Famous Coventry Visitors

I remember in about 1949 going to the Memorial Park to see Field Marshal Montgomery at the Cenotaph. I was surprised at the time how short he seemed, there was a crowd of children and he hardly rose above them. Can anyone remember the purpose of his visit?

160 YEARS SINCE QUEEN VICTORIA VISITED COVENTRY ON 14 JUNE 1858 ON ROUTE TO STONELEIGH On Monday afternoon, the Queen and his Royal Highness the Prince Consort, attended by a distinguished suite, left Buckingham Palace for Stoneleigh Abbey in this county, the seat of Lord Leigh. The Royal party quitted the palace at twenty minutes before three o'clock in three of the Queen's' carriages and was escorted by a detachment of Light Dragoons to the Euston square terminus of the London and Western Railway. Mr. Secretary Walpole met the Queen at the railway station, and attended her majesty on her journey. At the station two waiting rooms had been converted into one for the purpose of a reception room, or rather as a means of exit from the station....and punctually at half-past five o'clock, the signal was given of the approach of the train, and in a few seconds it appeared. Her Majesty and the Prince both rose in the saloon and bowed gracefully as the train stopped. A momentary delay was caused by the train proceeding several yards further than intended, and it was put back; but immediately the train stood still the door of the royal carriage was opened, and Lord Leigh introduced to the Queen the Mayor, who then presented the address of the Corporation of the City to her Majesty. Information extracted from Lowe's News cuttings of the event from contemporary newspapers together with images from the Pictures of Coventry collection, both available for viewing in the Coventry Archives.

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Does anyone have any information about the actor Frank Finlay staying in Cov? There is a family story in my lot about him visiting a paper shop my grandparents ran for a time in the Coundon/Radford area - he may have rented the room above?

Hi Neil. Frank was a member of the Belgrade Theatre Company back in 1958, so are we talking about this era? - link

I saw Beryl Reid at the opening of a garage in Jubilee Crescent in the late 50's-early 60's. She arrived, looking very glam, in a huge American car, fins and all. Germaine Greer was one of my husband's professors at Warwick so we saw her all the time.

Back in 1972, when I was a student, I had a summer job at the Herbert Art Gallery. I was there to assist the Director of Art, basically a gofer, so he had more time to do his real job. At the time Danny La Rue was appearing in a summer season at the Coventry Theatre, and to coincide with this the Herbert had an exhibition of paintings by a local artist, all of which were portraits of Danny. The night before each new exhibition opened to the public there was a private opening, attended by local councillors and members of the Friends of the Herbert Gallery. Obviously Danny was invited, and the day before I was sent out to buy a bottle of Danny's favourite wine (according to his agent). The rest of us had to drink the normal cheap Yugoslav wine served at these occasions. Danny turned up in civvies rather than his stage uniform. He was very friendly and approachable, with the firmest handshake I've ever experienced. By the way, the Director of Art was Patrick Day, and during the month or so I worked at the Herbert he was the perfect boss.

belushi. Many thanks for that and yes, that's around the period I was referring to. I need to go back and check where the shop was but as mentioned, Frank rented the room above and would often stop and chat with my grandparents on his way in and out - the rumour was they offered him many 'discounted' shop items! Would've loved to have asked him if he remembered them.

Thanks to Mark Pemberton on FB, we had an image of Roy Orbison at Browns Lane collecting his E-Type, but never knew he'd also been to Canley! I know he was a big car-fan.

Today, of course, we can add Charles and Camilla to the list - report

Here is an accidental background picture taken of GEC Spon Street, the driver of No. 7 is of course the great Stirling Moss, I believe this was taken at a cavalcade for the centenary of the motor car in 1986. I forget what the event was called, I sure someone can remind me.

Hi Rob58uk. Unfortunately the CET does not go up as far as 1986. The only thing I could find was in the Sandwell Evening Mail, October 1986 which says that Coventry city closed its streets to let the legends of motor sport take a spin during a curtain raiser to the British International Motor show at the NEC. Could this be what you remember?

Rob, I've mentioned that event on here before. There were many events around the city centre in 1985 to celebrate the world motoring centenary which created a 'circuit' of sorts for parade laps around the town. Here's a few pics already added on here some time ago. There were many days dedicated to certain marques as well - I think the Moss day was another though might have been later as Anne suggests. I have a ton more images in a box somewhere, as I went to them all. I have to say I fell out with Moss that day as he was the only celebrity driver who refused autographs when I was there. Derek Bell, John Surtees, Roy Salvadori etc were also there.

As it happens I'm currently scanning all my pre-digital photos and have just got back to 1985. I can confirm the motoring festival that featured Stirling Moss was on 13th October that year.

With the above in mind I've just come across these two from those 1985 events. I actually think I have each of these stored away somewhere back in my mum's loft.