Windmill Road School

I was in the class that was a year after this one although many of the people had been in the same class as me over the years with the school. In particular, Jeff Gainer, who was in my class the following year with Mr Williams. We both ended up going to Bablake and I'm still in touch with Jeff who is now the Vicar of Meidrim and Merthyr Tydfil and Canon of St Davids Cathedral. Those of you who remember Jeff might smile at that. I also caught up with David Williams years after he retired from teaching. I was working for a firm of accountants in Cornwall and his son was working just down the road from me. I visited him at his home in Coventry later on and we had a pleasant afternoon catching up, smoking and sipping the odd scotch! It never ceases to amaze me what a small world it is. I called in at the school on the same day. It had all changed by then, and the senior school had been absorbed into Foxford, leaving only the infants and juniors. Anyway, best wishes to anyone who remembers me. David Randle

Yes I am still about and live at Burbage, Leicestershire

drandle. I bumped into Jeffrey Gainer in St Ives many years ago. He was just going into the library at the time. I knew he had entered the clergy. I know a Terry Randle. He played soccer for the same team as I did and he actually drove my Cortina home after I broke my leg during a game at Pinley fields. Bumped into Terry some years later (at Chapel Porth, also in Cornwall) He was into abseiling down the railway viaducts & cliff faces. Went to visit him a year later in Stithians. I vaguely remember a David Randle or more correctly (I think) David Hines-Randle who lived in Clark Street, Bell Green. I used to play in the street (and the brook) by the Golden Fleece. My cousins (Peter, Paul & Sandra Tuson lived down by the bridge to the Fleece. Tim Nobes also lived in Clark Street. He was a bit older and used to ride around on an Ariel Arrow (with false petrol tank removed)

Hi drandle. You mention a Mr Williams at Longford Park School, in Windmill Road. I went to that school, probably a little earlier than yourself, Our sports teacher was a Mr Williams, and his wife, Mrs Williams took us for maths. Do you think that this is the same Mr Williams who taught you. We all had a great deal of respect for our Mr Williams.

Derrickarthur. Your photo post 29, the boy very left of middle diddle row is Barry Blythe from Elmsdale Ave, was my brother-in-law.

Was Mr Williams' son called Nigel? My memory isn't what it was, but I seem to recall a Nigel Williams in my class at Longford Park Primary. Whatever it was, I know he was Mr W's boy.

That's right. I was working for a firm of accountants in Green Lane in Redruth, Cornwall, and discovered Nigel was working about 200 yards away!

I'm Dave Hines-Randle but I lived in Cubbington Road

Did you know Brian Sweet, Gary McGowan, or Colin Clarke? All Cubbington Rd lads. We used to spend hours around the pond at the back of their houses.

About 56 there was Robert Salmon, David Pike, Cyril Law, Barry Blythe, Janet Blythe, Marylin Goodenough, Geoff Simpson, etc.

Interesting thread. Barry Whetstone was my uncle, his mother Doris and father Walter lived at 47 Arbury Ave if I remember correctly. My dad (Bryan Marston) lived in Elmsdale Ave. Walter was a stalwart of the Foleshill Social Club, think he was on the committee as well. Some memories coming back now.

I could be wrong but I think that this is a picture of George Eld's Mill that gave Windmill Road its name.

Helen F, the above picture: I would rather think it's more likely to be the Windmill on London Road, well known to artists. The Sowe river that runs parallel with Windmill Road was never a deep river running between banks with a bridge as in the painting - to cross the river you had Long-Ford and Fox-Ford - shallow water all the way from the small culverts under the canal and road down to the water-mill pool. The fields regularly flooded to about two-three inches of water. (Eld was better known for 'tarting' up the mayor's parlour when he was mayor than painting).

It could be one of the many Coventry mills but this picture is referenced as Eld's Mill in two sources. Mill owner I assumed, not the artist. When I searched for Eld's Mill it suggested that it was at Foleshill. Although the ward is quite large so... Several of the windmills had watermills by the side, with ponds and millraces.

Re Doris & Walter Whetstone. Your memory isn't bad. Doris & Walter lived at 48 Arbury Avenue on the same side as my mum & dad. I didn't know Barry but knew Dave well enough. I was over 40 when my son (our youngest was born) just 4 days before Dave & Maureen's daughter Deana had her son Peter in 1996. My three and Dean's 2 all grew up together. Here attached is 1999 photo taken in Malgrat de Mar. Maureen & Dave Whetstone sitting behind us.