Longford Rockers

When I first opened the Island Cafe (opposite the Devonshire Arms) in 1963, it quickly became a meeting point for a number of Longford Rockers who would spend a great deal of their time there, much to the consternation of some local residents, who saw them as a threat due to their undeserved reputation. I can honestly say they never gave me any trouble and would protect my wife and staff from late night drunks intent on causing annoyance to other customers. When they were broke I would allow them to eat and drink and pay later, I was never let down. A few weeks ago I received a phone call from an ex rocker who had tracked me down in Devon and asked could he bring his wife to see us, we spent a couple of hours going over old times and I was moved when he said how much the "gang" respected us in those days. He now lives in S.Africa and when he returned home he sent me a couple of photos of some of the rockers and their bikes. That visit really made the day for my wife and I. Alan.

A few years ago in the Precinct I saw a guy wearing a great Triumph Motorcycles t-shirt, and stopped him to ask where he'd got it. It turned out he was a Longford Rocker ("LR"). I said I hadn't heard of them and he gave me a potted history - including hanging out in the Island Cafe. It seems this is attaining legendary status in the same way the Ace Cafe or 59 Club have .....so there you go - you legend Alan !

Wow. Nice to be a legend at eighty years old. Thanks, Alan

Wasn't Mick Morby in the LR? He still goes down the Old Dyers Arms in Spon End where the Antelope MCC meet, and I'm sure an old boy I know that is 65 was in them, his name is Ken Tilley.

Hi Catshed, If the Antelope MCC meet at the Dyers, what happened to the 'Antelope' Club which I used to frequent occasionally in the late 60's/early 70's which was next door to the Tam o' Shanter Club alongside the Ring Road near the Butts ? Are either still there ? ! Mods note : As there is a separate thread for The Antelope Motor Cycle Club, this post has been copied into it, and a reply to this post transferred there - as the two topics (Longford Rockers and Antelope MCC) are quite different, please use the relevant thread - thanks

I remember Bob Law, I worked with him at the Lockheed in Leamington, or A P if you prefer the name it had in the late 70's 80's & 90's, I'd forgotten the star tattoo on his hand until you mentioned, he was known by the initials LR and not by his real name Bob. Do you remember the 3 wheel bike he had that was the rear of a Reliant Robin with the body removed and a motor bike wheel on the front, steering was a sort of tiller bar arrangement, I remember very well him giving me a lift up the Tachbrook Road in Leamington one night.

I knew Bob around the 1975 to 1977 period. He had an old BSA then that I never saw on the road. It was in a garden in Gulson Road and bits of it were stolen so there was very little of it left after a few months. He was working at Lockheed when I knew him. He worked nights from Monday until Friday morning so that he could make the most of the weekend! We'd travel around on my Bonneville and usually end up at Bob's Cafe at about 3 o'clock on a Sunday morning. He was a good bloke to know and everyone in Coventry city centre seemed to know him!

Bob Law used to drink down the Broomfield Tavern and the Dyers but have not seen him for a while, I've never seen that man not smiling, he seemed to be always laughing and good fun

I loved the Rocker era and have never grown out of it, many good people around Coventry at that time.

Well, great to hear about our lads, yes I was one of them along with Bob Law, very rarely I see many of them. I also worked in Longford rink which was our hideout amongst other places. Loved them times. Sadly quite a few have passed away, some in bike accidents, some natural, it would be great to see some of the lads again. They do have a Longford rockers reunion but I always seem to miss them, only got to one so far. Used to love wearing the jacket which wore away years ago

Did you know a lad by the name of 'Gayle Jackson' he was an apprentice wood machinist at the same company that I worked for W.H. Jones & Son, Holbrook Lane. Gayle died in a motorbike accident. The Longford Rockers then made their laurel wreath emblem in memory of him.

Re: Longford skating rink, wasn't it owned by a well known Coventry boxer. I met him a few times but can't remember his name.

Pete. Did you know Eddie Duffy, he used to drive a machine for WH Jones

No Norm, I didn't know Eddie Duffy, I worked in the factory as an apprentice carpenter/joiner, later I worked on building the Nuneaton Maternity Hospital and later at the new Peterborough General Hospital. I did know a guy named Joe Duffy who was a roofing contractor, he was a lot older than me and knew my dad. Joe passed away many years ago, he and my dad are buried at the Holbrooks cemetery (I'm aged 66 now.)

Yes, known to us as Gig. My sister Wendy saw the the crash & was traumatised for some time, that really upset us all, sad loss