1907

The nursery was still growing fast and new premises were needed again. This time the move was right into the country, on an old pig farm in Olton Road, Shirley. It was bought for 8d. per square yard (£160 an acre). Situated on the main road to Stratford upon Avon, Shirley was a bit of rural England consisting of three pubs a few houses, a church and a village institute. A horse bus served it from Birmingham at two hourly intervals.

1913

I found an early testimonial from one of our customers at the time.

In June of this year John Woolman married Edith Victoria Smith the daughter of a master baker who lived next door to the new nursery. The marriage was to last 60 years and be instrumental in the success of the business.

1914

In September the Great War began. In his autobiography Green Fingers on page 21 grandfather noted how “It seemed to come with terrific suddenness, no one at the start of the year had any idea of war”. “It seemed to take time for the nation to realise what a long and dire conflict had begun”. John Woolman signed up for the Navy but his brother Harry was deemed unfit by the medical tribunal and was allowed to stay on in the nursery, providing he grew food crops.

1919

John F Woolman my father was born on the 10th November. Apparently there was so much snow on the ground that day that the mid-wife Nurse Lively had difficulty cycling to the house.

1920

A picture of Henry Woolman the founder and his two brothers, left to right Henry, John & Fred.

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