Coventry Scrapyards

Yes it was in the 70s NormK, most likely the same Noonan then. I had to sit in the car when going to his scrap yard. I recall my ex going down an alleyway with tin panels high up, like on Keeping Up Appearances programme where Onslow lived, in the programme the road was a cul de sac with old council houses.

You got it morgana...All the yards had tall corrugated sheets, and the reason you had to sit in the car was probably because most of the yards had vicious guard dogs and if you weren`t careful you stood a good chance of getting bitten by one

I am sure the dogs would have seemed tame compared with my ex, think I would rather have faced the dogs, NormK

Thanks M R for the link to Adolf. For some time I have been trying to trace his wife and daughter but no luck so far. I lived with Adolf and his wife Barbara at 9 Leigh St but then lost touch with them when I got married. Last time I saw Adolf was about 1985 when he lived at Willenhall. There was another wrestler named Stewart Graham. The two of them would put on exhibition bouts at the old Drill Hall. Les

Beesman: I'm not sure of the Baginton scrappy you are on about but there was 1 in Ansty. White Wagtails. As far as I know, it still operates as a scrapyard. It delved into scrapping railway shunters in the late 80's early 90s by acquiring 2 class 03 shunters. These were here for many years and brought for preservation. I lived in Holbrooks for years and used to go to G W Hilditch and watch the grabbers throwing it about. I also played on the scrap trucks once used by Hilditch down the side of Milver Metals offices. There was a GUY and a DODGE down there pretty stripped for spares. Anyone remember the bread skip for Hales Reclamation?? It came down every morning with a skip full of bread for disposal. Very bizarre for a scrap metal merchant...... Good Times.

The Baginton scrapyard was near the airport in the 1960`s. I think it was Council run and I dumped an Austin A40 there in 1968.

Hi Greg....This has been discussed elswhere on here. The yard at Baginton was run by Darkie Barnes,and the only connection with the Council was the fact he had the Council contract for removing abandoned vehicles around Coventry. After Mr Barnes died it was run by his wife for a while....

Adolf was a lovely man and a very good chess player, he was also George Hendrys unofficial 'bodyguard' when George ran Park Lane club

Thank you Ace. It's good to know that there are others who knew Adolf. I have a photograph of him somewhere. Will have to find it and post it on here .... Les

I remember when Adolf helped run the door at Park Lane, and 'jack-the-lads' would snigger at the sight of this old man on the door. I only saw Adolf give a few 'dry slaps' to any upstarts, but it was enough to show their was PLENTY more in this 'old mans' arsenal to deter anyone wanting to tangle with him. I was sad to hear he had died.

I never actually saw Adolf hit anyone while working the doors, he much preferred giving a little hint of what may follow if the lads didn't behave themselves. This thread has drifted off scrapyards somewhat....... Les

Adolf, that's a name you wouldn't choose for yourself.

To those who knew Adolf. Picture as promised... Les

Great photo but I don't know where it is located. Car Breakers, 1969

Barnes's at Baginton, that must be his missus in the photo...