would all pack some sandwiches and take a bottle of water, or pop if we were lucky, we would then walk to Elmdon park or even the Bluebell woods in Damson lane, we would make up many adventures, and catch tiddlers  from the river, and pick blue bells to take home for our mothers, mind you they never lasted long.
I went to Redhill infants and junior school, then onto Bierton road seniors.  Two of my closets friends were Beatrice Savage, who has recently passed away, and is still very much missed. my other friend was Winifred Ingelby.  Can anyone remember the Adephi Cinema on the Coventry Road, where films were changed twice week and you watched 2 films at one session. Also does anyone remember the Holders road Park and the dells.
Joyce Heeley nee Gumery

Posted Monday, March 3, 2008
I attended Haslucks Green School, Shirley, c1958 and my younger brother went to an infants school whose name I cannot recall.  I remember going with my mother through an area covered in catkins to get there.  I also recall a bit of parkland near Baldwins Lane? It had some ornamental lakes in it.  I got my first electric trainset from Howbell Models and remember the shops on the corner of Haslucks Green Rd and Newborough Rd.
Roger Barton

Posted Monday, January 21, 2008
Hello i used to live on the Warwick road near George road with my sister Pamela and mom dad West we both went to Park road school ,my memories are being able to play out late sweets from the Bon Bon Cuckoo in the nest dancing on the church lawn and  loads more i also went to Lode Heath school, do hope someone will remember me  i live in Bromsgrove now
Anne Bowdler

Posted Thursday, December 20, 2007
Does anyone remember the Cottages in Lyndon Road? They used to be called Kent cottages.  There were 24 back to back houses. We used to have some happy times there.  They were only two bedroom places but my mother and father brought up four children in them.  I remember to keep warm we had overcoats on the bed.  Jackfrost used to leave pretty patterns on the windows.  There was a small fireplace in the bedroom and mom used to bring a shovel of hot coals up from the downstairs fire to warm up the bedroom. When we first moved in we had no water, this was got from a standpipe, no electricity only gas lamps, but we seemed to manage. Some of the family names were The Blackmores, the Jacksons, the Hardings, the Vicorys, the Taylors and we were the Steadmans. On the opposite side ofthe road were the Churchills and the Moors.  Mr Moor used to be caretaker at Chapelfields school.  We used to play in the Back Lane and when it was haymaking in the fields by pierce Avenue we used to build dens and play cowboys and indians. What a life!
Pamela Smith

Posted Monday, October 22, 2007
I was born nearly 61 years ago in Solihull. Attended Ullverly School then Lyndon. We lived at 15 Rodney Road in Prefabs, the shops were Kents (barbers), Jones (ironmongers) Jordans (greengrocer) Dillons (newsagents - their first one. We had many a happy hour tracking in Hobs Moat woods. Would like to speak to Brian Jones, Sheila Morbey, Heather Fletcher, Tom Collins Marcell and Gerald Klein (who lived in Castle Lane). The man on the tricycle was definitely called Bill and he knew more about the bus timetables than the bus companies.
Robert Buckley

Posted Monday, September 3, 2007
Hello Margaret (Banks)I saw your e-mail, by chance, when browsing through "childhood memories of Solihull", and felt I had to reply.  I lived in Park Road,next to St Alphege School.  I remember you and your family so well as we only lived a "stones throw" from each other.  Your father was an electrician, and I know you had a brother, John. If I remember correctly you lived directly opposite the Deebanks, who were decorators.  Do you remember Jasper Hall the chemist, Masons the grocers, and Napiers the corn merchant?  Also Windridges the chemist on the corner of The High Street and Poplar Road?  I was one of those youngsters that used to congregate at Frestons, a coffee shop down the far end of Station Road, and also used to go to The Sunday Club in ?Mill Lane or ?Drury Lane( can't remember which).  With every good wish
Rosalind Clarke (nee Hunter)

Posted Monday, August 27, 2007
Well well so many old memories coming back after reading so many from contemporaries!  I well remember M. Banks & bro John-your dad was an electrician if I think back! We were almost neighbours for a time in New rd-had a flat @55 ! I also went to the dance school in Warwick rd-sadly a partner of mine there died earlier this yr Sue Cook ne Sparks!  This seems like Friends Reunited only local to Solihull area! Though still kind of local (Broadway) I dont get into Solihull often-but you can E mail me here ok
Chris Collins

Posted Tuesday, August 21, 2007
What a fascinating and evocative site this is - found it today by accident and have spent hours on it. I moved to Buryfield Road Solihull from Olton in 1952/3 - went to Ruckeigh School, with my brother Peter, followed by Greenmore College and Olton Court Convent. I remember Mell Square being built, where I used to work, for a firm of Solicitors, Mill Lane where I went to Brownies and Dovehouse Lane where my mother shopped, Sonjia's Bakery, Cornucopia and Moseley's the chemist.  I now live in Hampshire but visit Solihull occasionally I still love it, when I last went in May it looked so pretty.  Does anyone remember the Jordan family from Olton or have any old pictures of Olton shops on Warwick Road just down from Patrick Motors.
Wendy

Posted Monday, August 13, 2007
Hello Margaret, I am very pleased you have seen my photo of Simmy's Arden Dance School. He got me through to the gold medal. I well remember May and Doug Collett. I do not think they were related, but with all the Genealogy info available, I will research them.  I also remember Johnny Galvin, I think his parents ran a flower shop, I know he always seemed to be well off.  Do you know any of them in the photo, I do have the names of some.
David Collett

Posted Monday, August 13, 2007
My daughter introduced me to this site and it has been a great and enjoyable experience reading through the various letters. 
Having lived in central Solihull all my life I well remember many things mentioned.   I was particularly interested to see David Collett's photo of Simmy's dance class.  I too went from approx. 1953 on a Saturday afternoon where Simmy was assisted by, I believe, May and Doug Collett.   Would these be your relations David?   I also remember Johnny Galvin, who was a superb dancer.  
I remember Park Road school where I started my schooling and later Cedarhurst. One of my favourite remembrances is of the warm dripping sandwiches we used to buy at break time.  If only we could have these snacks now!   Nicky Collins, I well remember you and your brother, Chris, and of course your mother, who I thought was a wonderful teacher.  I am sure it was she who started me out on French.  I loved learning the language but cannot say I remember all that much at this time.  I think either you or your brother were in the same class as my brother, John.
The mentions of the private nursing home in George Road were new to me but I too was born in that road but at no. 16, which was the home of Mrs. Thompson, a midwife.   Does anyone else remember being born there?
I do not think anyone mentioned the name of the butcher on the left hand side going down High Street.  This was Noel Hull's shop and opposite was Long's grocery.  I well remember the Cash dispenser whizzing across the shop and returning with the change. 
Although Solihull has changed so much during my 65+ years and every time another alterations happens I groan, I am still happy to be living here where at times, it is still possible to bump into friends/acquaintances from way back. 
Best wishes to anyone who remembers me.
Margaret (nee Banks)

Posted Monday, August 13, 2007
What a discovery! So many memories come back reading all the entries on this site, especially about Russell Green School. I lived on Marshall Lake Road when I first went to Russell Green. The girl next door went as well, Hazel Haynes. I was envious of her because she had hair down to her waist. I remember Miss Weller. I was never in her class but she used to take assemblies, always reading prayers from the C of E prayer book. When I was there I think she wore a blue suit. The Miss Greens have a special place in my memories. They were such a trio. I was in Miss Contance's class which was upstairs. We used the Beacon Readers and had to spend ages reading the phonic lists at the back which were utterly boring. Later in Miss Green's class it was more lively. I loved the description of her warming herself in front of the fire because I sat in a desk very near the fire for a time and I saw the pink bloomers as well. In fact it made such an impression on me that I used her as a basis for a story I wrote.  I used several other bits about the school, especially the very top of the house where there were the most marvellous collection of 1920s clothes. Strictly out of bounds, so I can't imagine how I found out!! I remember the semolina puddings as well. And playing in the far paddock. Girls played on the grass one day and then under the trees the next day, the boys took turns as well. There were some bantams running round near the delapidated summer house. Later we moved to 1,Falstaff Road, but I still went to Russell Green on Blossomfield Road. We used to walk past the other Russell Green School on the way to the bus. Miss Winifred reigned there. I remember seeing her from time to time always wearing a gym slip. (Think of Joyce Grenfell in St Trinians.) We used to go swimming at Sparkhill swimming baths, always in the small bath. We went on the bus. I was very wary of Miss Green. She  walked round the classroom carrying a ruler which she used on the boys. I've had a hang-up about maths ever since then.  We used to listen to How Things Began on the radio. One of the boys was given the job of switching it on as it was very technical! There was an outbreak of chickenpox when I was in Miss Green's class and we all caught it. I passed it on to my brother. I can also remember the Bonfire Night celebrations on the waste ground at the corner of Falstaff Road, opposite our house. The fireworks were stored in our hallway before the event. I used to have a sneak preview, especially the rockets which were very long. The day after the party the boy next door, Donald Brown and I used to go over the field looking for any fireworks which hadn't gone off!! I used to go to school with a girl who lived on Falstaff Road, 41, I think called Beryl Rushton. We came back on the bus, along with another boy called I think David.   I eventually left and went to an awful boarding school in Sutton Coldfield the later to a school in North Wales. My mother, Mrs Wilkinson, used to teach at Sharmans Cross  Infant School.
  I have plenty of other memories of the area. The Chinns who lived on Marshall Lake Road and kept pigs, one of which they would slaughter with great squealings. They also ran a taxi service with two huge Rolls Royces. My Grandmother used to book them to take us all on trips to Stratford or Warwick. Mrs Haynes next door had a lodger, a Mr Billings who was the curate of Shirley Parish Church. He used to take me to the Vicarage on the cross bar of his bicycle to play in the huge grounds.         We weren't members of the Church. We went to Shirley Baptist Church where my father was the treasurer. I used to help him count the collections. Which was very good training for counting money later in my life. I used to take the money on my own to pay in to Martin's Bank on Stratford Road, even though I was only about ten or eleven at the time. I also used to buy his tobacco for him. there was a great social life at the Church and we seemed to spend a great deal of our time there. Mr Roberts was the minister and I think Mr Ling was the Secretary and Mr Pittaway the organist.
Kate Meats (nee Wilkinson)

