Coventry Firsts

Just like our Famous Coventrians list, I have created a new listing to show off our Coventry Firsts, accessible via the yellow button on the left. Once we've verified a genuine "first", just let us know by posting or discussing on here, and we can add it to the list. I've added a few to get it started, but I'm sure there will be many more. I can add the Cathedral recording studio too when we find more details to add.

Oh those TV antennas on rooftops (back in them thar days) I wonder who was the first. There must have been a 'first' and I remember there was an incognito van seeking those who didn't have a licence. Didn't you have to have the TV on for them (whoever) to know ? Come to think of it, I don't recall seeing an antenna on our roof either. Our first TV had a tiny little screen situated in a large cabinet, and dad insisted we closed the doors before going to bed. It must have been his pride and joy (apart from me of course) ! Then came the coloured. The very first show I watched in colour was Pat Boon at the London Palladium, and that was at a neighbours house. Here we are now watching tripe with ads as we did then.

The Hillman Imp is a small economy car that was made by the Rootes Group and its successor Chrysler Europe from 1963 until 1976. Revealed on 3 May 1963,[6] after much advance publicity, it was the first British mass-produced car with the engine block and cylinder head cast in aluminium. From Wikipedia, does this count for us?

In 1948, work started on Coventry's traffic-free shopping centre, the first in Europe. Rotterdam's opened for business months later. And another

In 1966, Mohammed Daar became Britain's first ethnic minority policeman to walk the beat. It happened in Coventry !!!!!!

I'm having trouble finding any information about this one, Mick - do you know of a good source or article?

I might be wrong, but I understood that at the time of filming "The Italian Job" in the late Sixties, the Sewers where the Minis were driven through, (in Stoke Aldermoor), were the biggest in Europe at the time !

I must confess, I'm a little reluctant to claim this one for Coventry, as a little Googling has given credit to the Buick 3.5-litre V8 in 1961 - later apparently becoming the Rover V8.

Hi Rob, you have had me working here. I have had out every Coventry book in my possession and still cannot find anything. I have found on the internet that it was donated by the BBC. My thoughts were from a pub quiz question where they asked what was unique about Coventry Cathedral and I put the pennies set in the floor as my answer and got it wrong.

I have a feeling that you are correct about this, Mick - I have a vague memory that I've heard something, somewhere, in the past about a recording studio in the cathedral, although I didn't know if it was unique or the first. I know the Hippodrome used to have a BBC studio inside, from where live broadcasts and recordings were made, apparently, although again, I've no idea if it was a first for Coventry.

Newspaper archives again. It says open 11th February 1964 although it does say to replace facilities recently in the Cappers Room. It also says Mr Green has been the Coventry correspondent since 1950 but does not say where from.

How about that in 1948, Coventry had the first UK smokeless zone?

October 1966. The first yellow Dennis F36 fire engine made its debut at the Chief Fire Officer's annual conference at Southport. For the City of Coventry Fire Brigade. KDU 997D being the first of three purchased: Yellow paint specification number P339/7419 at I.C.I. Paint Division. Yellow having a wave length of 5300-5500 angstroms.

That's a nice quirky one, eh! Now added.

Another quirky "first", nice one!