- published: 30 Jan 2013
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- author: BraeheadClan
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![[FULL HD] Olivier Giroud GOAL!!! Arsenal vs Coventry City 1st half 26/9/2012](http://web.archive.org./web/20130206011659im_/http://i.ytimg.com/vi/fkwpFU4uKwk/default.jpg "goto www.mediafire.com to download Full match! I hope you enjoy it! First Goal for Arsenal From Olivier Giroud!!! [FULL HD] Olivier Giroud GOAL!!! Arsenal vs Coventry City 1st half 26/9/2012 Highlight.")
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A4053 road
The A4053 is the Coventry Ring road and encompasses the old and new Coventry Cathedrals, Coventry University, West Orchard and Cathedral Lanes Shopping Centres, Coventry Skydome Arena, and many other businesses.
Unlike many other city centre ring roads, Coventry ring road is made up of entirely grade-separated junctions except for one roundabout, this leads to the junctions being extremely close together and in effect one junction leads into another at many points.
After the Second World War, during which most of Coventry city centre was destroyed by the Luftwaffe, the rising level of traffic on the city's roads resulted in plans for the narrow city centre streets to be bypassed with a circular ring road, a type of road which was soon to be commonplace in cities and towns across the United Kingdom. Construction began in the late 1950s and the first phase was ready in 1962, but was not fully completed until 1974, 12 years after the first section of ring road opened and some 20 years after the ring road was first planned. [1]
wn.com/A4053_road -
A45 road
The A45 is a major road in England. It runs east from Birmingham past the National Exhibition Centre and the M42, then bypasses Coventry and Rugby, where it briefly merges with the M45 until it continues to Daventry. It then heads to Northampton and Wellingborough before running north of Rushden and Higham Ferrers and terminating at its junction with the A14 road near Thrapston.
Prior to the construction of the M6 motorway it was the main route from the Midlands to Ipswich and to the Haven ports. When the A1-M1 link road section of the current A14 opened in 1994 most of the A45 to the east of Cambridge was re-designated as the A14 and some sections to the west were downgraded to B-roads.
The original (1923) route of the A45 was Birmingham to Ipswich. The road was extended to Felixstowe in 1935, replacing the A139. Initially, the A45 passed through Ipswich to Felixstowe; when the Orwell bridge was opened in 1982, the road was diverted to pass over the new bridge.
A bypass for the village of Eltisley was built in 1972, along with a bypass on the B1040 road. The 3-mile (4.8 km) £8 million St Neots Bypass opened in December 1985 on what was then the A45. When the M6-to-Felixstowe route was moved and upgraded to become the A14, this bypass became redesignated part of the less important Cambridge-Coventry A428.
wn.com/A45_road -
Aberdeen
Coordinates: 57°09′09″N 2°06′36″W / 57.1526°N 2.1100°W / 57.1526; -2.1100
Aberdeen
i/æbərˈdiːn/ (Scots: Aiberdeen 
listen (help·info); Scottish Gaelic: Obar Dheathain [ˈopər ˈʝɛhɪn]) is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 29th most populous city, with an official population estimate of 220,420.
Nicknames include the Granite City, the Grey City and the Silver City with the Golden Sands. During the mid-18th to mid-20th centuries, Aberdeen's buildings incorporated locally quarried grey granite, whose mica deposits sparkle like silver. The city has a long, sandy coastline. Since the discovery of North Sea oil in the 1970s, other nicknames have been the Oil Capital of Europe or the Energy Capital of Europe. The area around Aberdeen has been settled since at least 8,000 years ago, when prehistoric villages lay around the mouths of the rivers Dee and Don.
Aberdeen received Royal Burgh status from King David I (1124–53), transforming the city economically. The city's two universities, the University of Aberdeen, founded in 1495, and The Robert Gordon University, which was awarded university status in 1992, make Aberdeen the educational centre of the north-east. The traditional industries of fishing, paper-making, shipbuilding, and textiles have been overtaken by the oil industry and Aberdeen's seaport. Aberdeen Heliport is one of the busiest commercial heliports in the world and the seaport is the largest in the north-east of Scotland.
wn.com/Aberdeen -
Alcester
Coordinates: 52°12′54″N 1°52′34″W / 52.215°N 1.876°W / 52.215; -1.876
Alcester (i/ˈɒlstər/ or /ˈɔːlstər/) is an old market town of Roman origin at the junction of the River Alne and River Arrow in Warwickshire, England. It is situated approximately 8 miles (13 km) west of Stratford-upon-Avon, and 8 miles south of Redditch, close to the Worcestershire border. The 2001 census recorded a population of 6,214 in the town, which also has civil parish status.
