Famous Coventrians

Was Frank Ifield a milkman in "Cov" before he became famous?? Or was it another famous Coventry name?

Almost. He left Coventry when he was nine and became a dairyman in Australia. Claims he listened to hillbilly music while milking the cows!

Photos from C&NW yesterday Ian Bell Ian Bell in action Steve Ogrizovic in action

Names to spring to my mind are Jimmy Hill and Pete Waterman. In the 60s, when I worked in Sketchley Dry Cleaners, in Far Gosford St, Jimmy Hill would come into the shop, I always found him to be very polite and friendly. I think at that time he lived on the Binley Rd and then he moved to Beechwood Avenue on the site where the Farmhouse Restaurant is now situated. Pete Waterman of course went to dear old Freddies and one of my brothers was in his class. I'm sure there are many more successful Coventrians but these were the two I first thought of.

Just read today in my local paper here in Melbourne Australia that 'Our Frank Ifield' will be singing with a seniors choir (aged from 64-92 years young) at a girls grammar school in a place called Bendigo (2 hours drive from Melbourne), to celebrate seniors week on October 5th. Bookings essential! Gilly

I will add The Specials, Selector and Fun Boy Three to the list along with Hazel O'Connor.

and not forgetting . . . . .

How about Sir Henry Parkes - five times premier of New South Wales in Australia and became known as the "Father of Federation"? Sadly the school in Canley named after him no longer exists - but a star in Coventrys "Walk of Fame" was added a few years ago.

Jimmy Hill is not a Coventrian!

Hi Midland Red, of course Jimmy Hill was born in London therefore is not a Coventrian. He did however do an awful lot to put the Sky Blues on the map so I think he deserves a mention!

What about Basil Heatley? I know he was born in Kenilworth, but he was our milkman, when I lived in Sewall Highway. I used to see him hurdling over garden gates, carrying milk bottles too. I can't remember him dropping any.

Not a Coventrian then, Philip !

Coventry Godiva - with whom I competed between about 1960 and 1967 - produced some fantastic athletes back then. I competed with people like Basil Heatley, Brian Kilby, Bill Adcocks, Juan and Dick Taylor, and a very precocious David Moorcroft. On the ladies side there was Sheila Taylor. I think all these made it to the Olympics, but - needless to say, I didn't. Coventry Rugby is best known in this part of the world (Australia) for David Duckham, who I managed to successfully tackle once, and is well remembered for his speed on the wing - particularly in these days when England's boring rugby team has to dress like "Fake Blacks" to be taken seriously! And who was the Olympic (?) cyclist who had a shop in Far Gosford St? The Coventry City Council has a newish-looking website devoted to Coventry's Olympians, but there's a broader list at I tsallaboutcoventry.co.uk, with people like actress Ellen Terry, politician Mo Mowlam, and Lieutenant Pigeon getting a mention. Apart from Lady Godiva - described as a "naked noblewoman" - there are few really historic figures, most being from the 1950s onward. People that I've heard of - James Starley, for example - don't rate a mention (although his nephew John does!). There is also a useful list at activcoventry.com But we ought to be able to do better than these.

Tom Bromwich? John Kemp Starley (inventor of the modern bicycle) was originally from Essex although he once lived a couple of streets from where I do now in Spon End.

From that illustrious site Wikipedia : Coventrians Coventry is well-known for the legendary 11th century exploits of Lady Godiva who, according to legend, rode through the city naked on horseback in protest at high taxes being levied on the cityfolk by her husband Leofric, Earl of Mercia. According to the legend the residents of the city were commanded to look away as she rode, but one man didn't and was allegedly struck blind. He became known as Peeping Tom thus originating a new idiom, or metonym, in English. There is a Grade II* listed statue of her in the city centre, which for 18 years had been underneath a much-maligned Cathedral Lanes shopping centre canopy, removed in October 2008. There is also a bust of Peeping Tom looking out across Hertford Street shopping precinct, and overlooking Broadgate and the statue of Godiva is a clock where, at every hour, Lady Godiva appears on her horse while being watched by Peeping Tom. The Labour politician Mo Mowlam was educated in Coventry; trade union organiser Tom Mann and National Socialist Movement leader Colin Jordan also came from the city. The statesman and founder of modern Australia, Sir Henry Parkes, was born in Canley in 1815. Science, technology and business Coventry has been the home to several pioneers in science and engineering. Sir Frank Whittle, the inventor of the jet engine, was from the city, as was the inventor James Starley, instrumental in the development of the bicycle and his nephew J.K. Starley, who worked alongside his uncle and went on to found car company Rover. Cyborg scientist Kevin Warwick is also a Coventrian, as is Sir John Egan, industrialist and former Chief Executive of Jaguar Cars. Sir Frederick Gibberd, architect and designer, was born in Coventry, and amongst the buildings for which he is best known are Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral and Didcot Power Station. Donald Trelford, journalist and academic, was born in Coventry and attended Bablake School. He was editor of The Observer newspaper from 1975 to 1993. Born in Coventry, former King Henry VIII Grammar School pupil Paul Connew became editor of the Sunday Mirror and deputy editor of the Daily Mirror and News of The World - he is now Director of Communications at the children's charity Sparks. Coventrians who established successful businesses from very humble beginnings were known as "Coventry Kids". The Arts Dame Ellen Terry, one of the greatest Shakespearian actors, was born in Coventry in 1847. Other Coventrians in the arts include the highly acclaimed poet Philip Larkin, actors Billie Whitelaw, Nigel Hawthorne, Brendan Price and Clive Owen, and the author Lee Child. Many notable musicians originated in Coventry, including Frank Ifield, Vince Hill, Delia Derbyshire, Jerry Dammers, Terry Hall, Neville Staple, Hazel O'Connor, Clint Mansell, Julianne Regan, Lee Dorrian, Jen Ledger of Skillet, Taz (lead singer of the band Stereo Nation), and Panjabi MC. 2 Tone music developed in and around Coventry in the 1970s and two of the genre's most notable bands, The Specials and The Selecter are both from the city. Other Coventry bands include Coventry Automatics, The Primitives, Adorable, Fun Boy Three, The Colourfield, King, Jigsaw, The Sorrows, and The Enemy. Record producer Pete Waterman is also from the city and is president of Coventry Bears. Broadcaster Brian Matthew, theatre producer Dominic Madden, comedian and writer Emma Fryer and adult model Debee Ashby are also Coventrians, as were comedian Reg Dixon and ventriloquist Dennis Spicer. Disgraced former Sky Sports broadcaster Richard Keys is also a Coventrian, a product of Whitley Abbey School. Sport Notable Coventrian sportsmen include speedway rider Tom Farndon ; Davis Cup tennis player Tony Mottram ; footballer Reg Matthews, Graham Alexander and Gary McSheffrey ; cricketers Tom Cartwright and Ian Bell ; rugby union players Ivor Preece, David Duckham, Neil Back, Danny Grewcock, Geoff Evans and Andy Goode ; motor-cyclist Cal Crutchlow ; boxer Errol Christie ; golfer Laura Davies ; sprinter Marlon Devonish ; distance runners Brian Kilby and David Moorcroft ; darts player Steve Beaton ; show jumper Nick Skelton ; professional wrestler Adam Windsor (Adam Bryniarski) ; fencer Kevin Reilly