Voices from Allen's Cross

Memories of Ken
I lived in Edenhurst Road, Longbridge and my mother had a milkman named Syd Brackenbury who asked me if I would like to help him at the weekend. I was thirteen at the time. First we would collect the milk which was delivered to the police hut on the north works car park of the Austin motor co ltd in Longbridge Lane.
After a few local deliveries in Longbridge we would go to Hanging Lane where Syd’s mother lived for a cup of tea and something to eat. Then we would go up to Northfield to Kingshurst Road which is off Great Stone Road, where Syd’s brother lived. After serving a few houses in this area Syd would say’ “Right Ken, lets go to the Dales.”; which was Borrowdale Road, Dimsdale Road, Barnsdale Crescent, and Elmsdale Crescent. We used to deliver all round Allen’s Cross estate. It was a full days job and I loved doing it with him.
He used to tell me what to take to his customers and how much milk money they owed. A lot of them used to say to me to keep the odd coppers change. I did very well out of this and at xmas time I would get loads of tips.
Syd was a very nice man to work for. I cycled to the car park for seven o’clock to help load his van. That was 68 years ago (1941).