Like all of us, you have a fascination with the olden days don’t you? You want to know what Moseley was like was before you were born, you want to hear about when it was “better”. So do we, so we decided to ask the only person that truly remembers how we used to live, Mr Allen from Allen’s Chicken and Chips. His business has been at the centre of Moseley since anyone can remember and we thought he might just have some tales to tell.

EOM: Thank you for agreeing to talk to us, we hope you can help us readers to understand the changes that have happened in Moseley in the long years that you’ve been supplying people with Chicken and Chips. What’s your earliest memory?

Mr Allen: Thank you, I’ve always worried that the rich tapestry of Moseley life that’s locked in my mind might get lost to future generations. I suppose my favourite recollection is the day that the first car came to Moseley. It was the Summer of 1919, the Great War had finished and there was a feeling of jubilation in the centre of Moseley. I can’t remember who brought the car to show us but I remember that Mr Nima was most excited  to have a go, well when I say excited he was also a bit nervous. His personal physician had told him that the human body couldn’t survive at speeds beyond 23 mph. I remember his little face as they floored it down Salisbury Road, that was when he first came up with his trade mark shout of WHOOP DI DOO you know. So when he shouts that in your face when you ask for a bag of olives you know where it comes from.

EOM: Moseley always seems to have some manufactured controversy going on, was this always the case?

Mr Allen: Yes, it’s been an unfortunate theme as long as I can remember. I suppose the most tangible example of this was in March 1938 when the Moseley Society accidentally declared for the Axis powers. I don’t know if it was a misguided affiliation to the Mosley name or a recognition of the sartorial elegance of dark shirts. The ridiculous thing is that a local historical society has no power to pick sides in international conflicts. Fortunately the annexation of Austria proved to be a step too far and the Moseley Society proved  a resilient ally in the battle against world fascism.

EOM: Some say that most of this is pure fantasy and can’t really recollect you ever having been in Moseley last week let alone through the mists of time, what do you say to that?

Mr Allen: Nonsense, I’ll fight any man that says that. Where do you think people have been getting there chicken and chips from? The City Fish Bar?

A robust defence we’re sure you will agree.