Dorothy Ball (Brighton Road Post Office)

Older Heathans will remember Dorothy Ball who, with her husband Stanley, ran Brighton Road Post Office from 1964 – 1986. In fact life literally started there for Dorothy who was born there in 1926. Her parents, Albert and Florence Bosworth were running it at that time and this was where she grew up, attending Tindal Street School. While there she learned to swim at Moseley Road Baths; completing the necessary length to get a free swimming pass. From there Dorothy passed her 11+ and went to Waverley School in Small Heath. When war broke out she was evacuated to Evesham for twelve months. Dorothy remembers evacuation as a, “Hot day and we were given soup when a cold drink would have been much nicer”. Evacuation was cut short, not by the war ending but by the BBC, who moved into Wood Norton in Evesham! During the blitz Dorothy recalled that the Bosworth family sheltered in their reinforced cellar. “We used to have our tea and immediately go straight downstairs to the cellar and Pop and Mother would put up some beds for us. We didn’t bother to wait for the sirens going. We shared that shelter with two ladies, the Miss Hardings, who lived in Brighton Road. They were company for mother because we would drop off to sleep and Pop was off on his ARP rounds”. In October 1940 she was re-evacuated, this time to Kettering. Following the war Dorothy worked for a time at Waverley School as a secretary to the headteacher, Mr Whitely. Happy social memories include taking a train or tram to the Lickeys. The latter could be caught right outside the post office. Close by was Joe Pierce’s tobacco and sweetshop. Pierce ran the shop with his sister and he used to have a card table outside his shop with cigarettes and matches, to catch the tram queue trade. Also nearby was Crockers’ bakery. Dorothy used to go and help there on a Saturday morning, getting off to a memorable start on her first day by knocking over the cakes in the window! Her parents ran the post office up till 1953 building up a flourishing business, including ticket sales for holidays. Many travellers would have made use of Allenways Coaches on Trafalgar Road. There was also a drapery business selling ladies and childrens’ wear. Dorothy and Stanley decided to run their own post office and they found a run down one in Anderton Road, Sparkbrook. They built it back up but had only been there two years when her father arrived and informed them Brighton Road was on the market, and so Dorothy returned home. She used to decorate and arrange the window displays herself. They were big windows and took time to get right but the attractive displays were always noticed and well thought of. At Christmas they also sold toys and christmas cards; all these goods could be paid for out of the post office savings accounts or a “provident cheque”. Their only brush with trouble soon fizzled out. “This chap came in and pushed a piece of paper under the grille and said hand over the cash. Stanley said don’t be so ridiculous and the chap turned round and walked out of the shop!” But other than that she remembers the people and her time there with fondness. When they left in 1986 the couple were overwhelmed by the good wishes from the public, “ Stanley said I had no idea people thought that much of us”. If anyone wishes to get in touch with Dorothy then please contact The Heathan.