Stoke Heath School

I attended Stoke Heath Primary School infants and juniors from aged 5 to 11, (1947-53). There was also a nursery attached to the school which I attended prior to the infants. I enjoyed my time at Stoke Heath, Mr. Chadbourne was headmaster at that time. The teachers must have been OK as they got me through my 11+. The attached photo is the Stoke Heath School football team and reserves in 1952-53. The photo was taken on Stoke Heath common, Valley Road in the background and the park keeper's hut just visible. back row l - r : Hancox, Woodward, Craig, Bedding, Dickson, Boneham, Hill, Dutton. Front row l - r : Holden, Swift, Engleman, Fairchild, Evans, Davidson, Roddiss, Stokes, Davoile. When that term ended we all went our separate ways to the various secondary schools in the city. Some members may recognise the names from the secondary schools. I went to the Technical School (then Woodlands), Arthur Fairchild to Stoke Secondary, David Evans in 1954 to Caludon (he became a very good rugby player), John Engleman to Bablake, some to Freddies and so on.

I lived in Meadway from 1966 to 1980, they were built in the 30s and owned by Coventry Council at the time I was there, they were notorious more when I was there in the seventies, crime was a normal thing then. I went to old Stoke Heath School and loved it, was really sad to see it knocked down

Hi all, does anyone have any photographs of Stoke Heath School from the early 50's? Thanks.

Hi, I took some photos of the old school just before it was knocked down. But I'm not too sure if it looked the same as in the 1950's.

Lots of familiar faces there. What a memory. They were all older than me, but I do remember quite a few as being friends of my brother.

Attended Stoke Heath School, along with other family members, me, 1949 til 1955. Loved it. Remember Mrs Garlick, Mrs Moore and Mr Knight. Had friends in Hillside, lovely people, poor in monetary terms but plenty of spirit. My friends family, Jimmy Smith I think, were always very generous and offered you food. Believe that serious criminality came later, late 60's /70's.

From Wikipedia: A small area of the district was home to the notorious "HMV" (Hillside, Meadway, Valley Road) area of housing owned by Whitefriars Housing Association, but this was demolished during 2003-04.

Yea Biggles, remember putting your hand up for a toilet break & then seeing if you could "wee" over the brick wall? Also Knight & Dixon were great teachers

I went to Stoke Heath school 1946-48. My memory is patchy. I seem to remember a very tall teacher, bald headed, called Mr. Manlove. Can anyone confirm.

Hi, if anyone has an Ancestry subscription I think Frederick Manlove can be seen here. http://trees.ancestry.co.uk/tree/64961565/family?cfpid=40424565808 Link Apparently he was born in Erdington (1910). His father was a police constable (Rowland). He can also be found in some Coventry directories living at 91 Wallace Road. He is listed there in the 1935 (as Frederick), in the 1937 as Rowland. In 1955 number 91 Wallace Road has disappeared (was this an error or was it bombed? it's an end terrace), it reappears in 1960 with F R Manlove living there. I do not remember him, I was at the school from the middle 50's.

Thank you Heathite, I was wondering if I had the name wrong. I remember walking up Wyken Way to go to school during the winter of '47 with the snow drifts at the sides of the roads above my head (I was smaller then). The 1/3 pint bottles of milk at playtime frozen, and cold classrooms. Happy days.

If anyone is interested and does not know, there is a page of the register from 1946 on the Stoke Heath School history site anyone there at that time might find their name entered. there is reference to the Campbell brothers on the site, I can remember them. Malcolm was in the same class as I was.

Argon, A chink out of my memory thanks Argon, I bet a few of us remember 'the big snow' of '47 and my Mum had to dig her way in to open up the general store shop in King Richard St. Now that would stick in a childs mind. Loved it, didn't have to go to school.

Dreamtime, My parents didn't have to dig their way to work, living on the premises, but getting supplies in was a problem. Mind you getting goods to sell at anytime during the rationing was a problem.