Posted Monday, August 6, 2007
I lived with my family (the Moore's) from 1951 -1956 at 261 Horrell Road, Sheldon which was a two storey prefab. I have a photo of my mother holding my sister Patricia with me by her side and my older brother Peter riding his tricycle on the foundations of the prefab next door taken in 1951.
Kathy Webb (nee Moore)

Posted Monday, August 6, 2007
Have just discovered this wonderful site! I lived in Bradbury Road, Olton from 1952 until 1958 and spent a brief spell at Cedarhurst School before moving to Walsall. I remember Mr Callaghan, and also his 2 daughters, one of whom taught there. What memories this site brings back!
Sheena Haytack (Brown)

Posted Monday, August 6, 2007
My most treasured memories were of going to the children's library at Olton, on my own, at an early age. and being told by a bossy librarian that I could not possibly have read a book in the morning and return it in the afternoon.  I lived in 5 Butler Road and remember Mr. Jones at the newsagents, totally bald if I remember and the coloured bottles in the window of the chemists. I went to Chapel Fields School  from age 5 and left at 11 to move to Northampton.
Gillian Price nee Binns

Posted Monday, July 9, 2007
Thank you for this web-site.  I have many fond memories of my childhood in Solihull, first in Buryfield Road and then Alderbrook Road. I left Solihull to study Nursing.  Since then my life has taken me and my family to various places around the world and currently we are located in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. 
We are hoping to be in England later this year and I hope to visit Solihull. It has changed so much since my childhood - we used to go to the "Village" - long before the Precinct and Beaties etc. arrived in town.
Christine Mackie

Posted Monday, July 2, 2007
I would like to contact Eric Sheppard about his time in Knowle C of E School, I was there from 1933 to 1942 and left Knowle in 1852.
Charles Payne

Posted Monday, June 25, 2007
I lived in Olton, but played football for Catney de Barnes in early 50's.I have a news paper photo of members of my old team mates, who beat Bromsgrove Brookfield for the Aston Villa Shield, at Villa Park 24.4.52. The photo shows: Bygrave, Bottomley, Plews, Hands, Perks, Gilbert, Fairley, Townsend, Gray, Deegan and Larner.  If any of you guys would like to contact me ring 01234 783222, or by e-mail,
Bob Fairley

Posted Tuesday, June 12, 2007
re the photo I sent of The Arden school of dancing on 23rd May. Having looked at the photo after sending it, I am actually 6th from the left, next but one to Albert.
If anyone thinks they are on it I do have some more names.
Regards David Collett

Posted Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Avis Ainsworth writes (April 30) that the Russell Green School was not in Blossomfield Road, near Danford Lane, but in Falstaff Road, Shirley.  Many past pupils will tell Avis that she's right - and wrong. There were two departments. I don't remember exactly how it was arranged. My brother went to the Falstaff Road 'house' at a very tender age, before going to Solihull School, whereas I started my education at Blossomfield Road. Elsewhere in these entries I have recorded some of my early education memories and have been delighted to see responses from other pupils from more than 50 years ago.
Neil Varley

Posted Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Hi! I'm Eric Sheppard. I went to Bentley Heath primary school then to Knowle C of E school from 1937 to 1941. I'm now in Australia. Moved here in 1965. Anyone remember family home Moatside, Browns Lane,Bentley Heath?
Eric Sheppard

Posted Monday, June 4, 2007
I remember living in the Colebrook Public House in Haslucks green road in 1950s/60s had a great time made many friends I have unfortunately lost touch with. Also going to St Martins school in Solihull. Had a good friend there called Pauline Troman who I would love to here from. I remember the school being run like a rod of iron by Miss Bull and Miss Tucker but it never did us any harm and i am sure we turned out better people for it. I remember going to Saturday morning pictures in Shirley picture house which is now a bank and a supermarket. I now live in the Tunbridge Wells but still miss Shirley and Solihull.
Janet Parkes nee Sheldon

Posted 23 May 2007

I hope this picture is of interest. It was the Arden School of dancing in 1953.
We all had wonderful times there. To take the photo, which was taken by Pamela Simpson, daughter of Albert, we all climbed out of a window on to a balcony. The building overlooked the Warwick road and faced where Beatties are now.
4th from the left is Albert Simpson, the very talented school principal.
I am 5th from left. It would be great to hear from anyone on it ( or more likely their children ) I do know some of the other names. Wish I could still dance like I could then.
David Collett

Posted Tuesday, May 15, 2007
In reference to Hilary Docker's recollection of Dr Needham: He was my dentist during my childhood years. His practice was in Dorridge (I believe High Street?) Certainly idiosyncratic and perhaps somewhat bizarre! I remember in great detail one visit where he extracted two impacted baby teeth. However to do so, he administered gas to knock me out. I can still remember the smell of the rubber mask he used to cover my mouth and nose. But I was not fully "under" when he began the procedure. I recall the pulley type drill apparatus he used and its eerie, whirring sound! But most of all, his devilish grin and my horrified reflection in his glasses when he began poking around my mouth! (My apologies for the graphic recollection)!
Although I now live in Toronto, Ontario, I grew up in Bentley Heath on Newbold Close. I attended Bentley Heath Primary School (Is it still there?) and Dorridge Junior School. My favourite pastime was train spotting at the Bentley Heath Crossing, taking ballroom dancing lessons at the Bentley Heath Community Centre, hiking and biking just about everywhere (Conker Lane etc) and playing with my mates. Does anyone have any pictures of Bentley Heath, especially of Newbold Close (I lived in #12), the Community Centre, school etc? I have such fond memories, so a few pics would be really nice.
Michael Brown

Posted Monday, May 7, 2007
Does anyone remember walking on the frozen cut near Damson Lane during the harsh winters of whenever in the 50's/60's? When there was a major fire at the 'new' gas works at the back of alston road? Watching the test drivers speed around the Rover track at the top of Damson Lane? Coppice road school?
Bob Harder

Posted Monday, April 30, 2007
I lived in Falstaff Road and my father, together, with several other Dads, started Falmalia.  To this day I talk about it with friends and the fun that we had - Coronation Day Dance, my Mum bought me a very special red, white and blue dress with puff sleeves and smocking!!  The bonfires that have been mentioned, I can almost smell those roast potatoes now and the older boys in the road chasing us girls with banger fireworks.  Bengal matches that shone red or green when struck and, of course, sparklers.  I went to Shirley High School and later the Firs.  Great days with such wonderful memories.  Does anyone remember Mrs Meakin shop across the road from Shirley Institute??
ps Reply to Neil Varley - You mentioned you went to Russell Green School - surely this was at the top of Falstaff Road and not Blossomfield as you mention.,  I think I am right as my brother went there
Avis Ainsworth (Glendinning)

Posted Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Hi, I've just read Hilary Docker's letter about the dentist in Dorridge. I have (fond?) memories of his idiosyncratic treatment! He drilled my mum's mouth for a filling but forgot to fill it, his nurse had to remind him after he'd told mum she could go now. He often seemed to forget why we were there.  He gave me two braces for my front teeth. There were horrendous, they made my gums sore and gave me a lisp which, as a 13 year old, was hell! I hated them and refused to wear the bottom one, only putting it in each Friday afternoon when I went to see him to get it tightened. It took months for him to realise I wasn't using it (there was nothing wrong with my bottom teeth in the first place).  He never managed to get my teeth straightened but they eventually sorted themselves 20 years later when I was pregnant!
George

Posted Thursday, April 12, 2007
I remember Solihull, not always with great affection.  After WW2 my father and I moved to Solihull from Coventry, when the Rover Car Company moved into the Lode Lane factory in 1947.  We lived in Woverley Road on a new housing estate at the north of Elmdon Hill.  German and Italian POWs were still employed doing roadworks in the area.  I also remember the Hermitage where I was forced to stay during a period while my father was in hospital.  The Hermitage housed both boys and girls and was convenient to Lode Heath School. Time spent at the Hermitage was not too pleasant due to one or two of the older boys.  I recall a lady who worked there a Miss Messina with some affection.  I often think with some affection of Saturday mornings spent in the town centre with my father and also of some of my school friends.  At 70 years of age I guess I'm getting maudlin, but there were some good days and life was so much simpler back then
David Bottrill

Posted Tuesday, January 9, 2007
I lived in Irving Road, Sheldon as a child, I remember Hatchford Brook school and the wooden huts, also Miss Winifred Jones was my 1st teacher. Moving on to Lyndon Sec. early 50,s I remember Mr Worsley the art teacher. I also remember the visit by Princess Margaret to officially open the school. I am still in contact with 3 old friends from school ie; Janet Templeman, Sheila Mullins and Ann Poland, we write at Xmas each year as I have been in Australia since 1982. Last saturday I was at a B-B-Q and met someone who also went to Lyndon School although I hadn't met her previously, she was 2 years below me .It,s a small world. I also remember playing in the grounds of Elmdon Hall that was and in the brook where I fell in once and went home soaked. Saturday mornings spent at the matinees, Smiths crisps with the blue salt bags, Also going to Miss Lawsons for shorthand typing lessons. I found this website by accident when I was looking for information on Lyndon School following my meeting with Denise on Saturday. It seems that Lyndon is now a Junior school. It all seems a lifetime ago, playing outside in the street until dark, riding our bikes to the bluebell woods, making dens in the fields and climbing the haystacks at harvest time.
Eleanor Wain {nee Hill] Australia

Posted Monday, January 1, 2007
Memories of the dentist are hardly of the fondest, I know, but..... does anyone remember a dentist by the name of Mr Needham, (I think his surgery was in Dorridge). I have some quite distinct memories of him, and wondered if there is anyone else out there who has recollections of his idiosyncratic methods of...er...treatment?
Hilary Docker

