Betty, Jim and baby of the family Liam live together at Hagley Road Village. The trio originally from Roscommon in Ireland and their extended family gathered to talk about their lives and how they find living with their siblings in later life.

Brothers Jim and Liam moved to England for work in the 1950’s carrying out office work. Jim worked at Snow Hill Station and looked after parcels, while Liam was over at New Street Station.

Meeting their wives Elizabeth and Sue at work the pair made lives in England before retiring to Hagley Road Village. The four became ‘friends of the village’ before the village was even constructed.

Liam’s wife Sue comments: “We had been to have a look at New Oscott Village. Then out of nowhere a flyer came through the door for Hagley Road. We got involved in everything from the outset.”

“When Sue said I was moving in that was it!” Liam laughs.

In 2018 older sister Betty arrived to join her family. “I missed my brothers,” she comments, “I visited a lot here and was coming up to 80, I knew it would not be easy to do the trip for much longer so I had to make a decision. I can’t say it was an easy decision as I loved Ireland, but it was a good move.”

The group mention how supportive the location was during the pandemic. “During the COVID-19 crisis the staff at the village were great, it was wonderful to be here, we would have felt so isolated elsewhere. Everyone would come out on our balconies and do exercises, a real community feel, we really felt safe and sound.”

Betty, Jim and Liam aren’t the only siblings in this family line up. Elizabeth’s (Jim’s wife) sister Kitty and husband Colin also moved into the village with Kitty and Elizabeth hailing from Monaghan in Ireland. Elder sister Kitty explains: “Colin and I came to visit Elizabeth and Jim to see what it was like, and we fell in love with the place. Colin’s health was failing, and we thought this would be a good option for us.”

“Elizabeth and Jim invited us for a meal, Kitty mentioned the prospect of redecorating the kitchen at home so I didn’t need much persuasion to move elsewhere then,” Colin jokes, “the woodwork room was what sold it for me, I worked as a draftsman and love working with my hands. When I moved to Hagley Road I repaired over 30 chairs and created a number of projects in the room”.

Kitty adds: “Colin was never out of that woodwork room until his health began to decline. Elizabeth and I always have each other, she’s been there for me through a lot, and we support one another. We are two of 16 siblings! We talk every week.”

With three marriages spanning an incredible 183 years in total the family involve themselves in village life with many actively volunteering or joining groups. Elizabeth volunteered at the gym and she and Jim volunteer to litter pick and drop off deliveries and letters for people. Sue and Liam are members of the gardening club and Kitty served coffee at the bistro for over two years.

And what’s the best thing about living with a sibling? 

Betty answers: “Having support, it’s the same as when you’re young almost. I had Christmas with Jim and Elizabeth and we see each other most days. I see my brothers all the time and can borrow a cup of sugar. I’m very protective of my brothers, you can argue but they’re still your sibling in the morning, argue with a friend and you could never speak to them again.”

“For me the best thing is knowing they’re there”, Jim offers, “it’s that that’s comforting.”