Famous Coventry Visitors

Hi I missed that one, Tony! I have seen our Queen arrive at Coventry, and could have got into trouble at school for 'bunking' off to Berkswell when I should have been in the school line up at the Cathedral. The Royal trains are still stabled at Berkswell nowadays, in the old branch siding.

OK, now you are all over the excitement of Queen Victoria's visit, I have another of almost equal standing.... Charles Dickens! On December 4th 1858, a public dinner was held in his honour at the Castle Hotel, where Mr Dickens was presented with gold watch as a mark of gratitude for the reading of his Christmas Carol, given in December the previous year, in aid of the funds of the Coventry Institute. Mr Dickens concluded his acceptance speech with the words... Once again, and finally, I thank you; and from my heart of hearts, I can assure you that the memory of to-night, and of your picturesque and interesting city, will never be absent from my mind, and I can never more hear the lightest mention of the name of Coventry without having inspired in my breast sentiments of unusual emotion and unusual attachment. In fact, Charles Dickens made TWO visits to Coventry. I'll leave someone else to report on the other!

I can't contribute re Dickens' other visit but, as a lifelong reader of his works, the only reference to Coventry I can think of is in The Pickwick Papers (1837) when Pickwick travels from Birmingham to London and changes horses at Coventry before going on to Dunchurch, Daventry and Towcester southwards. Unfortunately there is no description of city or people.

Thank you walrus, very well recalled Now all we want to know is, where was the Castle Hotel? Could it have been Coombe Abbey?

Two famous visitors in 1948 were Fred Perry and Dan Maskell, who, at the invitation of their good friend Capt John Black, who they frequently visited at his home at Mallory Court, took part in an exhibition doubles match on the Standard Tennis Club courts on Tile Hill Lane Left to right : Fred Perry, Paddy Jeffcoatt, Albert Jones, Dan Maskell Paddy Jeffcoatt had been chairman of the club in 1938 when John Black opened the courts, a gift from the Standard Motor Company to the club, whilst Albert Jones was many times the club champion before and after WWII It is recorded that Perry and Jones won 6-8 6-1

Roy Orbison collecting his Series 1 1/2 E-Type Roadster at Browns Lane in 1967

While driving my BT van down Long Lane in Keresley I was confronted by two police outriders who forced me to the side of the road to allow a large black car to pass. As the car sped by I noticed that the occupants were the Queen and Prince Phillip. They had been visiting the Jaguar works in Browns Lane and were on their way to visit the Dunlop Factory. Road hogs! By the way, did you realise that Fred West's body was cremated at Canley Crematorium ... creepy!

I've worked in Warwick for 20 years and recall driving in one evening and seeing a BBC film crew in a pull-in to a field on the B4115 - the old Coventry Road near Hill Wootton. Geoffrey Hughes et al were filming a scene for the next series of 'Keeping Up Appearances' which I subsequently watched and realised the spot I had seen them on. Also Frank Ifield returned to Coventry recently and the house he was born in in Evenlode Crescent - Telegraph report

In June 1903 Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show performed on a field which is now the Alvis Retail Park on Holyhead Road. At a medieval joust in the 1300's, Richard II stopped the proceedings and exciled the two knights: Thomas Mowbray, Duke of Hereford, and Henry Bolingbroke, who would later become Henry I. The joust took place at Gosford Green in Coventry, and is recalled in Shakespeare's play, Richard II.

Peter Butterworth died in Coventry.

In the Smithfield Hotel, a friend told me only last week as we stood on the site.

Anyone remember this? Stirling Moss in Corporation Street (cannot remember the year)

Hi Norm, I remember the event portrayed in your excellent photo. It was a motor-racing/transport celebration. If I recall it was on a Sunday afternoon. I stood around the Greyfriars Green area to watch the procession. The only other driver that I can say with certainty was there was Derek Bell the Le Mans winner. Again regarding the year, it was between 1987 and 1991. I'm sure a fellow forum poster will be able to submit a more accurate date! Thoroughly enjoyed the day, there were some fantastic vehicles on parade.

Thanks for that Beesman. I think the car he is driving is a Lotus. I watched it from start to finish, and as you said I enjoyed the day also

I've got tons of photos of that event. It was to mark the World Motoring Centenary in 1985. In fact there were several different day events - one dedicated to Ferrari, one Porsche etc. They created a 'circuit' of sorts that went from Broadgate - down Trinity Street - along Hales Street - Corporation Street - Warwick Road - New Union Street - Little Park Street - High Street and back into Broadgate. The day Moss was there also included Derek Bell, John Surtees, Roy Salvadori, Russell Brookes and Tony Brooks. I have to declare I'm not a Moss fan. He was the only one of that day who refused to sign autographs for the ones I saw. Must dig the photos out as there's some lovely shots of the 'green' Broadgate. The startline strips they created were visible along Broadgate for several years after. That shot is on Corporation Street just after the Belgrade on the theatre side - I was a bit further down that day outside the Co-op. That car is a Cooper-Climax circa 1959.