BCOP 80th Year Anniversary Celebrations
At Neville Williams House, memories are part of everyday life.
Through reminiscence sessions with our activities staff, residents gather to share stories, sparked by familiar objects, old newspaper headlines, photographs and music. These moments are not only about looking back — they help residents connect, reflect and find joy in the lives they have lived.
In this special year, as BCOP celebrates its 80th anniversary, there is a particular focus on the 1940s — a decade that shaped a generation through resilience, community spirit and quiet determination.
Childhood memories
Margaret, born in 1936, remembers starting school at just four years old in Edgbaston. Like many children of the time, her happiest memories are simple ones — playing with colourful glass marbles and sharing small treats with friends.
Her ninth birthday, during the war, remains especially vivid. Her mother bought her a green taffeta dress from Stantons and organised a garden party, hiding small paper bags of sweets in the trees. “I remember finding mine in the big apple tree.”
Life during the war
Wartime memories are woven through many of the stories shared. Margaret recalls an incendiary bomb landing in her back garden, close to her bedroom, and the underground air-raid shelter with four bunks built to keep the family safe.
Kath, who grew up in Handsworth, remembers being woken in the night to the sound of doodlebugs and making her way to the shelter. She also recalls the joy of VE Day, when neighbours gathered for a street party and everyone was given half a crown.
Florence, born in Edgbaston in 1943, remembers her family home being partially destroyed by bombing, forcing them to move into the countryside.
Despite the challenges, these memories are often shared with warmth — a reminder of how communities pulled together and found moments of happiness even in difficult times.
Working lives
As residents grew older, work became an important part of their identity.
Florence trained at the College of Arts and went on to work in Birmingham city centre as a window dresser and artist at Werff Brothers, a well-known ladies’ fashion chain with several shops across the city. She created striking displays and dressed the main windows — a time when shopfronts were designed to stop people in their tracks.
Duncan’s first job was on a butcher’s stall, before moving into plumbing — a trade he built his career around.
Kath worked in a variety of roles before spending 20 years as a home carer, supporting people in their own homes with dedication and compassion. “We looked after people without the mechanical aids they have today.”
Hobbies and social life
Life outside of work was just as important.
Florence remembers the popularity of jiving and evenings spent at the social club with friends. She also enjoyed badminton from her schooldays through to the 1960s.
Duncan recalls fishing with his grandfather from a young age — a hobby he has loved ever since — as well as meeting friends at the local pub, dancing and trips to the cinema.
Kath enjoys quieter pastimes, including watching classic films and completing puzzles and crosswords.
Family and community
Family runs through many of the memories shared.
Mo remembers meeting her husband at church when she was 18 before marrying and starting a family. Kath grew up across the road from her future husband, and they later married in 1960.
Florence speaks movingly about caring for her son for over 50 years — a lifetime of love, commitment and strength.
Building memories for the future
These reminiscence sessions are helping to shape something new.
As part of BCOP’s 80th anniversary celebrations, the charity is fundraising to create immersive ‘sensory streets’ at Neville Williams House and Anita Stone Court. These spaces will recreate familiar sights, sounds and experiences from the past — helping residents, particularly those living with dementia, reconnect with treasured memories. You can support our appeal by donating to our JustGiving page here.
At Neville Williams House, memories are not only shared — they are helping to build something lasting for future generations.