Posted Wednesday, November 22, 2006
I have had such a wonderful two hours browsing through the many letter about Solihull.  When I left Sharmans Cross School I went to work at the B.S.A. Marshall Lake Road, Shirley. My dear friend was Pauline Goodall whom I would love to hear from.  My memories of Solihull circa 1951-1952 was walking up Lode Lane to Miss Lawsons School for Shorthand and Typing.  This was THE THING in those days to be a good secretary was "top dog" of all jobs. I would leave work a little earlier perhaps once or twice a week, catch the bus to Solihull and walk up Lode Lane.  I would walk through Mill Lane as it was then, I remember how pretty it was with many old buildings and so tranquil and peaceful.  If I had any money to spare I would try and call at the BON-BON sweet shop, I can still remember the jars and jars of tempting sweets. I would have to travel alone and some evenings it was very dark and quite misty but I never remember feeling frightened of returning home to the Saracens Head, Shirley and running like mad through Shirley Park, by this time in the winter months it was, at times a little scary.  Solihull was such a lovely place in those days and I have no desire to see the change that has taken place.  Both my daughters were born in Brookhouse-Netherwood some 40 years ago and what a joy it was.  John and I lived in Dorridge for some years so Solihull played a big part in our lives.  In the 1940's my dear friend was Audrey Orton who lived on the BIRDS estate in Blossomfield Road.  Her father and mother worked for Sir Richard and Lady Bird who had then moved to The White House (before it was all sold to developers) we had so many happy times having the freedom to use Tudor Grange Sir Roberts original family seat.  We used the lake and the tennis courts and it was magic. I pretended that I lived in this beautiful house, just for that special time until I had to cycle back to Chamberlain Crescent and the reality set in...such happy memories of Solihull   
Shirley Bates nee Bowen

Posted Monday, November 13, 2006
Reply- Shops at Lyndon Road - Peckmores is the name of the ironmongers you where looking for also the name of the sweetshop before Mrs. Matthias.  I lived at the surgery for l8 years my Mother was the Practise Nurse as they are called today Dr. Ackerman being the doctor.   Many fond memories.
Margaret Smitten nee Dewson

Posted Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Oh boy here I sit in sunny Vancouver, my home since 1967, 61 years old tomorrow and I immerse myself in nostalgic wanderings of the mind. I lived in Dingle Lane and went to Cedarhurst till 1956.  I was in 1 st Solihull Scout Troop & agitated for the running track/sports centre in Tudor Grange Park.
I recall Callaghan, new Jag every year as Headmaster of Cedarhurst. Brothel creepers that he wore according to Michael Buerk in his autobiography.  Smells linger from the early 50's..from the stinky public toilets in Brueton Park (now thankfully erased) to the pink lifebuoy soap at Cedarhurst to the aromatic Cedars of Lebanon that gave the place its name, still retained today by the flats on the site with so many lovely trees retained.  I revisted Solihull last May. It was feeezing but my hosts in Ladbrook Road (from wolf cub days) gave us a warm welcome. Tapas in the new shopping centre. The old cinema facade in evidence , ditto Manor House and Napier's old shop with the barbers above it.   Just about every business had changed. Even a couple of pubs had gone but the Masons is STILL home to (seemingly) underage young ladies bedecked, bejewelled & plastered in makeup. Plus ca change.  I shall leave off here but return over the next few weeks to add my memories. Those at Cedarhurst knew me as Nicky Collins & my mum taught there (Joan Collins) before moving to the College where he was a founding teacher of English. She died suddenly just shy of her 80 birthday at Easter 8 years ago. My brother Chris lives in Broadway  & I maintain a home in Spain so I try to visit Europe every year or so.
Bring on the pangs of nostalgia I say.
Warmest regards to you all,
Nick Collins who left Solihull from Northdown Road in 1964 never to return except as a brief visitor.
Nick Collins

Posted Monday, September 4, 2006
Oh what a wonderful site which I came upon completely by chance. I lived in Knowle at the Police House and went to Malvern Hall during the inquisition of Miss Forster! I well remember Sunday Club, which I did try to join, but Ron Edge said I was out of the area, so I had to content myself with going as a guest. I went out with Johnny Cunningham for a while and enjoyed his band enormously. I remember Frestans on Saturday mornings planning where the party would be that night and sharing one coca cola between four and driving the owner mad as she lost an awful lot of trade through us teenagers! It was Stephanie Freeman's father who ran the cinema and checked we were all behaving ourselves on a Saturday night. We thought he was an awful spoilsport. Reading Rosslyn Albright's comments I wonder if she knew Carolyn Parker, who also lived in Link's Drive?
Patricia Morley nee Jones

Posted Monday, August 28, 2006
Living in Shirley, being a choirboy at St James Parish Church, all my boyhood friends, the war years, my dear family and not least my old local pub, The Plume and Feathers on the Stratford Road.   Like others, I too went to Russel Green School and Cedarhurst.  Those were wonderful days.  I moved to Canada in 1964 and since 1965 have lived in the States but I will NEVER forget home!
Michael Corbett

Posted Thursday, August 24, 2006
Yes, I remember Smiths Crisps with the salt in a twist of blue paper, Jubleys (flavoured block of ice in a cardboard carton, lovehearts and black jacks.  There were 2 tiny tuckshops at the roundabout connecting Haslucks Green Road, Velsheda Road and Colebrook Road.  I also remember reading the Bunty and the Judy comics and buying little plastic farm animals with my pocket money at a shop opposite Shirley Park
Joy Swift (Gough)

Posted Thursday, August 17, 2006
Thank you, Neil Varley (October 19, 2005)! I was at Russell Green School, perhaps a bit ahead of you, from 1946 approx. till 1951, when  we moved to Canada. The school may have been named after the father or brother of the principal, Miss E. M. Green - I remember finding a man asleep in a bedroom on the third floor, where we weren't allowed to go. We  all speculated about who he could be! There was an elderly woman, Mrs. Green, mother of the three misses who was very kind. When we were being too boisterous around the rockeries at the back of the school, she'd warn us to "be careful of the ferns." When my sister and I were very young, Miss Constance drove us and other children back and forth to school in her Wolseley. We lived in Blackford Rd. and when we were older caught the 154 or walked. I remember Miss Weller and her grey suits, quite a gifted artist (I still have a drawing she did) and Miss Winifred who got concussion when a wooden netball post fell on her at the RGS playing fields in Dingle Lane. I was in everyone's class over the years and ended up in Form 4, the room you remember, with Miss Green. In winter, she used to stand with her back to the fire in her black wool suit, and hike her skirt up to warm herself by the flames, revealing pink satin bloomers! The food was awful - warm milk in white enamel jugs, "savoury" - a bread crumb concoction in which we found a dead ladybird one day, and my special loathing, semolina pudding every Friday. I was forced to eat it and to this day cannot abide milk pudding. The grounds were bounded on one side by a row of lime trees and at the bottom of the extensive lawn was a Victorian summer house coated in green moss and filled with junk. Beyond that there was a paddock and woods with hazel trees where we played. Miss Green paid a farthing for every hazel nut we brought her. The school books dated from the Victorian era. There was a downstairs loo, off the cloakroom. It was large and had a kind of transfer paper over the windows that imitated stained glass. There were newspaper sheets cut into squares and strung on string for toilet paper - I suppose because of the war but my Mother was quite shocked when I told her.I remember a lot of the other students - Roy Morgan, Susan Atkins (her father was the constable in Shirley), Susan Jones, Pam Wickes, Roy and Clive Bevan, Sarah Nation, David Fraley, James Homer. Pam and I started a school magazine in our last year - we made only one copy so it had to be passed around! Thanks for triggering the memories, Neil.
Carolyn Purden

Posted Monday, July 24, 2006
Just a follow-up to previous notes on Tudor Grange Grammar School (as was).... they recently had a "celebration" to mark 50 years of the new building (1956-2006) which I attended. Met some elderly gentlemen who were boys the last time I saw them (Mervyn Buston, Michael Ellis et al) and BELIEVE IT OR NOT two teachers who were there in 1956, Mr. D. Andrews (History) and Mr. B. Thompson (Geography) who were both still very much compos mentis and a pleasure to see after all these years.
The guided tours by current pupils were certainly very interesting, but I regret that I very much doubt whether I'll be able to attend if they do another one in another 50 years' time!!!
Peter Lakin

Posted Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Wow what a web site, came across it by chance, I was born in Hobs Moat Road the midwife lived next door Mrs Edna Bates she had 2 children David and Janet, we used to play on the gun turret that was outside our house. I went to Hatchford Brook School about 1950 my first teacher was also Mrs Winifred Jones then I think Miss Harmer? I remember dancing around the maypole and playing little bo peep as I had a straw bonnet other teachers I remember were Mr Cuthbert he was mad about football and Mr Denby. The street party for the Queens coronation, I wore a dress that my Aunt wore for George v1 coronation, we used to go to the woods at the top of Hobs Moat and ride our bikes down the hills I remember the prefabs Dad worked at the Rover as did most of the rellies I went to Lyndon School in 1955 the first year it was a mixed school Mrs Sawyer the french teacher Mr Moore the headmaster and Dear old Mr Worsley the art teacher we transferred to the girls only  part of the school a year later when No mans land came into play I knocked around in a gang  there was "Freight" "plod" Choko Graham Parkes) to name but a few, and yes I still keep in touch with some old friends from that time we are scattered far and wide now, me in Australia Therese Higgins in tasmania, I found her after 45 years through Schoolfriends reunited Graham is now in Spain. keep up the good work would love to hear from any other old friends   Margaret McDonald (Rose)
Margaret McDonald

Posted Thursday, June 29, 2006
Rosslyn Albright mentioned some of the shops in Solihull during the 50's.  I can just about remember being taken into 'The Bon-Bon' and seeing the freezer cabinet containing the Henley Ice Cream. I remember there was an small A board sign outside advertising this. This would have been 1964-65. I remember the Fine Fare supermarket that was on the opposite side of the passage (gardeners walk??)to where McDonalds is now. I seem to remember they had sides of meat (bacon?)in muslin bags hanging on display. My mother bought us a treat, Blue Band margarine which was sold as two 1/4lb blocks in foil. It tasted horrible. I remember Wrensons where McDonalds is now. Wardens ladies shop holds special memories. Was it on the row of shops opposite the Manor House? The two old women that ran it disliked small boys and so I had to be left standing outside the shop door while my mother browsed through endless wooden drawers in search of some mystery item that apparantly could only be bought at this particular shop. Woolworths was on the High Street then near to Timothy Whites chemists. I had a savings account opened in 1964 at the Northampton Town and County Building Society, later the Anglia Building Society. Also LJ Hobday who had a showroom selling furniture. I bought some 'Alley Cats' figurines from there.These were very popular in the early 60's.
Garry Knox

Posted Monday, June 19, 2006
CLIFFORD AERO & AUTO does anyone remember this company in Cranmore Boulevard, involved in war work till 1945 and then made rotary cultivators till around 1950. The parent company was in Spring Road, Hall Green. Also interested to hear of anyone who worked at Troman Brothers (chrome bath fittings) in Cranmore Boulevard. Clifford web site www.madeinbirmingham.org/clifford.htm
I thank you
Jon Price who used to live at 1 Skelcher Road in 1956

