Tipton memories
Here are memories of Tipton and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Tipton or a Tipton photo.
Early Years
I was born in 1967 in Tipton. I lived close to Victoria Park and have fond memories of sitting on the witch's hat swing which when looking back was sooo dangerous but fun. The metalic slide, made slippy from greased bread wrapping papers, was almost far too dangerous for a young child, and my mother remembers having to sit me on her lap to slide me down. We fed the ducks and the pond wasnt fenced off and mum was always cautious of my elder sister and I falling or slipping in, as the pathway was covered with slime. We used to visit the library in Tipton and the little corner deli shop where the lady cut our cheese with a cheese wire and served us traffic light lolly pops. I went to Manor Road Infant school and my first teacher was a Mrs Edwards, a kindly elderly lady with a bun on her head and glasses, just like you would expect a primary school... Read more
Midland Bank Owen St
Brenda - I had an account with Midland Bank in Owen Street for most of the period that you worked there and used to visit the branch quite a lot - so I must have dealt with you a number of times. I had a good relationship there with the manager - whose name I've forgotten - and his assistant Steven Rowbottom. Steven was a splendid chap, always helpful. I read somewhere a few years later that he had committed suicide. Is that correct, and do you know anything about what happened to him?
My Younger Days
I was born in Union Street in 1948. I had an older sister called Barbara. I lived next to the ex-servicemens club and there used to be such loud music played there in the evenings. I remember the paper shop on the corner, Sheldons and a sweet shop that sold blue minty ice lollies, Nelly's I think. I went to Manor park Infants, Tipton Green and Tipton Grammar. When I was 15 I used to visit my gran Mary Bowater in Waterloo Street. Had my first kiss with Robert Sherwood who lived next door. I also remember Barry Smith who gave me a ride on his moterbike. I worked in the Midland Bank in Owen Street from 1964 till 1974. I moved to Bloomfield Road when I was 7. I used to walk along the canal to Tipton Green school with friends, not sure how I ever got there on time because I always stopped to bowl over the iron railing bars. I remember Devis's the butchers' , I seem... Read more
Peel Street, Tipton
I lived in Peel Street in Tipton from 1950 till 1966 when we left to live in Australia, I also attended Tipton Primary School, then Tipton Grammar School from 1961 to 1965 but I also remember Owen Street quite well. I remember Mrs Yates from the newsagents, a member of her family looked after me while my parents both worked until I was old enough to look after myself after school, I used to call her Nanna White, she was the mom of Mrs Yates's daughter-in-law. I also remember Robert Yates and Elizabeth Yates. I worked in a little deli in Owen Street for a short time but can't remember the name of it though, so many years ago but good memories. I regret not keeping in touch with the family.
Born And Bred
I was born in Great Bridge when it was a thriving centre. One could get absolutely anything there, from wet fish, tailored suits to model aeroplanes! I attended Tipton Grammar School, from 1962 to 67- which I hated. I remember a totally different Tipton from my youth - it always has been a poor area, but life was so much more pleasant in those days. Nowadays, all there seems to be are feral kids, takeaways and acres of one bedroomed flats. My best memories are of the people of the area.
Owen Street, Tipton
I remember what Owen Street in Tipton was like. I myself used to work in Eades chemist, Tipton in the early 1970s. Tipton was full of shops then, next door to Eades chemist was a chip shop. Across the road was a hardware store and I remember Guest and Perrys, it was a clothes shop that would do credit for clothes. The shop owner was by the name of Joyce. And there was the Miners Arms pub...the good old days...wish I could turn the clock back.
Owen Street
My dad was the sub postmaster of Tipton Green Post Office approximately from the years 1949-1961. I attended the local grammar school. Owen Street was then a thriving shopping area, so who remembers Mrs Yates the Newsagent at the railway end and the 2 almost identical sweet shops next door? And The Maypole, Harry Edge the barber (and Charlie of course), and Danks for your fish and chips? And Eades the chemist (who had a fabulous young assistant who I dated a few times), The Miners Arms and the Fountain for liquid refreshment and that poor man who sat in a chair on the pavement every day? Happy years but gone forever.
Memories of West Midlands
Princes End Bred
I was bought up in Princes End from the age of 6, my brother and parents are still there. It's a bit dilapidated now but was brilliant when I was young. The community was full of families where generations lived just streets away from each other. We all knew one another, we played in the streets and in the fields ... yes fields ... including the one across the road from my house with the pond in it which was drained and turned into a park (boring), we had a maze in there and a den, and we had a rope swing under Cox's Bridge across the old drained canal. What a childhood.
GOLDS HILL SCHOOL
I attended the above school from 1941 to 1947. I know of one person who attended with me at that time and who I am now still in contact with..Jean Goldie (nee Hill). If anyone remembers us or the teachers ,Misses Dufty, Scot, Whitcomb. Please let's share memories. Ernie
PLAYING FIELDS BACK OF LONGBANK ROAD
Living in Longbank Road Tividale was like living in the country. Behind our house we had playing fields that used to belong to a farm. There was a large tree that we used to swing around. The field was our football pitch in winter & our Cricket pitch in summer. As the dark ascended we played spotlight, no fear of danger or abductions then! Just over Tower Road was Bury Hill Park which added to the delights & adventure of childhood. They were wonderful days of hot summers & snowy winters. Wonderful memories.
HillTop School.
I attended HillTop School from 1962-67 where I received an excellent, if a trifle ad-hoc, education. Several of my teachers were what one might call 'eccentric': Mr Turner, the science master, taught his subject via the medium of pigeons! A keen pigeon-fancier himself; he illustrated almost every aspect of science through some reference to pigeons, their welfare, and/or their abilities. As many of my friends became scientists/engineers, of one form or another, one can only conclude that his methods were successful. He was also a kind and lovely man.
Mr Darby, the English master, was another superbly eccentric mentor. Being a keen amateur actor, he was able to impress us kids with his dramatic skills. Like all good teachers, he read to us frequently, bringing alive all manner of literature. He was also a very strict disciplinarian. I recall, as if it were yesterday, that we sat, straight-backed, without any movement whatsoever, as he read to us, or re-enacted scenes from literature. I owe him more than I... Read more
The Ford Anglia
I owned the Ford Anglia 105E parked on the road outside the church in the bottom left hand corner of the photograph. I rang the bells at the church and usually parked in that place. The car, Harry Potter blue, registration ADH 532B, was sold to pay the solicitors fees on our first home in Wellington. I have many happy memories of that church and remember the people there with great affection.
Richard Dorrington
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