During World War II

John F. Thomas grew up in Swancote Road, Glebe Farm. He was aged seven when the Second World War started and he has vivid memories of walking to Audley Road School every day with his gas mask in its cardboard box.

John also recalls gathering potatoes on farmland that is now the site of the Poachers Pocket Pub and of spending his evenings at Donkeys Hollow. This was a patch of open green land situated on the Meadway, where McDonalds is now. John remembers trying to talk to the German and Italian POWs that worked there.

Because of proximity of the area to Small Heath, The BSA and the Coventry Road many local people can remember the severity of the bombing raids that took place during the war. John recalls a plane crashing into an embankment in Flaxley Road. John also remembers playing on the buses when they were parked for the night at the shops in Glebe Farm Road. The buses weren’t allowed to remain at the bus garage in case it was bombed. The bus terminus was outside where the library is now.