Hillfields

Fr Stuart Hudson returned from Rugby and was Vicar of St John the Divine, Willenhall.

Coming events at the Tic-Toc. Not sure which year this was. It was one of the items that was in my late brother's photo album which was passed on to me after his death in December 2012.

It must be 1991, as 1985 and 1991 are the only years that there is a Friday 13th September. Some of the artists listed did not start until after 1985.

The raveflyers website seems to confirm 1991.

My name is Roger Wing. I lived in 42 Weston Street. I went to Wheatley Street School, contracted polio and spent a very long time in an iron lung in hospital. When I was to recover I went to Frederick Bird Secondary Modern. After leaving school I immediately went to work at Aston's of Coventry, where I worked alongside my father Ray Wing and Harold Dudley in the Lower Ford Street motor cycle showroom. After leaving Aston's I worked with Bob Aston selling Gemini hot water heaters door to door. I then worked for Batley Garages, Ward Bros builders merchants on Stoney Stanton Road, then a builders on Stoney Stanton Road opp. Eden Street. I also worked for Fretton's motor cycles and cars on Foleshill Road and Pace Scooters. I eventually ended up running an all night cafe in Primrose Hill Street - Nick's Place - and then for a wealthy Greek, who owned several cafes and diners, as his driver/minder. I loved this job as it entailed driving around in a Jaguar most of the time collecting cash from various establishments and to have unrestricted use of the Jaguar as my employer could not drive! I have been in love with Jaguars ever since, having owned most models over the years. It was a thrill to roll up to the El Sombrero cafe in the Jaguar, most of my mates thought I had nicked it!! I had a passion for motorcycles and was one of the original Longford Rockers. I left England and went to live in Jersey where I had the time of my life and owned various cars sales and repair garages, antiquarian book shops, ice cream vans and enjoyed competitive Hill Climb racing both at Bouley Bay and in Guernsey. I also raced on the beach on the 5 mile road in St. Ouen's, Jersey. I returned to the UK in 1983 and opened up a garage sales site in Banbury, a supermarket - Bestbyfar Ltd -an entertainment company and later another garage sales outlet in partnership with an old friend, Freddie Barnes the wrestler - The Baginton Motor Company in Baginton. I was to later own the Motor Auction in Edgwick Park. I co-owned a pub and then another car sales site followed by a double glazing company. I then went on to own various secondhand shops and rental properties. I was forced to retire due to ill health.

We lived at 42 Weston Street during 1946 to 1962/3. Aubrey Allen had a taxi service and butchers opposite the top end [his side entrance] and there were shops on either corner at the lower end of the street. Half way down was Pickering's garage. He later went to live in the Isle of Man. There was an alleyway that led to the rear of the Queens pub just near the garage which was set back from the road, plenty of bomb sites in that area after the war which came to house the blocks of flats after the houses that remained were bulldozed.

Harry Weston Road, Binley Industrial Park Off Brandon Road, opposite Willenhall Lane

I used to live in Weston Street, and mostly have fond memories of my time there and Hillfields in general. This would have been from 1948 until 1959 if memory doth serve me not ruinously. I have been trying to acquire pre 1960 photos of Weston Street for many years now, but it's not easy, and the way that the city planners have done their utmost to convince people that there was no such place, hasn't helped any. If I sound a tad bitter here, it's because I am, the city planners and whosoever else was responsible for grinding Hillfields into the dirt should hang their heads in shame. To tell the truth, I think that what they have done to Coventry over the years is a disgrace, the place has become a nightmare. However, that is just my opinion. To Roger Wing, I used to live at number 45 almost opposite yours, and is shown on this site, in a photo taken looking down on the back from the horrid block of flats they built behind. It was one of the 3 storey weavers houses in the street, and the mountings for the looms were still bolted to the floor in the "attic" as we used to call it. I believe this practice of employing outworkers was quite common in Coventry at one time, and weavers used to work at home? In 1959 I went away to school, to the City of Coventry Boarding school at Cleobury Mortimer, and we moved from Hillfields about the same time, to go to Severn Road at Stoke. I have not been back to Coventry to live since about 1966, and after a short sojourn of gallivanting around the country, settled in Devon in 1974, I have never had the urge to return, probably something to do with boarding school changing the city kid into a country kid. I cannot abide cities of any kind or large towns for that matter. I have mixed feelings about posting this, but I was just a tad curious, to see if Wingy remembered me? Cheers, Charlie.

I was born and raised in Hillfields from the late 50s and I can still remember what it was like back then - dolly tubs for washing and the old mangle for trying to dry the washing, and the back to back houses. My name is Paul Sadler, I was in Vine Street then moved to Stockton Road. They were the good old days, my only wish is if only we could relive those days again.

Hi Mr Smith. A friend of mine only known as Ginger Alf lived in the first house in Weston Street.

What great memories you must have, Paul Sadler, I recall my mum taking me in the late 50s to visit her friend in Vine Street. In the late sixties my friend's sister lived in the same street, her husband repaired washing machines, his name was Alan. Yes, I used the dolly tubs and mangle in the 70s in Radford. I did break a lot of buttons on the mangle to begin with though.

Can you recall any of the names of the pubs in Hillfields and the shops as I can only remember a few. I was also familar to those places as well in the late 50s and 60s.

Hi Paul. If you try the "Real Ale Rambles" site in the pub history section you'll find all Coventry pubs past and present. Hope this helps.

I remember the Coventry City Farm as I lived just around the corner and spent lots of great times there, feeding the goats which were my favourite, but I closed down a few years ago due to they could not get funding from the council. It is now a training school for young offenders who want to take up driving lessons and other stuff which I'm not interested in