Bedworth and Nuneaton

I remember the Hypermarket very well, and shopped there regularly from day one. I remember what a sensation it was when it opened as there was nowhere else like it, and the prices were so low! One memory is of the very steep ramp up to the car park, with a sharp right turn at the top. It didn't have low shelves set out like todays supermarkets, but higher storage racks, They also sold goods in bulk, including 4lb tins of pork luncheon meat for the fuller sandwich. I remember what now is Iceland being opened in the 1960's as a discount store called The Man With The Axe with a shop sign of a man axing a £ sign in half. Sadly I have to admit to still having a Shopper's Paradise carrier bag in my garage!

Brilliant photos and memories - keep 'em coming!

When I also worked at Tesco 1977-81 I had to get change from Midland Bank, I'd have around £800 in notes and push a customer trolley to the bank. As the shop was in Mill Street I pushed it through the town to get to the Midland Bank next to the church. On leaving the bank I had several cloth bags full of change approx 8 which I then pushed back to the shop back through the town. Unbelievable!!!

I had a Saturday job at Woolworth's just by the Midland Bank in the late 1960's. I worked in the stock room at the back, swept the floors and baled flattened cardboard boxes in a large press. They once gave me the task of store detective and I just wandered round looking watchful whilst blending into the background. However I think the deerstalker hat and magnifying glass gave me away, so it was back to the baler!

I recall that my brother worked at the bakery in the hypermarket but don`t know who owned it at the time as it was always referred to as the hypermarket

What was his name, mickw?

Hi woodford, my brother`s name was Pete Williams, sadly no longer with us, he worked nights at the bakery. I remember he either walked to or from work to Coventry as there was no buses at that time of day

I'm sorry to hear your brother passed away, mickw. I didn't know him, probably because I only worked days. A long walk for him - shows what a hard worker he was!

Thanks for your kind words, woodford, and sorry to hear that you never met my brother, and you're right, Pete was a grafter but I think his walk had more to do with the fact that the taxi fare would have been too expensive.

Yes I see that Mike, it would be very expensive but many people are lazy and wouldn't bother to work under those circumstances - he sounds as if he was a great bloke

Coventry Festival at Nuneaton Coventry Samba band

There's a history of Weddington Castle which was in Nuneaton, along with other local halls, at this link.

The Arden Ballroom was once where all the Bedworth boys and girls would go for a good night out. But not that good a night as drinking in the ballroom was not allowed. Standing outside drinking a cold drink is not much different today if you smoke. The resident band was the Jack Owens Orchestra. But Edmundo Ross and Joe Loss also played there. The central position in Leicester Road where the old furniture shop was, but now housing, must have had a great atmosphere on any band night. I have been told of another but cannot remember the name of it, or where it was. Any takers.

I knew the son of Alfred Twigger, we worked together for several years. Everyone called him Bing, I have no idea if that was his real name. Norman

Baz, I went to the Arden a number of times, saw most of the big band shows, can't remember much about it now, met an old school girl friend, I feel we stood watching, and drinking, just surprised me when you said no drinking, can't even remember the year, 49-50, who knows, my elder sister married a Tom Orton, lived in Pine Tree, down near the canal, lived with her a few months back then, her children, grandchildren etc, half the population of Bedworth today. Never heard of any other dance hall. Regards, Kaga.