‘My girlfriend saved me from being in bombed Birmingham pub’

In November 1974, Bernie Mintz was 18 years old and working as a chef in Birmingham.

On the evening of 21 November, bombs exploded in two city centre pubs, the Mulberry Bush and the Tavern in the Town, leaving 21 people dead and 220 injured.

That night, Mr Mintz, who now lives in Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire, had been tempted to grab a pint before heading home.

As his hand grabbed the door handle to enter the Tavern in the Town, he remembered his girlfriend had asked him to try and be home early.

“I heard my girlfriend’s voice saying ‘please come home to me tonight’. And I was guilt-ridden,” he said.

He turned around and headed towards the bus stop.

As he stepped on the number 92 heading to Hall Green he remembers “a horrific bang that shook the floor”.

The bus driver quickly closed the doors and he was on his way, unaware of what was happening around the corner.

Mr Mintz arrived home to a panicked family as they had seen news flashes on TV.

“They were delighted to see me,” he said.

“If my girlfriend hadn’t said that to me the night before, I’d have gone down for a pint and I’d be in that pub.”

The couple have been married since 1981, and he credits her with “saving his life”.