Longford Rockers

It was owned by Mr & Mrs Woodward, then a couple of others, then the late Les Allen the boxer, lovely bloke, always had a smile, great times

Not sure name rings a bell, did he have a nickname. I knew most of them lads

Wasn't there a bloke called "Bullet"? If I remember he wasn't very tall but could handle himself very well.

I've heard of Bullet, can't remember what he looked like

An uncle of mine named David Friend from Leamington Spa had the nickname 'Bullet', he played soccer.

There was a photo of the Longford rockers taken outside the skating rink in front of the shops, it was I believe in the Cov Telegraph. Around mid to late 1960s, there was between 15-20 of us. Does anyone know of this. I've been down the library looking at some archives to try & get a photo of us (I know it's a slim chance but if you don't ask), also does anyone know how to find out without it costing a bundle. Regards, pete

Here is a photo via Mirrorpix site of Coventry Hells Angels 1970

Great photo, some faces look familiar, think I remember this in the paper

Could this have been Les Allen? Les owned, for a while, the off-licence/confectioner's at the beginning of Sydnall Road, off the Bedworth Road, just over the canal bridge on the way to Bedworth. I'm not sure where Les was born, but I did meet him when I was still a child outside a house on Blackhorse Road, a part of the road I associated with Exhall, and I associated Exhall with Bedworth. Les was then considered a powerful force in English boxing. Les bought his off-licence after retiring from boxing. He had a convincing record as a midlands middleweight, though he lost his last fight (against George Aldridge at the Granby Hall in Leicester) on February 3, 1958, and decided - I guess - that a change was in order. He made his first appearance as a local business man around that time, and imagine my delight when I entered the shop - was asked my name, told him as much, and was then treated to Les's own recollection of his meeting me when I was a child. Les was a very nice man, and Les loved Coventry and, particularly, Longford (perhaps, its proximity to Bedworth). He was known (by which I mean suspected) by most people to have a finger in many Longford pies, and the Capitol Skating Rink should not be ruled out as a finger in a pie. I have not thought of Les Allen for many years, but I note from public record that he died in Bedworth on January 18, 2012. He was 82. My fondest memory of Les was when he told me - circa 1961 or 1962 - shortly before I left Longford for good - that all my Labour Party activities,the Young Socialists week-end and summer schools I attended, were giving me a hoity-toity manner of speaking. Les was right, and I thank him to this day for bringing the bleeding obvious (as Basil Fawlty was wont to say) to my attention. I choose to think that it was Les's easy manner in talking to his customers - including me - that had him knowing of my spare-time activities, so that - effectively - he was appraised by me, and not by the gossip of the villagers. A good man, Les Allen - God bless him.

Yes, Les was a great man. I remember going into his off-licence from time to time, also the skating rink / billiard hall, he always had a smile for everyone. As said before in a thread used to work in the rink & occasionally help Les out. He is missed by a lot of people

Hi I see Pete Hutt has been on here. Hi Pete it's Rog, how are you? Long time no see.

Here is another photo from Mirrorpix of the same wedding

Hi mate, great to hear from you, hope all's well, hopefully see you sometime. If you're interested I go roller skating every Tuesday night 6 to 9 at Wyken roller skating club, Westmorland Road. Cheers.

Mmm it looks like Doug Sedgley in the back of the photo