Bedworth and Nuneaton

Philip. When they built the big school down Bulkington Lane by the canal, early fifties (forget the name) the field was like a lake, often wondered how it has stood the test of time? The twenty years I knew Bedworth, it was known for its pubs, hard working thirsty miners, and its Silver Band. Saturday lunchtime and the 'Hit and Miss' pub was crowded with servicemen, about ten 'yanks' were present, and it started off pleasant, but one of the yank said "Don't know where you guys would be if we hadn't come across" Brit, "And we don't know where you would be if you didn't send ten guys to do what two of us could do." Yank, "Well we may send a few more than you guys but we make sure the job is done, well and properly." Brit, "So when you go on honeymoon, you take a few of your mates, make sure the job is done properly." At this point tables and chairs and glasses flew around.

Kaga - I've just seen this and can confirm that the school in question was the Nicholas Chamberlaine Comprehensive School. I attended there in the 1960's and cannot remember any issues with waterlogging in the very extensive playing fields! You are right, it was a massive school with about 1800 pupils if I remember right and was essentially two schools in one, secondary modern and grammar. I think it is still going strong and now has an Academy status.

David H, thanks for the confirmation. I think they put drainage pipes down to the canal. I lived just behind the school for a few months in 1949, at the time I was working at Ansty Airfield - travel by bus to Broadgate, walk to Parkside then car to Ansty, a nightmare.

Kaga, I can confirm that Nicholas Chamberlaine School is still standing although looking at the 1950's technology I sometimes wonder how. There is a basement storage area below the stage in the big hall which is on the same level as the playing fields. A few years back it was distinctly damp in there. There must be a drainage system for the playing fields but I wonder about the future as the council relentlessly fills every open space with yet more houses which just increases the water run-off to a point where the old surface drains won't be able to cope.

Hi all A bit of business took me to Nuneaton this morning. I had intended a breaky at the Felix Holt pub (Wetherspoons) but it was heaving at ten this morning, so I/we walked to Masons cafe. Masons was a regular eatery for me when I was on business in Nuneaton, before my retirement 2012. I wasn't disappointed this morning when a lovely breaky arrived, along with a latte with change out of £5. That was brill, brill & brill. Same guy cooking, who even remembered me. All freshly cooked. Masons Cafe, Nuneaton.

Hi all Another gem, this time in Bedworth. The Mayor's Cafe I will pop some pics up in a tad, but to sum up a lovely eatery for a lite-bite or even lunch. It's situated in the Miners Welfare Park, free parking for up to three hours, but you must obtain a reg-number ticket from the machine. It's a few minutes walk from Bedworth town centre but on a nice day there are loads of short-cuts to reach it. Pam & I enjoyed the meal of the day for £3 each plus the drink. Very nicely prepared & served. After being refreshed, you can treat your loved one to a pot-plant or the like from the greenhouse sale room. This gets the "Forum" three brills award.

Hi all Of late for me, Bedworth & Nuneaton are really coming up trumps regards food & cafes. I had breaky in another new venue for me this morning. It's located at the rear of Caves fruit & veg shop, Queens Rd, Nuneaton. This is really first class, probably the best sausage anywhere. It's a slight mark up on price of other venues, but a huge mark-up in quality. Comfy chairs & tables in an airy well lit restaurant. It gets the brill, brill & brill award!! It's a bit like a Rupert adventure where you enter a fruit shop, only to come out the other side in China, or in this case a very smart cafe. You don't have to wear dark glasses & a trench coat, looking like Howard out of "Last of the Summer Wine", in order to meet your 'date'. When my friend is smiling after his breakfast, that is a good sign, worth passing a few cafes for.

Hi all Nuneaton has clean pigeons.

Philip, the water won't be clean when they have finished bathing. Pigeons are the bane of my life at present. They perch in a tree under which I park my car. You can imagine my first job every morning. I bought a large lifelike plastic owl, whose head moves in the wind, to put in the tree to deter them. The day before I was going to arrange it my daughter saw a real owl perched in the tree, I believe it is still about as the pigeons are less in evidence thank goodness. Anyone want to buy an unused plastic pigeon?

Hi all, The delight of a light breaky for two of us at the Mayors cafe in Bedworth. Very nice as well as the ambiance. A picture looking through the window where we were sat watching a grey squirrel, pigeon & blackbird all running around. The pigeon had tried to take off with a huge tree branch which even with turbo boost had to return to the ground. The blackbird entered the fray taking part of the branch whilst the pigeon was more successful with the lighter load with his second take off.

Isn't Mother Nature the most wonderful thing.

Hi again sir. Came out the Navy in '79 and lived in 'Beduth' (Housing Assoc. flat at Croft Pool) until 1981 when I moved to Warwick, so that period would have been my last visit to Nuneaton. As an aside, an aquaintance from up here on the Moray Coast is down there shortly at a reunion/music fest. for veterans of the 'Greenjackets' Post copied from topic Wartime defences on 8th Jul 2017 6:48 pm

Croft Pool, now there's a thing. There was actually a pool there. It belonged to the father of a mate of mine named Bing Twigger. His dad was known as Altie and owned a pub on Newtown Rd and the pub still has the name of Altie's on the front wall. In my view Beduth has been ruined. In the 50s it really a wonderful town.

LesMac, now there's a thing. Jack Hackett, Beduth councillor in the fifties, every time he came home on leave during the war he had on a different uniform, couldn't make head or tail of him.

You are not wrong LesMac. I worked with a chap whose favourite phrase was "There`s no place like Beduth"