In Roman times Alcester (Alauna) was a walled town and Roman fort of some importance[citation needed] being located at a junction between the Ryknild Street Roman road and the ancient Saltway from Droitwich and the roman road from Stratford upon Avon and the Fosse Way.
An important market town, Alcester was the site of a Benedictine monastery founded in the middle of the 12th century by Ralph le Boteler. The monastery was once a thriving one. In 1318 Walter de Beauchamp, who had a seat in the neighbourhood, complained to the abbot of the monastery that some of his monks had removed Beauchamp's possessions from his manor. At the Dissolution, King Henry VIII granted the monastery to the Greville family.
wn.com/Alcester -
Aldridge
Coordinates: 52°36′22″N 1°55′04″W / 52.606°N 1.91787°W / 52.606; -1.91787
Aldridge is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Walsall, in the West Midlands, England. Historically it was part of the county of Staffordshire, but in 1974 it was incorporated into the Walsall borough as well as the West Midlands county.
Aldridge was recorded as a settlement in the Domesday Book of 1086, though the now much larger settlement of Walsall was not. It was valued at 15 shillings under the name of "Alrewic", which may have originated from an abundance of Alder trees in the area.
Aldridge began as a small agricultural settlement, with farming being the most common occupation up until the 19th century.
In the 1800s, Aldridge became an industrial town with coal mines and lime kilns. The coal and clay in the area prompted many to set up collieries and brickworks. Aldridge clay is especially useful in the manufacture of blue bricks. The 1881 census shows that the mines and brick works were major employers. Because the coal and clay beneath the eastern side of Aldridge (towards Stonnall) is located much deeper under the surface, extraction of this coal and clay would not have been economically viable. As a result farms continued to dominate the eastern part, though a sand quarry was set up and still remains on Birch Lane.
wn.com/Aldridge -
Allesley
Allesley ( /ˈɔːlzli/) is a civil parish on the northwestern edge of the City of Coventry, West Midlands, England, about 3 miles (5 km) west of Coventry city centre. According to the 2001 census. the parish had a population of 805. Until recently it contained to a factory belonging to the car maker, Jaguar. Despite now being a suburb of Coventry, several original buildings have survived from when the area was a separate village.
Most of the old village, nearest the church, is a conservation area on a low ridge of high ground between the River Sherbourne and the Pickford Brook, a tributary.
The Parish of Allesley is a much larger area that includes Allesley, and is based around Washbrook Lane and the top of Browns Lane via Hawkesmill Lane. The Parish incorporates the Ancient Ardens of Pinketts Booth, Pickford, Pickford Green, Harvest Hill, Hawkes End, Hollyberry End, Wall Hill, and Brownshill Green.[citation needed]
The suburbs of Allesley Park and Allesley Green lie to the south and west. Allesley Green, built in the late-1980s, is the development a quarter mile southwest of Allesley on the west side of the A45 Coventry bypass. Allesley Park is the district developed in the 1950s and 1960s, to the east of the A45 and directly south of Allesley. Allesley Village is the area east the Birmingham Road including West Point. Allesley Village is not much more than a suburb of Coventry, but retains several aspects of a separate village. The combined population of the three main districts is approximately 4,000 residents. Being situated on the outer northwest periphery of Coventry, access to Birmingham, Solihull and the National Exhibition Centre from Allesley is relatively easy.
wn.com/Allesley -
Armagh
Coordinates: 54°21′00″N 6°39′17″W / 54.3499°N 6.6546°W / 54.3499; -6.6546
Armagh ( /ɑrˈmɑː/ ar-MAH; from Irish: Ard Mhacha meaning "Macha's height" [aɾˠd̪ˠ ˈwaxə]) is a large settlement in Northern Ireland, and the county town of County Armagh. It is a site of historical importance for both Celtic paganism and Christianity and is the seat, for both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland, of the Archbishop of Armagh. In 1995, Armagh city was twinned with Razgrad, Bulgaria.
Although classed as a medium-sized town, Armagh was granted city status by Queen Elizabeth II in 1994. Its population of 14,590 (2001 Census) makes it the least-populated city in both Northern Ireland and on the island of Ireland and the fourth smallest in the United Kingdom.
