Upper Foleshill (New Inn Bridge to The Parting of the Heaths)

Hi SkyBlueRocker, Derrick Oldham here. I saw your mum in The Works bookshop a few months ago. Hadn't seen her for ages but she actually recognised me and spoke. I was in the same class at Windmill Road as her brother Alan and I knew Frank very well. On the Windmill Road School forum on this site (currently on page 3 of topics) is a post (No 18) and Alan Collins & me are on there. I knew Ernie & Winnie Stokes very well and Bill Poole too. I worked for Bill a few times at the Foleshill Social. Ernie was always very polite. Susan Stokes was married on the same day as my wife Dyanne & I (21st May 1988) and we both had our wedding receptions at the Cherry Tree Club. My guests were totally confused when they arrived from the church and found a different bride in the room. We had known Susan for years and she had come into our room to say hello. I was in the same class as Joyce Poole and knew most of the family from the RAOB Club. They always said that the floor was wet because of all the Pooles around. I know Angie Poole & Rob Nairn & his family & old Syd Poole & young Syd & Ron (I can still hear old Syd singing "My Brother Sylvest" Have you heard about the big strong man He lives in a caravan Have you heard about the Jeffrey Johnson fight Well oh what a hell of a fight You can take all the heavyweights you got We have a lad who could beat the whole lot He used to ring the bells in the belfry Now he's gonna fight Jack Dempsey (Chorus) 'Twas my brother Sylvest (What's he got?) Oh a row of forty medals on his chest (big chest) He killed fifty bad men in the west He knows no rest Think of the man, hell's fire don't push (just shove) plenty of room for you and me He's got an arm like a leg And a punch that would sink a battle ship (big ship!) It takes all the army and the navy To put the wind up Sylvest He thought he'd take a trip to Italy He thought that he'd go by sea He dived off the harbour in New York And he swam like a man made of cork Now he saw the Lusitania in distress He put the Lusitania on his chest He drank all the water in the sea And he walked all the way to Italy (Chorus)

I briefly went out with a girl who lived in Booth's Field, her name was Janet, though I don't remember her surname. She was only small, but sang in a band called (if memory serves) Janet and the Rising Suns.

Hello Derrick, My Mum does have a great memory, I remember my Dad running the Foleshill Social. Used to be great as a kid being allowed behind the bar. I know all the Poole names except Joyce. I saw that picture of Alan at school a few weeks ago, Told my mum to check it out, I'm not sure if she did though.My grandad was one of the nicest blokes you could meet, always cheerful and had a laugh that would always make you smile.

That wouldn't be my Mum she's no singer

Hi Ron Its Tom here. What lovely memories your dad singing Sylvest that was his signature tune but he had an array of wonderful songs he would sing including Step inside (Lunatic Asylum) and Jerusalem.. I can recall many a late night in the Buffs Club with Uncle Syd, Mum and Dad, Aunty Dolly and Uncle Wal Fisher, and a few others, all fairly well oiled and singing the night away.

Hi Disorganised I remember Janet I can remember all the family but I can't remember their sirname It was Janet and the rising Suns that she sang with I think they appeared on opportunity knocks.

Derrick Oldham (Ollie) again. SkyBlueRocker. Just sorted my memory out. Billy Poole was Charlie Poole's son. Charlie had been President of the Foleshill Social Club I think. Joyce was the daughter of Sid Poole. Joyce would be about 64 now. She had long auburn hair (not quite ginger) and I saw her a few years back in the RAOB club (A funeral I believe). Loved the RAOB. We (Pegasus FC) moved there from the Caludon pub in early 70's and most of us used it as our local. I can still go in on a Thursday night & find someone (Dave Sephton, John Smith or Pete Preston) Thommo58. Remember Wal & Doll Fisher very well and John Hanna & family. Marie married Bill Torrie and met them both in the RAOB (Buffs) a few months back. Who are you then Thommo58? We must know each other. I worked behind the bar in the Buffs many a night for Trevor & Phyllis and later for Bob & Jean. We used to have "stay-backs" till 3 or 4 o'clock in the morning especially if we could get Phyllis interested in a game of cards (Solo whist). I worked behind the bar with the lovely Gwen who was everybody's friend/mum. The steps down the cellar in the Buffs were lethal. I remember falling down them more than once with the added insult of the trapdoor hitting me on the head on the way down. I remember Bill Nairn doing exactly the same. The Buffs was also a haven for off duty coppers who didn't like the Police Club cos they always talked "shop" whereas in the Buffs they were left alone. Wal Rosser & Mick Wells were regulars.

Hello Derrickarthur I'm Ernie and Win Stokes son Tom, Billy Poole is my brother Charlie Poole is our Uncle. I spent many a night behind the bar in the Buffs in my younger days, I remember Gwen I'm sure she was Trevor's Niece? She had a Daughter around my age I think. Your very right about those cellar steps,(very steep) I've also slipped down them. I had to go into the cellar on my wedding day, we had our reception in the Buffs Trevor had gone up to bed and the Lager ran out so I had to go down and change the barrel as neither of the barstaff knew how to. I remember the after hours sessions very well in the company of Wal Rosser, Norman Skyte, Mick Wells and quite a few other members of the constabulary. We played a lot of darts and used to play dominoes with uncle Syd and Frank Cross who always knew what you had in your hand (I never figured out how he always knew) I'm sure you must remember Trevor's Choir and the song "In the evening by the moonlight" or as Trevor would put it "In The Hevening) I also worked at The Foleshill social Club, The Parkstone, The Unicorn, and a couple of times in the Gas Club. We must know each other I spent most of my time around those clubs in the early to late 70s.

Hi Tom. I can remember you & see you clear as a bell now. You were quite tall, slim, dark hair and wore specs. You mentioned Frank Cross & dominoes. I had forgotten about Frank but you are absolutely right about him knowing all your dominoes. I was getting confused with the Poole family & Stokes family but spoke to my wifes's Uncle Jeff Mann in King Georges Avenue today who only confused me even more. I think you & SkyBlueRocker know Jeff Mann quite well. My wife is the daughter of Jeff's elder brother Johnny Mann. Keep in touch.

Yeah I remember Jeff,My brother knew him better though because he used to go up the Parkstone to see my dad.I remember Dolly,I used to pop round and see her some saturdays when I was a teenager.I don't remember Wal very well though.You have described Tom Perfectly

As SkyBlue Rocker says you have me described perfectly though not so slim now! I know Jeff very well and John, Bert and I think the younger brother is alan I also know his sister Barbara she was at school the same time as me though a year or two older than me, I also knew Jeff's mum she used to work in Starkys newsagents on the corner of Elmsdale Avenue.

As you lads are all in Coventry, you should all get together, too good an opportunity to miss, if you haven't thought of it already.

Just read the original post of this thread: I lived in Benthall Road until 1968. There was an Ann Kelly and Phillip Sephton that lived next-door but one to each other in Parkstone Road. Also, there was a Paul Thompson in Benthall Road. I went to Longford Park Infant and Primary School from which I have great memories, especially being milk-monitor to distribute the 1/3rd pint bottles of milk to the other kids. Mrs Moss's sweet shop did indeed sell Jubli's but my fondest memory of that shop is of buying a load of Black Jacks, Mojo's and Fruit Salads in a little white bag (two for a farthing if I remember correctly) having earnt sixpence from Mrs Coot for doing some shopping errands (who lived at number 9 Benthall Road I think).