Frederick Bird School

Hi. I left Freddies in 65. My name is Doug Wesley. I used to live at 104 King Edward Road (was born there). It's all changed there now, mostly for the worst. Coventry certainly is not the nicest place to live now, at least in some areas. Your name rings a bell but I can't quite place you. If you ever wanna chat about the old times Graham, email me via the contact button

Hi Roger, I vaguely remember your name somehow, although I didn't leave Freddies till 65. My name is Doug Wesley and I used to live in King Edward Road till 76. You more likely would know my brother Dave, who is 4 years older than me & would have left in probably 1961 or thereabouts. I still live in Coventry but in Wyken. You look like you've had almost as many jobs as me. You could do so in those days. I was a chef myself many yrs ago after leaving Henley College in 66 and working in a hotel in Bedford, but worked at Standard Triumph works till 75 (my best job ever). 32 years at Royal Mail was my longest job by far & I am retired now. Take care old Freddie's boy.

Hi, I have only just seen this site, so am late in adding to it, but I was at Freddies Seniors from 1962-1967. I actually knew a Dave Owens from a bit before then (assuming it`s the same one). I lived at 72 Swan Lane at that time, and remember Dave from a few doors down. There was also a lad called Nick Gould nearby, but he never went to our school. As for the school, I was in Mr Shannon`s class for the first year (never liked him), and then with Mrs Aitken, who was really nice. I remember she took a party of us to the Belgrade Theatre one night to see The Taming Of The Shrew, which went right over our heads. Next year it was Mr Powell, who I liked. Last year it was `Jack` Bannister, who was OK. Apart from the first year, we were in what was known as the Medway Huts away from the main building. I remember `Dougie` Douglas for TD, Mr Lydiate for music and Mr Turner for RE. Also Mr Cusworth for metalwork and Mr Harris for woodwork. I still have the rickety coffee table I made! Mr Clennet did science and Mr Ireland for Biology. I still remember his big Rover saloon. Art was with Mr Hall and Miss Jackson. My friends at the time were John Trickett and Anthony Tormey among others - not in touch with anyone now. From the girls, I remember Lyn Cruse, Jackie Smith and Anna Fiedler (not sure on the spellings). Does anyone remember the shop in one of the roads opposite towards the cut that would sell you a single cigarette from a packet, and a match to light it with! Be good to hear from anyone who reads this. Jeff Gaught.

Hi Jeff, I am the Dave Owens you knew. I lived at 60 Swan Lane. I do remember you, your dad was on the buses with my dad in the early 60s. Do you remember a kid at maybe 80 Swan Lane, his name was Bob Chance.

Hi Dave, Good to hear from you. The name Bob Chance sounds familiar, but I can`t place him. Was he at Freddies? Do you remember the family next door to you, had a huge dog - called Major I think. Not to be messed with! Might have been the O`Sullivan family? I remember playing in those back entries behind the houses. You are right about my dad being on the buses - he drove them for many years. Mum worked at the ladies hairdressers opposite sometimes, then worked at Owen Owen dept. store for some years.

Hi, woodman, you are right about my neighbours' dog. They were the Sullivans, the dad was called Bill, the daughter was called Leslie. Do you remember the sweetshop across the road, old man Pilgrim's? There was a set of twins that lived just down the street from him, David and John Alexander, they went to Freddie's. The last time I was at Swan Lane was in 2002 when I went to see Coventry play. I was back in England to attend my mother's funeral. Talk to you again, Dave.

Hi Dave, You`re right, it was the Sullivans! Your memory is better than mine - I don`t recall the Alexander twins that you mention. Also, I only remember a cafe across the road, roughly opposite to your old house. I had dinner their sometimes when my mum was at work. Can`t recall a sweet shop, even though sweets were a great treat in those days. There was a newsagents just up from my old house (Biggs?). I did a paper round for them for a while morning and evening. I think a company called Mills and Rockley were next to them. Do you remember the Mercers Arms pub? I spent many evenings in there in my teens. What did you think of Coventry when you visited in 2002? Would be interested to know. It`s changed a lot more since. A lot of the central area given over to student accommodation, which has upset some people. You know that Coventry City no longer have their old Highfield Road ground - all housing now. Less said about their current ground situation the better!

