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Post by vince on Nov 21, 2012 19:40:39 GMT
Hard to believe its 38 years tonight since the pub bombings.
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Post by Jerry on Nov 21, 2012 21:08:29 GMT
It's not hard for me to believe, I remember it clearly. I was living in Redditch at the time and I came into Brum that night with a couple of pals of mine to see Spike Milligan's one man show at the old Alexander theatre in John Bright Street. We had a few pints beforehand, as you do, and one of the pubs we went in was the Mulberry Bush. Anyway, we went and watched the show which finished, I think, just before 10pm. We came out and started looking round for a watering hole but they were all closing up. There were ambulances and police cars flying all around and we asked somebody who told us what had happened. We decided to head back to Redditch but there was no way to get a taxi in the city centre, they were all drafted in as ambulances. We had to walk out as far as Five Ways to get a taxi. I found out afterwards that the police had shut down all the theatres and cinemas and pubs except for the Alexandra.
In the days after the bombing there was a backlash of resentment against Irish people in Birmingham, which was understandable. My parents were Irish and I'm glad to say that they never experienced any of that, they were well known and respected in our community. A one time friend of mine, also from an Irish family, lost a leg in the blast. People discriminate but bombs don't.
Jerry
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Post by walt00 on Nov 22, 2012 8:01:50 GMT
Hi Jerry Regarding the Backlash against the Irish in Brum. Gallaghers Yard got Fire Bombed and a few Wagons were damaged. A drinking acquaintence of mine who used to use The Top Regent was killed in The Bombings, Stanley Bodman. I also used to have a drink in The Wrexham with one of the Men that was Accused and Jailed. The Night it Happened i was in The Skin Hospital George Road Edgbaston. And my missus had just visited me and left for home when the News Flash came on the Telly. She phoned the Hospital to say she was home safe at 10 pm. What relief. Wal.
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Post by vince on Nov 22, 2012 12:51:01 GMT
I didnt make the post to open old wounds, nor to have a pop at the irish. Anybody growing up round Small Heath in the 60s and 70s is bound to have Irish friends, and with ammount of Irish people in brum at the time, it would have been inevitable that there would be some Irish people in those two pubs.
The point of the video in youtube link, is that this was the worst terrorist atrocity in mainland britain, but apart from the fiasco by the serious crime squad at the time, its never been properly investigated. and I agree with the Justice for the 21 campaign that an enquiry is well overdue. But its starting to become non PC to even mention it.
I was on my way into town that night, wouls probably have had one in the Tavern. But stopped off at The Railway in Curzon St, and ended up staying. Didnt even know about it till about midnight when I heard the news on my car radio.
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Post by planetmalc on Nov 22, 2012 14:02:13 GMT
I was working 'evenings' on the fatal day and only found out about it when the night-shift Shift Leader came into work and told us all about it. He was practically in tears with the horror of it all and was calling the Irish everything you could imagine. Next day, some closet IRA sympathisers in the factory workforce came onto the morning shift wearing black berets - I guess they were pumped up with the 'glory' of it all - and were immediately set upon by the rest of the workforce. The management had no option but to dismiss them for their own safety.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 26, 2012 19:27:27 GMT
I remember that night all too well. We had all met at the Mackadown. We were going to go to meet a friends dad for his birthday and take him to the Tavern in the Town. At the last minute my friend and I decided to stay where we were since we didn't know most of the people going. Our friends met up at the old liquor store/pub just around the corner to Tavern in the Town not too far from Rackhams. As they started to head towards New St. they heard the explosion. To this day I thank God that Christina and I made that decision not to go but for a long time we felt guilty also. That was a sad day in Birmingham's history.
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