Bombing aftermath

1939 Telephone Directory: Swears and Wells, 7 Cross Cheaping Owen Owen, Broadgate Prudential Assurance opened in 1940 at 11 Broadgate

Thanks MR. I would think that proves it was in Cross Cheaping. A look in the street directories for years before Owens was built would show the demarcation lines for Burges/Cross Cheaping and Broadgate. I don't have access to these unfortunately or I would post.

Belgrade's hit wartime drama One Night in November goes online to mark Blitz 80th anniversary (Coventry Observer). An excellent play for those who haven't had the opportunity to see it. Also mentions new film looking back on the Blitz from the perspectives of five different people who lived through it by the Coventry Lord Mayor's Committee for Peace and Reconciliation. Set to premiere online at 7:45pm on Saturday November 14 via 14nov.coventrycityofpeace.uk (paper says 8pm).

Prof's picture of bus EWK 240 in post 106 of this topic was taken by a War Office official photographer, and was formerly Crown Copyright but this expires after 50 years. There is a full resolution copy at commons.wikimedia.org. Although the bus appears to be a write-off, new vehicles were unavailable, and the chassis and engine were in sufficiently good condition that they were given a new body and the bus continued to operate for many years.

I actually clambered on the rubbish to get a better look at what the firemen were spraying, and didn't at first understand why the hell they didn't remove the damned thing, before they tackled the fire, as they could have got closer with the pump as well. There were a few trams burnt out that night. It ended the tram service abruptly. But what it did do was to lighten the city, the city had very tall buildings, narrow streets and dark hemmed in places, a wonderful place of smells, intrigue and mystery - each shop different, a stones throw to the other side of the road. Dodging in and out of the trams, suddenly all gone, a heap of rubble, broken buildings, still burning - it took months for it to sink in. It never really did for me. I think of Coventry, and it's before the war, and the fifties, still broken.

80 years ago and Coventry had just experienced a nightmare of a gigantic size. No one can explain it for it affected each and everyone in a different way, nearly everyone of us already had brothers, fathers, sisters, in extreme danger, thousands not to return, maybe a woman who had lost sons or husband welcomed the nightmare, who knows. But for most they had watched this happen to London, Liverpool etc on the cinema newsreel. We knew this would happen, but not on the scale, and time it did, and certainly in real life it was not imaginable. Coventry suffered a bombing raid of length and scale that tried men to their limits, in bravery, in seeing suffering, destruction, fire, exhaustion, it was all there, there was no escape for most. It was so immense that men returning in the morning were cheered to the rafters, the relief could not be imagined when relations were found safe. You can think about it, but if something triggers that memory, then it still returns, even the acrid smell. People may try to write of it, but get nowhere near the real thing. All over the town people experienced emotions that changed almost every second, the drone in the sky, entering or leaving, the distance of the bombs, small pieces of glass through the air, or maybe steel girders. Coventry people faced it all, and you should not forget it was your kith and kin that fought this war, so you should have freedom.

Radio 4, 8.00pm tomorrow. "The Raising of Coventry" "Telling the story of the bombing of Coventry 80 years ago on November 14th, 1940. Told through the eyes of fictional characters, eyewitnesses, experts and archive audio." May be worth a listen (it will be on iplayer after)

Someone identify please. On a bus route!

I'll think about it, but it's a tough one Prof.

Helen, I think the clue is in the name Ryder's. There was a corn merchant I think in Coventry possibly in West Orchard called Ryder Betts, as I recall. This may be the Ryder half in another shop. Alas the photo is somewhat out of focus so it is difficult to read what they dealt with for their business. The answer could be in business directories, if any of our good membership would kindly look for us.

You're thinking of Rider Betts, Prof. The shop in the photo is Riders. There is no connection as Rider Betts was formed by John Rider Betts, so it wouldn't be known as Riders. The telephone directories around the outbreak of WWII give no answer.

Thanks for that MR. If only we could read what they trade as!

Apart from Rider Betts there was a William Rider sweetshop at 95 Dunbar Avenue but it doesn't look like the map and the buildings are wrong.

Thanks, Helen. I note the spelling is Rider, so maybe they had another shop in the central area, which I think it could be? Also is it not Durbar Avenue, not Dunbar?

You're right Prof, but it's not Durbar Avenue either.