Hi everyone. It's Doug Wesley here. I have not been on this site for a while now, as I spend a lot of time chatting to friends in USA, a country I adore, and have been there on 3 occasions. I was in Nebraska in July having a great time. I too remember buying single cigarettes from one or two shops near my old Freddy Birds School. I have given up smoking now, but only quite recently. I remember so well my old schoolfriends and the teachers at Frederick Bird's School in Swan Lane. I found out a year or two ago that my old teacher (and I use that term casually), Mr. Douglas, had died awhile ago. God, I detested and feared that man, probably like most schoolkids who came into contact with him. In those days I think most kids feared teachers. So different now isn't it? Just now I discovered too that the mum of my old friend Barry Alldrick had passed away a couple of weeks ago, and I've been trying to find out if her funeral had already occurred. She was a lovely lady I remember fondly from my childhood. Coventry is such a different place to live now, AND not for the better I feel. The streets are so dirty and litter strewn it is a disgrace. How we can call ourselves a City of Culture, when we cannot keep our very streets and roads clean, even to a small degree, beats me! It has been a bugbear of mine for years about how dirty our streets are. Coventry Council should "get their finger out" and clean them far more often. Okay, enough of my ranting. Any old Freddie Bird's kids are welcome to respond. There are less and less now as time marches on.

Hey woodman, loved Biggs's papershop, used to get sticks of Hollands toffee for a penny each, Jubblies frozen for 4d. In the early 60s when the Sky Blues were at home, thousands of people used to go to the games on bikes. I and lot of others used to store bikes in our front garden for a small charge. It used to be quite a sight when the game ended and all those bikes hit the road. The biggest difference I noticed in Coventry was that the car industry was gone, is there any manufacturing in Coventry anymore? Finally, what the heck happened to Broadgate? All the best, Dave.

Hi Doug, I agree with you regarding Douglas, that man was unbelievably strict. I got the cane off him for moving my eyes!!! No tears for him. Sorry to hear about Baz Aldrick's mum. His dad used to cut my hair when I was a young 'un living down on King Edward Rd. Do you remember, across the road from Alf Simpson's shop, the bombed building site, where every Nov 5th they would build a huge bonfire. Every year the Broad Street kids would try to burn it down before the 5th. That bonfire would be over 20ft high every year. See you, Dave.

Hi again Dave, Yes I do remember Jubblies. If you squeezed the wrapper too hard, they shot out and landed in the dirt. I expect we ate them anyway! Also used to buy bottles of Lants pop from Biggs` shop. A treat back then. You and Dougwesley both mentioned Mr Douglas (TD teacher). He was feared by everyone, but ironically I was never caned by him (but was caned by mild mannered Mr Ireland during biology!) Just for larking about as I remember. Do you recall Potters scrap yard at the bottom of Swan Lane? I think they had a Ford Mustang or similar, with wing mirrors with Colt 45 type handles, and cow horns on the bonnet. You`re right about the loss of industry in Coventry - Morris, Massey Ferguson, Peugeot (Rootes), Triumph etc. all gone. Jaguar Land Rover still around. Their old Browns Lane site now has a giant Amazon warehouse on it amongst others. There was a local radio programme on earlier today hosted by music producer Pete Waterman, another Freddies old boy. I just about remember him, but he was a bit older than me. No doubt you remember him. People ring up his show to reminisce about old Coventry, and the night life, etc. I have texted him a couple of times, but not fancied going on air! Take care.

Hi Jeff Remember me, Brian Farrelly, we used to knock about together with John Clements. I lived in Burlington Road and Clem lived in Cambridge Street.

Hi Brian, Your name does ring a bell, but sorry to say I can`t remember much else! It`s strange what slips the memory, and what stays. I do remember John Clements though. Good to hear from you anyway.

Hi Brian Did you have a sister Glenda? I lived in Cambridge Street and the name Clements rings a bell.

My name is Paul Broderick and I attended Freddie's during the years 1953-1955. The surnames of the classmates I recall are Pickering, Harrop, Proctor, Sidle and Ward. I would most welcome hearing from any of these individuals or perhaps from others who knew or know them. I emigrated to the USA in the 1970's and reside in Phoenix, Arizona. Thank you.