Blitrzkid

A Memory of Sutton Coldfield.

I have many memories, but briefly, I was, along with my twin brother and three other siblings and of course my mother, casualties of the blitz on Coventry in 1940. I was then 4 years old and I have to say that the memories I have are as clear today as they were then. We lived, at the time, in terraced housing in Smith Street adjacent to the Admiralty Gunnery Equipment Factory; my father had worked there before being called up. The first night of the blitz the house next door was hit by a bomb, ours collapsing as a result. I have still a vivid memory of gazing over the tailboard of the pantechnicon taking us away and watching the road fly by.

We arrived in the dark and were hustled up outside stairs, into what had been the kitchen of a large house (which I later learned was called a Manse) adjacent to the vicarage. The Manse had been converted into upstairs and downstairs accommodation for evacuees and had obviously been a grand place in its time; I think we boys slept in some sort of cupboard as the room had no window and I recall my Mum putting a latch on the door when she went out. I also have a memory of how cold it was in the house; in fact everywhere was cold until the sun came out. The school we then all attended for a short time was St Josephs, about a mile away from the house. The road in which we lived was Coleshill Street and the house number was 18. (and I say "was" ) as it was to be, I found, the only house to be replaced by flats after the war. There were large gardens surrounding the house, the back of which was accessed by an entry which connected all the houses. This back garden had been developed as a vegetable plot and orchard (gives one an idea of the garden's size). My mother soon recultivated the garden's vegetable plot and for all the time in residence we were well provided with vegetables and fruit. Gooseberries, apples, pears, plums and strawberries in abundance come to mind, Also there were potatoes actually growing; first the small shoots, then the white buds etc. I suppose it created my first interest in gardening which has never left me, and since, I have always had a garden with flowers of many varieties in it.

It was no fun in those days to be a left handed child attending a catholic school as I was soon to find out: suffice to say after some time because of how I was treated, we were all moved to a school which was a short distance away. life was then a lot better.I remember still the Walters brothers I left behind with whom I struck up a close friendship, one was John but I cannot remember the other. I think that it was his mother that helped clothe myself and brothers over the next 4 years.

As all children do, I can only recall the sunny warm days of summer (with the exception the winter of 1947 which no one living at that time will ever forget; another story) which I, along with my siblings, spent my time playing. At the bottom of Coleshill Street was an American base which, I was to learn years later, was for the guards , guarding Italian and German prisoners of war who were ( I believe) employed building another prisoners accommodation in Sutton Park. Just outside the camp were a family I had become friendly with during my stay in Sutton Coldfield called Brown, the children, Peter and Mary, were the old friends I was hoping to meet. Alas, like many others the Browns had moved on I think; (not too sure about that). I do remember though as a child, going to Sutton Park with my brothers and talking to the prisoners who were very friendly and gave us lovely sandwiches (being hungry was a permanent companion and is why I never waste food now or since.) They also gave us hand carved toys, in one case a yoyo, they also taught us how to use it which again was great fun. The Americans would annually lay on a great Xmas party for all children in the area, giving us toys and sweets and cigarettes for my mother. (in those times it was a rare event to find a non smoker) Their trucks were every where about the streets and they fascinated me; I suppose that was why I became an apprentice motor mechanic years later. The drivers would sometimes stop and give us a pack of Lucky Strike Cigarettes for my mother. I have memories of seeing all the Walt Disney Cartoon films as they came out Snow White, Dumbo, Bambi and many more at the ABC cinema.(How my mother managed I just don't know, however Mum always did the best she could) and we always went to the ABC movie club on Saturday morning. I also remember the Fairground there during summer and still e
recall the feelings of the excitement the bright light and noise that accompanies a visit to the fairground can bring.

I still recall the sound of the Heinkel Bombers passing by at night and looking by out of our windows watching Birmingham in flames. One early morning we (the children) were awakened by shouting in our garden and on looking out of the window saw soldiers all over the garden with rifles and bayonets
which they were stickng into the overgrown plants and golden rod bushes. Mum told us later that they were looking for a baled out pilot. AS with all children there was no sense of time and the years flew by, then suddenly we were all back in Coventry living again in a small Council house. For some time, especially at school we were treated as foreigners as we had no Coventry accent. My memories were strong and it was not until some five or so years later when my twin and I both had birthday presents of a beautiful Raleigh Lenton Sports bicycle each, that we cycled to Sutton Coldfield on a summers day for a stroll down Memory Lane. I could not believe how small St Josephs school was (then closed). I had no luck with the Browns as I say and couldn't remember the Waltons place of residence.
I have to say that I have been a couple of time to Sutton Coldfield and had no sense of it moving with the times; it is that art of place, a lovely place to live

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