Eddie Weaver - Lord Mayor

Hi there, My great uncle was Eddie Weaver who was Lord Mayor of Coventry in 1982-83. I have some photos and have done some research about him, but would love to find out more if anyone has any information or memories. Thanks Melanie Caldicott

Hello Melanie, welcome to our friendly forum You've posted in a number of threads - let's hope you get some good responses. Several of us have access to the British Newspaper Archives, and there are a few Coventry Telegraph articles relating to Eddie - perhaps you may have seen them already, but if not, I'm sure any informative or interesting ones will be posted on here! I seem to recall playing bowls against Eddie in the 1990s. I think he played at Coventry Parks BC, behind the Charterhouse.

Thanks Midland Red - it's really nice to hear that someone remembers him. I remember him being Mayor as a child the year that Princess Diana visited Coventry - my school visited Caludon Castle I think to see her helicopter touch down. I have a subscription to BNA and have researched there before but I must have another look.

There are quite a number of pictures of Diana's visit on Coventry Digital. Some may be of interest.

Was he related to Terry Weaver, the local councillor from the 70s?

Yes, they were brothers

I worked with Terry in the 70s at HSA Bitteswell. IIRC he was heavily involved with the EET&PU?

I hope I'm not sounding a bit naive, but what does EET&PU mean ?

Sorry, that was poor communication on my behalf. EET&PU = Electrical, Electronic, Telecommunications and Plumbing Union. IIRC, Terry was Shop Steward and also electrical convenor at one time. In the 70s he worked predominantly on the test bench at Bitteswell so he could take time off to fulfil his civic duties.

I liked Eddie Weaver. Whilst I worked at Allesley Hotel, you'd get a lot of visits from councillors and civic leaders, including various mayors. I never saw a single one order from the carvery or Table d'Hote menu, always a la carte with wine and liquors & cigars as standard. And ALWAYS signed off as "expenses". Councillor Weaver was the exception. Whilst the bill was "signed off", he would always have the carvery and half of Springfield bitter. He was always polite and spoke to you when you carved his roast beef. I'm not creating a political debate, but he always came across as proper working class who had reached the heights of sucess, but never forgot his roots.