I loved the way town Centre use to be especially in the 80's, I have so many fond memories of shopping in places like Owen and Owens and my parents always use to take us to Barnabys which was so magical especially at Christmas, sadly these days are long gone, although there is lots of regeneration work going on in Coventry right now it will never have the same feeling as it use to have, I do anything just to walk back through the old Coventry just how it use to be back then, No matter what though Coventry will always remain in my heart and forever will x
Gran and Grandad lived in Holbrooks, used pretty much every boozer and club around the area, same with Radford where my uncle and family still live. Very fond memories of Cov.
I was born in Coventry in 1962, lived on Bell Green Road until the houses were demolished and ended up living in a new house in Mottistone Close, Cheylesmore. I left at 10 years of age and moved to Ireland with my parents. I loved the city and still do.Went back every year to spend the summer with relatives. Brilliant place full of gorgeous people.
Brilliant video. It reminds me of growing up in Cov through the 80's/90's. Especially the pictures of town. I would give anything to be able to walk through there again as it was back in the day. Sorely missed.
oh the memories. Fishy moores. Wimpey donut. Remember revolver records? Being dragged round the town and market in the 70's by my mum. Why did I have to go curtain shopping in allied carpets/curtains? :D Busters and studio 21. I worked at park lane and the parrot in the 80's
Very true. I’m not sure what the long term vision for the city is. It really has become a university campus. Whoever would have envisioned Coventry car industry being replaced by the “University industry”?
Was born and grew up here so I have some very fond memories of some of these places from my childhood. Left for sunnier pastures in Gloucestershire years ago but my parents still live there so I visit now and again...... Damn it's changed..... And not for the better either. It's an utter hellhole now!
I remember Coventry in the 1990s I don't remember a Zoo but I used to go to Wyken Slough on the outskirts, it was a nature reserve. Fond memories of the WEDGE that was a food and book shop and met some of the actors that went there in their break whilst performing at Belgrade theatre (I used to work there too). Also loved the car museum free to get in! The best part about Coventry centre back then lots of charity shops, massive Macdonalds and swimming pool in town.💙💙💙
Why would it be the same, things move on, they don't remain static. It's still a lovely friendly city, unlike those days when it was full of division, racism,and so much aggro in the pubs.
@@keithfrmcov It’s not that you hate change, you prefer the old Coventry because you were younger, and everything is better when you’re younger, that’s literally it. Some areas such as Upper Precint or Broadgate look way better now than they did back then
Thanks for sharing this video. Was a student in Coventry from 1975 to 1978, first at Condon for a few weeks and then Earlsdon. Enjoyed it greatly along with the visits to Highfield Road.
This is absolutely brilliant put together I wish coventry was like this today with so much stuff today being built. Love to go back in time and live the memories
I was born in Cov many years ago, left to live in London in my late teens, now living in Bangkok for the last two years. Up the Sky Blues, but SISU out.
coventry city was a fantastic place to be born and live in as these great pics show.change had to happen as lose ing car factories and many other manual jobs put it into decline .how ever it now has a great new future with so many young people [from all over ]students in a fine university .a major refurb is in progress in the center .and a rich diversity of culture from the many migrants that have settled here .it will be as great as it ever was .it rightly got the city of culture awarded.this city has a long and proud history ,has lasted hundreds of years and will continue for many more.
Bikerboythousand hello me ole China - Cov changed when Browns opened up a pub where the bogs used to be opposite the Dive - I remember seeing loads of trendy’s Cueing to get in while I was supping on lager in the Dive - do you Remember the Bingo in Colin Campbell on a Sunday .
Very nostalgic. Loved the choice of music. Lots of things missing though.Did not see the Belgrade Theatre and fountain, Peeping Tom, the Cathedral, Swanswell pool, Lady Godiva.
The Smithford Hotel was where Peter Butterworth of "Carry On" fame died on 16 January 1979. He stayed there while appearing in Alladin at the Coventry Theatre.
I worked for COVENTRY CLIMAX in the north east for 24 years from 1973 until 1997 as a service engineer, Most towns and cities are suffering from a decline in manufacture etc . Here is no different (STOCKTON ON TEES ) a total shadow of its former self .I and my colleagues did our training in COVENTRY, and i for one loved it so many friendly people. I also had a COVENTRY built car a 1959 Standard ensign ,it was bought in 1969 by my father and i acquired from him in 1978 i sold it in 2019 after it covered 293633 miles yes that is the correct mileage. I regret to this day selling it. I know CLIMAX was acquired by Kalmar in the 80s but i was kept on by them only left because of the next take over .However i still long for my days spent in COVENTRY happy days.
hi , thankyou so much for posting this . it's Cov as I really remember it as a little un . I was born in Gulson Road hospital in 1963 and semi grew up on Crossway Road off Green Lane . I attended school at Brentwood Avenue Primary School until we moved to Leicester , in the Autumn of 1968 . I clearly remember being taken into town on a Saturday , Owen Owen , the Coventry Retail Market , a ride on the carousel a toy from Woollies or Barnby's on Smithford Way ( IF GOOD) Fishy Moores for dinner , then home . Yes they were the days :-)
+inregionecaecorum hi there what number Crossway Road did you live at ? I lived at no47 Crossway and have an older sister who is 58 later on this year . I lived next door to a kid called Ray Curtis , who would now be about 55 - 6 years old , and there's another lad up the road I can just about remember called Ian Heavy .
