Quirky facts about Coventry

Hi all! I'm on the lookout for quirky facts about Coventry that maybe most people don't know. I've had a good look online but am coming up with the usual Lady Godiva stories. Have any of you heard some more unusual stories about Cov?

Allan Clarke of the Hollies got married in 1963 at St James Church, Styvechale. The first coffin to be transported to a funeral in a car was in a Daimler in Cov. Douglas Bader also married in Coventry. He was friends of the vicar, don't know church though. Jimmy Hill turned down Kevin Keegan when Keegan had trial, JH said he was too small.

According to Arthur Mee's "Warwickshire" first published in 1936: "Its area today is five times as big as it was at the beginning of our century" between 1910 and 1935 over 700 new factories or extensions to factories were built "A little more than 400 years ago ........... 11 men and women went to the stake for their faith, among them a mother whose crime was that she had taught her little ones to say the Lord's Prayer and the Commandments in their mother tongue."

One for your collection, Sally. The third spire, Christ Church or Greyfriars Church, was gradually demolished after The Reformation for the stone to be re-used in other buildings but the tower and spire survived. By the end of the 19th century it was being used as a pig sty and was nicknamed 'The tallest pig sty in England'. The church was rebuilt in 1832 but succumbed to German bombing in 1941, the tower surviving yet again. It is now used as café.

Another - In December 1899, George Rainbow, the landlord of a Coventry pub next to the canal basin, the Admiral Codrington, was boiling a large copper of water in preparation for mashing ingredients for brewing and was scalded to death when he accidentally fell into it.

When I was a kid I can remember a plane flying over with a banner behind it which read RIGHT MONKEY. Anyone remember this or what it meant, was it a show somewhere? It is something that has stuck with me to this day.

NormK, don't know how old u are but I'm sure Al Read (old comedian) must have appeared at Coventry Theatre, his catchphrase was 'Right Monkey', just a thought.

Sounds about right Dean, that explains it. I was born in 41 so I am as old as a conker tree Thanks.

Hi Norm, I recall an era where there were several of these aeroplane advertising streamers. The late fifties & into the sixties, I think.

Hi Philip, I believe wedding proposals are the in thing these days.

Wasn't that around the time that Elmdon and Baginton were in competition to become the larger airport. Elmdon won of course and is now Birmingham International.

Paul McCartney got stopped for speeding on Fletchamstead Highway on 22nd July 1968, he was driving Aston Martin DB6, he did not appear in court but was fined £15. Believe it or not but was stopped outside the Matrix where he played in Nov 1962

The origins of 'sent to Coventry' was new to me.

Douglas Bader was married at the church in Earlsdon, the one with the blue roof.