Posted Monday, May 15, 2006
What fun! I went to St Martins approx 1955 - 1966. I remember Frestans, Wardens the material shop, and the shop at the top of the high street by the 154 bus stop that used to sell all sorts of toys,( monkey's on sticks etc!) Also the BONBON sweet shop. I used to live in Links Drive and ride all over the place on my bike including Coldlands Wood. I also did dancing with Mabel smith - Hillcrest school of dancing! I remember the White Cat too! Anyone else remember these places?
Rosslyn Albright

Posted Monday, May 8, 2006
Does anyone remember going to ballet lessons in Dene Court Road? The name of the dance teacher was, I think June Prosser who later became Mrs. Mackay. I still quake with fear at the thought of taking ballet exams at the Congregational Church Hall in Kineton Green Road! Would love to share some memories of those times....
Lorna Quorn

Posted Monday, April 10, 2006
I was actually born and raised in Knowle but does anyone remember the Dance School behind the Church opposite the Golden Lion on the Warwick Road?, I think the instructor was a Mr Simms.
Charles Payne

Posted Thursday, March 23, 2006
I lived at 610 Streetsbrook Road, Solihull where I lived as a child from late 40s onwards. My foster dad was a fireman. I went to sharmans cross junior school and then to the High school. Solihull was a leafy village, and My brother and I used to walk to school. We often went paddling at Ravensbrook
Megan Mountford (Packman)

Posted Friday, March 17, 2006
What a site! I too was born in George Road in 1940, in a private nursing home - now under the supermarket car park (ah well)! We were 'emigrated' to Shropshire for the duration of the war, where I learned a great many country ways, which remain with me yet. I too was at Sharman's Cross Junior School and my father (Eric) was for many years associated with Silhill Football Club next door. When my branch of the Reeve family moved first to Solihull (c. 1910), they lived in New Road (in another property that has been demolished). There Dad and his two brothers (Jack and Owen) found that they had Swotty Ansell (the much loved Maths teacher at Solihull Grammar)as a temporary lodger. After the dreaded 11+ I followed family tradition and joined Solihull Grammar in 1951, soon afterwards it went independent. I either rode my bike or often walked from Miall Park Road to school - I wonder how many do that now? I wouldn't use the 185 bus, as I wanted to save the money for better things! Memories of Solihull flood back through reading this site. I wonder how many other St Alphege Choirboys remember those days so clearly. I remember singing solos at weddings and earning what we considered a near fortune for doing it - 'O for the wings of a dove' indeed! In 1958 I left school to join the RN and had a marvellous 30+ years. I come back rarely now and find that the 'village' has all but disappeared, but it's no good harking back. To any that might remember me, by all means email - but don't expect me to remember too well!
Ben Reeve

Posted Monday, February 13, 2006
What a terrific website, my only regret is that I didn't discover it sooner. I have so many memories and connections with Solhull in the '40's &'50's I reckon I could fill the whole site!
Briefly though, I was born in 1939 at 5,George Road, which in those days was a private nursing home. From 1943 we lived at 238,Warwick Road Olton, halfway between the big girder railway bridge and Patrick Motors. The first school I attended was Mrs.Day's Kindergarten in Marshham Court Road behind the Dove House Lane shops. Then in 1946 I went to Cedarhurst School, ending up as head boy in 1951. The reason I was still there at the age of 12 was because I didn't take the 11+ exam thanks to a bout of rheumatic fever at the time, and in those days if you weren't in the appointed place, at the appointed hour with a pointed pencil, then tough, you missed your go! I passed the common entrance exam the next year to go to Solihull School.
In 1960 we moved to 487,Streetsbrook Road, just down the road from the fire station, so that my mother could be closer to her business, Windsor House Milliners on The Parade, directly opposite Frestans Coffee Bar, which was very convenient if I ran short of cash on a saturday morning!
I left the School in 1965 and went to B'ham College of Art where I soon discovered that my artistic talents weren't in the Constable league! So I turned to my other great interest, apart of course from the opposite sex, which was fishing and joined S.Allcock & Co. in Redditch as management trainee, an industry I was involved with for most of the rest of my working life.
I can recall so many names, faces and places from those 'good old days' it would be unfair to single out just a few but if anyone out there would like to make contact again, please don't hesitate to email me on email and maybe, just maybe, we can stem the flow of some of the water going under that bridge!
Stephen Davies

Posted Monday, February 13, 2006
SHOPS IN LYNDON ROAD
Hi Kathy Armstrong. You talked about the shops in Lyndon Road between Barn Lane and Coverdale Road. I have talked this over with Dennis Worrell and we agree the following is as close as we can get.
With my back to Sheldon we start on the left - Garners Fruit and Veg - Paynes Shoe Repairs - Greens Drapers (Mrs Green the mother) - double shops General Store probably the Pinfolds - and good old  Jonesy the Newsagent. Over on the right hand side -- Stallebrass the Chemist - Hardings the Bakers - then the was a Sweet Shop followed by the Ironmonger both owned by the same family but the name escapes us - next the Co-op Butchers - followed by Greens Mensware (Mr Green the son) - then Fred Lucket's Cycle Shop where yes, you took your old wireless battery to be charged - lastly Pollocks General Food Shop. Next to Pollocks was a Doctors Surgery. Regarding the Sweet Shop and Ironmonger - Dennis says the name Farrens rings bells. I am not sure. Hope this answers your query.
Peter Platt

Posted Wednesday, January 4, 2006
It was good to read Neil Varley's recollections of Cedarhurst. I was there from 1954-58, and his review brought back so many memories. I remember other teachers in the form of Mr Ross, who organised the Cropthorne trip, "Puffer" Vaughan, Mrs Haselor, and Miss Watts. There were four houses, Wellington and Nelson for boys and Tudor and Stuart for the girls. I remember the swimming lessons and the burnt sausages. I also remember that we had ice cream and chocolate sauce for afters. On the subject of the Cropthorne trip, I went in 1958, and remember being walked on by a cow going to milking, sharing a tent with Nicholas Astley and his sister Corrine, and the tragic news that the lovely Debbie Cookson had been killed on the Warwick Road.  Other names that I remember, were Francine Ebramare, Jane Whitfield, Angela Monk, Lucia and Ian Remington, Peter Ellis, Ian and Neil Gilmour, so many others. Do you remember sportsday in Highfield Road, and the bike rides to and from this outpost?  
John Warner

Posted Monday, November 7, 2005
What an interesting site, lots of memories from that era I lived in Rectory Rd during this time and went to St Alphage school in Solihull. Back then we would walk to school through malvern park I don't suppose children would today. I remember a special treat was to go to a little sweet shop in mill lane, later in life there was a great sudnay club where we rock and rolled the night away. There was also a small grocery shop called Band & Meeks we seemed to manage on a box of food a week the, what happened? Later I went to sharmans cross school and cycled there and back through countryside, its all built up now. Then it was a boys school only but I can remember us all looking at Mandy Rice Davies through the wire fence that kept us from the girls. School was a mad house with a barmy science master, can't remember his name who carried an old slipper which he used with almost no provocation, the history teacher was as bad! Left school went to work at Cadburys now retired and living in the country near Rugby. Yes good times and no really bad memories. Sorry about typing still on one finger!
Regards to all John
John Chinn

Posted Tuesday, October 25, 2005
In 1957 I moved to Cedarhurst School. This was right in the town centre; Park Road was it? Pass the church and where New Road turns to the left, it was straight on. I wasn't there that long but I think my time there were my happiest school days. We had a friendly rivalry in lessons and were friends outside the classroom. We behaved ourselves pretty well, enjoyed our time at school and loved our teachers, Mrs Christ and Miss Hinks. I was taken aback when Miss Hinks visited me in hospital, (appendix) I suppose I didn't think teachers did that kind of thing.  The Head was Mr Callaghan who inspired awe, if not fear. Once a week the boys and girls of two classes were split. The girls went off to do Needlework I think, and the boys had Mr Callaghan for Latin. Yes, Latin. Every week, without fail, a 'victim' would suffer Mr Callaghan's special treatment - with the short hair on the back of the neck gripped firmly, your nose was introduced to the blackboard, affording you a very close view of what was written. The anticipation was excruciating - you knew it would be your turn one day. My offence was to pronounce the word for sailor, nauta, incorrectly.  Some memories: chain tig in the playground, the eagerly awaited class positions every fortnight, the pride in giving in your house point total (I was in Nelson), going by Midland Red to Sparkhill Baths on Thursday for swimming - I hated it and spent my time cowering at the side - but there was some consolation. Returning to school late there were glorious rock-hard sausages burnt black. Then  there was the great cap debate. When seeing a teacher outside school you raised your cap. But one day a teacher was alarmed when a boy riding his bike raised his cap and wobbled all over the road. The issue was a knotty problem and was the cause of much debate. I think the outcome was that, if on your bike, raising the cap was not expected! There was a school camp at Cropthorne in Worcestershire. In a field we were playing cricket when a herd of cows, spooked by the gad-fly or something, came charging towards us with their tails straight up like radio aerials. We didn't stop to find out their intentions - we ran! I can remember listening to Lonnie Donegan and The Four Preps on a wind-up gramophone. There was a big issue where we were united in adversity and that was the 11+. We used to attend school on Saturday mornings for cramming sessions and were thrilled that we didn't have to wear our uniforms! When the time came to sit the exams we poor souls had to do everything twice because we were entered for both Warwickshire and Birmingham. I can remember going to Moseley - we called it Colditz - and we were taken to various locations to do an exam paper by white-faced parents who would feed us toffee and chocolate bars when we came out and fuss over us. I think most of us enjoyed the challenge and remained cheerful. They were good days, and I can remember a lot of names (with the aid of the school photo) good friends, good people. Hilary Seig, Andrew Kirk, Stephen Walker, Carole Bridgens, Anne Chandler,Colin Griffiths, Janet Bragg, Brian Allen, Elizabeth Knight, Judith Earnshaw, Roger Sheldrake, John Devonshire, Nikolas Astley, Angela Monk, Nigel Tattersfield, Roger Wise, Richard Sanders and Brian Wilde, Warner, Bellamy, Lucas. And the boy with the super surname:Tregaskis!
Neil Varley