Eamhain Mhacha (or Navan Fort) at the city's edge, is believed to have been used as an ancient pagan ritual or ceremonial site. According to Irish mythology it was once the capital of Ulster, until it was abandoned during the 1st century. The site was named after the goddess Macha, and as the settlement grew on the hills nearby, it was also named after the goddess — Ard Mhacha means "Macha's height". This name was later anglicised as Ardmagh, which eventually became Armagh.
wn.com/Armagh -
Arnhem
Arnhem (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈɑrn.ɦɛm] (
listen), South Guelderish: Èrnem) is a city and municipality, situated in the eastern part of the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of Gelderland and located on both banks of the river Nederrijn as well as on the Sint-Jansbeek, which was the source of the city's development. Arnhem has almost 150,000 residents (per 1 January 2012) as one of the larger cities of the Netherlands. The municipality is part of the city region Arnhem-Nijmegen, a metropolitan area with 736,500 inhabitants. Arnhem is home to the Hogeschool van Arnhem en Nijmegen and ArtEZ Institute of the Arts.
Arnhem was first mentioned as such in 893 as Arneym or Arentheym, referring to the many eagles that inhabited the hills and forests of Arnhem back then. Traces of human residence date back much further, however.
The oldest archeological findings of human activity around Arnhem are two firestones of about 70,000 years ago. This comes from the stone age, when the Neanderthals lived in this part of Europe. In Schuytgraaf, tracks of a hunter's camp have been discovered from around 5000 BC. In Schaarsbergen, 12 grave mounds were found from 2400 BC, which brought the so-called Neolithic revolution to the area of Arnhem, i.e. the rise of the farmers.
wn.com/Arnhem -
Atherstone
Coordinates: 52°34′43″N 1°32′46″W / 52.5787°N 1.5462°W / 52.5787; -1.5462
Atherstone is a town in Warwickshire, England. The town is located near the northernmost tip of Warwickshire, close to the border with Staffordshire and Leicestershire and is the administrative headquarters of the borough of North Warwickshire.
Atherstone has a long history dating back to Roman times. An important defended Roman settlement named Manduessedum existed at Mancetter near the site of modern day Atherstone, and the Roman road, the Watling Street (now known as the A5) ran through the town. It is believed by some historians that the rebel Queen of the Britons, Boudica was defeated at the Battle of Watling Street by the Romans in her final battle near Manduessedum.
The Domesday Book of 1086, records that Atherstone was held by Countess Godiva.
The ancient St. Mary’s Chapel in Atherstone dates from the early 12th century when the monks of Bec made a donation of 12 acres (4.9 ha) to a house of friars and hermits, later referred to as “Austin friars”. According to Nichols the chapel was granted to Henry Cartwright in 1542, then left abandoned and neglected until 1692 when Samuel Bracebridge settled a yearly sum for the parson of Mancetter to preach there every other Sunday in the winter season
wn.com/Atherstone -
Bablake School
Coordinates: 52°24′49″N 1°31′17″W / 52.4137°N 1.5214°W / 52.4137; -1.5214
Bablake School is a co-educational Independent school located in Coventry, England and founded in 1344 by Queen Isabella, making it one of the oldest schools in the United Kingdom (List of the oldest schools in the United Kingdom). Bablake is part of the Coventry School Foundation, a registered charity, along with King Henry VIII School, King Henry VIII Preparatory School and Cheshunt School. The current headmaster is John Watson, who succeeded Dr Stuart Nuttall following his retirement in 2006. Today Bablake is a selective, fee-paying independent school and a member of the HMC.
Started by Edward II's wife Isabella in 1344, Bablake (or Babbelak in Middle English) was a public school first sited at Hill Street in Coventry. Isabella endowed the Guild of St John with the Babbelak land on which was founded the St John's chapel and the Bablake school linked to it. Bablake church, now known as St John's, still stands adjacent to the school's original buildings. The school and the church shared a long history which continues to this day. The Bablake Carole service is still held in the church, a custom which has continued since medieval times. Many of the pupils were originally choristers of the church. The relationship continued through the figure of Edward Jackson, who from 1734 was both vicar of the church and headmaster of the school. The expansion of the Bablake site continued throughout the 14th century with the aid of further land granted by the Black Prince. In 1563 the school's principal benefactor, Thomas Wheatley, who had been mayor of Coventry in 1556, endowed it with much of his estate.
wn.com/Bablake_School -
Baginton
Coordinates: 52°22′12″N 1°29′24″W / 52.370°N 1.49°W / 52.370; -1.49
Baginton is a village and civil parish in the Warwick district of Warwickshire, England, and has a common border with the City of Coventry of the West Midlands county. With a population of 801 (2001 Census), Baginton village is four miles (6.5 km) south of Coventry city centre and seven miles (11 km) north of Leamington Spa. The Lucy Price playing field is situated centrally in the village.
