My Story - Rose Shakespeare
I was born in the Ladywood area of Birmingham and I attended Spencer Street School in the Jewellery Quarter.
When I was 50 years old I moved to Sapphire Tower in South Aston.
I worked in a factory all my life doing Machine
Work. In my last job we did a lot of work making ships parts mostly. I remember we had a famous visitor once who had sailed around the world, his name was Chay Blyth. [Editor's note - I have since found out that this company was Thomas Walker & Sons a well known Birmingham based (Oxford St. at the time) maker of marine instruments including wind speed indicators.
This company was acquired by another well known (in the appropriate circles) manufacturer of marine instruments called Lilley and Gillie of North Sheilds Tyne & Wear in 2002. L & G were founded in 1812.]
Following my retirement in 1981 I began to attend the
Women’s Guild at the Church. We met once a week on a Monday. Our leader's name was Mrs Dora Williams. I became a member of South Aston Church in 1985.
I helped out in the kitchen and also did various small jobs at the Lunch Club, Mondays and Wednesdays, until I was 83 years old. As a Volunteer at the Lunch Club it was very hectic and we used to cook approx 70 - 80 hot meals every Wednesday.
Although the work in the kitchen was hectic we had many laughs in the 23 years I was there. One such occasion was when one of the helpers by the name
Mabel made the custard much too thick, the spoon stood up in it. We all just stood around laughing. We could not serve it.
On one occasion we went on holiday with Brenda and
the Group. It was my 76thBirthday (see photo below)and the hotel made me this lovely chocolate cake which I shared with my friends.
I am now 91 years old; I live in sheltered accommodation in Erdington and continue to attend the Lunch Club on a regular basis.
I was born in the Ladywood area of Birmingham and I attended Spencer Street School in the Jewellery Quarter.
When I was 50 years old I moved to Sapphire Tower in South Aston.
I worked in a factory all my life doing Machine
Work. In my last job we did a lot of work making ships parts mostly. I remember we had a famous visitor once who had sailed around the world, his name was Chay Blyth. [Editor's note - I have since found out that this company was Thomas Walker & Sons a well known Birmingham based (Oxford St. at the time) maker of marine instruments including wind speed indicators.
This company was acquired by another well known (in the appropriate circles) manufacturer of marine instruments called Lilley and Gillie of North Sheilds Tyne & Wear in 2002. L & G were founded in 1812.]
Following my retirement in 1981 I began to attend the
Women’s Guild at the Church. We met once a week on a Monday. Our leader's name was Mrs Dora Williams. I became a member of South Aston Church in 1985.
I helped out in the kitchen and also did various small jobs at the Lunch Club, Mondays and Wednesdays, until I was 83 years old. As a Volunteer at the Lunch Club it was very hectic and we used to cook approx 70 - 80 hot meals every Wednesday.
Although the work in the kitchen was hectic we had many laughs in the 23 years I was there. One such occasion was when one of the helpers by the name
Mabel made the custard much too thick, the spoon stood up in it. We all just stood around laughing. We could not serve it.
On one occasion we went on holiday with Brenda and
the Group. It was my 76thBirthday (see photo below)and the hotel made me this lovely chocolate cake which I shared with my friends.
I am now 91 years old; I live in sheltered accommodation in Erdington and continue to attend the Lunch Club on a regular basis.
Rose on the occassion of her 76th birthday.
Rose celebrating her 90th birthday in 2011
