It's a Saturday evening

Today (Monday) I have enjoyed coffee this morning with a fashion manufacturer & retailer who I have known for years. Her business, most of which is supplying other retailers nowadays, is choc-a-bloc with orders for retro fashion, mens & ladies. I told her about the conversation on here about Saturday evenings. She grew up in Cambridge and came to live in the Midlands after uni, where she was employed as a project engineer with Courtaulds, before she started her own business in the late eighties. She is just a little younger than me, but well remembers the fashion described by the ladies on here.

Fifty years ago! Prob my best year for finding my feet. Always shy but at the age of thirteen, joined the A.T.C., got free tickets for the Locarno and never looked back. Taught to jive by a girl named "Pat", used to meet up with her every week to dance, her boyfriend just looked on. As Tricia said, never felt threatened going home in Hillfields. Also started going out with girls, being taught to dance changed me. LOL, I enjoyed being thirteen

In 1920 Broadgate was the scene of rioting which lasted four days and nights. Every shop window was smashed and many stores looted. Rioters blamed 'a lack of job opportunities', the police blamed 'criminal elements'. Nothing changes much does it?

That's true, Dutchman. I believe that it was the last time that the 'Riot Act' was read-out in Coventry.

50 years ago I was arriving in Coventry having left my home town of Worcester. I was sixteen and my dad had managed to get a job with the Council. We had a bit of a shock when we arrived because the Council told my dad that the job of Park Keeper which they had allocated to him was no longer available but would he like to be a gardener instead? As dad was a gardener by trade he was more than happy to accept. I started work with a small electrical contractor who was called Kelly. His business address was in Adelaide Street. I didn't stay long and started work for Coventry Council. Worked for the Council for 43 years.

Aaahh I feel so young as I was only six, fifty years ago. Am I the forum baby?

Not quite Elaine, I was one!!

I reckon it could be me. You see that photo of me here on the left? Well, that was only taken last week!!!

I stand back in amazement!!! You look no older than you did before Christmas.

Fifty years ago I was only fourteen (and a "young" fourteen at that) so Id have been in on Saturday night. But I did have a part time job in a supermarket - Thursday and Friday after school, and Saturday morning. I got paid 12s 6d for that and I really appreciated it. They didn't open Saturday afternoon, I was led to understand this is because the owner was Jewish. The supermarket was on the corner of Morris Road and Stoney Stanton Road, opposite the Morris Factory. I thought the girls who worked the tills (Dawn and Rita, I remember!) were very very glamorous, they had backcombed hair and wore stiletto heels. Now they'd have been at the Locarno or the Orchid on Saturday night I expect!

You have amazing keyboard skills for a 4 month old child - I bet your mother always said you were advanced for your age!

I was 8, so there'd be a fair chance I'd be at the RAOB (Buffs) club on Foleshill Rd or at the Self Changing Gears Club at Lythalls Lane with mum & dad. Just a few years later I'd have moved on to Brandon!

I remember going to my mum and dad's 25th anniversary at the Buffs. I was told its a secret society, so what do they do I asked? Dunno came the reply, it's a secret!!

Hey Me Babbies, anyone remember the 50s. Courtaulds Dance Hall. The Arden in Bedduth. The START of Teds AND Rock and Roll.. Remember the Crow in the Oak Sat'dy nights. If you weren't broke on Sunday night you had had a quiet (rotten) weekend. Hot out of the army with ragin' hormones. Ah yes, I remember it well!!! zzzzzzzzzzzz

Not the youngest, sorry! My mother was five 50 years ago!