Joe Gill

Joe came from Motherwell, near Glasgow. A varied career began in hard times with a job as electrician down the coal pits. Joe came to Birmingham in 1938, hoping for better luck. He set up on his own but was foiled by ill-health.

Now he turned to his hobbies – tennis and badminton – for inspiration. In earlier days Joe’s skill at reparing rackets had won his friend’s support. This gave him the idea of again settin up on his own, this time at his home in Wythall, where he built up a thriving connection with sports houses all over the Midlands.

Joe was a prime mover in getting a much talked of local dramatic society under way and, in recognition of this her was offered, and accepted, the office of President (in 1964). Hobbies? Tennis, badminton and supporting Aston Villa.