Redditch memories
Here are memories of Redditch and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Redditch or a Redditch photo.
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
Friends And Staff
I left school in 1949 having been a happy (if not good) student since 1946.
Memorably I was school athletics champion in 1949 and had been Worccestershire Schools High Jump Champion in the same year. I was also Left Half for the schools 1st Eleven football team.
I well remember staff: Miss Beake, 'Soapy Watson', Jimmy Moral, Miss Moore, Mr Andrews, Miss Oliver, Miss Lericheux (?), Colonel Scothern.
Pupils I remember are: Alan Benjamin, Tony Wedgbury, Glen Matthews, Margaret Wilde, Anne Wright, Cecily Allcock, Christine Hassel.
I would love to hear from any of my old friends.
Brian Cosnett.
School Choir
Does anyone remember being in the school choir when we recorded 'And The Glory of the Lord' in St Stephens Church? Harvey M played the organ [complete with deliberate mistake] and we were recorded on an enormous wax disc.
We could buy the record for about 9 shillings I think. I was so proud of mine but it disappeared many years ago, and I do wish I still had it. No one believes I could sing!
Happy days.
Ann [Spencer]
Policing Redditch
The policeman in this photograph, much to my amazement, is me! I joined the Worcestershire Constabulary in 1961 and worked at Redditch from 1961 to 1965, when I then went to be a 'village bobby' at Oldswinford in Stourbridge. We had no radios or much transport in those days and most eight-hour shifts would be spent walking the streets. To see if we were wanted we either passed the end of Church Street and looked down to the Police Station to see if the blue light outside had been put out, or we hovered by a designated telephone box at a set time each half hour and waited for it to ring. The rest of the time you were on your own and expected to deal with anything that came your way. The newsagent's shop on the cover of the book was at the top end of Evesham Street where it became 'Front Hill' and was the shop where I had a standing order for each of the James Bond... Read more
Those Were The Days
Who remembers being compared to Robbie Burns's "wee sleekit cowring timrous beastie" as we first crept into that hallowed school? Then how we quickly got used to all the pranks and fun that could be had, despite the rather formidable presence of Jimmy Morrall, "Goofy "Stranz and Miss Lericheux.
Boys and girls had to wear their hats to and from school, and faced detention if seen without one. "Harty" the maths teacher was usually on the ball with that one as he always came to school on a bike and passed a good many of us on his journey. Harvey Morris conducted our choirs and, although looking serene and professional with his back to the audience of doting parents, his facial expressions were enough to frighten the more timid of his protegees.
Then there was Mr Hayes, sweet Doc Deuchcrow and lovely Mr Yapp, Peggy O'Neill (who always liked to dress like a bumble bee), Miss Moore and Miss Cooke, who started the same year as me. Mr Body... Read more
Bates Hill Methodist Church
This was the year that I was christained there. My grand parents and great grand parents attended the chapel. As a child I also went to Sunday school there. It was a beautiful church and should have been given a heritage listing, what a shameful waste when it was burnt down, probably arson. All the nice buildings have been pulled down and the town of Redditch has been destroyed completely by the 1960,s Planners and so called Architescts. Not a very nice place anymore and I am glad that I no longer live there. When aretheyever going tp stop building? They have not stopped since itbecame a so called newtown in the 60's.
Working in Evesham Street
I remember Evesham Street in Redditch in the early sixties very well. I was 15, had just left school, and was working at Liptons the grocers which was about half way up on the left just past the department store. There was a small chapel just opposite and also other grocery stores: Farrands, George Masons, the Home & Colonial stores. The Kingfisher coffee bar was on the corner, half way down, and the Co-op stores were further up. There was a wonderful greasy spoon cafe at the top end on the right, Smokey Joes. I remember carnival days in September each year and the talent competitions held down by the old library ~ my sister Mary invariably won the singing contest! I never knew a town change quite so quickly or as dramatically as Redditch did back in the early 70's. I suppose that's progress but I do remember with fondness the town before the building of all the new estates: it was a nice town, a good town to... Read more
Mr James Bishop.
