I find it strange, as a youngster, we only seemed to spend time with my grandparents, and Mom’s brother and his children. I assumed we were from a small family. From researching the family tree, I have found many relatives lived locally in Birmingham, UK and farther afield.

When Mom met Dad in Bridgnorth, Shropshire she was working in the office of Tangyes Ltd., a company making hydraulic and general engines. Dad learned his trade as a tool-maker through an apprenticeship. He went on to learn gas fitting and central heating installation. I guess travelling around may have been how he met his second partner.

Mom told me she got together with my stepdad because he was nice and she was in financial dire straits. I believe he did his best, having a wife packaged with two step sons.

I remember one payday, after my stepfather had gambled most of his cash pay packet away on the horses at the smoke filled bookies, also known as the betting shop and turf accountant, he drank the remainder at the Monarch pub before returning home.

My mother’s protestations were met by his fists causing her to fall down a flight of stairs. A catalyst for Reverend Kerr of Saint Boniface Church to arrange for our escape to a battered wives home in Sparkbrook.

I came across the following newspaper report while researching Mom’s maternal family. It is transcribed from the Birmingham Gazette, Birmingham, West Midlands, England. Monday 06 October 1913

SMASHED WINDOWS.
WOMAN’S PROTEST AGAINST A PUBLICAN’S ACTION.

At the Birmingham Police Court on Saturday a married woman named Mary Ann Edmonds, aged 34, living at 65., Birchall Street, was charged with wilfully breaking two plate-glass windows, of the value £3 10s., at the Horse and Groom public-house, Digbeth.
William ‘Henry Phipps, the licence-holder, said that at six o’clock on Friday night, just after he went into the bar, defendant’s husband came in and called for half a pint of beer. ” He was practically ‘ sober, ” said witness, ” so I served him with half a pint of beer. “
Immediately he was served, witness continued, defendant caused an obstruction outside, causing a crowd to assemble. Witness went out with the intention of getting her away, and immediately after she threw two half-bricks, one at each window.
Defendant in the dock admitted that she did the damage, but said she was driven to desperation. Her husband spent all his wages at this house. They served him until be could not stand, and then had practically to carry him from the house.
On Friday night, as soon as her husband enteral the house, she asked the landlord not to serve him, and said, ” You see the condition he is in.”
Phipps, defendant said, ordered her out of the house as they did not want her there.
Defendant added that she knew she did wrong, but she had four little children starving at home, and in her madness she did not know what she did.
Mr. Hobbis (chairman), recalling Phipps, asked him what he meant by saying defendant’s husband was ” practically ” sober.
Witness: He might have had a little, but he was not drunk.
The Chairman: When yon speak of a man as sober we understand he is sober, but when you say practically sober it is a different thing, and we want to know what you mean exactly. Was he under the influence of drink?
Phipps: None whatever. He walked straight into the house, as if he had come straight from work.
The Bench came to the conclusion that the defendant had cause for great exasperation.
They believed her story, but that did not excuse her for breaking windows. They had come to the conclusion that the case would be met be imprisoning her for one day, which meant that she would be at once discharged.