Coventry Airport (built 1936), the Lunt Roman Fort and the ancient "Baginton oak" tree are within the village, whilst the Midland Air Museum and Coventry Railway Centre are just outside Baginton.
The road from Baginton to South Coventry passes over the River Sowe near an old mill.
The Domesday Book records that in the 11th century Baginton consisted of 15 households and a mill.
Baginton is home to Coventry Airport, which lies just southeast of the village. First opened in 1936 as Baginton Aerodrome, it has been used for general aviation, flight training, and commercial freight and passenger flights. It had a grass surface for aeroplanes to land and take off. With World War II it became a fighter airfield. By October 1941 308 Polish squadron were located at Baginton.
wn.com/Baginton -
Ball Hill
Ball Hill is an area within the Stoke district of Coventry, West Midlands, England. It is to the east of Coventry city centre.
Walsgrave Road is the main street that runs through Ball Hill, which is a name that primarily defines the shopping area extending from the brow of the hill down to the junction with Clay Lane/ Brays Lane. The Walsgrave Road forms the main route out of Coventry's town centre towards Leicester and the north east. It passes Gosford Green, approximately half a mile from the centre of Coventry, before passing through Ball Hill about 200 metres further east.
The name seems most likely to have derived from the Old Ball Hotel, still standing at the top of the hill. However, before the early 20th century, the hill was known as Stoke Knob and was mainly residential until, one by one, most of the dwellings were converted into shops.
Coordinates: 52°24′40″N 1°28′55″W / 52.411°N 1.482°W / 52.411; -1.482
wn.com/Ball_Hill -
Balsall Common
Coordinates: 52°23′29″N 1°39′06″W / 52.39141°N 1.65169°W / 52.39141; -1.65169
Balsall Common is a large village and one of the larger rural settlements in the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull, situated 7 miles (11 km) west of Coventry and 13 miles (21 km) to the east of Birmingham, to which it serves as a commuter village in the West Midlands. It is currently undergoing gradual suburbanisation and is increasingly considered as a small town in terms of its population.
The village is split between the civil parishes of Balsall, which also includes Balsall Street, Temple Balsall, Fen End, and Chadwick End, and has a population of 6,234 according to the 2001 census; and Berkswell. As of 2008, the population was approaching 7,000 residents.[citation needed] It also lies on the Heart of England Way.
The village is of recent origin; most of the houses and shops were built in the 20th century. Previously, the village consisted of a couple of hamlets of about six to twelve houses each and a few scattered cottages - as this map of 1889 shows. In the 1930s there began the development which linked these isolated buildings, but it was not until after World War II that the village really began to grow. With its proximity to the village of Meriden, 3 miles (4.8 km) away, Balsall Common is close to the precise (though much-disputed) geographic centre of England and thus is one of the furthest places from the UK coastline. The local secondary school is unsurprisingly named the Heart of England School. The local primary school is named Balsall Common Primary School.
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Battle of Stalingrad
Coordinates: 48°42′N 44°31′E / 48.7°N 44.517°E / 48.7; 44.517
The Battle of Stalingrad was a major and decisive battle of World War II in which Nazi Germany and its allies fought the Soviet Union for control of the city of Stalingrad (now Volgograd) in southwestern Russia. The battle took place between 23 August 1942 to 2 February 1943 and was the largest battle on the Eastern Front, marked by brutality and disregard for military and civilian casualties. It is among the bloodiest battles in the history of warfare, with the higher estimates of combined casualties amounting to nearly two million. The heavy losses inflicted on the German army made it a significant turning point in the whole war. After the Battle of Stalingrad, German forces never recovered their earlier strength, and attained no further strategic victories in the East.
The German offensive to capture Stalingrad commenced in late summer 1942, and was supported by intensive Luftwaffe bombing which reduced much of the city to rubble. The German offensive eventually became mired in building-to-building fighting; and despite controlling nearly all of the city at times, the Wehrmacht was unable to dislodge the last Soviet defenders clinging tenaciously to the west bank of the Volga River.
