The Day we received a bomb at our home.

My eldest Grandson Adam Mellor, was one year and a few month old. On a weekday in 1989, his father, my son, Stuart John Mellor, was in the habit of bringing him to our home at 118, Birches Barn Road, where we would have him for several hours, whilst our daughter in law did some part time work. We loved having him. Stuart usually arrived at about 8.30pm and his visits coincided with the visit of a post lady, we had her for years. My wife, collected the post, and put it on the Kitchen Table, it was near Christmas, and amongst the post was a small colourfully wrapped packet. My wife, said, "someone has sent you a Christmas present"
I opened all my mail, with a paper knife, I slit open the bottom of the package. I then saw the tell tale wires, which my knife has not touched. I said, Thia may be a bomb and threw it into the hallway. It did not detonate. My wife, took the child outside, the back door, onto the lawn. My son, open the front door, and kicked the object onto the front lawn, again it did not detonate. I telephoned "999" and reported the incident. The operator said," two more, one to the Chief Constable and one to Superintendent V Morris, at Birmingham Road, have been deteted at the Sorting Office.
In the interim period, the police had arrived. The used a waste disposal Lorry, to stop all traffic at Birches Barn Road and St Phillips Avenue, and in a few minutes, had shut sown Birches Barn Road, completely. It remained like that for the next five hours. The Police did not examine the packet. The Bomb Disposal team, Army where called. They sent in the small tractor on caterpillar tracks and camera. They kept in touch with me, via open telephone. At about 12md they announced the bomb, was an High Explosive charge, with incendiary elements, which if it had detonated, would have caused serious injury and a fire. It was their intention to detonate it in situ. We had to withdraw from the house, into the rear orchard. The detonation took place, it made a 3foot, wide, by 1 foot deep hole in the lawn, and dislodged 8 roof tiles on the verandah. The incident was over. I made a formal statement, and received a a call from Geoffrey Dear, commiserating with me, a similar call from Vic Morris, who was an old Friend. Invitation to the Incident Room followed, and 6 weeks later the enquiries into the three bombs, were curtailed. Who was responsible. I do not know.There were many theories, IRA, BLF, my former service experieneces., in Palestine It came to naught. An unpleasant experience.