1930, Nan Lilian , Granddad (William Raybone) and my Mom (Gladys) lived at Guy’s Brewery. In 1940 Guy’s was bombed and they were moved to the ‘Britannia Inn’, Rupert Street.
By 1942 Mom had met and married my Dad, (Stan Russell) and the whole family moved into the ‘Dartmouth arms’. Dartmouth Street, I was born there in 1945; Granddad had passed away two days before my birth and this resulted in me being in one room and Granddad laid out in another.
By 1947 our Nan had remarried and moved to the ‘Swan pool’ in Aston road, we moved into 23 Heneage Street opposite the ‘Dartmouth Arms’.
In 1958 we moved out to Shard End, I met my future Wife there, her name then was ‘Brenda Waplington’ and she came from Weston Street in Nechells. By 1962 we were married.
In 1964 I obtained employment at the ‘Kynoch’s Social Club’, Witton as a part time barman.
1966 came and the management offered us the Steward and Stewardess positions, the rest as they say is History…
After three years we left and 1969 saw us at the ‘Ansell’s Sports Club’ in Perry Barr. Another three years saw us on the move again and in 1972 we were at the ‘Forge’ in Halesowen for twelve months. 1973 came and we were at the ‘Husky Dog’, Halesowen.
Short-term employment ended then and we got our dream job at the ‘Somers Sports and Social Club’ Halesowen, we were there for 35 years, 1974-2009.
Mom and Dad in the meantime had been busy as well; they kept the ‘Newtown Unity’ in Summer Lane, the ‘Why Not’ in Colley Gate, the ‘Holly Bush’ in Trysull and helping me at the ‘Somers Club ’ until Dad’s death in 1996.
Achievements: 2001, 2002 and 2003 C.A.M.R.A Champion of Great Britain for keeping Real Ale.
In 1958 we moved out to Shard End, I met my future Wife there, her name then was ‘Brenda Waplington’ and she came from Weston Street in Nechells. By 1962 we were married.
