Coventry on film

I'm a young film maker, and recently I went down to Coventry and was amazed by its cathedral, so I went back there and made a short documentary, and I thought I would share it with you 'Coventry Cathedral History'

Hello there, I had a look at your film and thought it was very good, nice to see a youngster on Historic Coventry, keep up the good work .

And now for a treat! One of our fellow members, Chaingang, has kindly given me a copy of a DVD, converted from his original cine footage from the early 60s. There are so many reminiscences that this will create, and so many potential topics, that I'll just let you all get on and watch this for yourselves. The first of the two parts is the Godiva Procession - and I think it's fair to say that "they don't make 'em like that any more"! Godiva Procession 1962

And now for part two - around town..... but watch out for something extra that motors along! Rebuilding Coventry 1961 Many thanks again Chaingang!

How good was that! A wonderful treat. Thank you so much Chaingang and Rob. Gilly

Fantastic views there from the Cathedral tower of the area I used to live. I'd forgotten the colours and had to freeze the video every few seconds in order to take it all in. New Street had already disappeared under the Lanchester development except for The Livery Stables on the corner of New Street and Cox Street. Also proof there if any were needed that Market Way (then known as Market Street) was open to traffic when originally built.

Thank you Rob, the cine films are absolutely fantastic; they bring back such great memories. I'm sure I'll watch them time and time again. This must have been the procession of all processions, I had to laugh at the mobile toilets, I remember they were the butt of many a joke in Coventry. The apprentices of large companies always put on a good show and I remember always looking out for the GEC float. I always wanted to be part of the carnival and envied those taking part. The second cine film of Coventry evoked personal memories of my life as a teenager. Brilliant.

OMG - The Market Tavern Cheers Chaingang and Rob !

That was a nice treat, thank you to both Rob and Chaingang. That was the Broadgate I love and will always remember and I think most of us think the same. Thanks again.

You're absolutely right about Broadgate, Dreamtime. Incidentally, the clip at the beginning of part two showed a production of The Coventry Mystery plays, which were initially revived and performed in the cathedral ruins by an amateur company, the Coventry Theatre Guild.

Terrific video which brings back a lot of memories. Thank you both for taking us back so graphically. It`s a job to remember that the motorway scene was typical when the M1 first opened. Looking at the construction of the city centre does anyone else remember watching the floors of the multi storey car parks being jacked into position by British Lift Slab?

The portion of the film showing the mobile toilets was an entry by Alfred Herbert Works and Design drawing offices. A parody of the then city councils purchase of two white mobile toilets. Ted Derome, Arthur Watts, Ron Stringer, Fred Blackford and Lord Mayor David Greenhalgh all feature. We are hoping to hold a reunion later this year.

The Coventry Carnivals were brilliant back in the days, the procession from the Memorial Park went on for at least a good hour or more with loads of bands and fantastic floats that had many hours of work and thought put into them, I remember the "walkers" in fancy dress in the procession all carried buckets that we could put money into as they passed by and we also threw pennies onto the passing floats. There were men selling streamers, balloons and plastic trumpets. Ice cream vans were parked all along the carnival route. After the carnival we all went to the Memorial Park to the fair. As you can see from you film the crowds were massive and you had to get to a good spot on the route early to watch. We used to get onto Warwick Road by the Hylands Hotel every year, at least an hour early to make sure we were at the front. After watching the 3 last Godiva Procession I think the organisers should watch and learn from your cine film. They lasted half an hour, if that, the floats were badly made and to be honest it was rubbush. I noticed many people didn't stop to watch and there were no crowds lining the route.

Truly truly fascinating. Thanks Rob. It's so strange to see buildings still there today, being built , yet in scenes joined by areas now gone that I've never seen. Brilliant to watch. Great to see the Drill Hall again - anyone know its original purpose - military I presume. I was also trying to work out the location of where the carnival was filmed - Kenilworth Road somewhere? One of my earliest memories is watching the carnival by the entry on Albany Road - my grandparents lived in Newcombe Road. It seemed to go on forever!!

It was St John's Cycle Works (Croft Road had not yet been built).