Famous Coventrians

...also known locally as Paddy's Wigwam! Frederick was a member of the local retailing family of which the best known branch was Gibberds the Tailors of which Frederick was an eldest son.

Frederick Gibberd was an English architect and landscape designer. He was born on 7 January 1908, the eldest of the five children of a local tailor. When born, the family lived in Spencer Avenue but later moved to Clarendon House in Clarendon Street, where Frederick grew up and realised that he wanted to be an architect. He was educated at King Henry VIII School.

The reference to Ivor Preece reminds me that his son, Peter, also from KHVIII, played for England. We should add Peter Rossborough - KHVIII, Coventry and England fullback - to the list. From the same Duckham-Rossborough-Preece era, we should add Bob Long, who was the England rugby team doctor the last time I met him.

Certainly "Rosey" should be added - a fine attacking full-back - but I'm not sure Peter Preece is a real Coventrian as he may have been born in Meriden (or is it just that his birth was registered in Meriden R D?) KHVIII (Keith McGawley/Jeff Vent) certainly did Cov and England proud in those days of "proper" rugby union

I guess some are born Coventrians, but I think we should also allow those who "achieved Coventrian-ness", and even those who "had Coventrian-ness thrust upon them" to take their place in the list. So, for example, all those who think that Nigel Boocock's name was synonymous with Coventry (despite his Wakefield birthplace), wouldn't be disappointed.

I quite agree with the sentiment However, I can't agree with Nigel's lady Cynthia - she's a Suffolk gal who met Nigel when he rode for Ipswich and they married in Suffolk in 1958

Ivor Preece attended Broad Street School.

Ivor Preece attended Broad Street School, the Ivor Preece Centre is located at the Broad Street Rugby Club. Two other England full international players from the same school were , Ernie Robinson and Phil Judd.

Does Lord Iliffe qualify? He was born in Allesley, Near enough I would have thought. Harold Innocent the actor (the bishop in Kevin Costner's Robin Hood) was Coventry born.

I well remember Harold Innocent, he worked in the offices at Alfred Herberts, Red Lane for a short while in the late 50's. He must have been in between starring roles at that time because I racked my brain at the time trying to remember where I had seen him before, obviously it had been on TV. Did not know he was Coventry born though.

Sorry MR - you're quite right. I was confusing Cynthia with Wendy Lightfoot. Senior moment, again!

Aha! Jim's first wife was Wendy (he later married Jill Reeve in 1969) and Col Cottrell's wife was also Wendy

I suspect most members of the forum are too young to remember Reg Dixon, the Coventry comedian. Reg was born in Coventry and always remembered his roots. I recall seeing him at the Hippodrome (I think in pantomime). He also used to be on the radio and I remember seeing him on television wearing a stripped jacket and a trilby hat, he always started his act with his catch-phrase "I'm poorly, proper poorly".He wrote his signature tune 'Confidentially' himself and it was a hit record. But the song I remember him singing most was Send Me To Coventry. If my memory serves me right the words were. Send me to Coventry, my home town, Send me where the spires one, two three, Seem to ring a welcome home to me, Send me Coventry, I don't care, There's a lady there to meet you named Godiva, Back in my home town.

What about Bobby Gould, Trevor Gould, John Barton, Keith Fairbrother, footballers and rugby players. (All from Caludon Castle School). Reg Mathews already mentioned, played for England. George Cole, also known as "The Boot", Rugby for Coventry and England.

Hi Tricia, regarding the Reg Dixon song, my version from memory is slightly different from yours and went as follows: Send me to Coventry my home town, send me where the spires one two three seem to ring a welcome home to me send me to Coventry and there will be a pretty little girl named Godiva waiting there for me. I don't know which is correct as I have never seen it in writing, (but I bet someone has ). Alan