Famous Coventrians

I've just been catching up with recorded programmes off the Sky Planner (retirement, eh!) A four-part series on Sky Atlantic some weeks ago called "The Petrol Age" featuring Joe McGann In one part, Joe interviewed Norman Dewis whilst driving a Jaguar - Norman related the story of being directed by Sir William Lyons to drive the new car over to the Geneva Motor Show Not sure if the programmes are likely to be repeated at any time - but would be worth looking out for

I was a friend of Harold Innocent whenever he worked in London - he lived in Hurlingham Road at the far end of the Kings Road. He was a member of the RSC and National Theatre and took several lead roles in Tom Stoppard's plays - one of his most memorable roles was the Bawd in Pericles at the Roundhouse in 1970 - 71 - which he played in fishnet stockings and basque a' la Dietrich in Blue Angel. He played the priest in the Hepburn-Bogart African Queen. He was a generous soul, never rested and died too young.

Yes, Harold worked for a while at Alfred Herbert's in Coventry in the offices at Red Lane. I think it was about 1959 or there about. Only for a short while. He was probably in between roles. This was mentioned before I think in the 'Famous Coventrians' Listing.

I am just in the middle of watching a Dr Who story from the 1980s and Harold Innocent is in it! It's a story called the Happiness Patrol and has recently been released on DVD.

I have added the name of Justin Welby to our list of Famous Coventrians

The new ABC was born in London. He also did a stint as Curate of Attleborough/Astley before moving to Southam and on to Coventry.

Clive Owen actor born in Keresley Coventry uk. on Movie Pedia

He has long been on "our" list of "Famous Coventrians"

Thank you Midland Red, my daughter mentioned him so he's here twice now then

Funny how one thing leads to another. Working on a document about the Nuneaton workhouses (there were two up to 1839) my wife asked me if I knew anything about Viscount Lifford. The second time in a couple of days she had come across the name. New one to me so time to do a bit of googling. Much to my surprise it came up with a Coventry connection albeit back to 1712. The first Viscount Lifford was born James Hewitt in April 1712, the son of a Coventry draper. He started work as an Attorney's Clerk and progressed through the legal profession. By 1742, he was a barrister at-law, and after various appointments over the years, he was made Lord Chancellor of Ireland. In 1768, he was created Baron Lifford and, in 1781, elevated to Viscount. The fourth Lord Lifford, together with his fellow landlord, Sir Samuel Hayes of Drumboe Estate, Stranorlar, helped to expand Ireland's railways of the 1850's. Their representations at parliament helped to secure funding, to begin what became the Finn Valley Railway Company in May 1860. The construction of the line between Strabane and Stranorlar began at the end of the summer of 1861, and after a lot of hold-ups, infighting, and huge expense, the line was officially opened on 7th September 1863 and was to run until December 1959.

It was Don Fardon, and he used to run The Plough Inn at Eathorpe, where I first met him when he took me on as a waitress back in the early 80's. He is also the lead singer in The Sorrows who are still touring today. The last time I saw Don a few years back he told me that he was doing a local radio show in Coventry.

Hello & welcome Marge, We hope that you enjoy your time with us.

Congratulations to "our" Ian Bell for batting for almost six hours today to help over-rated England scrape a draw with under-rated New Zealand! Ding dong!

I've just been reminded, having read of the passing of a former classmate from 1954 of Philip and myself, that I needed to add to our list of Famous Coventrians the name of Tony Mottram, undoubtedly the best tennis player to come out of Coventry - I believe he is still alive, he would be 93 this year! I seem to recall that there was a relationship between the Mottrams and the Elsons who owned London Laundry Tony's son is Buster Mottram