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Bedworth
Coordinates: 52°28′30″N 1°28′37″W / 52.475°N 1.477°W / 52.475; -1.477
Bedworth is a market town in the Nuneaton and Bedworth district of Warwickshire, England. It lies 101 miles (163 km) northwest of London, 19 miles (31 km) east of Birmingham, and 15 miles (24 km) north northeast of the county town of Warwick. It is situated between Coventry, 5.5 miles (9 km) to the south, and Nuneaton, 3 miles (5 km) to the north.
In the 2001 census the town had a population of 32,268. Residents are known as "Bedworthians". Bedworth is often pronounced "Beduth" by many (but not all) residents of the town and inhabitants of nearby Coventry and Nuneaton, though the standard "Bed-worth" pronunciation is used virtually everywhere else.
Bedworth has six main suburban districts, namely Collycroft, Mount Pleasant, Bedworth Heath, Coalpit Field, Goodyers End and Exhall. Exhall is a generic name for the area surrounding junction 3 of the M6 motorway, comprising parts of both Bedworth and Coventry. Much of what is now considered Exhall within south Bedworth is also referred to as Hayes Green by locals and on older maps of the area.
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Belfast
Coordinates: 54°35′49″N 5°55′48″W / 54.597°N 5.930°W / 54.597; -5.930
Belfast (from Irish: Béal Feirste, meaning "mouth of the shoal") is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the fourteenth largest city in the United Kingdom and second largest on the island of Ireland. It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly. The city of Belfast has a population of 267,500 and lies at the heart of the Belfast urban area, which has a population of 579,276. The Larger Urban Zone, as defined by the European Union, has a total population 641,638. Belfast was granted city status in 1888.
Historically, Belfast has been a centre for the Irish linen industry (earning the nickname "Linenopolis"), tobacco production, rope-making and shipbuilding: the city's main shipbuilders, Harland and Wolff, which built the well-known RMS Titanic, propelled Belfast on to the global stage in the early 20th century as the biggest and most productive shipyard in the world. Belfast played a key role in the Industrial Revolution, establishing its place as a global industrial centre until the latter half of the 20th century. Industrialisation and the inward migration it brought made Belfast, if briefly, the biggest city in Ireland at the turn of the 20th century and the city's industrial and economic success was cited by Ulster unionist opponents of Home Rule as a reason why Ireland should shun devolution and later why Ulster in particular would fight to resist it.
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Belgrade
Belgrade ( /ˈbɛlɡreɪd/; Serbian: Београд; [beǒɡrad] ( listen); names in other languages) is the capital and largest city of Serbia. The city is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. Its name in English translates to White city. The city proper has a population of over 1.1 million, while its metropolitan area has over 1.6 million people, making it one of the largest cities in Southeast Europe.
One of the largest prehistoric cultures of Europe, the Vinča culture, evolved around the area Belgrade in the 6th millennium BC. In antiquity, Thraco-Dacians inhabited the region, and after 279 BC Celts conquered the city, naming it Singidūn. It was conquered by the Romans during the reign of Augustus, and awarded city rights in the mid 2nd century. It was settled by the Slavs in the 520s, and changed hands several times before it became the capital of King Stephen Dragutin (1282–1316). In 1521 Belgrade was conquered by the Ottoman Empire and became the seat of a the Sanjak of Smederevo. It frequently passed from Ottoman to Habsburg rule, which saw the destruction of most of the city during the Austro-Ottoman wars. Belgrade was again named the capital of Serbia in 1841. The north of Belgrade remained a Habsburg outpost until 1918, when it was merged into the capital city. As a strategic location, the city was battled over in 115 wars and razed to the ground 44 times. Belgrade was the capital of Yugoslavia (in various forms of governments) from its creation in 1918, to its final dissolution in 2006.
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Belgrade Plaza
The Belgrade Plaza is a £113 million mixed-use development in Coventry city centre in West Midlands, England.
The Belgrade Plaza is being built by construction firm, Oakmoor Deeley. The development has two phases. The first – a 1,100 space car park – opened in 2007. The second phase will bring two hotels, a casino, restaurants, bars and apartments to the area between the Belgrade Theatre and the ring road.
Gala Casino, Premier Travel Inn, Radisson Edwardian, Pizza Express, Bella Italia and Metro Bar& Grill have units at the development planned.
