"Burglar Bill" and other old tales of Radford

Best seat in the house. While on the subject of toilets I have to tell you this little tale, it refers to toilet seats. A gang of us had gone to see a film at the Savoy Cinema, not sure how many of us, but a few. We all sat down to watch a film being very quiet as we did in them days (as if) anyway, a short time before the film was due to end one my mates nipped off to the toilets at the rear of the Cinema "he has been gone a long time" I thought, just then he returned shuffled alone in front of us and sat down next to me. "Where the eck have you been?" I asked. His reply was "to the loo where do you think I have been?" he then said "have a look at this" I turned to one side to have a look and what I saw took my breath away I can tell you. He had under his coat a toilet seat complete with fixings, I cringed "what are you going to do with that?" I asked, "errrrrr, I am taking it home, our toilet seat is broken and my Dad will not buy another one, we all moved along two seats in order to put some space between us and left him on his own, it did explain one thing though, why the toilets in the Savoy had no seats, (It's a funny thing we have just returned from Normandy and they have by design, no toilet seats.) Well my mate walked out with the toilet seat under his coat and by all accounts his Dad was delighted (a bit naughty I know but petty theft to a lot of kids then was the norm, scrumping was something that had to be done. Not all kids were that way but most of the kids I knew including myself did it, it was theft after all) it's a funny thing though I always seem to end up with tummy ache. To conclude this little saga, as you may have gathered he got away with it, his family was well pleased. The incident was reported to the Police, and after a long of drawn out investigation no person was found and according to a Police spokesman at this time we still have nothing to go on. L.o.l. The last bit re the Police was my little joke. Colin

Hi Mayjan, I notice you write from Green Lane, I remember a visit to the Kenpas Swimming Baths many years ago. My mother was a good swimmer and we went with a friend. I was then unable to swim, and it was one of those very hot days we used to get in those days. The pool was packed and everybody was having a great time. My part to play being there was to throw a rubber ring in for mum to fetch and bring back. How it happened, I don't to this day know, but I went in, if I fell in or was knocked in, is still a mystery, kids were running up and down the sides chasing each other. It had to be the deep end, and permanently etched in my brain is remembering going down then up and down again, looking up in the pool water. Somebody must have seen me go in among the throng of bodies, and fished me out. I never knew who they were or if my mum thanked them as she was still in the pool, unaware of what had happened, but were it not for those persons, whoever they were, had not been there that day, I would not have reached the seventy five years, I have done. The pool has been gone for many years now I know, but interestingly, being self-employed as I was then in Coventry, I worked for some people in Green Lane, opposite the school at top, and also on a bungalow in Poolside Gardens, which was the site of the Kenpas. Freeman

Hi Radford-ites, anyone see the TV news about removing the remaining memorial plaques from outside St Nicholas church. This is to save them from the fate of the other two which were stolen by the very people those names died for so they could have the freedom they did not live long enough for. Disgusted Freeman.

This used to stand on the Common itself by where the toilets were, I noticed when passing the other day it had completely gone, bricks and all, glad to see they must have moved it, as it's been a while since I passed by where I grew up as a kid, I too am appalled, it shows what this country has become doesn't it not even respect for our fallen soldiers, as I am nearly 60 and never known when it was on the Common to be touched, all this because of our rulers, Even when we had a scrap business and no money to feed my kids would nt of dreamed of doing such a thing, I wonder when we get the next lot here what will be disappearing then.

Hello Morgana, I also was used to it being on the Common years ago, in fact as youths we used to sit on the base to chat and meet. Never was it treated with anything other than respect. It was there also during the time I lived in Engelton Road, which backed on to the church. We were regular visitors to the church and memorial wreaths were put at the base on Remembrance Day. Can you wonder what would happen, should those people who stole those plaques, be called on to serve this country as those who fell did. They'd go back under their stones like a shot.

Hi Morgana, No.13 Engleton Road, at the time of the war, was occupied by my grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Stafford, Their son Jim, eventually bought the house, and I bought it from him about 1965 and lived there until about 1973. I knew and was friends with a girl who's surname was Edgar. They live at No.3, I cannot remember her first name, next door to them was the Bush family. No.10 would have been on the other side of the road. The church used to put on plays in the church hall and I was involved in doing the scenery for them. A prominent member of the players was Keith Skinner, and very good performer. He followed us out to live near Rugby after we moved. Freeman

Freeman, the man I knew lived in 13 had a removal business in the 80s, then became a Coventry bus driver, he had an allotment by me on the Radford Road. I don't know your family by name but maybe by sight, you then would possibly know this person then, a bit further down from number 13.

Hi Freeman, I was friends with Barbara Edgar who lived at no 3 Engleton Road, we went to school together. We used to sit on a bench on the common, which was opposite her house. In about 1961/1962 I delivered the newspapers in Engleton Road from the paper shop in Wyley Road.

Just as an aside, Barry's brother Clayton, together with Clayton's fiancee Clare Bacciochi, perished in PanAm flight 103 over Lockerbie in 1988

Thank you for that Midland Red, that is so sad, he never mentioned it that I know of, he was more concerned about his wife last time I spoke to him, what she would do as he had forgot to hang the washing out, I told him put it out at night, tell her it's cleaner air I chat to his cousin who works in Bedworth.

Hi Morgana, I'm afraid I not familiar with the cricketer you mentioned, I did sell the house about 1973 and moved to Allesley. I assume he must have been someone who bought the house following my move. Hi Annewiggy, Barbara Edgar, now I remember her name, we were of about the same era. Barbara used to go around with another girl at that time, and I have to own up hoping that we would meet. We, that is me and my mates at that time, generally knew all the girls in the area, and Barbara Edgar was one of those that fitted the bill. Unfortunately Barbara did not mix with us lot, so was admired from afar. It was while living in 13 Engleton Rd. that I became self-employed and carried out work in the Radford area. I worked from a little van, and coming up to Christmas 1967, somebody stole my van with all my kit. We found the van eventually but no tools or materials. Ex-workmates rallied round and kit was rustled up. One job I did was in the paper shop in Wyley Road, when it had snowed, and I pulled my kit down on a sledge so I could do the job. I can't remember the owners name but he was a lovely man, and helped me a great deal. I remember that bench, and I remember the water trough, is that still there, probably not?.