Family Memories Birmingham Overview

A Civilian Again

During the War Years many friends had been made and companionship was of the highest order. Friends never to be seen again but even so, the lucky ones had survived leaving thousands to be remembered only by the rows of white wooden crosses in many lands or by the inscribed memorials of airmen and sailors and their unknown resting places.

So after demobilisation we were given our jobs back. We were received back into our former employment where it still existed. I returned to the City of Birmingham Electric Supply Dept. I was put in a less important position which I reluctantly carried out for nearly two years. However on the 1st April 1948 Nationalisation of the Electric Supply Industry took place. The person who had taken my former position was transferred to the new Generating Board in a senior capacity. Because of my experience I was asked to return to my former work which now dealt with the Distribution aspect and was now called the Midlands Electricity Board. Although I was engaged in seeking employment elsewhere I accepted the offer to return which had an added inducement of an increase in salary.

From this point my position increased in capacity and importance and financially and otherwise, all was well. Responsibilities increased with all descriptions of new agreements, Tax, National Insurance, Welfare Schemes and mechanisation of the job itself.

Outside work austerity was very much to the fore. There were too few houses and those for sale at exorbitant cost. I lived at the home of my wife. To get a place of one's own was a struggle. Those who were homeless had first consideration. We bought two houses near to Newcombe Road, one with vacant possession and into this one we moved. Our new address at Newcombe Road was near to my wife's father and mother who were at an advanced age. My wife was therefore well pleased, looking after and attending to many of their wants. In due course we bought a motor car and enjoyed holidays and outings to many places which otherwise would have been denied to us. Foreign holidays were taken by car to the Savoy Alps, the Pyrenees and Brittany. At home Scotland's extremities were explored and very many formerly unreachable places visited.

Whilst taking my daughter Jean to her London University College at Westfield we were involved in an accident. My wife spent a week in Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford and Jean arrived at her first day at College rather bruised and with cuts to her face.

During the whole of this period I attended to my allotment gardens, an escape from the desk work at which so many hours were spent.

In 1958 my mother died at the age of 90. She had lived independently until the last with her lodger companion and ourselves, my brother and Winnie Witts to visit and see to things for her. She died at about 4.30 am on the morning of the 12th August 1958. I had never been up at that hour before but that particular morning I suffered severe stomach pains and was forced to rise. At between 6.00 and 6.30 am Miss Donelly my mother's lodger companion knocked our door to tell us the sad news.

On the 23 July 1960, my wife's father died. He had not been well for a long time and had been taken to Dudley Road Hospital where he died at the age of 77. His wife, my wife's mother continued to live at Newcombe Road alone. She had broken her hips on two occasions so it was fortunate we lived nearby to see to many of her wants.