On 12 March 2008, construction workers at the site discovered an unexploded World War II bomb, which had been dropped during the Coventry Blitz. The site was evacuated and a cordon of 500-metres was enforced. Many workers were forced to exit their offices and leave their vehicles in car parks overnight.
Army experts carried out a controlled explosion on the bomb at 2.41 a.m. on 13 March 2008. Work resumed at 10 a.m. the following morning.
Coordinates: 52°24′38″N 1°30′52″W / 52.41043°N 1.51455°W / 52.41043; -1.51455
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Belgrade Theatre
The Belgrade Theatre is a live performance venue seating 858 and situated in Coventry, England. It was the first civic theatre to be built after the Second World War in Britain and as such was more than a place of entertainment. It joined the new Coventry Cathedral as a symbol of optimism and culture in one of the largest re-development projects then undertaken, to rebuild the city of Coventry, which had been almost totally destroyed by bombing. The building is now a grade II listed building. In 1963 the Belgrade was registered as a charity by the Charity Commission (number 219163). The Belgrade acquired its name in recognition and thanks for a gift of timber from the Serbian capital city of Belgrade (Coventry's official sister city), that was used extensively in the construction of the auditorium. Since opening in 1958, the theatre has established itself as a centre for the new and innovative production.
Having pioneered the Theatre-in-Education movement in the 1960s the theatre continues to work with disadvantaged young people and uses drama as a tool to develop personal and social skills. Their most successful programme "Acting Out" has been commissioned by Coventry's LEA for the last 10 years and has been replicated across the UK. One graduate of the course credits "Acting Out" with saving her life.
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Bell Green
Bell Green is predominantly a residential area of in the north of Coventry, West Midlands, England. It is a relatively deprived area with high levels of crime and unemployment, and the housing in the area is mostly former council houses and flats now owned by the social landlord Whitefriars Housing Group. Courthouse Green is to the southeast.
Bell Green has a shopping centre called Riley Square, which has a variety of shops surrounded by flats. There is also a public library and learning centre on the square. Bell Green health centre is situated just outside Riley Square.
Dewis House, a 17 story block of flats about 51 metres (167 ft) tall, is situated in Riley Square. It was completed in 1965, and contains 94 flats.
Henley College Coventry, was built in the 1960s and provides education to over 5,000 part-time students and 1,600 full time students. The college is located on Henley Road, at the edge of Bell Green.
Coordinates: 52°25′52″N 1°28′16″W / 52.431°N 1.471°W / 52.431; -1.471
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Berkswell
Coordinates: 52°24′32″N 1°38′31″W / 52.409°N 1.642°W / 52.409; -1.642
Berkswell (/ˈbɜrkzwəl/) is a village and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull, county of West Midlands, England. Historically within Warwickshire, Berkswell is in the east of the borough, on the boundary with Coventry, and is about 7 miles (11 km) west of Coventry city centre.
The United Kingdom Census 2001 recorded a parish population of 2,843.
The parish includes a number of hamlets as well as Berkswell village. Berkswell railway station serves the village, but is actually closer to Balsall Common than to Berkswell village.
The Church of England parish church of St. John the Baptist is a late-12th century Norman building, notable for its two-part crypt. The eastern part is a rectangular space of two bays under the chancel. The western part is an unusual octagonal space under the eastern part of the nave. Later features of the church include the Perpendicular Gothic windows of the north aisle and the two-storied wooden porch.
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Bilston
Coordinates: 52°33′58″N 2°04′22″W / 52.56605°N 2.07281°W / 52.56605; -2.07281
Bilston is a town in the English county of West Midlands, situated in the southeastern corner of the City of Wolverhampton. Historically within Staffordshire, three wards of Wolverhampton City Council cover the town: Bilston East and Bilston North, which almost entirely comprise parts of the historic Borough of Bilston, and Ettingshall which comprise a part of Bilston and parts of Wolverhampton.
Bilston was first referred to in AD 985 as Bilsatena when Wolverhampton was granted to Wulfrun then in 996 as Bilsetnatun in the grant charter of St. Mary's Church (now St. Peter's Collegiate Church, Wolverhampton). It is later mentioned in the Domesday Book as a village called Billestune, being a largely rural area until the 19th century. Bilsetnatun can be interpreted as meaning the settlement (ton) of the folk (saetan) of the ridge (bill).
