About Gerry

The story I am about to relate is a typical example of my usual Saturday night escapades. Having recently left the forces, I was in my early twenties when this story happened, I was single and worked at Armstrong Whitworth in Baginton. Most of my associates worked very hard in various professions within manufacturing, this included working very long hours during the week, so Saturday night was our time to “Relax and Enjoy”

If anyone has seen the film “Saturday night & Sunday morning” starring Tom Finney, you will have some idea of what I am about to tell you. My story relates to Coventry not Nottingham as in the film.

Gerry's Story

SATURDAY MORNING

Arose fairly early and caught a bus into Coventry City centre, visited Barber’s name of Jackson’s, this was the IN place for us lads during that time, had my hair washed and blow/dried and styled into a “Tony Curtis” with a D. A. (ducks arse). Just forget how much this cost at that time, but had to wait quite a while before my turn. Returned home with a spring in my step!

SATURDAY AFTERNOON

If Coventry City were Playing a home game of football at Highfield Road, then some of us would go and support them, nowadays they are nicknamed the Sky Blues, in the 50’s they were known as The Bantams.

SATURDAY EVENING

Around 7.00pm the lads would all meet in the lounge of “ The Brooklands” pub, in Coundon, Sid the landlord always kept a wary eye on us, and often used to ask us if we had noticed anyone tampering with his indoor plants that were situated in the hallway of the pub, none of us were too sure exactly what he meant, and it was only at a later date when one of his prize plants turned yellow and died, we found out that one of our crowd had been urinating on the plant every Saturday night. ( whoops )

Another amusing thing during our sessions in the pub, were the Salvation Army coming round us all and asking us to subscribe to their paper “The Warcry “ and all the while condemning the Demon Drink, talk about double standards

After a few pints, we would leave the pub to make our way to the local dance hall The Rialto Casino in Moseley Avenue Coundon, six of us would squeeze into Chris’s Austin Seven, this being a very small four seater car, those not able to scrounge transport would walk, not many of us had cars in those days, there was no M O T requirements, and drink
drive laws were non existent

We would arrive at the dance hall in a fairly excitable mood, various styles of dress, from drainpipe trousers, to leather trousers, winkle picker shoes, always remember Alec turning up in a brown suede suit, we all envied him, Leather jackets etc.

There was always a resident band and live singers, the girls would usual stand in a line against the wall, the nickname for these people would be “Wallflowers”, the lads would walk over and asked the girl he fancied for a dance, which unfortunately was sometimes refused, and could result in a bit of an argument.

During the interval you could treat someone you liked to a coffee or a milkshake, in the snack bar upstairs. Many future arrangements were made during this time

Around 11.00pm the band played “ God Save The Queen “ Time to grab coats etc and rush outside to try and catch the last bus home, there would be several buses outside, going to various districts around Coventry, the fare would be sixpence each (two & half pence)

AFTER THE BALL

Taking a young lady home was the highlight of the Evening, we would travel on the bus with them to wherever they lived, this could be the opposite side of the City to where you lived, walk them to their front door, kiss and a cuddle, and if you were in luck arrangements would be made to meet mid week to go to the cinema or theatre.

Then it would be a very long and lonely walk home, in all kinds of weather, no more buses or phones, so if you could afford a taxi, there was no way of getting in touch, and they were not very plentiful in those days. Would arrive home in the early hours of the Sunday Morning and probably sleep until lunchtime, but very happy after yet another memorable NIGHT OUT IN COVENTRY

DANSETTE GRAMAPHONE

At least one Evening during the week, my friends and I would alternate in visiting each others houses to listen to our latest record purchases, which were normally bought from “ Hansons “ or “ Cranes “ which were the main record shops in Coventry during the 1950’s.

We would play our records on a portable Dansette gramophone, which in those days, most of my age group owned one.

We would play 78’s – 45’s – 33’s – these numbers represented the speed at which you set the turntable to rotate.

The main music we would listen to, would be big bands such as Jack Parnell , Ted Heath, Eric Delaney, plus Rock & Roll and Skiffle, which was extremely popular in those days.
Will always remember even in those days our parents would come into the room and tell us to lower the volume, so nothing has changed.

Around 10.00pm we would all depart, and walk home, having made arrangements to meet up again the following weekend.

The 1950’s were wonderful years for me, and full of happy memories.