Canley (inc. Sir Henry Parkes School)

Anybody remember the "big swing" in Canley Woods?

I don't recognise any names on the business card, but I do remember that there was a couple of mobile shops/greengrocers etc that went around Canley. I remember in the 1960's there was a van that went around Canley, known as "Toogoods", there was also another one that was an old blue coach, it used to park at the top of Marler Road, just off Charter Avenue, I think the name was "Murphys". Apologies for a 9 month out of date response to this thread but I have only recently joined.

I remember "Toogoods" - he drove a huge furniture removal type green van, if I remember correctly. I seem to recall he also had a small wooden step-stool that he place in the road under the door to assist in stepping up into the back of this lorry. This door was half-way down the side of the van, and once inside you found a small serving counter with a set of white Avery weighing scales. I think he only sold greengrocery items.

Hi Phillip I lived at 2 Freeburn Causeway from 1947 to 1959, and my Dad had a mobile greengrocery shop which was kept parked outside the house in the evenings and his round was in Kenilworth. I don't remember any other shop of the same kind, so it must have been there after 1959. I also remember the Dolphin pub. As kids we used to climb over the fence into the bottle store, take empty bottles, and take them to the off licence dept and claim the penny deposit. Not very honest, but kids would be kids.

Hi & welcome to our site Bakerlea. Thank you for that info too. I hope that you will enjoy your time with us on our Coventry History Forum.

We used to do the same, bottles used to have a threepence deposit sticker on them, we nicked them from the "club" and cash them at the Half Sovereign off-sales.

Hi Foxcote I`m a new member and have just seen your snap of Canley Shops. It reminded me of the walk I had to school when I was at Sir Henry Parks infant and junior school. I lived in Freeburn Causeway and had to pass the shops every day. My first headmistress was Miss Wakefield. Anybody remember her?

Welcome to the Forum, Bakerlea I am glad the 'Canley shops photo' was appreciated. I have never seen the School and was looking for a photogaph but so far, I haven't managed to find an old one.

Sorry Foxcote, I haven`t any photo`s of the school, but I do remember a statue of a Kangaroo outside.

You mean this one.

Hi all Listening to a new presenter on our local radio (sorry wireless) his first job as presenter was down under in a place called Parkes, which was named from the same man who our city names its road Henry Parkes (Sir Henry Parkes). Can our 'down-under' correspondents fill us in on this please.

If you mean about the man himself Philip all I know is Henry Parkes was born in Warwickshire in 1815, was Premier in N.S.W. five times between 1872 and 1891 also know as The Father of Federation. Had a humble education but went on to higher achievements. I am positive the gentleman has been mentioned before on the Forum.

He's on our list of Famous Coventrians and this is thought to be his birthplace

Hi & thank you Midland Red, It also appears that the place in Parkes is twinned with Coventry - Parkes, New South Wales

Yes, twinned in 1939 - see Wiki entry