Situated just two miles southeast of Wolverhampton, it was extensively developed for factories and coal mining. Many houses were constructed in the Bilston area. Between 1920 and 1966, the council replaced most of the 19th century terraced houses with rented modern houses and flats on developments like Stowlawn, The Lunt and Bunker's Hill. Bilston has had a market in the town centre for many years.
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Binley Woods
Coordinates: 52°23′38″N 1°25′12″W / 52.394°N 1.42°W / 52.394; -1.42
Binley Woods is a village and civil parish in the Rugby borough of Warwickshire, England. However, it is sometimes wrongly considered part of suburban Coventry (West Midlands). In the 2001 census the parish had a population of 2,607.
The village is located 5 miles (8 km) to the east of central Coventry, on the A428 road, next to the junction with the A46 road. The village of Brandon lies 1.5 miles (2.5 km) to the east.
Binley Woods is a relatively modern village. Settlement began in the 1920s, when some of the estates of Coombe Abbey were sold off and people began to settle in the area. During the 1940s many homeless people from bombed-out Coventry lived in Binley, often living in shacks and caravans.
The village adopted its current name in the late 1950s, when the name Binley Woods was chosen to avoid confusion with nearby Binley, a suburb south-west of Coventry. A village church was established in Binley Woods in 1987.
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Birmingham
Birmingham (i/ˈbɜrmɪŋəm/ BUR-ming-əm, locally /ˈbɜrmɪŋɡəm/ BUR-ming-gəm) is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 (2010 estimate), and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a population of 2,284,093 (2001 census). Birmingham's metropolitan area is also the United Kingdom's second most populous with a population of 3,683,000.
A medium-sized market town during the medieval period, Birmingham grew to international prominence in the 18th century at the heart of the Midlands Enlightenment and subsequent Industrial Revolution, which saw the town at the forefront of worldwide developments in science, technology and economic organisation, producing a series of innovations that laid many of the foundations of modern industrial society. By 1791 it was being hailed as "the first manufacturing town in the world". Birmingham's distinctive economic profile, with thousands of small workshops practising a wide variety of specialised and highly-skilled trades, encouraged exceptional levels of creativity and innovation and provided a diverse and resilient economic base for industrial prosperity that was to last into the final quarter of the 20th century. Its resulting high level of social mobility also fostered a culture of broad-based political radicalism, that under leaders from Thomas Attwood to Joseph Chamberlain was to give it a political influence unparalleled in Britain outside London and a pivotal role in the development of British democracy.
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Bishopsgate Green
Coordinates: 52°25′06″N 1°30′12″W / 52.418276°N 1.503292°W / 52.418276; -1.503292
Bishopsgate Green is a suburb of Coventry in the West Midlands, England. It is located on the Coventry Canal. It is an area between Foleshill and Hillfields and shares the area code CV1.
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Black Country
Coordinates: 52°32′N 2°2′W / 52.533°N 2.033°W / 52.533; -2.033
The Black Country is a loosely defined area of the English West Midlands conurbation, to the north and west of Birmingham, and to the south and east of Wolverhampton. During the industrial revolution in the 19th century this area had become one of the most intensely industrialised in the nation. The South Staffordshire coal mines, the coal coking operations, and the iron foundries and steel mills that used the local coal to fire their furnaces, produced a level of air pollution that had few equals anywhere in the world.
The Black Country is relatively recent as a concept and identity, the expression deriving from the 1840s. It is popularly believed that the area got its name because of pollution from these heavy industries that covered the area in black soot. There is an anecdote (of dubious authenticity) about Queen Victoria ordering the blinds lowered on her carriage as the royal train passed through[citation needed]. However, historians[who?] suggest that it is more likely that the name existed even before the Industrial Revolution; outcroppings of black coal scarred the surface of the local heath, and the presence of coal so near the surface rendered the local soil very black.
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Bloxwich
Coordinates: 52°36′57″N 2°00′58″W / 52.61577°N 2.01620°W / 52.61577; -2.01620
Bloxwich is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Walsall, West Midlands, England, with a population of around 40,000 people.
Bloxwich has its origins at least as early as the Anglo-Saxon period, when the place name evidence suggests it was a small Mercian settlement named after the family of Bloc (Bloxwich, earlier Blochescwic, meaning "Bloc's village").
Some 19th century works suggest that at one time Bloxwich was a settlement in the ancient manor of Wednesbury. There is no conclusive evidence for this and Bloxwich has since at least medieval times been associated with the manor and town of Walsall (which for reasons unknown does not appear in the Domesday Book of 1086). Bloxwich itself is however mentioned in this book under the name 'Blockeswich'.
