D Di Mascio

Hello Les, you have just reminded me with your memory of the tricycle. My dad, back in the fifties, came back home one day with a motor-tricycle. It had a "Dot-125cc engine" with a square box on the front and two wheels. You steered by holding onto the frame of the box instead of handle-bars. It could be used for deliveries but also held the container for the ice-cream. A lot of fun was had on that bike, starting the engine and driving it up the back garden but you had to push it back so you could have another go (no reverse) and the garden was only 30ft long (maybe 20ft) everything seemed bigger back then, lol, I was only 6.

My family connections with Cornwall meant for me, the growing up experience of Cornish ice cream, my favorite being Kelly's, a smooth buttery taste which was very nice. I made no secret of the fact that I actually preferred D Di from Coventry. My Cornish cousin, staying at our home in Wyken, actually agreed with me and also made a comment about the price. Kelly's were 6d compared to 3d for D Di at the time. I rest my case. This of course was spoon van days. It's 9.30 on a Sunday as I am writing this and my wife has just brought in a hot bacon & tomato batch. That's good on an ice cream topic!

Blimey!!!! I'd forgotten about Mr. Hokey Pokey. He didn't come around much where I lived, but it was a treat when we visited my uncle in Bell Green. Thanks for the memory InnisRoad.

I lived in Sewall Highway until I was seven, and therefore have few memories of living there. However, my memories do include D Di Mascio's ice cream, and some neighbours who lived a few doors away were ice cream sellers as well. Their name was, I believe Tebbutt, and they had about three vans. Anyone remember them? Sewall Highway at that time had a lot of fields over towards Walgrave and the Sowe River, and I seem to have a recollection of tobogganing on a steep hill around Wyken Croft. I went there a few months ago and could not find anything I recognised. We actually used to swim in the Sowe, by a small bridge, complete with leeches!

I can't comment on your memories of Sewall Highway's own ice cream, I only knew of D Di or Dan's, but regards recognising the landscape, I may be able to help. Your are correct about the fields which are now the grounds of Lyng Hall school, also Armscott Rd, housing development which together changed the whole of the scene there. If however you had walked to Wyken Croft parish church, the area which comprises a nature conservation area is where I remember the hill which was good for tobogganing & is still as it was sixty years ago. Have a look at the 'Coventry Walks' map page for when you come again.

Hi Philip, and thank you for that. I will have a look at Coventry walks, and will be back down there as soon as I get my driving licence back (medical not misbehaviour). I am glad to hear that there is still a natural area around there, as my memories of it, hazy as they are, are pleasant ones. I went to Wyken Croft School for a year or so, which I presume is still there. The headmaster was a Mr. Adams, who was very nice.

I remember D Di ice cream, I too lived in Sewall Highway and the van stopped o/p our house. On a Sunday we took out a dish and had it filled with lovely ice cream for very little money, and as a treat I would get a rabbit lolly, always started on the ears and worked my way down, great memories.

I seem to remember that Victors ice cream was as good as D Di's. Their shop was in Whitefriars Street as I remember.

Yes it was. Their garage was located behind Whitefriars Street at the end of a driveway off Whitefriars Lane running between the Hope & Anchor and the builders' club.

A chap I knew always used to tell his kids that the ice cream vans only played music to let people know when they had run out of ice cream. Some people are very mean

Hi all I am hoping to add this little gem to our railway soon. I only remember the big Austin vans but this might have to do.

Make sure you tell him to stop off at mine and Tricias' houses on your little estate, Philip.

Hi Philip, Love the little D Di. As my father was a publican most of his life and he said he would send me a sign once he got into heaven I was wondering if he was in the little pub in OUR estate but I could not find it. Could it be the building behind Pam's Tearooms? Thank you for all the work you are putting into the village

Two large 6d cornets please.