matchle55 Coventry All posts by this member | 1 of 31 Mon 17th Feb 2014 10:26am Member: Joined Feb 2014 Total posts:241 My late father was a messenger boy for the AFS at the onset of the war, he was based at the Paynes Lane depot which post war became a DIY store called Unit Sales. All this area was cleared to make way for Sky Blue Way. The family lived just around the corner in Lansdowne St so I presume he was co-opted or volunteered for the job. I remember seeing the red lanyard which he wore. Like a lot of others he never spoke much of this brief time with the AFS and even less so when he was serving on HMS Duke of York.
I wonder if anyone has any more details? |
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deanocity3 keresley All posts by this member | 2 of 31 Mon 17th Feb 2014 11:43am Member: Joined Nov 2013 Total posts:355 Is this where you mean? Britain From Above site
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deanocity3 keresley All posts by this member | 3 of 31 Mon 17th Feb 2014 11:51am Member: Joined Nov 2013 Total posts:355 |
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VernonDudleyBohay-Nowell Coventry All posts by this member | 4 of 31 Mon 17th Feb 2014 12:04pm Member: Joined Nov 2011 Total posts:57 In a similar vein, does anyone recollect the AFS base at Bablake Playing Fields? My father-in-law was a member there and attended the blitz/cathedral fires. He too rarely spoke of this time and continued to suffer nightmares related to his experiences until he died aged 90+
Research tells me all records of the Coventry AFS were destroyed - does anyone know differently please? |
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dutchman Spon End All posts by this member | 5 of 31 Mon 17th Feb 2014 12:22pm Member: Joined Mar 2010 Total posts:2976 Despite what it says in the article, that picture was clearly taken behind the central fire station in Hales Street.
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matchle55 Coventry All posts by this member Thread starter | 6 of 31 Mon 17th Feb 2014 12:26pm Member: Joined Feb 2014 Total posts:241 On 17th Feb 2014 11:43am, deanocity3 said:
Is this where you mean? via Britain From Above site
Yes that's it, if you go left and then turn right into Lansdowne St, then dad's house was the last "top shop" house before the school.
Many thanks.![]() |
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LinB Hinckley All posts by this member | 7 of 31 Mon 10th Mar 2014 4:23pm Member: Joined Feb 2014 Total posts:7 An ancestor of mine was injured on 12 Oct at Bablake Fire Station whilst on duty with Coventry Auxiliary Fire Service, and died at Coventry & Warwickshire Hospital the following day. He was 43 years old at the time |
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dutchman Spon End All posts by this member | 8 of 31 Mon 10th Mar 2014 4:39pm Member: Joined Mar 2010 Total posts:2976 That may have been the one which became a sweet shop after the school opened. If I remember correctly the front room/shop was really tiny.
The garage buildings had gone by then, replaced by a service station forecourt.
I don't remember the row of shops opposite but could be mistaken.
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matchle55 Coventry All posts by this member Thread starter | 9 of 31 Mon 10th Mar 2014 4:56pm Member: Joined Feb 2014 Total posts:241 My memory of Paynes Lane is of the faggot and pea batch shop ![]() ![]() |
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mickw nuneaton All posts by this member | 10 of 31 Mon 10th Mar 2014 6:13pm Member: Joined Oct 2013 Total posts:439 You're spot on there matchle55, there were two, Fanshaw`s aquatics and Cooke`s pet shop. There`s a photo of the faggot & pea shop on here somewhere. ![]() ![]() |
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deanocity3 keresley All posts by this member | 11 of 31 Mon 10th Mar 2014 8:40pm Member: Joined Nov 2013 Total posts:355 Is this the spot in Paynes Lane?
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matchle55 Coventry All posts by this member Thread starter | 12 of 31 Tue 11th Mar 2014 8:59am Member: Joined Feb 2014 Total posts:241 That's it, the gable end of the house centre left is in All Saints Lane which ran down the side of Unit Sales. According to my 1905 map the building then was the home of the Coronet motor works.
Nice to see Riddy's as well, I spent many an hour in there ![]() ![]() |
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deanocity3 keresley All posts by this member | 13 of 31 Tue 11th Mar 2014 10:49am Member: Joined Nov 2013 Total posts:355 I think that Unit Sales building was previously a cinema and you mentioned the Coronet Motor Works - the cinema was called The Coronet |
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Adrian UK All posts by this member | 14 of 31 Sat 15th Mar 2014 8:57pm Member: Joined Sep 2011 Total posts:190 The site in Paynes Lane where Unit Sales was, was a Regent petrol station in the 50s and early 60s. It also had a small car showroom attached to it, with an exit into All Saints lane.The owner had an Italian name, sounding something like Arrighie.
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PeterB Mount Nod All posts by this member | 15 of 31 Sun 7th Jan 2018 11:30pm Member: Joined May 2014 Total posts:344 While out walking today I saw what looks like an old second world war water tank marker similar to the one on Hay Lane (white circle with black bullseye). It was located on Lythalls Lane at the junction with Foleshill Road. It is on the south side, on the high wall near where it meets the lower wall (rotate the view to the man in the hoodie, then find the sky blue drain pipe to the right and follow this down).
It is faded, but being north facing has probably helped it survive. Can anybody remember what it used to refer to?
Peter. . . Question |
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