The day of the Coronation I remember it rained. All the men had gone out in the morning to cut the grass shorter than the council had it. Then the women dressed the tables hoping that it would dry up for the party in the afternoon. My brother dressed as Wee Willy Winkie in his dressing gown. He carried a candle holder & wore a night cap. Although I remember how my brother dressed, I can't remember what I was dressed as. The rain didn't stay away for long as I remember we all had to rush into the entry between houses as it was undercover.

Another memory of Castle Bromwich was that Dad always took Mom & myself to the pictures on a Wednesday afternoon as it was a ½ day for most people. We watched ‘Seven Brides for Seven Brothers’ & ‘Oklahoma’.

My sister was born in August '53 & I remember that winter we had a pea-souper of a smog. We had been to see my granparents in Erdington &, as the weather was deteriorating, Nan wanted us to get off home. We caught the number 28 bus which went that way at that time. At one point the conductor was walking in front of the bus for the driver to follow. We got so far when the conductor came on board & told everyone to get off. Neither the driver or the conductor knew where we were.

Thankfully we had stopped at the Clock Garage so Dad was able to get us home safely even if it did take us possibly an hour to walk up the hill. Never did find out if the driver & conductor stayed the night on board.

I used to go to school in Erdington. Dad would put me on the bus at the Clock Garage, then he would cross the road & catch the bus to town. Then Nan would meet the bus in Gravelly Lane & take me to Erdington Abbey School where my brother went. 

I do hope you’ve enjoyed these memories of mine.