Christmas / New Year Memories

Some lovely memories you have there Woodford, I love the one about the coloured thread around the handles of the cutlery for ID, colours so made so much then to us as kids I recall. Yes they were something to look forward to and yes they did put themselves out to give us happy times, I agree, they added so much to the community feeling and brought us together, just a shame all that now has gone, only the elderly clubs still have that community spirit nowadays.

Hi Morgana. My dad worked for Suttons Bakeries and we had a Christmas party every year. The only one I really remember was at the hotel on the corner of Holyhead Road and Barras Lane. We were entertained by Harry Corbett and Sooty and I couldn't believe Sooty was a golden colour and not black and white as he was on the telly!

Hi Anne, I remember Suttons bakery, the last I knew the hotel was called Godiva I think. I love your memory, just the way a child thinks, something I never forgot, how I thought of things when I was a kid to now being older, so this makes me understand children thinking now when others don't. My daughter and I were watching black and white film the other day, we were trying to guess what colour their clothes would be and the interior.

It became the Aston Court, now it's Days Hotel

My dad worked at Sterling Metals in Northey Road (before they moved to Nuneaton) and I remember going to their children's Christmas party. I must have been about 5 years old and the daughter of a friend of dad was supposed to look after me, but she went off and left me. I remember being frightened and wanting to go home, even the present that we were given didn't cheer me up. I never went to another works' party, but dad used to bring me a present home every year. Mum worked at the Dunlop and used to get tickets to the pantomime, I enjoyed that much more as I had friends to go with. Dad was a member of the 1925 club in Freehold Street, they used to have a party every year and the children were given a present, but I didn't go, I always thought unfair that if you didn't go to the party you didn't get a present.

My father-in-law worked at the Jaguar Daimler plant until he retired and he arranged for his grandchildren to go to the annual parties and also to the pantomime. I'm not sure if was common practice or if they let them go because of the cheek of him asking. Either way they absolutely loved it

It wasn't hard to get tickets to club and works outings, just get a friend's dad to buy an extra ticket. That way I got to party with kids from the Howitzer, St Osburg's, Cox St Club, Builders Club, and GEC yet my parents didn't belong to any of those!

Dad was at Self Changing Gears, and IIRC the parties were held at the church hall on the corner of Old Church Road and Foleshill Road. However I may be confusing that with mum's (she was at Courtaulds at Great Heath)? I also remember going to pantos at Cov Theatre with one of them - but again, not sure which way round it was??

It's that time of year again so I thought I would start things off, hope you enjoy Christmas is comin Christmas is a cumin the chancellor is getting fat Please put ya pension in the chancellor's hat If you don't have a penny then your house will do So try to sell it early before he nicks that too! You work all your life and save for a rainy day Then you get robbed by the very people you pay. What are they thinking when they take from the poor They give it to the rich and they still want more. The pensioners are easy pickings that can be said If the truth be know they would prefer us all dead. We are sorry to be a drain on our country's purse Getting old should be fun but for most of us it's a curse. I am sure the chancellor has his reasons for screwing us OAP's But it's time he looked at the freeloaders and people coming from overseas. An old Englishman now does not have a happy lot, I can say that over the years we have put more than our share into the pot. Take heed chancellor look after your money as you will be old one day Just hope for your sake someone like you will not take it all away. Poem by Colin Walton 2013.

Here are a couple of photos from the switching on of the Christmas Lights in Broadgate this afternoon

Video of the switch on and some of the lights in the city centre: Merry Christmas! Video of camper vans and scooters outside Coventry Transport Museum: Ho! Ho! Ho!

Carols at Christmas what could be better being at home and enjoying the weather, it's cold and it's damp and the wind is blowing but with a bit of luck it will soon be snowing Our home town not a place in sun no need to go abroad for our festive fun Plenty of pubs and places to eat so why not stay at home for your Christmas treat. Very hot and having no snow I cannot imagine how Christmas would go. Having your Christmas dinner in the sun then having the trots now that cannot be fun. Enter into the joy of Christmas in our home town remember old Santa in his long red gown the star on Holy Trinity and Owen's Christmas display it all helped with the fantasy that is Christmas Day. Now take the time to reflect on the past, friends and relatives no longer with us, alas. It's good to remember them the good time we had life is too short to be so sad, drink a toast to their memory, wish them well it's a shame they are not with us on this joyous Noel. The big day is here the presents all done now we can engage in some festive fun open the wine the port and the gin now the fun can really begin. Get the mistletoe in the hope the girl next door drops by, she is a cracker and well worth pulling which nobody can deny. Remember the Christmases long ago. The fun we had playing in the snow, the toys made of tin, cardboard or wood thinking of dinner and the ol' Christmas pud. the tree was festooned with all sorts of goodies it looked a real treat some of the things you could play with and some of the things you could eat. Yuletide fun with the family and friends watch the Queen's speech, well that all depends, having just eaten my dinner and drank too much booze I may have to check my eyelids, well, off for a snooze. Christmas for me was being a kid but I had to grow up as I eventually did Never the same when the childhood magic has gone but my memories will always linger on. It's always a matter of choice as to where you spend Christmas day, be it at home or far away, as for me I bet you have already guessed, staying at home will always be best. Time to end this little ditty Its all about our home city, although I have not mentioned the name of this town the clue is in the letters going down Yes I think you may have spotted the clue it's a bit of fun from me to you. Have a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year, From Colin. Poem by Colin Walton August 2013

Hi all, I have just recovered our fairy white Christmas tree & stuck it up in the lounge, whilst Pam is out shopping this morning. Nobody said anything about lights. I haven't got to get them down as well, have I? You have to laugh! What's wrong with that? We have eco friendly solar powered lights on the holly bush outside of our window, is that not enough? The meerkat lights up every evening.

Philip I have a new tree this year and it is white too. Mine has got lots of pretty coloured baubles and twinkling light on it. Get up in that attic and start decorating. I also have a Meerkat like yours, he stands on my decking and shines his light every night.

My thanks Foxcote, me and Penny would like to say THANK YOU to all for being so kind, as would others in a similar position. There are a lot of us out there as we have found out by visiting our Matts grave. All of a similar age. We have grandchildren who must enjoy what life has to offer and WE shall make sure they they do, in the memory of OUR MATT. One of 3yrs, of 7yrs and 18yrs, they will not be allowed to forget. My new computer does not have the way for me to use "Smilies" but if it did then I would kick start it now, So please feel free to do so. We wish ALL the very best for your future. X to all