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Birth
Bill was born at 47 Hargate Lane, West Bromwich. He was the youngest of 5 children, and the youngest cousin on his father's side of the family.
Infant School
Bratt Street School, West Bromwich
Junior School
Christchurch Junior School. West Bromwich
Senior School
Lodge Estate Senior School, West Bromwich
Clive Street
The family moved to Clive Street, West Bromich in 1938
Family Tragedy
In 1939, just before the outbreak of WW2, Bill's mother died. Over the next 3 years two of his sisters and his brother also died, leaving just him and his sister Gwen.
Air Raid on West Bromwich
A letter Bill wrote to the Black Country Bugle with his memories of his time as young ARP Despatch Rider
Joining up
Bill served as a Lance Corporal in the Royal Signals.
One of his favourite stories was of spending Christmas Day 1945 with a family in Belgium - Bruges? - the mother met him on a tram and insisted that he came home to dinner with them as a thank you for the liberation. He had some explaining to do when he got back to camp!
Demob
Bill was posted to Belgium and Germany; his regiment was part of the Allied Liberation operation.
Marriage
A very happy day. Bill & Marg went on to have four children; he was a very loyal family man and always put family first, even before his love of race walking and running.
The shop
On the 21st October 1959 he bought a "Newsagents, Sweets and Fancy Goods" business - 7 Heath Street, Winson Green - for £1,750. The work was long and hard, but the boys enjoyed living over a sweet shop.
Selling the shop
In about 1965 he sold the shop and moved the family to 7 Craythorne Avenue, Handsworth Wood. This is where Gill was born and gave the boys the freedom to play on Sandwell Valley. Bill started work for the GPO, where he stayed for many years in a number of roles. He finally retired early when he could no longer do some of the more physical aspects of the job, as he had difficulty raising his arms above head height.
Ruby Wedding
All the family gathered at the Sherdien House hotel to celebrate
Move to Lytham
Marjs death
Death
Sadly passed away at Starr Hills Care home in Lytham
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This is actually a scan of an army photo; it’s very sarks so tricky to get a usable digital image. I think you can still spot Bill even at this quality.