Posted Wednesday, October 19, 2005
Early Education Memories. My first school was The Russell Green School. This occupied a large house on Blossomfield Road. It's long gone but it was on the left Solihull bound, between Conway Road and Danford Lane. There were mature trees all round and at the back there were gravel pathways threading through rockeries. Extensive lawns reached down to a line of huge trees where, in the Autumn, you could shuffle knee-deep through the leaves.   Russell Green was the name of the Principal though at first I thought it was the name of a place. She had sisters whom you had to address by their christian names: Miss Winifred and Miss Constance.The latter had a black Wolseley 4/44. My first teacher was Miss Weller, who seemed to be permanently clad in a grey suit.I couldn't get the hang of carrying to the tens and was very upset. Next was a kind, patient teacher named Mrs Hall. In the Nativity play Mary Davies was Mary and I was either Joseph or the Innkeeper!Russell Green's class seemed to be for the most senior children and was accommodated in a room on the ground floor. This room had a sizeable fireplace with an open fire. Large enamel jugs containing the break-time milk were stood there and would become quite warm. I loathed this warm milk and would be distracted from my studies just thinking about it. And, of course, you HAD TO DRINK IT. Ugh! I had to repeat some English work over and over. You were supposed to change the words'Dogs don't like Glux'so it would read correctly. Miss Green was short with me. Anyway, who could blame the dog? Glux doesn't sound very tasty, does it?  I can remember lining up on the lawns in the sunshine to receive our Coronation mugs. There was a yard where we played tig, and you were safe if you were off the ground. There were lots of ledges, steps and cellar covers so it was difficult to catch people.
Neil Varley

Posted Thursday, October 13, 2005
I spent the first half of my childhood years living in Shirley at Fabian Crescent. The road wasn't made up and my friend Hugh and I could play in the puddles and make roads for our Dinky toys.  There was a space left on the street corners: Fabian Crescent/Shakespeare Drive/Portia Avenue/Falstaff Road/Malcolm Road. These had bumps to ride your bike on and blackberry bushes-a super  playground. How on earth did they choose that selection of Shakespeare's names!  Perry's toy shop was at the junction of Church Road and Stratford Road and I would gaze at the goods in the window. I coveted a Stagecoach from the Wild West, but I don't think I ever got one. Wasn't it at Wrenson's that they used cash flasks that whizzed round on wires and a forbidding looking bacon slicer?   Back to those corner plots... A residents' group used to organise the Bonfire for Nov. 5th. My memory of it puts the fire on the corner of Shakespeare Drive and Portia Avenue. The group went by the title of Falmalia, made from the names Falstaff, Malcolm and Portia. I didn't know that till later and it seemed a wonderfully mysterious name. I used to walk to Shirley Park and watch a football match on a Saturday afternoon. When the ball went in the ditch behind the goal I would retrieve and feel important as I returned the ball to the goalkeeper. One day I was full of importance and pride as I was able to relay the result of the Grand National to the players! Nicolaus Silver won.
Neil Varley

Posted Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Riding bikes up and down hills in hobs moat woods! chipshop run by Bill in hobs moat. playing marbles on the fields by the prevabs  in renoun crescent which is now castle lane housing estate. mrs mitchells hardware shop. fond memories of 50s
Gill Ward

Posted Monday, 6 June, 2005
Greetings from 'sunny' Sweden (it's pouring down actually, but I'm trying to be polite). I'm researching one of Solihull's more famous people, Mandy Rice-Davies. I knew her in 61-62, dated her actually, for an entire year off-an-on, she needed to let off steam and be a 'normal' girl sometimes, between orgies (ahem...) She hated that stuff and refused to talk of it. She was a hellava nice girl, not the slag she's often made out to be, like a lot of girls attracted to the bright lights she found herself in a bad situation, but, to her credit, plucky girl as she was she eventually managed to crawl out of the pit and get a life. Many others didn't make it. I was a part of that bit, I'm proud to say. Love to hear from any of her schoolfriends. She had a pony, what was his name? I'm sure she had a little half-brother, who is he and where is he? Mandy was very proud of her town, but could get a bit stroppy on occasion (oww...do I recall THAT bit, Princess Anne wasn't the only one famous for her usage of the riding-crop!) telling everyone she came from Blossomfield...actually (snarl). Is this so? She did keep her pony in a nearby field so it does sound like she lived on the outskirts. She loved to watch the test-riders from the motorbike factories (remember when we had them?) ride past her gate, on their way down to Henley in Arden, her favourite place, where she learned astronomy from a family friend who had a telescope. 'The Sky At Night' was her favourite program. I knew Sir Bernard Lovell and met Patrick Moore once or twice, but he can't recall ever meeting me let alone Mandy, who would have gushed all over him! Her way of greeting somebody she fancied was to jump up and wrap her legs around their waist, squeezing the life out of them, giggling furiously and smothering them with kisses! I know - I loved it! He might recall that? So he probably never met her. Our last date, on the evening I left school, summer of 62, was bareback riding down at a stud in Knockholt. Naked. We stripped-off naked and hugged tight, Mandy driving, and galloped off into the night. A truly lovely girl... 
Sverre Helgesen

Posted Monday, 2 May, 2005
Although I later lived with my husband and children for 16 years in Hermitage Road from the end of the 70's, as a little girl of 6 in 1953, living in Barrows Lane, Sheldon, my mum and I used to have a "day out" on the bus to Solihull.  I remember the Tudor Icecream shop with the bullioned windows (just about where Macdonalds is now), the White Cat Restaurant and the White Kitten Cafe, the model of St. Alphege in Malvern Park, the lido and the seats around the trees, and the peaceful village atmosphere.  Solihull holds many very happy memories for me both from my childhood and as a resident.  We are heartbroken that our lovely friendly St. Francis Church, Elmdon Heath, where we attended for over 20 years, has been closed for no good reason.
Christine Cluley (nee Nock)

Posted Tuesday, 19 April, 2005
I was born in Elmdon vicarage on 30/12/1951. My parents were Iris and Harry Potter, (Yes really). Is there anybody out there who remembers them, or me. My Dad was with the Post Office in Solihull.
Richard Potter

Posted Monday, 18 April, 2005
What a good site. Lots of memories, my Dad owned the bike shop on the Warwick Road, Fred Barnes.  Does anyone remember Harry Vernon, he was my grand father but I never met him. He was probably born in 1890s, lived in Broomfields avenue and later in Claverdon. I would love to hear from anyone who knew him.
Fredina Minshall (Barnes)

Posted Monday, 11 April, 2005
Does anyone remember Jennifer Gornall? We both attended St Margaret's C of E Primary School in Richmond Road, Olton, from 1947 to 1953 when we went our separate ways. I recall that Jennifer lived on the opposite side of Barrington Road, Olton, to me, at No.3. I think she and her parents shared a house with a Mr Weaver. Jennifer's dad was, I believe, a local butcher, but where did he work? Perhaps someone knows, if so please contact me. Both Jennifer and I went to the Birmingham College of Food and Domestic Arts about the same time, but on different course. I seem to think she went to work in Cornwall, possibly Fowey. After leaving college, in the early 60s, I worked in catering for a while at Gracie Hall, and then at Malvern Hall, before leaving in 1965 to take up a post in Norfolk. Does anyone recall either of these places, perhaps as a student or maybe you worked there as well? If so, please drop me a line.
Aileen Gray (nee Black)

Posted Thursday, 17 March, 2005
I have very fond memories of Solihull in the 40's 50's 60's--I also went to Jack & Joan's dance school in Acocks Green Shirley road between 1954-1964. I believe they moved to Llandudno and carried on for a number of years doing shows---I was in the Caberet follies-and did shows and pantomimes at the Midland Institute in B'ham and in Small heath park Handsworth and many more as well as the shows Jack & Joan put on in the different mental hospitals. I remember a Carol Crackle I think she had a sister too, and a head pupil called Valerie------ the three shining Knights (two sisters and one brother) one was called Sylvia---I did a lot of dance and song numbers with Margert green and Eileen Brookes-and a girl called Dorothy who lived In Tysley not far from the station around the corner from my nan who lived in Ferndene road)--who played goldilocks one year in Panto--Margert Green did little Red Riding Hood too--she lived just on the corner of avenue road Acocks Green-
I have wonderful memories and remember these people with fondness.
Christine (Pledger) Williams

Posted Monday, 31 January, 2005
Trying to trace my mum Gladys or Gwen Garrod nee Kelly. she had a sister Shirley and they lived at no38 rangoon rd around 1945/48ish My mum died in 1946 any information would help
Pete Garrod

Posted Wednesday, 5 January, 2005
I am trying to make contact with anyone who went to Windylow School in the 1940's & 1950's. I am trying to trace a relative, Ann - who may have had an Italian surname - I have a class photo taken approx 1953 when aged 10yrs
Allan Winchester

Posted Wednesday, 27 October, 2004
Further to Lorna’s information about the Castle Lane/Knightsbridge Road Shops…..The original hairdresser’s shop (the shop nearest the canal) was split into two with gents on the left and ladies on the right. The shop was run by a husband and wife team Len and Gladys Handy, Len being the gents ‘barber’ and Gladys looking after the ladies. Before electric clippers were in general use, Len used hand operated ones which half cut the hair and half pulled it out! For children  he put a wooden plank across the arms of the chair to raise us up to a manageable height!  After Handys came Joan Rowe and Joyce and possibly Irene but I don’t know when and in what order. The shop is still a hairdressers.  Next was indeed the ironmongers originally owned by Walter Glover. Frank Kirby took over when Walter retired, but I can’t remember when that was. When Frank retired, around mid 1970’s at a guess, it remained an ironmongers, but not for long.  Then there was Hilda Collins’ who took over the shop from Ann(e) Ford round about the end of the war. Anne sold mainly wools,  cottons, silks etc whereas Hilda Collins specialised in ladies undergarments – I used to wait outside when mother went in there!!!  These last two shops have now been joined together and are a children’s nursery.  The shoe repairer’s was next. This little shop was in fact also split in two – there was a hallway about three feet square; straight on was the shoe repairer Bert Wythall who occupied the left hand side of the shop, and to the right was Knightsbridge Radio, run by Stan Colls. At this point I would like to thank Stan’s wife Dorothy who has helped me out with much of this information. I used to have to take the accumulator out of the wireless to Stan at regular intervals to be recharged. As I lived at far end of Knightsbridge Rd this was quite a test of stamina as these accumulators (like a single cell car battery) were made of glass, contained sulphuric acid and weren’t exactly light! The shop still houses a shoe repairer Mr Wadsworth who also sells leather/fancy goods.   The off licence was at an angle across the corner and the first shop in Knightsbridge Road was the butchers originally run by a Mr Pearce, then by Harold Taylor and then when he retired, his assistant Ken took over. I discovered Ken working at a butcher’s in Dorridge a few years ago and he retired from there earlier this year.  The Grocers was next, originally Sharratt’s and later Coombes’, and then the Greengrocer’s – the name Elson’s comes to mind but I think there were others.  Finally was the Tobacconist and Sweet Shop run by Mrs Watts and which later became Pearsalls. Mrs Watts wasn’t allowed to sell papers as the number of paper shops was restricted. Tuddenhams has already been mentioned – there was also Beck’s which was housed in a shed by the railway bridge in Ulverley Green Road. Our papers were always delivered and old Mrs Beck used to collect the money on a Sunday Morning.
If anyone has anything to add I would be delighted to hear from them.
John Jukes

