Famous Coventrians

It is reported that Coventry, England and British Lions legend David Duckham has passed away at the age of 76 RIP "Flopsy" Post copied from topic Rugby Union in Coventry on 10th Jan 2023 7:14 pm

The other day I got talking with someone about ventriloquists, and I suddenly remembered that Dennis Spicer was a rather well known one, who lived much of his life in Coventry. See this Wiki page and a fine example of his work on YouTube. He grew up in Enfield Road, just around the corner to where I grew up (much later!), and also my dad, who grew up in Harefield Road, just 50 yards away. Dad used to say that Enfield Road was known locally as Dennis Spicer's Road because of the famous connection! As Wiki says, Dennis died in a car accident with his dummy in the back, but further to that, the story goes that when firemen tried to extract him from the car, they first wasted time trying to remove his dummy from the back seat - thinking it was a trapped child!

We watched a 1953 film on Talking Pictures last night called Love in Pawn. Reg Dixon had quite a prominent part in it.

I've only just had it pointed out to be by our member "Walrus" that well known actor Ron Cook attended Wyken Croft Junior and Caludon Castle schools. I've seen him on TV many times but had no idea he had a Coventry connection! Of course, he's now been added to our Famous Coventrians list.

Ron Cook was my contemporary at Caludon. I believe he started in Talbot House whose housemaster was Geoff Bennett. Mr Bennett was responsible for the annual school plays, such as Sweeney Todd" and "Morning Departure" in which Ron Cook took a prominent part (Tobias Ragg in Sweeney) and no doubt launched him on his career path. There are some anecdotes on the "Caludon Castle, Coventry - Alumni Prior To 1990" FB group page.

I have just read that Actress Jennie Jacques was born in Coventry, (Walsgrave Hospital to be precise), and grew up in the City, Leamington Spa and Warwick. She was the lead character in WPC 56 and other TV Series and Film Productions since around 2009. There was a local article In the Coventry Telegraph 25 April 2013 "Coventry actress Jennie Jacques goes back to the 50s for BBC drama WPC 56".

Brilliant, thank you, Wearethemods. I've just added her to our list of Famous Coventrians.

I have just read the sad news that Coventry Kid Frank Ifield passed away on Saturday.

Very sad indeed. 'I remember him'.

I came across this woman's book 'New Lives, New Landscapes' yesterday in an Oxfam shop and although I didn't buy it (I am interested in environmental issues/planning but I have far too many books as it is), I was intrigued why I had never heard of her before. She was clearly an important voice and her book(s) are still relevant though written over half a century ago. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nan_Fairbrother https://www.udg.org.uk/publications/udlibrary/new-lives-new-landscapes Incidentally does anybody know anything about her family/early years in Coventry?