A Coventry Kid's Tale

Chapter 6: Approx 9 years of age to 10 years

One of the child's play grounds was by the "five ways" at the start of the Stoney Stanton Road. Here was a bomb site with a house that was almost intact. The house had once belonged to a doctor. Inside were lots of books, reading some of these books the child became an expert on V.D. The pictures were horrific, the child vowed then and there he would become a Nun (he did not know about Monks?), because they were clean and pure (maybe he did then?). Also he decided not to be a doctor either, the pictures had made a big impression on the child that was to last for life!!!

A big move was in store for the child, they were to move into a shop. Only two bedrooms, and they were used to four. 13 Raglan Street, a place to forget. The poor child on returning home from school could no longer go out to play but instead had to go to the warehouse for supplies, mainly cheese for the shop. Hours he would wait for the order while all the other children were out playing. It was at this time he found out about "messages". Now messages were errands ran by the children for the old people. If you walked up the street and saw an open door you knocked and entered, on the table would be a shopping list and the money with a bag. Off the child would dash and get everything on the shopping list. Upon returning he would take three pence from the change as his payment. Two different shops meant he could take sixpence, what good money he earned.

Next door to 13 Raglan Street lived the Swains, who owned the sweet shop. They had a very nice niece who would come to stay with them in the school holidays. Opening the rear bedroom window you could talk to each other, but better still, if you angled the window at 45 degrees you could see into each others bedroom. Wow what a sight the child did see. The niece went with the child to the Slough at Bell Green. (The Slough being a boating lake). Here he was taught how to play "find the three pence". She being 15 it was far more interesting to find the three pence on. What a time the child had.

The time was now coming for the child to go to Ireland, on holiday with Tom and Carmel Ryan. These were the lodgers now at 30 Lower Ford Street. Off they set for Dublin by road, rail and sea. There he was to meet Tom and Carmel's parents, to stay for a week (could have been two). Here he was to learn all about the charms of Ireland. The river Liffey at the bottom of the road, the Guinness brewery at the top of the road, the charms of the Irish girls across the road, everything well placed for ease.