Coventry Dairies

This is fascinating, thank you for your posts on this. In the days prior to 1926, Lockhurst Lane was county. The Co-op there was part of East Mercia Co-op, with the title Lochurst Lane Industrial Society as I understand it. Folk used to refer to the area as Lockhurst Lane, not just the road. During the building of the railway, the station was referred to as Lockhurst Lane, the name even appeared on the first signal box.

I recently bought this milk churn. If you zoom in on the image it says "Harry Shaw dairyman, Coventry"

What a spot! Thank you. I knew one of his dairymen, Mr Milne, before I met Harry with his screwdriver fixing game machines in Courtaulds clubhouse.

My mother worked as secretary at the Midland Counties depot on the Walsgrave Road which if I recall was around about where the Asda garage now is. She worked there in the mid-sixties travelling from our home in Hipswell Highway on her Raleigh Runabout moped. The depot was managed by a nice man called Ernie Rice. I always remember him telling me he had been at Dunkerque, and when they had lost all their kit the army required them to pay for it! Don't know if this is true or not. Remember banks of batteries being charged up for the milk floats. Happy days.

Hi & thank you. Such rich memories, that cannot be bought at any price. Best wishes. ps. I bet you remember the cobbled non-made up section of Hipswell Highway. Hope mum didn't have to ride her moped over that.

In the 1950's our milk was delivered by Harold Green. I remember a large man with a loud voice and warehouse coat. A character. It has been mentioned on here before but may be of interest to those who have not heard it - An interview with Harold Green

In the late '40s and 50s our milk on the Lime Tree Park estate was delivered by a short, red-faced man called Albert Rice. I wonder if related to Ernie?

Coincidence or not, when I lived in Lime Tree Avenue, I used to play with a Margaret and she had a brother - Billy Rice and their father operated the milk rounds. They lived right opposite to our house. I can't remember ever seeing their father but have a photo of Margaret and me in our back garden in the 40's. I am sure the Rices have been mentioned before.

Billy and Margaret Rice's father was Albert! He died in 1984. (Dreamtime.... I believe Margaret (Godson) is still alive and living in Coventry)

Thank you, MR.

I believe I can remember the rough stones of the Highway awaiting tarmac on one of my pre-school solo adventures from home. This would be near the Oldham Avenue junction. Do you know when it was completed? I am trying to date other childhood events of around that time. Mods: this would perhaps be more appropriate in the "Streets and Roads" topic. Perhaps more on topic I remember as a toddler being held up to look through the window of a dairy to watch the bottles moving on a conveyor but I have no idea of the location, perhaps Swan Lane or Gulson Road?

This might sound silly, but owing to post war mass building of houses in Wyken, along with council cash shortages, many roads, streets in the district, or parts of roads were designated as un-adopted. This included sections of Hipswell Highway, Torcross Ave, Macaulay Rd, that I knew of. 1955 appears to be the year when that all changed.

I think it was only a short stretch maybe from Farren Road to Belgrave Road that was unadopted. I used to catch the school bus to Briton Road school from November, 1953 onwards that parked on the Highway next to the Co-op and reversed in Farren Road. I had started at Richard Lea school in April 1953 but I believe there were no buses along Hipswell Highway at that time and I could not walk far because I was recovering from polio. I am trying to confirm some of my early history. I recall during my brief spell at Richard Lea the council houses along the Hipswell Highway were being built.

A nice gentleman in Bedworth gave me this sign today: An image from my post #58 in this topic: