Dunlop

Thank you for the coloured photo of the float. I take this opportunity to thank Dunlop & people of Coventry for a fantastic apprenticeship 1959-1960. In particular the Section Leaders in the DO namely Stan Buckley, Denis Malone, Jim Knight & Chris Bailey for my guidance. Happy memories with fellow apprentices too many to remember but including Don Siviter, John Cole, Arthur Tew & Peter Brown (I know was commissioned into the RAF and I believe his father was the Employment Manager) to name a few. Thanks for the opportunity to go to Outward Bound Mountain School and to work in the German factory for a month. Thanks to the tea lady with her trolley. I remember the toast and was it lard in those days? Good memories of the Sports Club in Lythalls Lane(?) and the rugby sevens. Good education in the Laboratory, Test House, Experimental Machine Shop, RAF Training School and Machine Shop. Thank you again. Fred Stanley.

Hi fredarthur, how good it was to read that you enjoyed your apprenticeship with Dunlop and the people that you remember. I had many friends whom worked at Dunlop, mostly through playing football. Keith Lenton and Stan Hughes spring to mind, also had a darts friend, who worked in the toolroom turning, called Jack Pratt. With my apprenticeship, I also had the opportunity to go to Outward Bound School in Elgin for a month. Great times climbing and camping in the Cairngorms. Did you play in the Earlsdon Sevens?

Doesn't anyone recognise anyone on the Dunlop Bedstead race photos? I was hoping for some results from ex Dunlop apprentices.

Fredarthur. You said your Apprenticeship was 1959-1960. Is this a typo? Mine was 1967-1972 but my brother Allen Oldham was born in 1942 so could have been there at the same time as you. He took part in the Bedstead races and a few carnival floats and often went climbing in North Wales with Dave Rees, Gynne Thomas, Mick Macauley & others.. He worked in No 2 Test House with Arthur Davis [RIP] and was a keen motorcyclist with Arthur and Bob Robinson & Allan Clare. I remember Stan Buckley very well [He ran the Aviation Drawing Office] and also Dennis Malone. Also remember Dick Malone [not related] The gaffer of the Laboratory when I got the job was a Mr jack Hanson but by the time I did my 12 months in the Training School Norman Smith had taken over. Did you ever work in the Tool Room and encounter John Bailey. Knew everything worth knowing and sold everything from his "office" [Toolbox] When the top guys couldn't get to the bottom of a problem, John would work it out on the inside of a cigarette box.

Derrickarthur, Not sure if my hubby Tony Shepherd would come into your query. He was signed in the Dunlop Apprenticeship scheme in the late 50's. After several areas of training plus the Drawing Office then Coventry Tech (as known then), he went on the Paris trip with the apprentices (50's). However, the Dunlop was a big place. He never mentioned any floats or I would have known.

My apologies and yes it was a typo, being my error. My apprenticeship was from 1955. Unfortunately I cannot shed any light on the bedstead race. I did not spend any time in the toolroom or in the Jig & Tool DO where Arthur Tew was. My Outward Bound destination was Eskdale. I recall a coach trip to Blackpool with the apprentices on a coach from Lloyds of Nuneaton. I remember that the Dunlop had two aircraft at Baginton which I believe were a Dove and a Meteor. The period of my apprenticeship was time changing in Coventry. I think I started when ration books were still in use. I remember a restaurant in the town which sold subsidised meals or nationalised or something like that. I remember the commotion when Bill Haley and the Comets arrived. I remember the Sunday night shows at the Hippodrome such as Ted Heath & His Orchestra. Happy days. I remember Owen Owen and the posh hotel in the corner of Broadgate. I was in digs in Burnaby Road having sourced the apprenticeship from my home in Chatham and being accepted for which I am very grateful. Being a Freeman is something that I treasure. Sorry to go on a bit but I am delighted to join in with the exchange of memories. Thank you.

Your posts, fredarthur, are a delight. Thank you, indeed. Please go on at your leisure.

Hi again. I recall the construction of the Dunlop distribution warehouse beyond the apprentices' gym and changing rooms. The main contractor was Douglas with its Morris Commercial tipper lorries. I remember Richardsons Transport opposite in Foleshill Road. Also Batley Concrete Garages with their Commer lorries. I first lived with parents' friends in Leamington, 1955 before moving to digs later that year in Burnaby Road. The RAF Training School manager had an open Alvis Tourer and lived in Leamington. Sometimes he gave me a lift and I sat in the bucket seat in freezing weather. I recall my initial wages were 3 guineas per week (digs £2.12.6 in old money), helped by overtime on Saturday morning sometimes. There was Government Youth Employment at the time that subsidised the wages very slightly with also travel warrants three times a year. I remember the opening of the Lanchester College where we did one day a week. My digs were close to the entrance in Burnaby Road that gave access to the Dunlop and also Motor Panels Ltd. I remember RHMS Transport with seemingly very old vehicles loading up in the Dunlop. Later in my apprenticeship I was able to go home to Chatham more regularly and I remember the Standerwick double decker Leyland Atlantean coach from London dropping me off in Pool Meadow at 3am Monday and walking up past Coventry Climax and Daimler in the still of the night. I can never thank Stan Buckley enough for his training in draughtsmanship. He was so quick and decisive. I assisted in training as a draughtsman and recall working on English Electric P1B, Britannia and Comet 4 to name a few. Of course, the service reps were always about and I remember being given a lift to Heathrow when it was only beginning to enlarge. I remember the advent of the car disc brakes and the testing at MIRA. I remember the opening of the M1 Motorway. Oh dear I could go on!! Sorry, Fred.

My brother sent these photos taken very early 60's. The carnival float is themed on The Beverly Hillbillies. He cannot remember names but the lady on the roof on the right of 1st photo is Barbara Gillett and on second, the guy waving next to a girl with pigtails is Dave Burton. He can't remember the couple on third photo.

Some more carnival float photos, probably from early 60's. The float was themed on South Pacific and was in aid of Freedom From Hunger. I seriously hope that no one takes exception to the fact that the apprentices were wearing tribal costume and had blacked faces as this was a charity event and it was 60 years ago. Again he cannot remember many names but on the 1st photo, the blonde guy is John Silver, the guy to his right in the grass skirt is Mick O'Brien and the guy in the cooking pot is Bob White. The 2nd photo was taken alongside the walls of the Unbrako factory. On the 4th photo, the two blonde girls on the back of the float were named Aileen & Theresa.

Some more Dunlop Carnival floats [1961-1964]

These are two factories in 1896 for the Pneumatic Tyre Company that became Dunlop (I think). The left one is the corner of Alma Street and Hood Street but I can't work out the other. Any ideas?

Am I right in thinking there used to be a Dunlop of sorts on St Georges Road (not just tyres though)?

Dreamtime. Here are a few recent images of the Dunlop factory, taken from St Georges Road and from Gulson Road.

Went past the Dunlop/Meggitt factory today where I worked for 46 years and took a few photos from the Holbrook Lane entrance. Buildings going up very fast.