Coventry revisited

Hi Philipincoventry, Thanks for the welcome.

I was playing along the canal at every opportunity, my best friend was drowned more or less at the bottom of their garden, I suppose we were aged about 9/10, I remember bonfire nights, the fire was always opposite JG school and I used to guard it in case it was set alight before time. Thanks for sharing your memories with us.

I seem to recall someone being drowned, but don't know much more about it than that, I do remember the bonfire it was on what we called the bombed buildings, thats what it was a gap where a house had been.

Meerkat. Do you remember the Sutcliffe family? The two lads were Alan and Norman they both went to JG school, Alan was a motorbike fanatic. They must have lived next door to you, or pretty near.

I don't recall the Sutcliffe family, it seems they would have been a lot older than me if the lads were into motorbikes and we moved when I was about 5 years old.

I noticed the sign for the Silver Sword, popularly known as "The Dirty Dagger" although I never actually had the opportunity to go in.

It was always very dark in there walrus apart from some neon signs over the DJ - probably so you couldn't see what you were standing in. And the trip downstairs to the toilets was always a hazardous one!

I was in Canley Cemetery at the weekend........... it's tragic to see Big Jim Holton's grave. I doubt it has been visited since he was interred. It looks unloved and neglected. A shame.

Coventry city centre is a dump. It's a complete mess. Nothing has worked. Gibson's plan has been a disaster, and now in its final death throes.

I "revisited" this topic this morning. After 10 years, I think some of the comments still count for today?

The Coventry Evening Telegraph offices (post 23) were fortunately saved as the Telegraph Hotel. Inside much of the original features have been retained. It is strange to look into a bar and think that 40 years ago I stood in much the same spot to pay for my small advertisement in the Telegraph - probably trying to get rid of some old car. I must agree that most of the other comments are still very true. What will ever happen if the students stop coming? There will be such a lot of rooms to let, but on the bright side any future residents would have to pay Council Tax.

I think that Coventry city centre is looking better than when I left. The outskirts are much busier.

Hi Helen, what parts of the city centre do you consider are looking better than when you left?

Some parts are definitely better looking than in the 80s.

Yes Neil, that area looked particularly grim. Unfortunately the other side is still a bit grungy. The new flats look clean and bright, which is more than could be said about the post hub they replaced. The Premier Inn and the Belgrade Plaza area was very desolate before they were built. All the cladding might be flammable or not but it certainly looks better. I thought that the AXA building in particular looked dated - like US cop sunglasses from 70 TV series. Corporation Street still needs work.