WELCOME
TO
Winson Green Birmingham, England
Our Aim
The aim of this site is to collect information in the form of History- Personal Stories- Photographs- Maps to tell the next generation THE WAY WE WERE
REUNION Page 09/11/09 new photos
FRANKLIN STREET 09/11/09
HEATH GREEN ROAD 09/11/09
Whats on page (slide show at the Radersson Hotel)
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NEW
TREAT YOURSELF or YOUR MOM or DAD FOR CHRISTMAS
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ODE TO WINSON GREEN
by
FRANK THORNHILL 03/0906
I have written my thoughts in the form of an ODE.
To tell you of my life as a kid, in my humble ABODE.
Some of you reading it may find it FUNNY.
But what must it have been like raising kids without any MONEY.
I have lived in this city all of my LIFE
I have witnessed its triumphs, its troubles and its STRIFE.
When I think back to how it was THEN.
When families could number four, six, eight, or even TEN.
Our house was quite tiny; in fact it was small, but very still NEAT.
When you opened the door, you were straight onto the STREET
The pavement outside was covered with GRIME.
But to me it dain`t matter, after all is was MINE
The area I lived in was then called a SLUM.
But to me it was my home, my house, and also my HUM.
No telly for me, when I was a KID.
No one had got one and nobody DID.
.
We had gas in our house, and no ELECTRICITY.
For the wires hadn't got to our part of the CITY.
Fridays were washdays for our mom and ME.
And I`d light the fire under the tub, on my bended KNEE.
In the “brewhouse” she'd mangle and maid, rub and then SCRUB.
All of that washing that came out of that copper TUB.
She'd put in a “blue” to make the clothes clean and BRIGHT.
Never did find out how “blue” turned black mud into WHITE,
We played in the gutter, the road, and the STREET.
Cos that’s where your mates where, and that’s where you'd MEET.
We didn't have gardens, no lawn or a SHED.
And most of your mates slept three to a BED.
If you mate had a birthday that lived over THERE.
You would go to his party, with spoon, plate, and a CHAIR.
You sat down and ate whatever you'd GOT,
And pleased you'd been asked and so gulped down the LOT.
The loo was a building built at the BACK.
The side entry was cold it was bleak and BLACK
That’s how it was in the times way back THEN.
I do hope for mankind that don't come back AGGEN.
We played hopscotch, marbles and also FOOTBALL
We also played cricket, with the wickets drawn on the WALL.
When Christmas came round you hoped you'd get something you'd like/
And if you were lucky it may be a BIKE.
The house that I lived in is long, long GONE.
Replaced by council with a bright shiny ONE.
When I think back to what it had BEEN.
I'm glad I'm a lad who lived in WINSON GREEN
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THIS BOOK IS NOW AVALIABLE IN BOOKSHOPS
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