Famous Coventry Visitors

Sounds very naff now, but I once went to a recording of "Sing along with Joe" (Joe "Mr Piano" Henderson) at the Standard factory in Canley. Don't know why, I think someone gave me a ticket. Does anyone remember this, would have been in the 50's

Joe "Mr Piano" Henderson was the long-time partner of Petula Clark, but they did not marry as he didn't want to become known as "Mr Petula Clark" - although he continued to accompany her musically for a time after their split

Nice to see Tony Iommi in Coventry to receive an Honorary Degree - BBC link. Another of which was also given to George Shaw the superb Coventry artist.

Here is a film of Allan Clarke of The Hollies getting married to Jennifer Bowstead at St James Church in Styvechale in 1964. Best man was Graham Nash.

Guy Gibson of Dambusters fame visited Coventry, he first saw his future wife at the Hippodrome, she was appearing in a show there in 1939.

I went to the Dunlop club in Burnaby Road to drop my mate off for rugby training one Tuesday night, decided to nip in the clubhouse for a quick pint, the partition was drawn separating it into two rooms which was unusual for a week night. Alan the steward said the Dunlop factory management were having a meeting. I stood at the bar and looked to my right to find I was standing next to Richard Noble, at the time the world land speed record holder. Shocked, I said "Are you who I think you are, Mr Noble?" "No, please, I`m Richard" he said. He opened the door between us and explained he was on a whistlestop tour of the UK, thanking all the people who had helped him in his latest project, Thrust SSC. The Dunlop had made the wheels for it. We must have chatted for about 15 minutes? I saw him again at the Motor Show at the NEC and he remembered me from that night at the Dunlop. He said he was nearly ready to start speed trials for Thrust SSC. What a friendly and pleasant man, all credit to him making history for Great Britain. I wish him well for his latest project

Cassius Clay (later Muhammad Ali) visited Coventry in 1983 to open a chip shop in Jardine Crescent, Tile Hill. See here.

And don't forget the late Queen Mother who accompanied King George Vl to visit Coventry.

Duke of York opening the Coventry Technical College. 5th film in on this Pathe film.

Edvard Benes - Czechoslovakian President visited Coventry - perhaps 1947/48 - I`m not sure, but I would guess it was just before he resigned after a Soviet style constitution was imposed on his country. I had long understood he was murdered, but it appears from Wikipedia that he died of natural causes - maybe a "broken heart" Why he was here I`m not sure, perhaps someone will give us the whole story.

Remembrance Day, 1984

007 Roger Moore at Greyhound Pub Longford this week - link

Mary Slessor - Scottish Missionary to (I think) Calabar area of Nigeria Was in Coventry yesterday and was discussing books about Mary Slessor with a friend, her work and origins from Dundee (where I stayed for approx 20 years), and she said "Oh there`s a Mary Slessor Street in Coventry". Looked it up on street map in Coventry and true enough it is in Willenhall. Why is the street so named? Was she a famous visitor to Coventry? ref. another thread, books to read - her life story is truly moving and perhaps puts some aspects of missionary work in Africa in perspective

I have just come across a comment in the 'Herald' (Sept 1891) to the fact that the widow of the American showman, P.T. Barnum, signed the visitors' book in St. Mary's Hall, she being one of 'a large number of Americans constantly visiting Coventry.'

Thanks to the Telegraph - fantastic shot of Sir Laurence Olivier walking down Hales Street during his visit to lay the foundation stone for The Belgrade.