Hi,
I was reading an old post from another link from "Gibson" who mentioned the greengrocers, Spencers, between the Soldier's Return and the newsagents on Nechells Park Rd! I worked there as a 13-15 year old kid in the the late 60s for Fred Spencer(A right crafty old [censored]), the owner.Fred, had another greengrocers on the Coventry Rd, facing Small Heath Park, a school friend of mine, Pete Rush, was working in that one and got me the job.
For two years, as a young 13-15 year old I used to get the "float"(Money) from Flynns(The newsagents) next door and open up at 9-00am. I had to lift and fill all the sloping wooden spud shelves at the back, put all the stuff out the front(in the summer all the plants in wooden boxes), serve the customers etc. That crafty old get, Fred, never used to turn up 'til 10-30 for the last 18 months!!
For dinner I used to go down Nechells Park Rd, past Andy's garage and past High Park St there was a chip shop on the other side of the road.
In the afternoon the crafty old git used to have me carrying all the boxes of tinned vegetables and fruit etc. upstairs; they were delivered from an entrance in Cattles Grove. The bloody rats and mice were horrendous.
At Christmas the old [censored] had live turkeys delivered. He taught me how to wring their bloody necks, although I have to say I chased the [censored] around the back yard for bleedin' ages before I got used to things.
I will say that, like many of my generation, he and the job taught me so many lessons. I wonder how the young kids of today would get on? Ten Bob for a Saturday, two quid for the week in the school holidays!!!