Böcker utgivna av Brewin Books

This second book by Maggie Payne is a collection of fond reminiscences and anecdotes about her life growing up and living in the small town of Alcester in Warwickshire from the 1950s onward. The book describes what it is about Alcester with its people and traditions that makes it so unique, with plenty of scrapes that Maggie gets herself into along the way! A well-known figure in the town, Maggie is a former Alcester Mayoress and Chairman of Alcester in Bloom and these lighthearted memoirs are intended to put a smile on the face of the reader as they take a walk down memory lane with her.

Robert Owen was a charismatic pipe-dreamer, bound to unrealistic expectations. Though born in Newtown, Montgomeryshire, by the time he met Joseph Hansom in Birmingham, he had become a self-taught manager of successful cotton mills in Manchester and New Lanark, Scotland. It was here that he developed his theories of early education and campaigned for factory reform. Lacking the support he needed to advance his plans, he purchased a community in America, only to lose all his money. The much younger Hansom was an ambitious architect, who fast-tracked his own career by winning the competition to design Birmingham Town Hall. Birmingham was a proactive town, open to Thomas Attwood's efforts to bring about the Great Reform Bill, and the advancement of newly-formed trade unions. Along with his partner, Edward Welch, Hansom became so involved in politics that his attention was diverted away from the Town Hall, which resulted in both their bankruptcies. Nevertheless Hansom re-established his career, while Owen strove to develop his master 'Plan', the building of a self-sufficient community. He leased a property in a remote part of Hampshire and appointed Hansom. Despite Herculean efforts (as Hansom described the Town Hall), the community collapsed. Under different ownership, it became home to the most prestigious scientists in Britain. The inclusion of Birmingham and Hansom adds a new dimension to the complexities of Robert Owen's life ... a great bit of research ... should grace the shelves of any museum or library where his name rests. Charles Rex Shayler, chairman of the Robert Owen Museum and relative of the architect who designed the building in which it is housed.

In 1951 a two year old infant Sheila Jones was diagnosed at Birmingham Children's Hospital (BCH) with a rare condition Phenylketonuria (PKU). There was no treatment but, not accepting this, her distraught mother Mary persevered until she found help from three pioneering doctors at BCH: Dr Horst Bickel, Dr John Gerrard and Dr Evelyn Hickmans. In the hospital laboratory they worked tirelessly to prepare a special formula and Sheila was the first person in the world to receive dietary treatment for PKU. Until now, little has been known about the life of Sheila, and her family in Birmingham, and the hardships and sacrifices they endured. It is a remarkable story of a brave little girl, her brothers, and her courageous and tenacious mother. Sheila's contribution is immense; it led to the introduction of newborn screening and worldwide treatment for PKU. It is a great sadness that Sheila herself was unable to benefit long term but her legacy is a triumph for all those with PKU. This is Sheila's story until her death in Birmingham in 1999 and will be important to people with PKU, their families, health professionals and readers interested in the history of medicine.

BEATLE haircut, one set of smart clothes to his name... and with a rock 'n' roll attitude hewn out of five resentful years at a boys' grammar school. This was the 16-year-old John Phillpott who, in that long-lost summer of 1965, started out on a life-long career in Midlands journalism. It was the era when a young trainee reporter could be sent to a fatal road accident one moment and ordered to make the tea for the entire editorial staff the next. These were the days when a young journalist might cover a budgerigar show on a Saturday afternoon and a few hours later interview Ray Davies of the chart-topping Kinks. Yes, it's all there in Go and Make the Tea, Boy! The reprobates, drunks and various other paid-up members of life's Awkward Squad all splash across these pages in glorious technicolor, as this no-holds-barred narrative of life on a provincial newspaper back in the Swinging Sixties gets into gear.

A History of Webheath begins with its origins in around 1250 and includes its time within the Forest of Feckenham. The boundaries of the parish, which have been altered over the years, once covered a far greater area, extending down through Upper Bentley, across Crumpfields to Heathfield Road. Following Birchfield Road to Headless Cross and back along the other side of the road, the area also comprised Tack Farm, the outskirts of Hewell Grange and up to Tardebigge Church. The book charts Webheath's evolvement from a sleepy, rural agricultural village to the present day thriving community now encompassed within the town of Redditch in Worcestershire. With maps and photographs it contains much information on local landmarks, place names, farms and houses, major local landowners and notable residents.

