Famous Coventrians

Is John Lloyd the Armstrong Whitworth aircraft designer a man who earned Coventrian status?

Theresa Griffin, former Bishop Ullathorne pupil, has just been made a Labour peer in the latest round of new peers.

I've now entered both of the above into the Famous Coventrians list (apologies, Argon, for the delay getting around to this!)

Having rather belatedly watched a 2010 film with the family this afternoon which included the Actress Sinead Matthews, I 'googled' the film and found that she was born in Coventry in 1980/81, and attended Cardinal Wiseman School in the City. She appeared in the TV Series 'The Crown' and is still performing today in both Television and Theatre, so I suppose she should be included.

Excellent find, Wearethemods - I've now added her.

We have been watching an 80's series on the Rewind Channel called The Travelling Man, starring an actor called Leigh Lawson. I did not know much about him so I looked him up and lo and behold, he was born in Atherstone but moved to Coventry when he was 11 and went to Woodlands School. He was known by his birth name of Allan L Lawson then. He apparently did quite a lot of acting at the Belgrade and still has family connections in Coventry. He was once married to Hayley Mills and is now married to Twiggy. Does he qualify as a famous Coventrian?

Thanks Anne, I've added him.

Not sure how long she was a Coventrian, but a possible candidate, Helen Masters, actress known for role in Wycliffe.

Born in Coventry and brought up in Warwickshire, apparently.

Well, I couldn't think of a reason not to add her, so she's now on the list!

There was an obituary in The Daily Telegraph today for Courtnay Griffiths, a high profile barrister. Although not born in Cov, he moved there in 1961 and went to Bablake.

Roy came up with this gentleman in an aviation article he was reading, does he qualify as a famous Coventrian? Eric George Franklin OBE DFC AFC, born 1920 in Coventry and living in Palmerston Road on the 1921 census. He was apprenticed to Armstrong Whitworth and became their chief test pilot, testing such things as the AW flying wing. EGF

As a Member of the Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust, I have just received my copy of the R-R HT Journal Magazine. Within its pages, is an article pertaining to a certain Adrian Lombard, CBE, 19th January 1915 - 13th July 1967. It states, "Adrian Albert Lombard was born in Coventry 19/01/1915, the second son of Arthur and Louisa Lombard. After leaving school at age 15, he went to work for the Rover Car Company as a trainee Draughtsman, and at the same time attended classes at the Coventry Technical College." Subsequently, he began working with both Frank Whittle's Power Jets Co. & Rover. By 1943, Ernest Hives, Director & General Manager of Rolls-Royce, did a deal whereby R-R would take over the work on Jet Engines, and in return give Rover the the R-R Tank Engine Factory near Nottingham. The Rover employees had the option of remaining with Rover and moving to Nottingham, or joining R-R. Lombard joined the latter, and joined Stanley Hooker's (later Sir), as Chief Designer. By 1947, Lombard moved to Derby, and in 1952 he was promoted to Chief Designer - Aero Division, by 1954 he was promoted to Chief Engineer, and 1958 he became a Director of the Derby Engine Division Board. A range of engine designs fell to Lombard. In the early 1960's he became seriously ill, and after a long period of absence, during which he became partially blind in one eye, he began to take an interest in many new Technologies including Vertical Take-Off & Landing. Soon after, he was involved with the Design & Development of a Civil Engine (eventually the RB211). It is believed within R-R circles that his untimely death in 1967, at the age of 52, left a vacuum which resulted in many technical problems associated with this engine, which his engineering knowledge could well have prevented or resolved early. I will leave this up to Rob and the Moderators to ascertain whether this justifies Lombard as being a 'Famous Coventrian'.

Hi Anne, as an Addendum to this, are there any newspaper articles or archival references about his Parents, or indeed, Adrian himself, as to their later lives in Coventry, burials/cremations for instance ?

I have looked through the newspapers and Ancestry. There are several articles and mentions about Adrian Lombard but the information is basically the same about his career. I have found he was born at 9 Newfield Road but later he and his family lived at 136 Widdrington Road. His father Arthur Henry Lombard was a jig and tool maker and his father before him worked at a cycle factory. His father died in 1949 aged 61. His mother Louisa lived a good 90 years and died in 1982. I have not found out where any of them were buried. There was a memorial service held for Adrian held at Derby Cathedral. I have looked at the London Road CD but none of them are buried there. I found a book on Roy's shelf about Rolls Royce Derby which does mention him but again the same information available on the internet. All it does say is that he was very stressed by the problems of the RB211 engine and he died at his desk on 13th July 1967. Not much I am afraid but I hope you can get a few bits of interest from it.