Childhood In Sparkbrook

A Memory of Sparkbrook.

I grew up in Elm Grove, Sydenham Road and went to Montgomery Street School. Does anyone remember the Waldorf Road cinema ? It was near the junction of Stratford Road. We used to go on a Saturday morning to see 'The Lone Ranger' and 'Flash Gordon'. Many happy hours were also spent in the roller skating rink next door. We played in the BSA grounds and along the canal and took the train to the city centre from Small Heath train station on Golden Hillock Road and went swimming in Sparkhill Baths. My biggest treat was to be taken to meet my dad in Digbeth, where he worked, and going to a small sweet shop next to the Birds Custard Factory. The sweets were made by hand and I watched facinated as they went through the press. I can still picture the metal birds in the railings of the Birds Custard Factory. Happy days!