MY PAST AND PRESENT
II was born in 1951 and lived in a 3 bedroom terraced house with my parents and older brother and sister in Aston in Birmingham during my infancy and school life. I have fond memories of places such as Newtown Row, Aston Cross, the Barton Arms Pub, Ansell’s Brewery, the HP sauce factory, Potters Hill fish shop and the Aston Hippodrome. Pastimes included playing in the street (which had very few cars passing along it) at games such as chain tag, hot rice, tag, polly on the mop stick and tracking. The street that I lived in and the surrounding streets are now unrecognisable, as the houses have been demolished and rebuilt. The only remaining original building is the Barton Arms Pub. Despite living within earshot of Aston Villa F.C., I only became really interested in football at the ripe old age of 18 when I was introduced by my very good friend, John Waterhouse, to West Bromwich Albion. I was a regular supporter in those days and they have retained my allegiance ever since.
After a few local house moves to Lichfield Road, Castle Vale, Aston Hall Road, I married in 1975 and lived in Yardley, Tile Cross and Solihull. I am now divorced and live in a flat in Olton which overlooks Olton Mere. I have a son, Steven, who lives in Birmingham and two wonderful grandchildren, James and Chloe.