The elderly man on left is my grandfather Mr James Bishop. He had probably popped in to the Post Office to get tobacco for his pipe. He was born in Worcester in 1883, his father was a master builder and from an early age he used to help carry bricks. He then delivered meat on horseback and went on to manage Redditch Meat Company butcher's shop on Church Green. Then he worked at 'Terry Springs' in the warehouse for 35 years retiring at 65. He couldn't settle in to retirement so went on to work for Taylor and Johnson's a fishing tackle firm where he stayed until he had to have the lower part of one leg amputated at the age of 95. Unable to bear the thought of being confined indoors he was fitted with an artificial leg so he could still get around on his own. He died aged 97 in 1980.
Happy Days
l moved to Redditch in 1972, lived in Ombersley Close, Woodrow South. l attended the Leys High School, Mr Anstis was our headmaster, a very strict, but fair person. Other names l remember are: Mrs Dingley (art), Mr Turner (English & drama). Pupils: Gail Beard, Rob Jakeman, Kevin Griffin, Michael Alcock, Beverley Stokes, Phil Guest, to name a few. After leaving school in 1974, my first job was at John Dyer & Sons Ltd in the town centre. My manager there was Mr Wilson, l worked in the warehouse, goods in, etc. Happy days.
Memories of Worcestershire
The Barber Shop
My name is Andrew Simon, The grandson of Richard Simon. He was the Barber in Headless Cross for some 35 years.
Next door at 100a was my aunt, and she ran the wool shop.
Bentley Pauncefoot C of E School
This excerpt is taken from the memoirs of my late mother, Jessie Gorton. I am currently busy typing these out from notes I made as she reminisced about the early days in Worcestershire. Jessie joined Bentley Pauncefoot C of E School in the 1920s. She loved it! The teacher was managing three groups of children in the one room. There was a big round stove in the room, with an iron guard round it. Across the passageway was a smaller classroom for Standards One and Two. That teacher was plump, kind and friendly. The children used to collect her on the way to school and walk along with her. There was a little coal fire in that room, sometimes meetings were held there. The third room was for the Top Class. There were double desks with lift-up lids and bench seats. The desks had inkwells. In the one room, there was a dias at the one end, which was used for plays and singing.... Read more
Astwood Bank Co-Op......remember It?
It was so interesting to find a few photos of old Astwood Bank on here. I moved to the village when my mother married my step father, Jesse Bradley, in 1964. We lived at 21 High Street and I got a job at the Co-operative grocery store on Evesham Road. The manager then was Harry Pearson and he lived with his sister and brother-in-law in the little cottage next to the shop. Gladys Harman was the accounts lady and Rene Bishop worked on the bakery counter. I worked on the grocery side with Des Potter and Betty Winkfield. It seemed like a huge shop at the time but I realise now that it was actually quite small! There was a a large clock hanging outside the shop and an archway at the side led to the rear yard ~ we even had a hoisting hook to take large boxes up to the upper storey. But no tills - we had wooden cash drawers with a book... Read more
I Will Never Forget
This church is where my grandparents and parents are all buried and opposite my aunt and uncle live. It brings back many family weddings and also when we were home from Africa the services we used to attend here. My father John was a choir boy here and so were my aunt and my grandfather Vic. I can also remember attending the local school just down the road where also many members of my family have attended in the past. My grandparents used to live in Evesham Road next to the garage. I have so many wonderful memories of Astwood Bank and seeing the photos has just broght them all flooding back. I wonder if in the photo of the playing field if any of those children could have been my cousins, it was the right era for them.
Davis Family History
I have been researching the Davis family, who lived on Feckenham Square for many years. My grandfather used to tell us that he remembers going to his grandparent's house when he was a boy in the early 1900s. I have found family members living here as early as 1861, although they certainly lived in the village before then. I live in Australia, and I would dearly love to see these places one day.
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