Famous Coventrians

I know of another famous Coventrian, Jen Ledger of American Christian rock band Skillet, she is their drummer and provides backing vocals as well, her debut album with the band made massive success with the song Monster going gold the day after it was released on itunes and they have made it big in America including being on movie, PPV and game soundtracks. I urge you to put her on the walk of fame she has amazing talent and will most likely be the youngest to receive the honour.

For honorary status I suggest John Hanson (singer) born John Watts. Coventry grandparents with a shop in Spencer Street, he lived in Radford, Coventry in his late teens during the November blitz, when his grandparents shop was bombed, and he married a Coventry girl.

I have a very tenuous link to John Hanson.... he married Brenda Stokes, whose brother, Fred, married my dad's aunt Doris. I never actually met him though.

Rob. His autobiography 'Me and My Red Shadow' describes how he met Brenda Stokes if you are interested.

Thanks Argon, that's great. I had no idea that he'd written an autobiography, and hadn't even thought to look for one! However, I just found a copy on eBay for under two quid, so there's now one on its way! Thanks again.

Looking through this thread, I was wondering did Pete Waterman have a sister called Kay? I was at school with her at Frederick Birds and I knew Pete was pupil there as well.

I understand that that Brian Matthew who has a Saturday morning radio programme featuring music from the 60s was born in Coventry. Anybody know where he was born/lived/educated within the city ?

Hi Dean, welcome to the forum There's quite a full Wikipedia entry for Brian Matthew here, and of course he's on our "Famous Coventrians" list

Brian Matthew went to Bablake School.

Broadcaster Stuart Linnell has been added to the Famous Coventrians list

John Thornton, medieval glass painter responsible for York Minster's East Window!

Hello and welcome to the Historic Forum - and thank you for your posting here and on some other threads - I think you'll enjoy being with us (we're quite a friendly crowd!) I've entered John Thornton onto our Famous Coventrians list, but not as a Coventry-born person as I don't think there is substantial proof of his place of birth from what I've read Thanks for the heads-up, much appreciated

Another author born in Coventry is Iain Pears. He is described as art historian ,novelist and journalist. His best known book is probably 'An Instance of the Fingerpost'. He as also written a number of novels of art history mysteries, the Jonathan Argyll series.

I have just added Alderman Mrs Pearl Hyde to the list of "Famous Coventrians"

Hi, Don Fardon came into my place of work last year (or maybe even the year before) and he was so nice. He had to sign something and I remembered his name. I said I could remember his hit "Indian reservation". He said he still performs. He also mentioned "Lieutenant Pigeon" I think they were from Coventry as well. He was a really nice man.