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Redditch
Redditch maps
Historic maps of Redditch and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Redditch maps
Redditch area books
Displaying 1 of 12 books about Redditch and the local area. View all books for this area
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Memories of Redditch
Displaying a selection of personal
memories of Redditch.
There are 16 shared memories to read.
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Woolworths
As a 'floor walker', or trainee Woolworth's manager, one was expected to work quite a lot of unpaid overtime especially over the Christmas period. For the anticipated Christmas rush much larger amounts of stock were ordered, resulting in huge piles of unpacked cartons. I remember working throughout the night to reduce one of these mountains and at two o'clock in the morning was well ahead of schedule when disaster struck as I struggled with a 1cwt box of marbles. I tripped and the box burst, releasing a veritable tsunami of marbles that bounced through the store and out in to the street, on its way filling and immobilising the lift well. Instead of being 'two steps ahead" I was suddenly five steps behind and my managerial potential took a huge nose dive.
My Grandfathers Shop - Jacksons
I suspect a lot of people might remember the shop. Seeing this photo brings a lot back. The shop is just out of shot to the right of the photo, though you can just make out the alleyway that led to the rear. I had my cycles from here, the first being a BSA, followed by a Raliegh, and finally a Molem c/w suspension front and rear! As a boy, I was lucky to have Dinky Toy cars for presents on my birthday, and at Christmas. At the rear of the retail side was the workshop, where cycles, mopeds, scooters and motor cycles were built (when new) and repaired when required. I can also remember my grandfather recharging wireless batteries, and my father going out in the car to deliver them, and also taking TVs back for repair as well! My aunt, who worked in the shop, still lives in the town.
Redditch Town Centre.
I remember Huins shoe shop, and Evesham Street. I worked for a time in Liptons. I went to college in Birmingham and returned to Redditch to work in N. H. Harris hairdressers in Market Place, above the Singer sewing machine shop, a few doors down from the Royal pub. I remember Saturdays were always the busiest, with the market a hub of activity. I used to go to a cafe called Pauline's Pantry in a street the other side of the bus station, we listened to the latest rock music on the juke box,and sometimes we used to go roller skating at the Palace. Carnival time was great, a good parade through the town centre, followed by a big fair, also in the town centre.
EVESHAM STREET
I worked in my father's shop in Evesham Street and one in Alcester Street and then we moved into the Kingfisher Centre. We traded under the name of Spencers, selling TVs, radios, toys and records, I believe we were one of the first shops in Redditch to sell TVs. We held a show open to the public in the old Kingfisher Hall displaying TVs, radios, radiograms and Hi-Fis, I forget the name of the road but it was off Evesham Street. I can still recall most of the shops in Evesham Street, Hollingtons, Jacksons who sold cycles, Biggs the grocers, Liptons, Home and Colonial, Wise Radio, Browns corn store, The Hungry Man, to name a few. At one time Pitts Garage was in Evesham Street until it moved into Park Road, Smoky Joes cafe was on the corner opposite the Co-op store.
Life at The RCHS
TO Dave Read, I am one of Mr. Hodge's three sons (there were also two daughters who attended the school later on) and you seem to have been bracketed chronologically by Alan and Robin; I was in the 54-59 era.
Best memory is that Dad, as art teacher, was asked to design the school badge (he also did Bridley Moor and Lodge). He asked the latin teacher (Mr. Agate)for "Nothing but the best" and was told "Nihil quam optime". It was duly applied to the uniform. Turned out that it really meant "nothing as well as possible" and so Dalton Murray switched it to Nil Nisi Optime some time in 1958-ish.
My Time Here
I know my memory wasn't long ago but I love the fact that this school is still standing. I went there in 1998 and left in 2002. I was in the Angles House and we won every music interhouse competition going. I miss my time there soooo much, but now it has changed even more, it is now Trinity High School and Sixth Form Centre and they have got rid of the houses.
Happy Days
I was a pupil here from 1947 till 1953. As well as teachers mentioned by other contributors I can recall Mr Baily, Mr Hodge, Mr Jones, Miss Jones, Miss Barker and Miss Henry. I finished in Form Remove and remember pupils Brian Sutton, Colin Tickle, Pete Taylor, Alan Roddis and girls Christine Raybould, Anne Fenemore and Val Wrigglesworth. Also I remember the houses as Angles, Saxons and Jutes. Does anybody remember me?
Alcester Street
I was 11 years old in 1957 and during that year I transferred from St Stephen's Junior Mixed School to Lodge Farm County Secondary. I lived at number 12 Wellington Street, which has been virtually destroyed by the new town development. I have many memories of Alcester Street through the 1950s and early 1960s. There never seemed to be much traffic and the shops catered for a variety of needs. My aunt would give me a shilling to go to Sheldon's tobacco shop and collect her weekly packet of snuff, which was weighed out on gleaming brass scales and poured into a small brown packet. Hedges Chemist would be visited when prescriptions were needed. Next door was the Nag's Head where you could return empty beer and pop bottles to collect some extra pocket money. Across Smith Street was the Rising Sun where my dad would go for a pint and I waited outside for my bottle of Vimto and packet of crisps. Curry's Radio Shop was next and I... Read more
