Brummie Kid

Brummie Kid is a fascinating recollection of the experience of growing up in the slums of Nechells and Aston. All the harshness of daily life is remembered here by local author Graham Twist. Despite hard living conditions and a distinct lack of money, a strong community spirit prevailed and families and neighbourhoods were close-knit.


In these tough times you hoped nobody noticed you going to the ‘pop shop’ to pawn precious valuables, siphoning petrol from cars under the nose of the local bobby, or sneaking into the flicks without paying – though everyone was more or less in the same boat.

Here are more funny, heart-warming stories from the backstreets of Birmingham which are sure to rekindle old memories.


‘Me and my mate used to go to the George Street Baths - our moms would give us a tanner and a piece of soap and off we would go. Because we were only small we’d share a bath. The attendant let you into the bathroom and you had about half an hour to do your bit. For me, who had only ever had baths in our oval galvanised tin effort (and after everybody else in our house, so that the water was tepid and grey coloured), to have real hot water and as much as you liked was sheer luxury.’