Famous Coventrians

Harry Shaw has passed away at the age of 87

Steve Johnson, bass guitarist with Staveley Makepeace and Lieutenant Pigeon, has died, 6th January 2019. RIP Steve.

Coventry born Norman Dewis OBE has passed away at the age of 98. As Jaguar's legendary chief test and development engineer, he played a very important part in the successes of the C and D Type Jaguars during the 1950s not to mention the E Type in the 1960s. He was also a decent bloke.

I am a National Trust Member and I recently contacted Smallhythe Place in Kent which was the final home of Ellen Terry and where she died in 1928. This was prompted by some images Rob has in the Library. Sadly they have no further resources relating to her in Coventry however I got the following response. I must visit one day. Subject: RE: Ellen Terry in Coventry Hi there I am afraid we have no photographs of Ellen Terry in Coventry, as you know she was born at a theatrical lodging in the town and would have returned to London as soon as her father's job as a theatrical extra was finished. What I do know is that she was very proud to have been born so close to Shakespeare's home town and often referred to that. Best wishes Susannah Mayor Senior House Steward Smallhythe Place Smallhythe TN30 7NG 01580 762334

N Y. It may be that you already know but an article in the Coventry Herald in 1923 about her 75th birthday states that she was born in Market Street.

Hi argon Yes Rob even has a postcard of the house in the Library section - Rob, I took the liberty of trying to enlarge it - hope that's ok, pal

Sadly to report that my cousin, Sandra Price MBE (see Famous Coventrians list and this link), former England netballer and Team Manager, caught covid a couple of weeks ago and is in hospital with palliative care. Her lungs have been so badly affected they say there is no more can be done for her. We grew up together, Sandra being a few years older than me, for a time we both worked at the GEC in Copsewood, and we had common interests in sports and at the Speedway. While I have seen her only rarely since I came to Australia in 1973, I always remember her cheerful disposition. Fingers crossed for her!

Sad to tell that Sandra Price passed away from Covid over the weekend. She was 77 and had apparently been in poor health before she contracted the virus. I will have funeral details when available, if anyone on this site knew her.

Inside page of a book I've started reading called Kiss of Death. Does he qualify to be included?

Hi Mick. I'd have him in - link I went to school with Malcolm for seven years, and he was one of the nicest people you could meet. Not surprised he became a scientist, and I think years ago he did Open University programmes on BBC2. But I was surprised years ago to find out his new career. Sad to say I've not read any of his work yet - I'm still thinking about getting round to reading George Eliot and Philip Larkin!

This book is about the plague in Eyam village

Malcolm Rose now added to our list of "Famous Coventrians".

Sadly, another famous Coventrian, Danny McAlinden, died on March 8th.

I have mentioned him before as a possibility. Iain Pears, Art Historian, Novelist with many books. Born in Coventry, went to Warwick School.

Great stats, belushi Mine are, went to school with two (Dave Moorcroft & Bobby Arthur) Beaten up by one (not Dave Moorcroft) and been beaten at darts by a third!!!