Thanks for this delightful selection - I've enjoyed so much looking thru them - some bring back so many fond memories, it hurts to see our beautiful City's demise over the years. See how much green we had around in the city centre back then?. Your concentrated efforts on the pop culture failed to miss out a true venue - none other than 'The General Wolfe' - ah yes! The Old Wolfe itself - legend in its own day. Despite that - poster place brought back lots of memories. I always remembered its inviting smell of Patchouli oil, leather and sweat. (ah - I could vignette all day long). Me - I am a Willenhall 60's babe and am hunting for pics of the old hostels that once graced The Chase fields there - (rows upon rows of single red coloured hostels that housed many old men after the war) -alongside the now St Anne's School (one I went to) - and opposite too - Stretton Ave - them and the prefabs - ah - to see such images once more would be welcome.
Hi - many thanks for your reply. It came as a welcome surprise. Sadly, I don't have face book (nor Twitter or similar apps) - emails are enough for me. Notwithstanding, I fully appreciate your letting me know. Thanks.
No problem... I didn't think you had to have a Facebook account to look at the group page. Try this instead www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/willenhall-history-group-look-back-9765266
I always will remember the Acorn in Potters Green, as a kid it looked really space age and I seem to remember it was on stilts? Looking at the photo of it here it looks MASSIVE. what an Iconic design that place was, well ahead of its time. I bet It'd do really well as a family Food pub if it was still around... I guess we'll never know.
I lived in Orion crescent and went to both Potter's Green Junior and Woodway park schools it's a shame they tore down the Acorn pub , i used to love Combe Abby and the paddling pools on a hot summers day and slidding down th grey hills in a bread basket or a walk around Memorial Park or going to the Paris cinema and also playing in the canal down by the Jolly Colliers . Happy days!❤
Brilliant video. Proud to be a COVENTRIAN!.Good luck with CITY OF CULTURE!.We are excited just clear everything up now because its looks like a building site .😳
I grew up in Coventry and watching this with the music has brought back so many happy memories i remember going to the zoo as a child i was so sad when it closed the giant African statue was such a land mark.
WHEN WE USE TO GO DOWN THE CITY "THE WEST END".........THE POLICE ALWAYS USE TO SAY......"HAY UP HERE'S THE BEDWORTH LOT"................C.C.F.C .................
Coventry is suffering the same as all big cities and towns are. Supermarkets scattered all over the surrounds of the city have made the town centres pretty much unused & unvisited. The internet is adding to it. I remember as a kid we were dragged down town every Saturday morning on the bus from Tile Hill so my mum could go to the market (to buy the god awful tripe her and my dad used to have for dinner) and the huge Co-op & if we were really lucky on to Owen Owens for a glassy eyed look at all the goodies in there. Not been back much since 1979 and sad about the decline.
I believe it was called the round cafe for years and I it's still there I think. Went in it on a visit home for a coffee a few years ago. There was a big wimpey at the top of the Burgess which was all bus stops last time I visited
@@bowtinbil I left Coventry aged 16 in 1982. I remember Wimpy's on Trinity Street had many a knickerboker glory! I've just Googled it, my god, the green around Lady Godiva is gone! Do you remember Owen & Owens? Great department store.
And to think we used to moan about how bad Coventry was back then , it’s a dump now soulless, just look how nice broadgate was with grass and trees , all the pubs and clubs have closed down , this place is now a ghost town , PUSB
The pandemic is going to affect the University in a big way. Foreign students was their life blood. There will be 1000's of unoccupied student rooms deemed surplus to requirement.
I am fed up of Coventry being identified with Ska music . The Two Tone thing was a flash in the pan that was nothing but a load of Prince Buster tunes with some complaining lyrics . Easy to play and if you can call running on the spot dancing , easy to dance to . No doubt we will have to suffer it all over again when we become the City of Culture . Lord help us .
wtf happened to the city, now it's just terrible. looked so much cooler in the 70's and 80's. now it just looks dead and lifeless. all the homeless are just a disgusting reflection of how the city has changed just for ugly student housing... (i'm a student btw)
I EAT CRAYONS tf do u mean? It’s true bruv, ur telling me that Coventry is a nice place yeh? Mass immigration without integration is not good, in any way, its caused so much division, segregation, sadness and devastation
@@calthedragon5686 no, mass immigration cause none of that. You were conditioned to believe since you actually don't know the true reason this place is a shit hole. It's just easier to blame immigrants than to actually find the answer.
@@ieatcrayons408 The answer is Coventry has been poorly managed since the rebuilding started after the blitz . The old Coventry was so much better and you can't blame immigrants for anything really and it looks like Coventry is starting to get some good investment now