Posted Friday, 15 October, 2004
It was great to hear from you Peter. The last I heard of you was way back when you went off to Chef school (I think I have it right). If I remember correctly you had two sisters Pam and Susan? I was in touch for many years with your old neighbour Brian Harding. He emigrated to Canada shortly after I did and settled initially in London Ontario but in the 1980's he moved to Hamilton and dropped out of sight. I have many memories of the Sunday soccer games on the green and the cricket games. 
Trevor Jones

Posted Monday, 4 October, 2004
I have just read the entry from Trevor Jones and remember him well as I also lived in Redlands Close. I now live in retirement in southern France but would love to hear from anyone who remembers those far off days of street parties, footie and cricket on the green, ice cream vans and Hemmings chippie, I can almost smell them
Peter Hughes

Posted Thursday, 16 September, 2004
Does anyone have any recollections of St. Christopher's Nursery in Warwick Rd.?  As a young girl of 10 or 11 I used to go there with friends and play with the children - we were also allowed to take them out for a walk - hard to imagine that happening today!!  Would love to see a photograph if anyone should have one.
Lorna Quorn

Posted Monday, 30 August, 2004
To Richard Wilford, yes I remember Tuddenhams the newsagents on the corner of Richmond Road and Barrington Road, but the ironmonger you mentioned was Eric Williams. I saw him in 1982 when I was visiting Olton. He recognised me straight away, although I had left the area in August 1965. Next to the ironmongers was an Off Licence, run by  Bert and Marjorie Davis, they had a son, Hadyn and a daughter, Gwyneth, I seem to recall. Next was Izons the Grocers and then Wilkins, a wool shop, haberdashery and clothes. Then Wrensons the grocers and finally, Tuddenhams were on the corner.The row of shops went from the canal down to Barrington Road. At the rear of the shops was a narrow lane, wide enough for a car, and beside the lane was our back garden, with a side gate (No 2 Barrington Road), the garden stretched all the way down to the canal. Me and my brother John would often wave to the barges as they went past! We even skated on the ice during the long hard winter of 1947, did anyone else do the same? The canal bridge had a hump in it, I remember. This was smoothed out when Princess Margaret visited to open Lyndon Sec. Mod. school. I was one of the Brownies who formed a Guard of Honour on that occasion, sometime in the early 1950s. Does anyone else remember, were you a Brownie too? Between St Margaret's school on Richmond Road and the canal there was a little shoe repair shop and whenever I went there he always had 'Workers' Playtime' on the radio. Does anyone remember him, and his name? On the other side of the school was a Corn and Seed Merchants where we used to buy our pet food for the cat and garden sundries. But, there again, I cannot recall the name, can anyone?
Aileen Gray (nee Black)

Posted Monday, 30 August, 2004
In reply to Aileen Grey I believe the hairdressers in Castle Lane was Maison Irene (!) and then changed to "Joyce Hairstylist".  I think next door was Hilda Collins Drapers. I can recall a shoe repairers and a gent's barbers (Mr. Game?) and around the corners the grocers, a fruit and vegetable shop and a sweet shop but sadly those names have disappeared! 
Lorna Quorn (Green)

Posted Saturday, 14 August, 2004
What a great site - To Aileen Black, I remember Linda Cherrington well. Just before I left for Australia in 1963, Linda presented me with a marvelous jumper she knitted herself. To Noel Lawrence, if my maths is correct, I was in the very first intake at Lode Heath, which eventually became Tudor Grange - Autumn Term 1951. Tom Kathy Armstrong - Re: Lyndon Road shops - I remember them well but do you remember the Guy Fawkes Bonfires organised by the Garners? To Alan Moore. I remember your Dad well. My Dad was a member of the first Board Of Govenors at Lyndon School - you might remember myself and my brother - Peter and Antony Platt - Antony sadly passed away in 2003. To Peter Lakin - I remember "Danny" Kaye - Tudor Grange Scouts. I could go on - I miss it all.
Peter Platt

Posted Monday, 2 August, 2004
I lived in Barrington Road, Olton, with my parents William and Gwen Black, and my brother John, from 1945 to 1965, when we moved to Sheringham in Norfolk on the retirement of my father in August 1965.  There I met a Norfolk man, Ashley, and we were married in St Alphege church, Solihull, on 12 August 1967.  I went to St Margaret's Church of England Primary School in Richmond Road and, yes; I too can recall Miss Gopsill's car and Mr 'Batty' Bates!  I then went to Lode Heath Grammar School and after that to Birmingham College of Catering and Domestic Arts, to pursue a career in housekeeping and catering. This was eventually to lead to an appointment as Catering Supervisor in School Meals in various places in Norfolk.  Yes, I can remember Olton Cinema in the Hollow and going to the pictures there.  I also used to go to a hairdressers in Castle Lane, next to Frank Kirby's Ironmongers, I think. Does anyone remember the hairdressers salon and the name? This would have been in the late-50s/early-60s.  I seem to recall two of the girls who worked at the hairdressers; one was called Linda Cherrington and the other I just knew as Carol. Can anyone remember them? If so, where are they now?  I'd love to hear from them, or anyone who can remember me, Aileen Black, as I was in those days. But it seems such a long time ago now!
Aileen Gray (Black)

Posted Tuesday, 27 July 2004
I grew up in Alston Road, Elmdon Heath and went to Lode Heath junior school and then aws one of the original intake at TGGS at Lode Heath in 1951 (Noel Lawrence was quite right) I have a copy of the one page of the first, entrance register for TGGS. Pupils in first year were such as Ken Maynard, Colin (cheese) Morgan, David Fairclough, Tony Worwood, Brian Biggs Jack Clark etc. Also remember Ravenshaw and catching stickle backs in the brook, penny crisps from Mrs Bevan's shop and the Smithy also in Damson Lane. Also Wherrets Well Lane where my Uncle Will and Aunt Clara lived, the old Drury Lane where my Uncle Ted and Aunt Olive lived in the cottages (toilet across the yard, bath in front of the fire) near to the rear of the cinema, all seems such a different world now.
Martin Crump

Posted Sunday, 19 October, 2003
I lived in Alderbrook Road with my parents and sister from 1947-1957 when i married and went to live in Blackwell, Barnt Green. My parents lived there until 1968. my sister and I went to St.Martins School when the two headmistresses were Miss Bull and Miss Tucker. They were great disciplinarians but feel privileged to have been educated there!.
I have very happy memories of living in Solihull, We use to cycle to school and we would go to Homer Road tennis club and have great times also every Saturday we would go to the White cat, the meeting place of the time!! In1957 I was married at Solihull Parish Church and afterwards at The Council House in Poplar Road.
I would be interested to hear from anyone who may remember me from school that is 1947-1954? my days in Solihull were very happy.
Suzanne Cranmore (nee Phelps) cranmore@amserve.net

Posted Friday, August 8, 2003
I attended Daylesford school from 1956-58. I remember the head mistress was Mrs Sergent, a very nice giant of a lady, my form teacher was Miss Richards. From 58-62 I attended Chapelfields school where Mr Neville was the head master and I can remember quite clearly calling at Jones sweet shop on the way home and having a 1d ice lollipop they were the in thing at the time .....happy memories
Paul Buckley

Posted  Friday, July 25, 2003
Shirley College.
I lived at 44 Burman Road(1944-1951) and at 30 Hazeloak Road(1952-1961) and attending the above (1949-1954).It was on a corner with a large house with ex farm buildings. The grounds included a marvellous spinney and elsewhere bracken that made marvellous tunnels. Mr Stanley Jones was head master with a Mr Liddle, also Green, Field, Rider, Dyson a Miss Lincoln and Miss Grey. I am still in touch with David Fletcher, Alan Hassell and Timothy Boyd. Have not traced Richard Lane. So much can be said of the school it should be recreated. Shirley has a good large park and used to have a an excellent cinema. The Methodist church had a large Sunday School and I used to attend their Thursday Guild I am grateful to them though I am deeply involved with the Anglican Church now. It is hoped that the railway line to Stratford Upon Avon will eventually go through to Honeybourne and Cheltenham.10 miles have been re-laid and 3 were not removed. I am grateful for growing up there.
Nicholas Morrison

Posted Saturday, July 19, 2003
Oh dear! Someone still insisting he was an original pupil of Tudor Grange Grammar School in 1956. Once again, TGGS started at least two, if not three years earlier than that. We shared Lode Heath Secondary school while TGGS was being built on Dingle Lane. I spent two years there. Hilton King was there and became the first Head Boy. Only a few of the teachers transferred to Dingle Lane and many, like Hoskins and Andrews never taught at Lode Heath.
I know the books say the school started in 1956 but they are clearly incorrect. The 1956 date was the opening of the new facility not the start of the school per se.
Noel Lawrence

Posted Saturday, June 7, 2003
Is there anybody out there from Bishop Clancey High School, from the first year it opened?
Denise Allen

Posted Saturday, May 24, 2003
Walter Savins reply to Hilary Docker included the name Tony Wooley. Was this Brian Wooleys brother by any chance? Brian and I were good buddies and I recall Tony being a few years younger. They lived next door to the Betts family, Angela Betts being my teenage sweetheart until I left for Canada at 19. This terrific site always brings back happy memories of that idyllic time in our lives when the world seemed so much more secure. It's nice to see other youthful memories brought to life in the letters here.
Richard Wilford

