Coventry makes us proud!

Hi Whilst enjoying a school holiday job at the GEC works in stoke, I did learn some electronic terms in their day, like the colour bands around resistors. I learn't about power distribution, the phases etc, as I was involved with finanace aspects for an electrical design office at Courtaulds Engineering. That in itself gives me pride in our city. Some of the engineers that I was in day to day contact, chemical, electrical as well as civil, were some of the best in the world. That was another thing, they were always glad to help. A chemical engineer who became a company director would think nothing of helping me out with homework. A good reason to be proud of my city.

I did say earlier that my pride in the city was about the engineering. There was nowhere better to learn to be an electronics engineer than GEC Copsewood (as opposed to 'learning engineering'), and what I learned there stuck with me all my working life; we could do with engineers to be turned out like that today. My comment, incidentally was a general one, not about whether or not we have pride in the city, or, indeed, anywhere.

From "The Town of Fortune's Wheel" (Early thirties). "In the middle of England like the hub of a wheel stands Coventry, and it is the happy town of Fortune's Wheel, for the wheel has made its fortune. All those things that have contributed so much to the changed life of the world have their manufacturing home in this fine town. It is England's birthplace of the age of speed and swift communications. Coventry gave us the means to span continents in the aeroplane. It has made all England our parish if we own a car. Probably most of our ten million cyclists ride machines from a Coventry factory. If it is proud of its industrial history and achievements. Coventry is also proud of its place in our country's story... it is proud also of its adaptability to change, the quality that has made it the capital of the motor-car world. Again and again it has seen its prosperity threatened and has adapted itself to something new." A town to be proud of... and written over 75 years ago!!!

Hello Rugby Thank you for such a gem of a post to encourage us here. Both us members & those in our city. It is my hope that even in these times of recession, that the same spirit of inovation will comply with the last sentence... "Again and again it has seen its prosperity threatened and has adapted itself to something new." Thank you again so much.

Thanks Rugby, that was great to read.

Hello Rugby, That was so well written and so very true. Thank you. As Philip says 'That was a gem of a post' Gilly.

Hello Gilly. I love it when the HCF Australasia correspondents come on. It's as though we can almost shake hands with you. It's nearly 10.30pm here, been wet most of the day and is damp now. temp about 7 which is quite mild. I bet you miss that! Hello to you too, Tricia. Hope you ok.

What a technology that sat in our homes, it is just as if Trica, Gilly & Rugby are in the same lounge. "Someone pass the port, please".

Make mine a sherry if you don't mind Philip, although a long drink may be more appropriate. It will be in the 40's this week Gilly, Don't know if I could stand the cold now. However, I do miss the seasons as it is kinder to the gardens. Cheers everyone

Hi all Pale sherry on it's way, Dreamtime. Have you ever tried a long port & lemon? That was my wife's parents favorite evening drink. to you too.

Port and lemon sounds good to me! It's a long time since I tasted sherry... I used to like Harveys Bristol Cream. Cheers everyone

Hi. Cheers, Tricia. All of that sounds good to me. I have never ever been really drunk in my life, but I do not need much for me to be tipsy & lose my way around our home. I am grounded in home with Pam, waiting for our new lounge & dining suite to arrive today.

In a sense, we are... and make mine a dry sherry please!! The book from which I quoted is "Warwickshire" one in a series entitled "The King's England" by Arthur Mee.

Hello Rugby. Yes, I remember it well. "Pass the port"! Thank you.

Only the best Tricia. A drop of the old Bristol my dad used to say, and he used to put a cherry in it. I will have a long port and lemon tomorrow night Philip and think of you all. It is Australia day tomorrow and we will be watching the firework display from Perth in our back garden, we have a lovely view from there. and good health to you all. ps. hope we are not straying from the subject but I am proud to be a Coventrian