Family Memories Birmingham MEB

People in our Office

The people with whom I worked contained a high proportion of ex-servicemen. Listening to their reminiscences, little did I know that twenty years on I should myself be a member of the Staff, like them to recount memories of War service to younger staff. All the staff of the 1930's were characters in some way or other. There were several Freemasons generally despised, particularly one who was the bookie for the workmen in the Electric supply area. Everyday messengers from substations and generating stations would bring in official documents and also the betting slips and cash. His field of operation covered the whole network in that illegal and unofficial way.

Ex-servicemen with war disabilities included one with a wooden leg, the commissionaire with a similar disability and the telephone operator with both legs affected. There were others with minor permanent injuries. Amongst "characters" was a more elderly clerk whose handwriting was perfect and who made his own clothes. There were several adept at clock and watch repairs. In the Wages section there was one whose hobby was bell ringing. He would memorise his chart for the bell changes whilst the freemason opposite him would likewise be studying his Freemasonry ritual for the next Lodge meeting. The chief Clerk would give the time signal for lunchtime by tapping the china shade of his desk light with his pencil. Later there was his successor, a devout churchman and lay reader who retired early to become the vicar of a parish in the Isle of Man. He was also a Freemason.
(Below is an old photo of the Council House in Birmingham as it was at the time I worked in Dale End.)

My own senior had a great hobby of sport. He was secretary of the Leander Swimming Club, an officer in the Sea Cadets, a member of the Warwickshire Cricket Club and played cricket and football in private clubs. He was a mine of anecdotes. At work he would tell of one pensioner who at the time of payment would try to beg an old pair of trousers. He got over this by delegating a female member of the staff to pay him. In my own case he would recount my first game with the office cricket team. When I told him I was a fast bowler he would tell of this first appearance, how my first ball went about a yard wide, the second caused the batsman and wicket keeper to duck, the third ball hit the batsman on the foot and the fourth ball took his middle stump out of the ground. He would tell the story of how one morning he was hurrying to the office, already late and how he passed the horse trough in the Bullring just as the horse had finished a drink. As he passed the horse gave a big horse snuffle and bespattled him with oats and water all over his black coat, pin striped trousers, umbrella and bowler hat. He would tell how when he was in the railway carriage they were in the company of an elegant husband and wife. The wife described her husband's job and how important he was. Then she asked his wife what her husband did and she was forced to answer "that he was only a clerk". Another story was how he painted the bathroom only to find he couldn't get out without spoiling his handiwork. In the office was a very prim lady in charge of the comptists. My boss was only too ready to attempt to draw her away from her dignity, and always relished the occasion when she stalked away with her parting words "I despise you". His stories were legion. As is common with sportsmen he was a big toper and most evenings after work he would cross Dale End to the tavern to spend the rest of the time till 10.00pm with his friends. He was a very likeable character bearing no malice to anyone and well liked by everyone.

Then there were the festive occasions. The annual Christmas Party usually held in rooms over the Great Western Arcade. The artists were recruited from amongst the staff. There was a violinist and a pianist who gave a rendering of the Poet and Peasant overture with the violinist coming in first at the end three or four bars in front of the pianist. A band for dancing was made up from members of the staff.