OLD WEST BROMWICH PHOTOS

I went yesterday to collect a Scrap car from an address in Handsworth Wood and as I was loading the car an old chap appeared from the house who I seemed to recognise, I never forget a face. I said to him I seem to recognise you from somewhere and he then said did you ever have your Hair cut in West Bromwich years ago, the Penny then dropped it was Mr Cammies from Cammies and Cadman who used to cut my hair when I was a kid. After about half an hour of memories of  West Brom gone by and him knowing my Grandad Harry Gadd from Crowthers and various other family members I went on my way.

What a nice old Gentleman.

Cammies and Cadman used to be THE hairdresser to go to for a special treat to have our 'hair done', especially for weddings. I haven't even thought of that place for so many years.

Yes i remember it well,

 but years later i was working at Dudley college, and Mr Cadman was teaching in the hairdressing salon,

It was very cheap to have your hair done as they were students, so i went regular after id finished work, mr cadman, loved my hair as it was long and very thick, he used to get me there as a model, to teach his students, the styles he came up with were just amazing.

The trouble was , he was always  tring to cut it, well he got his way one day, and the cut was really lovely, i will always remember the big beam that came accross his face, when he'd fininshed it,

i have had my hair short ever since, much easier to manage.

Cammies and Cadman was on the High Street first. Before Cammies moved into St Micheals Street the hairdressers was name Reynolds. My Aunt worked there for the Reynolds from school until she retired. Cammies moved when they started the demolition for Argos etc. to be built.

Oh Now Janp, I always thought Cammies was always in St Michaels St but I am trying to think what was were Argos is now, I know Thompson & Roses was where McDonalds is now and then you had the Western (I believe even that has gone) but I can't think of that hairdressers Janp.

Oh god Janp, you have done it now !

Wasn't that cycle shop there, what's his name, Perrys, no it was shintons where did Perrys come from

Perrys was the Motorbike shop in carters green on the corner, don't ask me the name of the road though !

Shintons was on the High St, just before you get to Wollies now, it was next to the Horseshoes Pub

Perrys was on the corner of Temple Street and it`s workshops acually in Temple St, run by two right old grumpy Brothers

I would not call Doug Perry grumpy, he worked for Copes in Dudley for some time before opening the shop on the corner of Temple street. I rode sidecar for Doug in the 60's and in scrambles on a Triumph outfit which was built by.  George Buck who had a Shop at the bottom of Holloway bank and was taken over by Roy Peplow the Triumph works rider.  Roys first Bike shop was in Carters Green Passage .

I worked saturdays in roy peplows shop so that he could go trialing ,id known him many years from when he used to practice the on the sand banks down holloway bonk. Doug perry was ok when you knew him, he also had a petrol station on birmingham rd walsall. I bought my first bike in1957 from georgie buck a velocette 350cc mac. Then a sunbeam 500cc s8, roy solld me a honda dream in 1960 straight from the belgium bike show. Doug then sold me a triumph thunderbird 650cc.   Now apart from peplow bros in wednesbury  they have all gone along withe all the british car dealers in west brom. God them were the days                   johnie mason

P,S. cammies on the high street did a great tony curtis cut. I got my crew cut there unfortunately the crew has now bailed out.

Peplow has all gone in Wednesbury long ago although they still own some Land they used to utilise in the Bike business which is rented out thesedays for other purposes.