Prefabs

I am trying to find out any information about the prefabs in Solihull. My father was born in one on Bluebell Lane, but we can't find anyone who remembers them.
My grandfathers name was Percival Brown and he had two sons Malcolm and Jon. If anyone can remember them or the prefabs I would love to hear from you.
Samantha Brown
For more information on Prefabs click here

Ruckleigh School
Hello, I would love to hear from anyone who attended Ruckleigh School around the early 40's to 1950. I used to live at No 69 Broad Oaks Rd & left in 1950, so would like to hear from anyone who also lived in that road. It is a long time ago so I know this is a long shot. I used to walk to school every day along Streetsbrook Rd., to Lode Lane, also had a friend in Ashleigh Rd.
Gillian McWilliam (nee Penzer)

Lode heath School
Trevor Jones comments about Lode Heath School brought back a lot of memories. If I have the correct Trevor Jones, I seem to remember that during our time together at Lode Heath we were always fighting each other, for no reason other than we didn't like each other; ah! the stupidity of youth. I wonder if there are still any fish left in the pond in the quad!. I remember Mr Blackmore used to run a "BEE" keeping club, he used to try and press gang us into being around when he opened the hives, without to much success. I and most of the most other lads didn't fancy a million or so bees buzzing around our heads. I WAS sorry to hear that he had been killed in a car accident in the 70s, although he was a bit of a tyrant, he was a good woodwork teacher; and if you showed that you wanted to learn he would help.
The paper shop in Mill Lane was run by a man named Poulden. I don't know what his first name was all us paper boys used to call him "BOSS" Poulden.
Richard Shuttleworth

Lyndon Road Shops
My brother and I have been racking our brains about the shops in Lyndon Road in the fifties. I can remember Garners, Greengrocers. Greens (one on each side of the road I believe - one an ironmonger of sort and the other selling wools etc;. Jones, sweets; two pinfold shops, grocers; Lucketts - I remember taking the old wireless battery-thing to be re-charged; Roberts, grocers; Matthias, sweet shop and next to her Goodwins, grocers and on the end Stallabrass. There are eight shops on each side so what were the others?
Kathy Armstrong

What a wonderful way to spend an hour or two, reading about the way it used to be. I didn't live in Solihull, I actually lived in Hay mills but spent many happy hours during my teenage years in & around the Solihull area. During my pre-teen times I remember countless happy hours spent around Elmdon hall, Getting the frog spawn out of the little pond in the back garden, imagining the goings on in the "torture chamber" in the cellars. Wow what imaginations we had. I then joined the MEB in town to do an apprenticeship which involved travelling all over Solihull & other locales. Remember with great fondness many weekend trips to Knowle Lido. I'm sure we had sunshine every weekend during those far off times. I have been living in Canada since 1957 got here when I was 21. Still visit the old haunts as I am usually over there at least once a year, & it's still a beautiful place.
Gerry Bates

What a lot of memories this brings back to me, I too remember playing on the swings in Damson Lane playing fields, also I remember buying penny packets of crisps from Mrs Bevans shop, those were the days.
Pauline Randell nee Rhodes

Is there anyone out there who attended Jack & Joan Coopers dance school in Acocks Green during the early 50's? A number of youngsters from the Solihull and Olton area did. I Would like to hear from you if you went there.
John Davies

Anyone remember the Olton Picture house, the Saturday matinee, did anyone hear any of the films with all the chatter and ice cream cartons whizzing past your ears, I can remember a few of the films Flash Gordon, The Iron Monster (boy was that scary), Roy Rogers, Zorro. I also remember the pottery shop by Lincoln Road, on Saturday they used to sell home made coloured pop 1 penny a bottle, on reflection it tasted awful but it quenched the thirst from all the shouting in the pictures. I think the red was made with watered down cochineal, the yellow from crushed dandylions and the green washing up liquid, oh for a bag of grassy scratching from the chippy, its a wonder were sill alive.
Walter Savin
 

NEW LOCAL HISTORY BOOK 605 (COUNTY OF WARWICK) SQUADRON The book traces the unique history of Warwickshire’s “only” Squadron, from its formation in 1926 at Castle Bromwich, through World War II to its disbandment in 1957 at Honiley. 96 pages (several appendices), 400 black & white photos ISBN No. 0 9529516 1 4 - Price £9.50 inc p&p www.605squadron.co.uk

It's so good to read all the memories. I haven't lived in England since 1967 but can still remember when milk was delivered by a horse and cart in Shirley.
The baker coming to the door to sell bread. The little shops on the Stratford
Road. The "Tuck Shop" just across the road from Shirley High School where I first went to school. The Civic Centre and The Galleon where we went to dances.
The coal bin and the cold houses!!!! I remember the Corona man who delivered pop to our house and the Shirley Community Centre where we went for the drama club and for dancing lessons. - Happy Days
Christine Spencer (nee Hutton)

What wonderful memories of Lode Heath are conjured up by Peter Nicholls (1960's memories). I attended Lode Heath after St Alphege.
I lived in Redlands Close for many years before I married and eventually moved to Canada. Peter's comments about Lode Heath are wonderful, the memories of going on the cross country run with Messrs Popplestone and Fitter, rugby practice with Messrs Popplestone and Onslow (many thanks to him for his guidance and encouragement.
Oh yes Mr Gibbs, Mr Blackmore and the head, Mr Lunnon. Science with Mr Jones and music with Mrs Creswick. Those lofty days of being a prefect and being on duty to catch the stragglers or those that took a short cut (heaven forbid) across the quad. I delivered newspapers for a newsagent on Mill Lane but I don't remember the name, I then had a paper route for Reg Cooper who was on Hermitage Road. Green grocery deliveries for Jordans on the Warwick Road were orders of the day back then. I enjoyed many yeas as a member of the 1st Solihull Scout troop at the Mill Pond. After leaving Lode Heath I went to work at Wickham Blackwell in Hampton in Arden before moving on to join the Fire Department in Solihull. After emigrating to Canada I have enjoyed several trips back to Solihull.
Trevor Jones

My late father, Jack Moore, was the first headmaster of Lyndon School when it opened in 1952. We then lived in Sheldon, on 'the other side' of the Coventry Road but in June 1954 we moved to a newly built house in Lyndon Road, right next to Chapel Fields School. Memories?? Yes - by the truckload! The Midland Red 173 which stopped outside our house at 30 mins past the hour on its way to The Swan, Yardley, returning at 10 mins to. Jubilee Park - many games of football and cricket. Tuddenhams Newsagents, where we waited each Saturday evening for the 'Blue Mail' or the 'Pink Argus.' Olton Station, where I caught the 8.37 each morning to Bordesley for Camp Hill. Olton Library, on the Warwick Road by the railway bridge. Dene Court Road and Braemar Road where my good friends Jock Taylor and Robert Green lived. The Olton Cinema in the Hollow. The barber shop opposite - the lad who swept the floor became lead singer in the Applejacks. The 'Sunday Club' in Mill Lane, led by the amazing Ron Edge. Another good friend, Johnny Cunningham and his group were rock'n'roll regulars. The Solihull Cinema and the manager with his torch!! The pitch and putt course. Frestans on a Saturday morning. The Midland Educational. Solihull Carnival. The 152, 184 and 187 bus services. All those years ago - but sometimes it really does seem like only yesterday.
Alan Moore

I visit this wonderful site every few weeks and the recollections of contributors are so real in my memory. I lived on Dene Court Road, with my grandparents, bomb shelter in the back yard, fields leading from the back of the house to Olton Park, the roundabout, crawling through holes in the hedges, skidding on the grass on those track bikes with the cow horn handles!
Moved to the prefabs later and attended Ulverly school, Miss Jones and Mr. Gardener come to mind, a smack on the rear end with a "plimsoll" was one unhappy moment from his class but he was a nice guy. Kiss chase, hot rice, and some sort of jumping game landing on the other persons back as they bent down, the line getting longer and heavier as others jumped up.
Moved again to Scott Road, recall Tuddenhams corner store, the ironmongers,
I think the owners name was Eric Smith, the smell of mothballs and turpentine permeating the air. Jumping over the gate at the canal bridge and wandering for hours along the "cut," sneaking into the test ground at the Rover where they had stuffed or phoney heads of animals on the trees at the Landrover area.
The annexe before Tudor Grange opened. I ran away from home for a couple of nights and caused my parents no end of grief, was quite a hero on my return as the police had been called out! St Bernards road with it's huge houses, on the way to school. One or two even had gravesites! Are they still there?
Conkers in the fall, sliding in the playground, eating chocolate bars from the tuck shop, field hockey on frozen ground; the memories come flooding back and after some 40 years in Canada they still can bring a smile to my face.
Richard Wilford

More memories! I remember building dens in the huge area of brambles in Lode Lane next to the Rover Co. Drinking Dandelion & Burdock and Smith's Chips. Playing 'Hot Rice' and Tingle Tangle 123 on the playing fields at the back of Dovehouse Lane & Highwood Ave. There would have been 20 or more kids aged from 5 to 15 playing till dark. No safety problems then.
Mike Beamish

In connection with the Email from Bob Hitchman (June 2001) I also spent many gloriously happy hours at Widney Manor Station in the late 50's. If anyone does have any photos of the old station in the steam era could you please contact me. I was also a founder pupil of Tudor Grange Grammar School ( Formerly infant pupil at Shirley). Can anyone confirm that we were temporarily moved to a wooden annexe in Solihull ( Mill Lane comes to mind) for several weeks before the Grammar School opened. Many former pupils must remember that the Grammar School had no electricity for several days when it opened and we moved lock,stock and barrel from Lode Lane School carrying our desks by road in a long snake like procession. We also had to walk what seemed like miles to Solihull baths to swim and attend the compulsory Church Services at the beginning and end of term. Can anyone recollect that when the Girls School opened years later we made contact with the now infamous Mandy Rice Davies who lived a short distance away from me in a new development off Longmoor Road,Shirley. If anyone remembers these heady times please contact me.
John Thornett

Do we go with the 50's or 60's...a dilemma as I was at Eversfield from 59 through to 61 ...think I'll go with the 50's.  I lived in Portway Close and have vivid memories of sneaking into the adjacent Tennis club for free crisps, peanuts and Coca Cola. Dear me! I forget the names of the chums who were partners in that crime! I was a regular for receiving stitches in various parts of my anatomy at the clinic off the High Street.   Has anyone found the teeth I lost playing football yet? (hint...they are probably buried a few millimetres down on Eversfield's football pitch.) I ended up in Canada and now work for the Civil Service of my adoptive country. Currently boning up on my Japanese as I'm hoping to go there in May...
Bryan Wood

