Horace was born on the 17th December 1917, in 30 Railway Street, Tipton. Round is his adopted name, he was christened “Smith” by his Mother Edith but on her early death his Father put him up for adoption and he was legally adopted by Mary Ann Round and her Husband John Harry Round on 10th November 1927, he was almost ten years old.
After passing for Grammar School he did several jobs to earn pocket money, he was still attending School when his adopted Father john died.
Mary and Horace moved house, they moved to Adderley Road in Saltley, Horace left School and as he was a big strong lad he found employment at Marsh & Baxter’s, Dale End, in the Slaughterhouse. It was while he was here that he met Phyllis Parslow of Goodrick Street, Saltley and they married on the 17th December 1938. Eleven months later they were blessed with a Son, ‘Brian Round’ was born on the 18th November 1939.
During the War, their House in Adderley Road was hit by a German Bomb and they found themselves on the move again, this time to 191 Inkerman Street, Vauxhall opposite the Railway Club.
The Germans were still dropping bombs and the roof was blown off their new home just as they were moving in.
Horace was called up and joined the RAF; he attained the rank of Flight Lieutenant. After the War when he was finally demobbed, he found employment at an Insurance company then he moved to Cryto of West Bromwich, supplying Frying Ranges to mainly Fish & Chip Shops.
With this background, in 1954, Horace and two friends ‘Ken Taylor and Harry Price’ started up a company called RTP Crisps and with £600 they purchased premises at 105 Saltley Road next door to the George Public House.
The company expanded and more of the Family and even Local Friends were employed.
As RTP increased their product range they were forced to move to larger premises and in 1965 they settled at 11 Bennett’s Road, Washwood Heath.
Horace died on October 3rd 1975; the business passed to his Son Brian and on Brian’s retirement Horace’s three Grandchildren, (Brian’s Children) took the helm of the firm.
The Company really took off and in 1980 they moved again, this time to the old Umbrella factory in Allison Street, Digbeth.
Fifty-six years on, today in 2010, RTP Crisps is now based at Unit 46 Plume Street, Nechells.
The children developed The Umbrella Factory Building into 50 Apartments that they have called “The Brolly Works”.
Mary and Horace moved house, they moved to Adderley Road in Saltley, Horace left School and as he was a big strong lad he found employment at Marsh & Baxter’s, Dale End, in the Slaughterhouse. It was while he was here that he met Phyllis Parslow of Goodrick Street, Saltley and they married on the 17th December 1938. Eleven months later they were blessed with a Son, ‘Brian Round’ was born on the 18th November 1939. 
The company expanded and more of the Family and even Local Friends were employed. 
