Banbury Buildings

Banbury Buildings at Ryton were started by someone ex-Batley Buildings Coventry They bought some coaches from Passenger Vehicle Disposals at Dunchurch for staff transport Does anyone know the full history of the company The founder went to Australia I believe

I thought it was owned by Derrick Robins, former CCFC Chairman

I was under the impression that Banbury Buildings was created by Derrick Robins, the man behind Coventry City FC for many years. He built most of the new stands as the ground was redeveloped in the 60s and built the club from a struggling 3rd Division team into what it became, and what is now being destroyed. Look on the back page of any City programme from those days and the ad was for Banbury Buildings. They sold prefabricated garages and the like. He apparently started with a cement mixer in a field. It grew into a major company and was clearly successful for many years. Derrick Robins was also involved in cricket and the DH Robins XI had first class status, such were the players he could attract. He had a brief career with Warwickshire, but played a few times for his own XI and actually made his last 1st class appearance at the age of 57. He was also involved in taking teams to South Africa during their test ban. He retired to South Africa where he died in 2004. Here's a profile.

I remember working on a new "mould shop" they had built in the late 80s early 90s and they were very busy in those days. When did they cease trading I wonder?

Yes Derrick Robins was the founder and owner of Banbury Buildings. He was also the man who recognised the managerial potential of the great Jimmy Hill. To me both men were geniuses and deserved all of their success.

Here is the back page cover of CCFC programme from Nov 9th 1963 v Peterborough

My father worked for Banbury Buildings from about 1962-1964. They had a factory at Adderbury near Banbury in addition to their main address in Ryton. They also had an office block in Holly Walk, Leamington Spa during the 1960's and later. Derrick Robins lived in a big house in Kenilworth Rd, Leamington Spa which backed on to the Leamington Cricket Club ground in Arlington Avenue. In the 1960's Derrick Robins was the wicketkeeper in the club's first XI, and his son Peter was an opening batsmen. Derrick Robins built the club a new concrete pavilion to replace an older wooden structure. My father was the club's umpire for many years. The grandstands at Highfield Rd and many other stadiums were built by a company called Banbury Grandstands which was part of the Banbury Buildings group of companies. Derrick Robins drove a Rolls Royce with the registration number DHR1. He also had DHR2 which was his wife's car I think. I was just a schoolboy looking on and realising that money did indeed have influence.

Me and two of my brothers and a neighbour worked for Banbury Buildings in 1973 for a short while. I was in the spot welding dept, putting the metal frames together for the concrete casts, my brothers and our friend worked in the casting area, hard graft it was. Money was excellent.