Coventry voted an ugly city

No...Elizabeth the Chef Midland Educational Kenco Coffee House Benleys Riddy's Surplus Store Gibberds Fennel's C&A Co-Op Wades the Furnishers Dolcis BHS Gas Showroom 'Fishy' Moores Exchange & Mart Barnby's Allied Carpets Lyons Coffee Shop no Charity Shops, and I've forgotten the name of the Pet Shop, (with Parrot), in Smithord Way.

I would like to see a chippy in the centre. Though the one I went to near the Kenilworth's Premier Inn was terrible.

It used to be great to grab a bag of chips from Fishy Moores and then walk up and look at the air guns in Exchange & Mart.

I could add a few more but a lot of names escape me, I liked Richards dress shop and there were several dress shops down the left hand side of the precinct from Broadgate. Woolworths, Singer sewing machines, Owen Owen's.

I haven't lived in Cov since 1968 so, even though I close my eyes, I find it hard to visualize the rows of shops. It seemed to me that you could get anything you needed in the city. Others member's list were a help. Thornton's Chocolate Cabin opposite the Coventry theatre. To fancy for my family but I did have an Easter egg with my name on it from there one year. Owen Owen's (sounds like a Welsh company!) for everything except food. Walking through the make up and perfume department was truly a heady experience. Dolcis for what my mum considered wildly expensive shoes. I once bought a pair of suede and (real) patent leather shoes designed by students at the Royal College of Art for the astounding cost of 29/11. I used my pay from working at the Circ. British Home Stores, especially for their cafe upstairs. Hard to get a table there sometimes. Benley' - I bought a mustard coloured suede coat from there in the mid-60's. Fishy Moores -who didn't love Fishy Moores? The Church Bookshop just about opposite from where Sainsburys is now. Not only a religious bookshop despite it's name. I won a school prize and was given money to go and pick a book for the presentation. When I got there I was giddy from the choice and ended up selection 4 paperbacks. When I showed them to the Head she informed me that the school didn't present paperbacks from the stage so I'd have to forgo that honour! Wimbush baker just up the street before you crossed to go to Owens. Exchange and Mart which was an upmarket version of the sort of places I used hang around with my Dad. We bought our ex- army tents to go on holiday. My dad bought baggy khaki shorts and I think I bought my first duffle coat there. There is a wonderful film called The Castle made in Australia about 20 years ago, featuring a family living in a very small town endangered by urban growth and one of the things the father and his teenage boys used to love was the Exchange and Mart magazine which they would ooh and aah at all of the wonderful things available.

I tell you what does impress me in Coventry is the level of commitment from volunteers. Now, it might be similar elsewhere. Volunteering in all sectors. Charity shops & services. Folk that really care. Thank you to them.

I totally agree. The work done by volunteers makes life better for thousands and thousands of people on a daily basis. Cleaning up parks, meals on wheels, museum docents as well as helping the sick and aged in their homes or places of residence. There are hundreds more ways where they improve our world.