A TRIP down memory lane in Hagley - charting the history of the houses and people in one of the village's most prosperous roads - has been mapped out in a new booklet.

The short history of Middlefield Lane - where some of the houses used to have maids and chauffeur-driven Rolls Royces - was a labour of love started by parish archivist Peter Bloore, who collected documents, photographs and anecdotes about the street where he lived during his final years.

And, after his death last year, aged 79, his friends in Hagley Archive Group took on the completion of the project.

More than 20 residents and other people with connections to Middlefield Lane gathered for the launch of the resulting booklet - entitled "Middlefield Lane, Hagley A Short History" - at the village rectory, "Pendeen", which is also in the road.

Among them was retired GP and paediatric consultant Dr Naomi Turner, now aged 88, who has lived at "Green Meadows" in Middlefield Lane since 1957.

Dr Turner and her late husband Dr Maxwell Turner, an expert in Perthes, a childhood disorder of the hip joint, moved into the lane in 1957, when their daughter, Debbie, now also a doctor, was aged two.

Their son, Jonathan, a senior barrister and expert in intellectual property law, was born a year later.

Dr Turner said: "We always loved Middlefield Lane and particularly like our neighbours, the Bebbingtons, who moved here in 1971.

"Their son, Mark, is now a well-known classical pianist and, when my son lived here too and also played piano, they used to leave the windows open so they could play duets together."

Also at the booklet launch was 77-year-old Mary Hart, from Sedgley - whose Uncle, Arthur Glaze, and Auntie Nellie had "Green Meadows" built in 1937 and who remembered visiting them as a little girl.

"To my amazement a maid in a grey uniform with apron and cap answered the door," said Mrs Hart, who also recalled her uncle and aunt had a Rolls Royce in their garage.

Other notable residents of Middlefield Lane included rocket scientist Peter Boszko, who lived at "The Croft", and Victor Hodgkins, whose home was "Red Lodge" and who employed a chauffeur to drive his Rolls Royce.

Mr Hodgkins's great niece, Louise Jew, said: "Great Uncle Victor ran an ash cooperage business in Halesowen and he was also a keen musician, playing the bassoon.

"Using his skills working with wood, he invented an 'unbreakable' conductors' baton, marrying together two of his great passions."

A former house in the road - "Oldfield Hollies" - was requisitioned for the use of the USA 53rd Field Hospital Unit for a short time before D-day and troops, including doctors, nurses, orderlies and stretcher bearers, underwent training in huts in the grounds.

Jacky Smith, aged 74, of St Saviour's Court, Hagley, took over as editor of the booklet after Mr Bloore's death.

She said: "Sadly Peter, who had collected a large amount of information and photographs about Middlefield Lane, died before he could complete the project so a group of us from the archive group have finished the task off in his memory."

Copies of the booklet are available for £4 each from archive group member Tom Pagett on 01562 882302 and profits are being donated to the Kidderminster Stride and Stroll walking for health group.

More than 60 copies have already been sold and it will also be available from the Happy Families shop in Hagley, as well as from Jacky Smith on 01562 888404.