Topic categories:
(Alphabetical)

Coventry People

'Happy'

You need to be signed in to respond to this topic

First pagePrevious page

Displaying 31 to 43 of 43 posts

Page 3 of 3

1 2 3
No actionNo action
43 posts:
Order:   

peterlomas
Virginia Water
31 of 43  Tue 26th Mar 2013 8:08pm  

I most certainly remember 'Happy' or as I knew him 'Happy Sunshine Sunbeam'. He used to run errands for people. My father had the Greengrocers on Warwick Row and I remember him coming in with a little tin with a note in and money. Harmless, I wonder how he would fare in today's world. Lol
Coventry People - 'Happy'
mickw
nuneaton
32 of 43  Sat 26th Oct 2013 2:26pm  

I might be wrong but I have a niggling memory as a young child was there a shop opposite the Swanswell Pool, where the back of the bus depot is now, painted red which sold strange things? Medals stick in my mind and outside the shop either a man in uniform and white gloves or a dummy wearing the same, it`s a vague memory but could this have been Happy
Coventry People - 'Happy'
pallmall
Kent
33 of 43  Sat 26th Oct 2013 5:55pm  

I remember that place, corner of White St. and Cox St., I think. Was it also called Exchange & Mart, or something similar? I used to love going in there when I was young and rummaging through the old medals, coins, antique weapons, shell casings, etc.There was, of course furniture, china, etc. and all of it would today, I imagine, be very collectable and expensive. I think the owner always wore an old uniform, of some sort, and could easily have passed as Happy's brother. I wish places like that still existed!
Coventry People - 'Happy'
mickw
nuneaton
34 of 43  Sat 26th Oct 2013 6:44pm  

Thanks pallmall, since I`ve used this site reading the posts memories come flooding back, some sketchy but some very clear. I vaguely remember it had the nickname Happy Harry`s, might have just been a micky take though. Thanks for the memory as they say
Coventry People - 'Happy'
LongfordLad
Toronto
35 of 43  Fri 4th Jul 2014 6:44pm  

I recall Happy only in his sandwich-board days around Broadgate and the Precinct. His cry then was: "One in the front, one in the back - is everybody happy?" (I have seen the photograph of Happy, know that this was our man, and recall his cry with crystal clarity. At that time (1960s) I recall no traffic-directing or such, but I do recall the smiles that Happy's appearance always triggered in all of us, and nowt wrong wi' that!
Coventry People - 'Happy'
Janey
Keresley
36 of 43  Sat 16th Aug 2014 8:55pm  

Yes I remember Happy. He had very rosy cheeks and wore some sort of uniform, or else a dark gaberdine mac, and always had on a pair of white gloves. Oh, and a smile on his face all the while. Can't remember if he was advertising something or why he was wandering around the city centre, but I was only a small girl at the time. Must have been late 50s or early 60s I would think.
Coventry People - 'Happy'
Roger T
Torksey
37 of 43  Tue 19th Aug 2014 5:24pm  

Yes I too remember Happy and have already contributed to this thread on another Forum, that seemed to have an administrator called Dutchman Can anybody tell me the name of it please? I had also posted a question there about W.H.Jones (Builders - Holbrook Lane - latterly Costains Midland Depot) Looking for former members of the Surveyors Dept I would be very grateful for any help on this subject too.
Coventry People - 'Happy'
NormK
bulkington
38 of 43  Tue 19th Aug 2014 5:30pm  

Coventry Message Board Thumbs up
Milly rules

Coventry People - 'Happy'
moemac
birmingham
39 of 43  Fri 17th Oct 2014 4:24pm  

I remember Happy, he used to walk around the indoor market in town with his great coat and white gloves announcing to anyone "I'm Happy", he was a lovely gentle guy with a wonderful smile.
m a smith

Coventry People - 'Happy'
Slim
Another Coventry kid
40 of 43  Sat 30th Dec 2017 1:40pm  

On 29th Dec 2017 7:42pm, PhilipInCoventry [Courtaulds thread] said: Hi all Wave I had an office . . . on the east side of Foleshill Rd . . . Coventry's "Happy" would often wander along, complete with uniform & flat cap & practice his drill marching in the paved area, saluting everyone as they went by. Smile
I remember Happy. He was a well known to many, including the police. Allegedly, he would march into the middle of a main road in Coventry, in his uniform and white gloves, then starting directing the traffic with hand signals, causing mayhem! The police would simply move him on. He was considered harmless. On one occasion, however, he was resting on the road name sign at the junction of Harnall Lane and Foleshill Road. The lights were on red, and my passenger's window was down. Happy started waving his stick somewhat aggressively at my passenger, then shouted out racist comments at the young gentleman in my passenger seat (words not printable here!). My passenger simply smiled, the lights changed and I drove off.
Coventry People - 'Happy'
Annewiggy
Tamworth
41 of 43  Sat 30th Dec 2017 2:48pm  

Not "Happy" but who remembers the man with a limp who came round the offices selling pens. He used to get everywhere.

Question

Coventry People - 'Happy'
Slim
Another Coventry kid
42 of 43  Sun 23rd Aug 2020 3:08pm  

On 29th Sep 2011 2:00am, MisterD-Di said: I recall him with his Benley's sandwich boards too. Benley's was a cheap shop in Warwick Row where the Litten Tree is now. My father took me there to see Santa, probably in about 1960ish. There was Happy, dressed as Santa! I remember pulling a parcel out of the lucky dip, and he said 'Don't have that, it's rubbish!' and told me to pick a different one. Priceless!
I always remember him for his white gloves, and stories of him causing chaos attempting to direct the traffic in Broadgate. I remember the sandwich boards in Coventry advertising Benleys, which certainly was a cheap-jack shop. They once advertised in the CET "Rubber gloves only 1d per pair". I wonder what the quality was like! I daresay it was a loss leader to get people into the store.
Coventry People - 'Happy'
gangan
Stockton, Southam
43 of 43  Sat 6th Mar 2021 5:38pm  

I was in the City of Coventry police and when the traffic built up outside we would look out of the windows and say that it will soon clear because Happy was on point duty. He would stand in the middle of the junction with his white gloves and direct the traffic. Brilliant
Coventry People - 'Happy'

You need to be signed in to respond to this topic

First pagePrevious page

Displaying 31 to 43 of 43 posts

Page 3 of 3

1 2 3
No actionNo action

Previous (older) topic

Group photo mystery
|

Next (newer) topic

Henry Tandey VC
You are currently only viewing topics in the Coventry People category
View topics in All categories
 
Home | Forum index | Forum stats | Forum help | Log out | About me
Top of the page

This is your first visit to my website today, thank you!

3,199,409

Website & counter by Rob Orland © 2024

Load time: 232ms