Author Topic: Kingstanding  (Read 135723 times)

Peg Monkey

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Re: Kingstanding
« Reply #330 on: October 26, 2018, 02:29:29 PM »
I had a cousin, much older than me, who lived in Kingstanding, a confirmed batchelor who despite his mother's best efforts, to kick him out of the nest, he refused to go. Some mature threaders might recall the catastrophic closure of the giant GEC factory on Electric Avenue, Witton c1969, many workers lost their jobs and I knew some apprentices who suffered the same fate - virtually unheard of for an apprentice to be made redundant, what made matters worse was they were engaged in specialised work where it would not be easy to find an alternative post. My Kingstanding cousin was one of the workforce made redundant and he never worked again.
Peg.
It's far better to look back on a rejection rather than a lost opportunity.

queenie

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Re: Kingstanding
« Reply #331 on: October 29, 2018, 11:48:34 AM »
Hi Peg I worked at the GEC early Sixties Transformer B Bay ,I used to live in Finchley Road Kingstanding.

Peg Monkey

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Re: Kingstanding
« Reply #332 on: October 29, 2018, 09:07:18 PM »
Hi Peg I worked at the GEC early Sixties Transformer B Bay ,I used to live in Finchley Road Kingstanding.
Hi queenie, I fear I am leading us off topic (I've already got one yellow card from the mods, and come close to detention on another occasion), fear not I'll steer us back on to the straight and narrow in a sec. I worked in Witton 1965-74 and made a point of going out for a walk at lunchtime - it saddened me to see the giant GEC Plant on Electric Aveue systematically dismembered like a huge animal, as I understand it at lot of work that was done there was moved to factories nearer the docks so that shipping would be easier......back on topic.
I haven't been to Kingstanding Island for some years now, the last time was a real trip down memory lane - can't remember the name of the store, it was on the island on Kingstanding Rd (I think), last time I was in there it was a large shop selling hardware and electrical stuff, in years gone by there was a fantastic toy dept upstairs (I don't think they use upstairs now) but here's the trip down memory lane bit: last time I was there you could just about make out some of the great names in toys that I remember fondly from the 1950s painted on the outside upper story: Bako, Meccano, Hornby, Tri-ang, they were slowly fading away as the years past....Ah Well, that's life! If they are still visible be great if someone could take a pic and post it before they disappear.
Peg.
It's far better to look back on a rejection rather than a lost opportunity.

Peg Monkey

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Re: Kingstanding
« Reply #333 on: November 10, 2018, 11:01:41 PM »
The Odeon - I was sad when the Odeon ceased to be a cinema, but my relatives (on Lambeth Rd) found it very profitable, they formed a consortium of 4 and always came out on top each weekly visit to the bingo.
Peg.
P.S. Here's a good pub quiz question: anybody know what ODEON stands for? :-\
It's far better to look back on a rejection rather than a lost opportunity.

Phil

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Re: Kingstanding
« Reply #334 on: November 10, 2018, 11:16:18 PM »
The Odeon Group would have you believe it stands for Oscar Deutsch Entertains Our Nation, when in reality it's just an ancient Greek and Roman name for a building for singing exercise and entertainment.
Phil died in 2020. RIP.

Edmund Fifield

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Re: Kingstanding
« Reply #335 on: November 10, 2018, 11:43:15 PM »
Oscar Duesch something or other O0
Make every day a day to remember
Because this ain't no rehearsal
And you ain't coming back

Peg Monkey

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Re: Kingstanding
« Reply #336 on: November 13, 2018, 10:52:26 PM »
Community Centre - is it still on the circle, behind the shops, bordered by Kings Rd and Kingstanding Rd? I've not been that way for a number of years but attended many social events there including weddings and 18th birhday parties. The earliest was when I was pressed into service as a page boy for a much older cousin - the bride. I was 3 so that makes it 1952 - 67 years ago, there is a pic of me in full wedding gear floating around somewhere and I live in dayly dread of it falling into the wrong hands - definite blackmail material.
Peg.
P.S. Why is the groom traditionally placed on the brides right arm? One reason: Knights in shining armor days - so his sword arm was free to protect the virtue of the maiden he was escorting - not sure maiden's still need their virtue protected in such a manner but it's a quaint idea.
I know what you are thinking: What if the groom was left-handed? - Sorry can't answer that one. :-\
P.P.S. Did I enjoy the day? - Not really, would have preferred to stay at home in Heaton St building a go-cart.
It's far better to look back on a rejection rather than a lost opportunity.

Peg Monkey

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Re: Kingstanding
« Reply #337 on: November 15, 2018, 07:34:01 PM »
The Circle - does anyone know when it was constructed? - my memory of it being there dates back to the beginning of the 50s, this old OS map of 1892-1914 shows just a junction. https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=18&lat=52.5532&lon=-1.8843&layers=168&b=6
Peg.
It's far better to look back on a rejection rather than a lost opportunity.

Peg Monkey

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Re: Kingstanding
« Reply #338 on: November 15, 2018, 07:47:09 PM »
Why King's Standing (Kingstanding)? - Where King Charles I supposedly reviewed his troops on 18 October 1642 during the English Civil War:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingstanding
The very spot: https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=18&lat=52.5583&lon=-1.8826&layers=168&b=6
Peg.
It's far better to look back on a rejection rather than a lost opportunity.

Peg Monkey

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Re: Kingstanding
« Reply #339 on: November 16, 2018, 10:32:09 PM »
Kingstanding Swimming Baths, Warren Farm Rd - are they still there? I used them only rarely, last time many years ago - Erdington Baths were my local dip (when I lived on the Lyndhurst Estate), and Grove Lane, Handsworth (when I lived in Hockley).
Peg.
It's far better to look back on a rejection rather than a lost opportunity.

Edmund Fifield

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Re: Kingstanding
« Reply #340 on: November 16, 2018, 11:29:47 PM »
Peg ,only ever used Woodcock St & Saltley at Alum Rock
Make every day a day to remember
Because this ain't no rehearsal
And you ain't coming back


 

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