Alton once again shares humorous and dramatic stories from his life as a professional comedian, TV warm-up artiste, actor, musician and author/co-author of over 50 books. He also includes tales of his time in the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards, his interests, his friendships and even a few of his favourite jokes!

When the author was appointed as Clerk to the Trustees of Sutton Coldfield Municipal Charities, he came across the transcript and a tape recording of a talk on the history of the Charities which his predecessor had given at a Trustees' meeting and this aroused his interest in the development of the Charities.

Perhaps you have never sent, or even received a love letter from the one you love, which is understandable, especially if you spend little time apart. When parted from your loved one, love letters act as a bridge between you, as they carry a crucial message. Those words are important, as once written, they cannot be taken back.

Based on the research on Locke & Co Ltd, this book records the Court Case in 1902 and the demise of the Company in 1915.

When Christine Wilson began a collaboration with her old university professor, Alex Burns, on a series of magazine articles, they hadn't met for nearly thirty years. In the interim, they had both been long and happily married. After all, they were both far too old for all the turmoil of love. Weren't they? This book tells their story.

A biography that reveals the author's complex relationship with Darwin, her love of poetry and the natural landscape, and the personality, challenges and aspirations of an intelligent, passionate and independent woman writer of the early Romantic period.

Sets out to uncover the significance of the Worcestershire manor house that famously gave its name to the home of Bilbo and Frodo Baggins in "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings".

The Regent's Canal was originally constructed in 1812 and provides both transport and pleasure for Londoners and visitors. A companion to "Exploring The New River", this title serves both as a history and as a detailed guide to Nash's well known London waterway.

Monument Lane existed for around 110 years, having opened in the 1850s. It was responsible for both passenger and freight services, the pick of which were main line trains from Birmingham to London, Liverpool and Manchester. This text includes photographs, which trace the history of Monument Lane from Victorian times to the 1960s.

Concentrates on the events which affected the Solihull Manor House (dates back to 1495) during the 20th century. This book reveals the existence of one of Solihull's best kept secrets, the beautiful and tranquil garden, tucked away at the rear of the Manor House.

Alton Douglas is the best-selling author of over three dozen books on the West Midlands and surrounding areas but, in another life, he was a professional comedian for twenty years. Encouraged by the success of his first humorous book, with more of Clive Hardy's hilarious illustrations, Alton is proud to present "A Load of Nonsense!".

Joseph Ashby of Tysoe, the agricultural trade unionist, published a series of articles in the "Warwick Advertiser". This book contains extracts from his articles illustrated by photographs. It reveals the secrets hidden behind the cottage doors of Victorian England.

A collection of articles that presents a commentary on country life.

Lets you join a great grandson of the first Park Keeper at Selly Oak Park, Birmingham as he delves into the Park's history. This title helps you to discover why, when, and how the Park came to be.

Jack Gillespie was born in 1909 and celebrated his 100th birthday on 4th August 2009. Belonging to a Scottish family in Liverpool, Jack, not unexpectedly, joined the Liverpool Scottish Regiment. When there was a break in the fighting, Jack wrote many poems to help raise the morale of his colleagues. This book contains his surviving war poems.

The only son of a North Warwickshire farming family, Arthur Callwood was born just after the end of World War I. At the outbreak of World War II, he was called up for active service. This book tells the story of his early years, his day to day army life at home and abroad, until he eventually returned to his destined occupation as a farmer.

Slade School has gone through many life-changing moments, since it was first given birth in 1904. This title tells that it is to be hoped that all scholars may learn, in as entertaining a way as possible, the life of a school as events unfold through the disparate decades of the twentieth century.

Describes the author's early childhood in Birmingham and the difficult times for his parents who nevertheless instilled into him the qualities of honesty and respect for others.

June Picken in early childhood was headstrong, reaching her mid-teens she desired to leave school and enter the workplace. Once in the office, though, life was disrupted by the outbreak of war. This book follows this gentle rebel's journey from the classroom to the fields as she challenges conventions and makes her contribution to the war effort.