Longford (inc. The Red Hills)

Hi John. Just to clear things up a bit without nit picking. The Sowe did run through what is now Longford Park and then into the mill. The river didn't run along Aldermans Green Rd it was Hall Green Rd that it ran alongside. It didn't run to Bell Green Rd but did a sharp left at the bottom of Hall Green hill and then formed the boundary between Tom Taylor's farm and Kay's farm. On that sharp bend in the river the water was about 4ft deep and was another popular swimming place for us children.

Yes I remember Dave who lived in that house by the cut. You also will remember a guy with a similar name that had an ice cream shop almost opposite where you lived. Shop full of pin tables where we spent our dinner money. The pool bottom right of Carrols field, across the pool was the allotments and my father had the plot right next to the pool so it was handy for getting water in a bucket. Yep Miss Sidley was another teacher that I had a crush on. Somewhere on this site is a thread on Windmill Rd School and there a number of photographs of both teachers and pupils. So you are a bricklayer. I served an apprenticeship as a carpenter with H L Bates who had a yard just inside Arbury Ave at the bottom on the left hand side. I think that site is now occupied by a couple of rows of lock up garages. At that Co-op next to you is where we bought saltpeter to make explosives. A lad, Keith, who lived in Arbury Ave,, packed a mixture of sulphur, carbon and saltpeter into the tube of a cycle pump and somehow it exploded by accident and Keith was injured so that put an end to our experiments with explosives. Funny thing, I later became a shot firer at Newdigate pit and spent over ten years messing about with explosives.

Yes I can follow you every inch of the way, right from the gas works to Woodway Lane,and out to Bulkington. Found a bag with a newborn baby inside just past Parrotts Grove when I was about 7. I would put at a guess that I went to the 'Rivoli' in 1933 onwards, went to Foxford in 1935, Windmill Rd on Thursdays for woodwork, that's if the brook (Sowe) wasn't flooded, in winter sometimes it came over the top of the little white bridge, Norman was the barber two doors from the chip shop in Bell Green? sang in the choir at Longford church when the vicar was a guy call Standing so we kept sitting down to annoy him, sang in the choir at the small church inside Lentons Lane, Sunday School teacher was Pop Barnes. Guy called D R Bruxton murdered his wife, we sang about it to the tune of Red Sails in the sunset. All seems like yesterday.

Yes Kaga I remember that barber between Dr Mac's surgery and the Seagull chip shop. His name was Young but I have been trying to think of his first name but its gone. That is rather odd for me as I can remember things from 70 years ago but totally forget what happened yesterday. You are correct about the Rivoli but I have noticed that other forumites use a different name for that cinema. Did it change its name I wonder. I think it still has Rivoli at the roof level. Will have a look next time I go by there.

Hi Norman Conquest, Yes you are correct, the River Sowe did not run along Aldermans Green Road into Bell Green. It went under Aldermans Green Road and as you say, along Hall Green Road. Have been away from Coventry for too long, I'm getting my road names mixed up. You mention your mate, Keith, from Arbury Avenue who nearly blew himself up. His name wasn't Keith Hackett was it? Can you also remember Barry Whetstone, and Gordon and Ronnie Fields from Arbury Avenue?

Yes I do remember Keith Hacket and Ron Fields. But the Keith I was on about was Keith Fisher who lived at number 13 I think. There was an entry on the left and Keith lived right next to it. We got into trouble with customers of the Gas Club. Winter time and we made up 6 or 7 snow balls. Bingo night, Keith opened door and I fired the snow balls at the bingo players. Turned to run and went straight into the arms of a couple of guys going in. Taken in to be told off by a couple of committee men who threatened us with the police but as it was hardly GBH they did nothing. We were about ten years old then.

Norman, I called it the 'Rivoli' but I think early thirties it may have been the Dovedale, but can't be sure.

The barber was Sam Young

Yes that's correct... Sam

I remember Miss Budd, Miss Sidley who had a soft spot for Mr Hughes. On the subject of the Canal house, the family who lived there were the Tebbuts, Gordon was in my class. I left school in July 1949.

During the air raids on Coventry I can remember the sirens, and I can remember being carried down to the Longford air-raid shelters which were in the park, and I can also remember playing down them when we were kids. But I was wondering if the air-raid shelter are still there and had just been covered over because there was a awful lot of concrete to get rid of. Anyone? I also think it would be a good time capsule, there was a lot of fixtures down there.

Hi John We reminisced to some length not so long back when we realised we both worked at the Edgewick Club at the same time. I knew the Hackett family very well. They lived at 5 Astley Avenue and originated from Barrow-In-Furness. I was born at 104 Arbury Avenue and for the last 32 years have lived at 9 Astley Avenue. As a kid I spent a lot of time in Hacketts entry & back garden. There is still my Baco building set buried somewhere in their garden. It rained, I left it, forgot it etc. Keith Hackett was the eldest. Born 1936 and died 1976. Really nice guy. He owned a yellow Berkeley 3-wheeler ( 2 wheels front) He took me & his younger brother John & neighbour Dennis Randle (114 Arbury Ave) out a couple of times. Ron was next eldest (born 1938). He was into motorbikes big time and once had a shop in Longford near the Coach & Horses pub. He also had a couple of Morgan 3-wheelers. Their dad had a Standard Vanguard. In the 1950's, he had a pit in the garage (no-one else in the area had one) and I can confirm that it is still there (albeit half full of water) Next were two girls Jean & Eileen (born 1941 & 1947) Saw Eileen in Lidl's last year for the 1st time in 30 years. John (the youngest) was quite a successful motorcycle racer and he owns (I believe) the Ducati showroom/franchise next to the Shepherd & Shepherdess pub. Barry Whetstone was in my brothers (Alan Oldham's) class at school. Barry died in 1988. I know Ian Field who lived in Arbury Ave. Ian was born 1942 and has recently moved to Bodmin in Cornwall. I think he had a brother but can't remember his name. Saw Ian last week in Tesco Coventry Arena (he was up here on a quick visit)

Hi Derrickarthur, I was in the same class as Ron and I remember he was very good at model making, is he still around? And did his dad have a Vincent 1000cc with sidecar. I'm sure it was his dad that gave us a ride out on it and scared the living daylights out of us.

Yes I'm quite sure my father followed the Tebbits at Canal House. My younger brother went to Windmill School about 57 time. I have a photo I'm trying to get on here you may all like about dredging the canal along there in the late fifties. Did no one know the scout master, lived between the gasworks and Arbury Ave, went with a girl from Main Cottages up by the basin, about 39 time, he was akela for the Aldermans Green group, opposite to the road down the slough? Could be Taylor?

Kaga, you mentioned Parrotts Grove recently, have you ever heard anything about the White Lady Pond? It was on the left after a couple of bends in the Bulkington direction. It was said to be haunted.