"Burglar Bill" and other old tales of Radford

Here's a mixed bag of reminiscences about Radford .There was a serious gang fight on Radford Common in the mid 50s .To our great shame my late uncle , who was about 19 at the time , was given 6 months in Winson Green for affray for his part in the episode . He was arrested with several bottles in his car so the sentence was richly deserved . The incident was reported in the Telegraph . There was a little row of cottages opposite the Radford pub which had a grocery shop where we went for our big shop on a Friday night . This would be the early 50s my but Gran still referred to our trip as "going for the rations " . Although my parents moved to Bell Green when I was 5 I still spent a great deal of time in Radford . My particular friends were The Charley family , Michael , Daryl and Neil and we had many trips from Foleshill station to Nuneaton for trainspotting .Does anyone remember them ? They originally lived in Tulliver Street but subsequently moved into a bungalow in Cheveral Ave next to the black pad that led to the Savoy .

Bet you didnot know we had a Rocket man in Coventry, Radford to be precise . I worked as a Maintenance engineer for F W Woolworth in my younger days I was about 17 years old, I was as you may of guessed a trainee . Anyway I was still into pyrotechnic and Rockets and loved making them. One day I decided to make a three stage Rocket with parachute nose cone, I had made a few in the past but this one was much bigger, to make the Rocket I used aluminium tube and fins made of wood the nose cone was also wood well the pointed bit, the Rocket was made to split into three sections with the nose cone attached to a parachute . The fuel was a mixture magnesium and xxxxx, the magnesium was in the form of Johnson's Flash power, bought from Johnson the Chemist / photograph shop opposite the Herbert Art Gallery . Flash power was use before the arrival of flash bulbs as seen in many early films. Anyway the rocket was complete and painted in Woolworth colour with the logo down the side. It looked great . The Manager ( Mr Drinkall )got to hear of it and asked my Boss to ask me to bring it into the Shop so he could see it, this I did and he was somewhat impressed, so much he appointed the Shop photographer to take photos of the launch, I was well chuffed. Funny thing , he said it was good but once it was charged donot bring it into the store again, little did he know it was all ready to go.lol The big night came and it was raining ( nothing new there then) the chap with the camera turned up, the rocket was set up on its ramp on the common , we all waited with bated breath . Count 5 4 3. 2. 1. Fire , nothing , " dam " I said. Well something like that.. After many tries it was no good,water had got into the eletrics , he took some great photos of the Rocket on the launch pad . I felt quite proud really, they were banded about the next day at work , they all had a great laugh , they called it an American Rocket ,reference to the many failures by the then Infant NASA ( they have sure proved themselves now with some spectacular achievements , as one rocket engineer to another ,well done ) anyway we decided to have another go at the launch from my friends house in Heathcote street, we made a makeshift ramp from some old bits of wood, his Dad was out and so it was all systems go. ( this was the same house that I split open the water , see other posts) it was qiute cold as I remember, end of November and the Sprouts in my friends garden were just right for picking. We did away with the electric fuse and fitted it with a Jetx fuse , we lit the fuse and stood back within a split second it was roaring away but it came off the ramp and dropped on its side , burnt the first row of Sprouts, then it the fence and took out the next row of sprouts " O no " I cried. Then the first stage split with a loud bang shot into the Gabages and began to cook them,it goes on untill the final stage then splits and deploys the parachute ,not that it did any good as it was still on the ground . we did not know how we were going to explain this one , my mates idea " let's tell my Dad it was. Firework that had dropped into our Garden" after blowing up his water butt a few weeks before he did not swallow it. We were told to clean up the garden and dig up the damaged plants, as for the photos I wish I still have . Not seen them for a long time now. . After that I gave up rocket building I thought I would give the USA a chance . Not too long ago I did make three more Rockets but the second one exploded with rather a loud bang ,that's it and gave the last one to my Nephew ,not too sure what he did with it. Well you see the USA had some stiff competition, bet they are glad I have stopped making them now, well I know the Radford aera is. Colin.

For Dreamtime Radford Kid , Tek What a funny story about him falling and the fence going down like a deck of cards, I wonder too if some one out there now knows who demolished their fence lol. Radford kid I am ten years younger than yourself. Yes those photos one of Schofields paper shop thats the one your second photo with the van outside the shop, the entry at the side use to have garages at the rear which the council use to rent. Tek do you know a lad called Argy Moore if you go on to Radford/Coventry we have lost .co.uk there are some old photos of Radford. The Radford Spring Im sure along with Harenl Lane one crosses and both go into the River Sherbourne. Not sure if the Stream that flows underground from Corely Rocks which comes out on the Radford Road allotments is the same steam that belongs to the Radford one. I notice you have Hawkesbury under your name , is that Hawksbury Junction Longfoord by any chance.

No the real Hawkesbury, Not the recently named Hawkesbury Village. I live in the Hawkesbury that starts at the Elephant and Castle bridge and contains Hawkesbury Hall, Parrots Grove.Didn't know Argy Moore. Maybe I'm too old

Argy Moore would of been about 70 now, yes I know the Elephant And Castle just down the road from me, its up for sale hope that don t get knocked down lovely where its situated. If I was rich I d buy it and run it as a B + B or a shop.

Hello morgana. I asked in the fishing tackle shop about the Elephant and castle, and he told me it was going to be a house, and the structure of the building must remain as it is now....

Hello NormK thank you for letting me know its going to be a house and still be there wonderful idea a house, as I think too much history of our town is being knocked down or sold off. I heard from one of my family of Paebody hospital kocked down and sold the land this was given to the people of Coventry a picture from there was left to Walsgrave hospital but was sold to the usa. Two listed buildings in my lane one has been knocked down and now the second one is going too.

Hey, Radford kid, I am hanging in here waiting for the next instalment. Heavens knows what you were up to in your teens ! Edited by TonyS, 12th Aug 2012 5:47 pm (Quote abbreviated)

Stories abound re the Castle.They range from, Indian restaurant, house and business premises ,post office and the latest a retirement home. We will see. It was a good pub with an excellent location spoiled by indifferent management.

You missed one, I heard that the travellers had bought it, and as you say wait and see........

Hello Dreamtime, on holiday in Pickering Yorkshire just at the mo, but I will post another true tale when I return, limited time on Internet . See you all soon. Colin.

Hello Colin, I bet I know what you have been watching in Pickering, & it has not all been the Olympics on the tele, I bet! Hope you are having a lovely time.

Well I think you know what I will be watching but is has not happened yet mainly due to the fact we have to do mondain things like shopping, dragging me round the shops ,looking at shoes, dresses ,what shall we have for tea? Priority all wrong she must have known their is a Steam railway station in Pickering, what's more important than that? It's my wife's birthday today so I have had to cut her a little slack. Lol. I said I would take her to see the trains but when I told her she would be chuffed to bits, it put her off somewhat, the thought of being chuffed to bits did not go down well. Lol. See you all soon, thanks for the nice message Philip. Colin.

Hi & happy birthday to your wife. My best asset is my wife. Always there to pick me up!

Same here Philip, I love my wife to bitts. Loved her yesterday , love her still, always have and always will. Silly ol me. Thanks Philip for the wishes. Colin.