Guestbook - October 2003

[21 OCT 03] LOOKING FOR EMERY'S

It was great to see Coventry on the World Wide Web. My grandpa was born in Atherstone (John Sidney Cook) and my grandma was born in Newcastle under Lyme (Ada May Emery).

I know something about Coventry, having contact with family in Allesley Park, Radford and Fillongley. They are from the Cook side of the family, but I would love to hear from anyone on the Emery side. They are somewhere in the Stoke-on-Trent area. Frank Emery was grandma's brother.

I live in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. So far away but with the web and guestbook so close. Wonderful service and lovely to read all letters to the guestbook.

Hope to hear from any relatives on the web.

Best wishes to all from Australia

Debra Williams < innish@optusnet.com.au >

[20 OCT 03] LOOKING FOR SHANE McPHESON

I am trying to locate my brother Shane McPerson. He attended Canley Primary school. My understanding is that he would be 16 or 17 years old. His parents names are Peter and Barbara.

If anyone can help me locate him, I would greatly appreciate it. I am his sister in Ontario, Canada.

Amy-Louise McPheson < latindancer11@hotmail.com >

[EDITOR : As always with this type of enquiry we feel it better if you do know the people being sought to ask them first before passing on any information about them - remember they may not want to be found!]

[19 OCT 03] COUNDON COURT SCHOOL 1952

I was in the first intake of girls to Coundon Court School in 1952.

There was 125 of us that started out at the old prisoner of war camp at Keresley opposite the Shepperd and Sheperdess. Four forms of about 30 girls and about 10 teachers.

Miss Foster was the head. I was in 1G and Mary Herbert House to start with and I remember Mrs Goodall on her motorised pushbike with her coat flying like Harry Potter's cloak behind her. Miss Babbington. Mr Stott. Mrs Eames, maiden name Miss Wright, PE mistress.

I remember the day we had to walk the whole school to the Old house for the first time I carried one of the rabbits and someone sat on the fire extinguisher just before we left on the walk. We were allocated our clothes pegs in alphabetical order. I was number 2 Yvonne Arculus was no 1.

Does anyone have a copy of the photo that was taken of the first group of pupils please? I have a copy of a photo of the fire that destroyed the library and the art room I have photos of goings on behind the bike sheds.

Do you remember that when it was our birthdays we bought the school a book or a record or put something towards a gift to the library?

Our uniform was quite complicated - a grey hat with the coat, and with the grey gaberdene mac we wore a bottle green blocked beret. Indoor shoes and outdoor shoes. In the summer we wore the hat with the blazer and the grey and white dress. We had garden parties in the summer instead of open days. 

It was a lovely school. I wasn't the brightest pupil in the school - never any higher than the 10th from the bottom. I remember getting 10/100 for maths and also 100/100 for geography and domestic science one year. But I was taught how to learn and how to enjoy how to find out whatever I needed to know.

I was offered an apprenticeship so I never took my final exams, but have always gone on to art school or to further education most winters since leaving school.

I loved sport and gymnastics at school. Remember the opening of the new gyms and showers?

I have been ever grateful for the superb education I had at Coundon Court Grammar School for Girls.

I would love to hear from any old girls are they out there or are they not computer literate yet?

Irene Shannon (née Barnett) < irene.brunoshannon@ukonline.co.uk >

[19 OCT 03] LITTLE HEATH SCHOOL PHOTO

I am searching for a copy of a photo of the old Little Heath School that stood on the corner of Old Church Road and Carlton Road in Coventry. I went back to get a photo and found houses!

Dean Evans < Dean_evans@lineone.net >
Cornwall

[18 OCT 03] LOOKING FOR ARTHUR EVANS

Does anyone know the whereabouts of Arthur Evans, aged 73, who lived at Brays Lane, Coventry?

His friend Eric Cummins is wanting to contact him. Eric is now in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Eric Cummins < jayneanderic@paradise.net.nz >
169 Locksley Ave, Christchurch, New Zealand
Phone 64-3-9421239

[EDITOR : As always with this type of enquiry we feel it better if you do know the people being sought to ask them first before passing on any information about them - remember they may not want to be found!]

[18 OCT 03] PRESIDENT KENNEDY SCHOOL

My name is Linda Carroll but I was Linda Price and went to President Kennedy school from about 1977-1979. Had great friends Debra Nixon, Carol Thomas, Yvette Bordley, Louise Henderson and Paul Osmond. I'd love to hear from any of this crowd or anyone else who remembers me.

I now live in Australia and I am a teacher of Japanese and English. I am married and have 3 children.

My favourite memory of PK School was pushing someone in the pond by the music block. I had great teachers Mr Foley and Mr White and hated Mrs Jones (almost ruined my school life!).

Linda Carroll < pcarrol1@bigpond.net.au >

[13 OCT 03] A COUPLE OF FOLESHILL QUESTIONS

Can anyone help me?

1) Has anyone come across a reference to an amateur 'concert party troup' from the 1920/30s called the 'Neverwasers'. They would have probably been operating in the Foleshill / Bell Green Area - probably very limited at that!

2) Can anyone direct me towards informationa and/or records of the Foleshill District HQ ARP in Lythalls Lane during WW2?

Many thanks

Dean Evans, Cornwall < Dean_evans@lineone.net >

[13 OCT 03] LOOKING FOR DAVID SCOTT

My wife, Delia (née Bracewell) went to school in Nuneaton. On a recent holiday we met David Scott who was in the same year at King Edward VI Grammar School, Nuneaton, as Delia's brother, Stuart Bracewell (1963-1970). David gave us his email address but my son had the paper in his wallet which he lost in the River Alde!

Can someone help to put us back in touch with David Scott?

Antony Bardsley < antonybardsley@easynet.co.uk >

[EDITOR : As always with this type of enquiry we feel it better if you do know the people being sought to ask them first before passing on any information about them - remember they may not want to be found!]

[02 OCT 03] MEMORIES OF RAVENSDALE ROAD SCHOOL

Memories of Ravensdale Road School, Coventry from 1948!

Headmistresses - Infants Miss Liggins; Juniors Miss F (Fanny?) Lucas.

Some teachers I recall: Mrs Davies (frightening!), Mrs Turnbull (lovely), Mr Challis (kept smacking my legs!), Mr Hart (he hated me), Mrs Ison (OK), Mrs Spencer (one of my favourites), Mrs & Miss Hackney (Mother & Daughter), Mr Tucker (no comment) and a young student teacher, Miss Hopkins (I definitely loved her - she gave me The Observers Book of Birds).

Pupils, oh yes, of course many - John Miles, John Lowe, Patsy Jackson, Betty Gardner, Eileen Foreman, Rita Thompson, Peter Williams, Lillian Proctor, Sheila Wigston, Pauline Reeves, Paul Allen. I could go on and on...

Peter < EveningStar9F@aol.com >