Tudor Grange School
Don't the memories come flooding back... I started as one of the original pupils in September 1956, Form 1L - Mr Hoskins was our first Form Master. Teachers - well, Mr Munday was the first Head, with Mr L F Ardern his deputy and cane-wielder. Dr C P Sargent (Geography), Mr E C W Chapman (Latin), Mr R T Ledbury (Music), Mr J D Uppington (Spanish), Mr P S Wheeler (Physics), Mr C P (Danny) Kaye (History), Mr D A Andrews (History/Hockey), Mr P G Mann (Games), etc. Mr Ardern used to run the school Chess club; at each session he would have us all sitting at desks with the Chessboards set up, remove his own Queen from each one, and then walk up and down the aisle playing each game, and wipe the floor with the lot of us!!!
I left in 1960 to go to Merseyside (family relocation) - memories of a last famous school trip to Austria in 1960, the highlight of which was Trevor Birkett putting his head out of the French train window - but he didn't bother to open it first...
Who remembers the long "slides" in the playground in midwinter, or the games of "Hot Rice" we used to play.
I'd love to hear from anyone who remembers me, or those days with affection. I'm currently re-married with another two kids (7 & 5), living idyllically happily in rural South Wales (yes, there is some rural in South Wales)!!!
Peter Lakin (Ben)

Yes!  I remember the loos at St Margaret's....and Miss Gopsil's car...and Mr Bates's study.  AND several boys getting into trouble for climbing the walls of the boys loos so that they could see into the girls'.  I was there only for a couple of years before going on to Malvern Hall, but I used to walk home to Rock Road across fields, where I stopped and petted the horses.  Before that I lived at Elmdon Heath, in Wherret's Well Lane.  I remember the lovely days spent fishing for sticklebacks and newts at Ravenshaw, and the awful dank Saturday afternoons having to watch football at Cat'ney Barnes, where my dad, Tommy Docker was something to do with the club.  Anyone out there remember us?
Hilary Docker (now Taylor)

In Reply.... Hi Hilary
I remember your dad and spent many a Saturday afternoon watching Catney play at Cox's field in Lugtrout Lane. Catney never seemed to be able to beat Knowle for some reason but I remember one year that they made the final of one or another competitions and we all went to Villa Park for the finals the coaches left from the car park of the Greville Arms. Funny you should have moved to Rock Road one of my first girl friends lived there and her name was Taylor, we went to the same dance school at Acocks Green. What a small world.
John Davies

In Reply....
Ahh Hilary Docker yes I remember you, you were very fond of horses but do remember me? does the name set you thinking? lets give you a couple of clues and something to reminisce over. The old council tip and park at the rear of Rock Road (now Barn Lane Rec) a meeting place for most of us kids, any nearer?. Ok lets drop a few names out David James, say yes. Tony Wooley, Donald Durn, but one you were a little more friendly with was Bill Kesterton, well they were all friends of mine from Chapel Fields school. Me I lived in Pierce Avenue opposite the gulley and next door to Tommy Malley who used to tend the tip. I should imagine there is enough to set distant bells tinkling.
Walter Savin

I went to Hatchford Brook School in 1954 and then to Valley Road Infants and then back to Hatchford Brook before going to Harold Malley Grammar the year it opened (1961?) I lived at 3 Farm Close in Sheldon in what was then a Rover House. Our neighbours were Tom and Millie Barton (Mr Land Rover) and a family called the Ushers. We used to play in the ruins of Elmdon Hall and in the Brook with a metal bridge by what was then the new Vicarage. Anyone remember Roger and Michael Brown. I now live in Hungerford in Berkshire.
Roger Brown

I attended Hatchford Brook School from 1953 to 1959, I have a school photograph of my class with Mr Rees as teacher, members of class include George Lovegrove, Keith Froggat, Elizabeth Ryder, and Margeret Bent.
I remember climbing up the drain pipe on the main assembly hall and also remember the little cloak rooms adjacent to the wooden classrooms, with hooks for our bags and labels with our names on. We also had a small black bag with our personal items in.
A J Sherriff

I lived on the left side of Gilbertstone Avenue when the right side was magically moved one night into Solihull!  I remember buying toffee apples from a lady who lived in a cul de sac at the top of Pierce Avenue.  Spending too much time playing on Lyndon Playing Fields, so that I was always late home.  Being allowed up the tower at Chapel Fields School...what an honour!  It seemed so high in those days.  Going to the Saturday matinees at the Sheldon Cinema...the plush carpets, the long sloping corridor down the left side of the cinema, that you could yell in and annoy everyone watching the film...being up in the balcony and throwing cups and sweet wrappers down to the cheap seats!  Fishing for sticklebacks and tiddlers in the Brook at the back of the farm in Wagon Lane. Scrumping apples, playing rounders at the park and eating my first real liquorice sticks in the field at the Chapel Fields.
Beryl Trimble (nee Martin)

I started at Hatchford Brook, in 1953 my first teacher was Mrs WINIFRED JONES  the class room was a wooden hut, it had a pot bellied stove in it and was really warm. The class room had smell of floor wax, that will stay with me forever. Other teachers I can remember were Mr Chapman who was head master Mr Clarke was deputy head, Mrs Hall, Mr Woodward, I think a Mrs Gilbert taught what was then nature. I went into Mrs Halls class aged 7, when I became a junior, we then had a brick built class room, next to the assembly hall.
Back to Mrs Jones class, I sat next to a blond girl called Bonita Rowbottom who had long plaits. There was also a girl called Susan Shaw. I had friend called Albert Finney but he left the school when we were 7 and in Mrs Halls class. We learnt to read from books called Mack and Tosh, they were about a pair of cairn terries, one black and one white. The Christmas party was always a good time, we all had to bring jelly cakes or tinned fruit, we had to have our names
written on sticking plaster, then stuck on the bottom of our dishes. Does anybody remember empire day, we all had to go into the assembly hall to sing and pray.  Hope it brings back some happy memories.
John Dams

This site is super and although I didn't live in Solihull I visited my cousins John and Margaret Osborn many times. They lived in Stanway Road.  This would have been in the late 1940's and throughout the 1950's.  I remember going to the  Shirley Odeon several times to see films like "The Glen Miller Story" and others whilst the older relatives visited. I remember driving through the lovely countryside around Solihull and Elmdon in the l950's before the motorway was built. This was when we got our first car, an Austin Somerset. We called at some of the quaint pubs along the way. Later on going out to Berkswell to The Bear. Attending family weddings at St. Alphege with all the males in Morning Dress rented from Moss Bros.
Jennifer Venville Nicol

My first memories are of Dovehouse Lane Parade - Mum had 'The Cottage Loaf' home made cake shop. She also made ice-cream with goat's milk during the war. Dad used to take me to collect the goat's milk in churns from a farm in Lode Lane, now the site of Landrover!
We then moved to Kineton Green Road and I went to St. Margaret's school - yes I do remember the awful loos next to the cricket bat factory! Also Miss Gopsill's Austin Seven, but the headmaster, Mr Chapman, only had a bike! I was head girl in 1950 before going on to King Edward's Camp Hill. Solihull 'village' was a place for Saturday mornings - then the George pub - little bar at the back when I worked for the Council planning Office in a big old house - where there is now a big island leading on to Blossomfield Road.
Kay Rhodes (formerly Pountney)


I remember being able to play ball and tennis in the street in the early 50's, penny bag of scratchings from the chip shop, being the proud owner of a new bike.
Also playing at the 'swings' alongside the canal on Damson Lane until you realised it was dark and you were late home. The outside loos at St Alphege school where my aunt and uncle were the caretakers. I also remember the gas works as I used to go with my mom and she used to hold the sack under the funnel and then put it on her bike and push it home.
We used to keep pigs in a sty at the bottom of the garden and neighbours kept chickens and geese. I used to go fishing at Ravenshaw on my bike. Those were the days when we had hot sunny summers.
Christine Fisher (Nee Adkins)

Picnicking in the 50s by Hatchford brook at the concrete and steel footbridge constructed by Italian prisoners of war under the shadow of Chelmsley and Alcott Wood., you could see their signatures engraved in the concrete foundations. Chelmsley Wood conjures up the most precious of childhood memories: ancient oak trees from a ten year olds point of view, scouts camps, galleries of badger sets mined deep into the sandy earth, jays' nests and oh, the bluebells. As children we roamed these woods in perfect freedom. Anyone else around at the time? I would love to see photographs of this period.  
Stewart Darlaston

I remember the bags of crisps we got at Hatchford Brook, they had small blue bags of salt inside, you had to open the salt and mix it with the crisps! Mark

One of my earliest is the party in Rangoon Road for the coronation. We got our first TV so we could watch the broadcast -- a huge Bush set. The sound of Vickers Viscounts warming up their engines at Elmdon Airport -- a sound that lulled me to sleep my entire childhood.
The autogyro at Elmdon airport. Plane spotting. The ruins of Elmdon Hall before it became a parking lot. The fish and chip shop "round the corner", plus Mrs. Bates' Grocery andKing's Newsagents. My first day at infants school in the huts at Hatchford Brook before Valley Infants was opened. God, that was 1955, pre-history! Fishing for sticklebacks in Hatchford Brook before it was straightened out.
Howard Bennett

Who else remembers the awful loos at the old St. Margaret's School in Richmond Road. The Happy sports days at Mereside in St. Bernards Road, and spending one year at the 'Hollow' with Mrs. Lawton-Jones! Watching the narrow boats loading timber from the wood yard next to the school; Miss Gopsill's Austin 7 and Mr. Bates' study? This would be 1953-1958 but it seems like yesterday!
Lorna


I lived on the corner of Dovehouse Lane and Highwood Ave until 1958.
I remember rolling Easter eggs down the hill at Elmdon and tobogganing down it in the winter. Track biking in Hobbs Moat.
Mike Beamish

Palaces for the People - Prefabs in Post- War Britain by Greg Stevenson You can read more about prefabs in a book, just published, 'Palaces for the People' at £12.99. It includes about 28 000 words and over 150 photos, many from Birmingham area. It can be ordered from www.amazon.co.uk or any good bookshop.

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.

Click Here to post a photograph on this page

Get in touch with lost friends or family. Would you like to make contact with Old School Friends, Work Colleagues or Family from the Solihull area? Maybe even arrange a Reunion. Reunions