Canley (inc. Sir Henry Parkes School)

Hi Pamela, welcome to our forum. As I'm sure you've already discovered there are a number of our members who are ex-pupils of the school. May I ask what years you were there and whose class(es) you were in? I must say your name seems familiar, but I can't place it (yet!)

Hello Moving on (Pamela), I used to live in Templar's Fields and I remember you very well along with all the people you have mentioned and as noted by TonyS, there are many others on this site that will also remember you. In fact, I was recently talking to someone from Mayor's Croft about you (and others that you listed) so it is somewhat ironic that you have surfaced at this time. I hope life is treating you well.

News report showing £22m student village plan for the Canley Sports & Social Club site

I joined the forum a couple of days ago, really enjoy skimming through the sites on Woodlands School (I was there between 1955/59) and the Canley topics. From around 1947 I lived in Charter Avenue, dead opposite Freeburn Causeway at No.27 in a terrace of 4 with an covered entry between us and No.29. I remember the new houses being built on the corner of Kirby Corner Road where the island for Tescos now stands, as kids we were fascinated by the big lorries and were often allowed to sit in the cabs. A mob of little tearaways then, my mates were Keith "Bumble" Prestidge who lived in the first of the new houses actually on Charter Avenue. We called him Bumble because he had a badge on his jacket with a bee on it. Other members, Steve Murray who lived next door at No.25, his cousin Paul Rushworth who lived at No.30, occasionally Robert Worthington but only when his mum wasn't around, she didn't approve of us scruffs! We'd spend most of the day playing in the cowfields bordering Kirby Corner and Charter Avenue, all the way up to the Crematorium. They led up to a pond and then Shultern Lane and the farm buildings beyond in Nightingale Road, we used to think one of them was haunted! I attended the little school where the police station is opposite the fire station on the A45. Used to walk to school every day down the Black Pad which followed Canley Brook from the bottom of Moat House Lane to the school. Crossed the A45 without incident (I think) 4 times a day from the age of 5 to around 7 when I moved to Sir Henry Parkes. Fond memories of Mr Rea, lovely bloke. One vivid memory - a bad winter and me and my older brother were running across the "dump" to home for lunch. He jumped the brook, I followed and my feet skidded on the ice and I fell backwards into the brook. My brother helped me out and I ran crying all the way home. I remember my coat was sticking out behind me - frozen. I think I had the afternoon off! We later moved (I don't know why) up the road to a semi at No.47 where I lived until I got married in 1969. My early teens and formative years were spent there, many fond memories. Some names I remember from the dim-distant - Eric Hollingsworth, Sandra Samson, a lovely girl who lived near Eric surname Warwick?, Len Wassall, Dennis Ingram and his sister Pat.Opposite us lived the Dixon, I was mates with their son Robert or Nobby as he was known. The Rogers family lived further up towards Sheriff Avenue, also the Booker family. I used to love going over to play records on Tony Booker's auto-change machine. His brother was in air-traffic control at Heathrow and somehow got early copies of rock 'n' roll records, we played an LP "A date with Elvis" constantly. Tony "Ginna" Malone, a mate of my brother lived in Moat House Lane, I grew up with his sister Sheila. She was a tomboy as a kid, didn't see her for a while then one day I see this vision with glorious auburn hair walking past my house, I dashed over and there she was, confident as as a film star and looking like one, on her way to meet her boyfriend, we'd have been 12 or 13 then. Spud Taylor was the local Teddy Boy, my hero! One day he stopped to have a word, we stood on the corner of Freeburn and Charter and he offered me a cigarette - I was over the Moon, chatting with my hero and smoking a fag! Unfortunately Paul Rushworth's dad came up Freeburn and I had to put it out sharpish! Other names - Maureen Ireland, my first kiss was with her, probably around 8 or 9 years old, we were in the pantomime at Henry Parkes and while we waited to go on stage we played a game of truth, dare or whatever it was called. My dare was to kiss Maureen - loved it, couldn't get enough! She married Norman Coton who lived next door but one to me at No.51. Lesley Owen lived in Wendiburgh Street, one of my first "girl-friends", George Blake lived on the corner of Wendiburgh and Mitchell Avenue, his brother, Len I think, was a self-professed hard-case and Sheila Malone's boy-friend, much to my disgust!

Toogoods worked around Tile Hill, Allesley, Coundon, Canley areas. Working very long hours, especially Christmas time. He did not have a mobile chip van.

Does anyone know the name of the footpath that runs from Fletchamstead Highway to Moat House Cottages. It is at the rear of Canley Fire Station and Canley Park.

You have right place, whether it's accessible today I am not sure. Many years ago I walked the path seven days a week to deliver papers in the mid 1950's. During that time the path followed the Canley Brook and the nearby field was an open Council Tip.

In all the years I used it I never heard it referred to by name.

Hi there and great to read your post about Canley. There are some names there of people I knew/know though I lived at the other end of Canley, in a steel house. Some others on this forum probably have been in touch with you as well. You might like to read some posts about Canley I wrote for www.municipaldreams.com, they are still getting a lot of comments from former Canley kids. all the best to you, Ruth

Hi Ruth, Lovely to hear from you again. That "municipaldreams" website doesn't seem to be responding I'm afraid - has it moved to another address?

Some of the new housing north of Donegal Close in Canley. The nameplate reads 'Skylark Street'. With all the new housing being built in the area then surely it will put a strain on the immediate infrastructure.

You ought to live in Finham, we've got almost FOUR AND A HALF THOUSAND coming our way on greenbelt land!!!

Hi Ruth, just read your great posts on municipaldreams and the memories came flooding back. I had to visit the small shops on most days and remember Mr Perks, he had the biggest shop in the row. As a 7 or 8 year old, playing in the woods and over the fields (where WMG and the sports centre now stand) all the way to Westwood Heath Road, was such an adventure, going newting in the ponds. Also putting pennies on the railway line to get them flattened. Having to drink that horrible concentrated orange juice from the health clinic.

Hi Pamela, picking up threads having been away from the forum for a few years. Some of the names you mention were in the same class as me (Mr Rea's) before I left in 1961. We lived on Charter Ave, by the island, so not far from you. What years were you at Henry Parkes?