Page 214 - Redditch People

Redditch People

SIMON PARTRIDGE

Simon was born in 1936 and grew up in wartime Redditch. An
air-raid shelter was built on the golf course by his dad and a
friend. However, the war was over when his family were
blown up one November 6th while they were eating their
Sunday lunch. A Thunder Flash firework exploded in their coal
shed. Simon says:

“Suddenly there was a loud bang and the room was filled with
black soot: the walls were black, the ceiling was black, the
food was black and we were black. Joker (the dog) had been
hurled to the other side of the room and was now a black dog
with pink eyes wide open.”

Joker eventually died a hero when he saw his master fishing
and dived in to try and rescue him.

He is descended from the Spencer, Oakley and Partridge families, all well known in
Redditch history.

ALBERT WHARRAD

Albert was a quiet, polite man who somehow always managed to
make his presence felt. He was born in Crabbs Cross in 1925 and
except for his four years in the Army, he always lived in Red-
ditch. A spring maker all his working life he was proud of his
status as an ordinary working man. He refused to wear his chain
of office and kept it under his bed.

He became aware of social inequalities at the tender age of nine
and at sixteen he was shop steward. When he was interviewed in
2002 he was Leader of the Borough Council and on eight commit-
tees, especially those involved in housing.

His account of life at Crabbs Cross before the war is very
entertaining.

Although the war in Egypt had ended the year earlier, the men in his camp had not been sent
home and many had not been home for several years. At Tel el Kebir in 1946 they went on strike
and Albert was one of those blamed for the uprising. He was lucky to only get a stern telling
off as you could be shot for mutiny.

Page: 214 © RLHS 2015