The families detailed here are the ancestors of the children born to Reuben Smith (1922-1977) and his wife Irene Meadows (1922-1985).
Reuben Smith as a young man
Reuben Smith was born in Birmingham (or, more correctly, Aston) and would have left school at 14. In the years before WWII he became a haulier's carter and motor driver before volunteering for the Royal Navy in December 1940. We learn that he was almost 5' 7" tall, had brown hair and eyes, a fresh complexion and a scar on his right cheek. He served as a stoker throughout the war and had been wounded seven times before his eventual discharge in October 1945. Back in civilian life he became a professional carpenter and joiner, achieving the position of Director with construction company G T Hunt and Sons Ltd. of Solihull.
His immediate forebears came largely from Birmingham itself or from the surrounding area, parts of which were formerly in Staffordshire. Further back there are links to Norfolk and the gypsy community as well as to both Scotland and Ireland.
Irene Meadows as a young woman
Irene Meadows was also born in Aston, the fourth child (and fourth daughter) of the eight children born to Alfred Meadows and his wife Fanny Meadows, formerly Nicholls. Both families have Birmingham roots. She married Reuben in during the war, in 1943, at which time she was living with her parents, as was usual up until marriage (and indeed often after marriage, too).
Her ancestors on both sides of her family were born, lived and worked in and around Birmingham for several generations back. They were typically employed in metal trades such as chainmaker, galvanizer or engraver.