UK City of Culture 2021

So Coventry, Paisley, Stoke, Sunderland and Swansea are through to the final shortlist and must submit further details before the end of September. Official announcement It might be tough to compete with Swansea and Paisley as England may have been seen to have had its turn. I doubt Sunderland is a likely choice and their bid site is poor in my opinion but then Coventry's site is painful to use and not as well maintained as it could be. Coventry Sunderland Paisley's site is easier to use than Coventry's site and reasonably well maintained. Paisley Swansea's site is terrible. Swansea At first glance Stoke's site is easiest to use, professional and kept up to date but I think it's got less justification than Coventry. Stoke

BBC News yesterday started featuring the five cities, with Coventry the first to appear It reported that Coventry was a city of reconciliation, showing the cathedral ruins, and that it once had a thriving motor industry, which has now disappeared There was a short conversation with Lynval Golding, backed by the "Ghost Town" music, in which he said that in the 1970s he couldn't walk out in Coventry without being threatened by the National Front Finally it showed a young chap who jumped up and down in front of a graffiti-covered wall (they referred to him as a choreographer) and some skateboarders in Priory Street (just where skateboarding is forbidden)! That should clinch it for Coventry

They certainly made a determined effort not to include Coventry's medieval history but all the inclusive, youf stuff is very in with the authorities. I think that the biggest problem for Coventry is probably that Scotland and Wales haven't had their 'turn'. Glasgow and Liverpool had their European Capital of Culture but our next turn has been stopped by Brexit. So the main challenger will be Wales. I think the announcement is Thursday about 7:30pm.

Hi MR. The ex 'Special' interviewed was in fact Neville Staple. I too saw the broadcast and thought that it was about as much help in promoting the city as inviting an ex Luftwaffe pilot to contribute. Neville never had any problem with walking down the street without being threatened or assaulted by NF Supporters. On the contrary, he was involved in many a fracas with the Town Skinheads resulting in Borstal which he freely admits in his autobiography! Another point, is that he was originally a 'Roadie' with the Band along with his pal Trevor Evans and was invited to join the vocal line-up after being heard by Jerry Dammers Toasting' to the Ska Music off-stage. I met Neville, Trevor & Jerry back in April this year at 'Skamouth' (Great Yarmouth), but I repeat that the negative comments, (even pertaining to alleged events of 40+ years ago) will not help in my opinion. Incidentally, the lyrics of 'Ghost Town' were not pertaining to Coventry at all! It will be interesting to see the what contributors interviewed for the other cities featured this week on the BBC News say about their own!

Oops! Neville Staple it was

Link to the item

The result is being announced on Thursday December 7 at around 7.30pm. I for one hope Coventry wins as putting cynicism aside it brings more funding and more exposure to the city and should give local economic activity a slight kick in 2021 providing it is marketed well

Well done Coventry.

Coventry wins Woo hoo.

I haven't finished pinching myself yet! Did this really happen? Absolutely fantastic news - our Coventry is finally getting the recognition I think it deserves. I know we can all be cynical at times, and as a city we perhaps have lost our way for a while, but this is the kick in the right direction that we need, and I hope it will bring a few more smiles to our faces. I just hope they (whoever "they" are) spend the money wisely!

Well, what a surprise. Call me cynical, but having been held by Hull this year I was convinced that regardless of the strengths of the various bids, inevitably it would have been awarded to Welsh or Scottish cities. My faith in human nature has been resurrected (at least for this week) My wife and I left the city in 1969 for Worcestershire and then Warwickshire, but my business was in the city centre for many years, I suppose you can take the lad out of Coventry, but never Coventry out of the lad! For 40 yrs from 1963 I also had a season ticket at Coventry City, but again became disillusioned with not only the City but also the demise of Coventry Rugby Club. Albeit we now live only 30+ miles away, we have only been back to the city centre a dozen times since 1995 and often what we saw disappointed us, excuse me if I do not go into detail for my reasons, was I ashamed of my city, the answer is yes. But now seeing the efforts of many that have helped to achieve this wonderful milestone, I am full of pride but tinged with guilt that I abandoned the city of my birth. I sincerely hope that those like me who drifted away, return and again support the city as once again the PHOENIX ARISES from the ashes. Those responsible for this remarkable result, please make every effort to draw back those lost souls, we are with you all the way. And perhaps in our wildest dreams this may see the resurrection of CCFC and Coventry Rugby Club, but hey ho that maybe a step to far.

Hallelujah! Congratulations and the rest for Coventry. Hope it all works for the furture. Now I am going all teary and lost for words for once (no comments please). Cheers all you Coventrians

There is some kind of event at the Fargo Village at 11:15. Fargo Twitter stream

Can Coventry top this? - Hull 2017 (NSFW)

I'll not visit if you do. True Coventry Blue...