Traditionally there has been a strong rivalry between Bloxwich and Walsall with origins as early as the English Civil War, when Walsall was Parliamentarian in sympathy and Bloxwich, centre of the Foreign of Walsall, was Royalist. This situation was exacerbated by disputes over local taxation for the poor rate in the 17th and 18th centuries.
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Bologna
Bologna (Italian pronunciation: [boˈloɲɲa] ( listen); Emilian: Bulåggna pronounced [buˈləɲɲa]; Latin: Bononia) is the principal city (capital) of the Emilia-Romagna Region in Northern Italy. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history, art, cuisine, music, and culture. It is the seventh largest city in terms of population in Italy and it is the heart of a metropolitan area (officially recognized by the Italian government as a metropolitan city) of about 1,000,000 inhabitants. The urban sprawl of Bologna, including nearby Modena, whose metropolises are adjoining, is continuously expanding.
The city, the first settlements of which date back to at least one millennium before Christ, has always been an important urban center, first under the Etruscans (Velzna/Felsina) and the Celts (Bona), then under the Romans (Bononia), then again in the Middle Ages, as a free municipality (for one century it was the fifth largest European city based on population). Home to the oldest university in the world, University of Bologna, founded in 1088, Bologna hosts thousands of students who enrich the social and cultural life of the city. Famous for its towers and lengthy porticoes, Bologna has a well-preserved historical centre (one of the largest in Italy) thanks to a careful restoration and conservation policy which began at the end of the 1970s, on the heels of serious damage done by the urban demolition at the end of the 19th century as well as that caused by wars.
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Bradford
Coordinates: 53°48′00″N 1°45′07″W / 53.8000°N 1.75206°W / 53.8000; -1.75206
Bradford (i/ˈbrædfəd/) lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, 8.6 miles (13.8 km) west of Leeds, and 16 miles (25.7 km) northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897. Following local government reform in 1974, city status was bestowed upon the wider metropolitan borough.
Bradford has a population of 293,717, making it the fourteenth-most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. Bradford forms part of the West Yorkshire Urban Area conurbation which in 2001 had a population of 1.5 million and is part of the Leeds-Bradford Larger Urban Zone (LUZ), the third largest in the UK after London and Manchester, with an estimated population in the 2004 Urban Audit of 2.4 million.
Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, Bradford rose to prominence during the 19th century as an international centre of textile manufacture, particularly wool. It was a boomtown of the Industrial Revolution, and amongst the earliest industrialised settlements, rapidly becoming the "wool capital of the world". The area's access to a supply of coal, iron ore and soft water facilitated the growth of Bradford's manufacturing base, which, as textile manufacture grew, led to an explosion in population and was a stimulus to civic investment; Bradford has fine Victorian architecture including the grand Italianate City Hall.
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Brandon stadium
Brandon Stadium, located in Brandon, Warwickshire, England, is the home of the Coventry Bees motorcycle speedway team and is also the city's main Greyhound racing stadium. The stadium's capacity is 5,000 and was built in 1948. The record attendance for Brandon was set during a speedway meeting and stands at 25,000.
The greyhound track is approximately 400 metres (1,300 ft) in length while the speedway track, which is inside the dog track is approximately 320 metres (1,050 ft) in length. The speedway track is also used for dirt track stock car racing.
Brandonapolis is an annual event at Brandon which features some of the worlds best speedway riders. It was postponed in 2011 due to the BSPA dispute of the 2011 Elite League Season.
Brandon Stadium has been a popular stop for many high profile speedway events in its lifetime. Under the old format of the Speedway World Championship events including the British Speedway Championship, the Commonwealth and Overseas Finals as well as hosting the 1998, 1999 and 2000 Speedway Grand Prix of Great Britain.
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Brierley Hill
Coordinates: 52°28′46″N 2°07′28″W / 52.4795°N 2.1245°W / 52.4795; -2.1245
Brierley Hill is a town and electoral ward of the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley, West Midlands, England. It is one of the larger Black Country towns with a population of 9,631 and is heavily industrialised, best known for glass and steel manufacturing, although the industry has declined considerably since the 1970s. One of the largest factories in the area was the Round Oak Steelworks which closed down and redeveloped to become the Merry Hill Shopping Centre. Brierley Hill was originally in Staffordshire, but was transferred to the West Midlands metropolitan county upon its creation in 1974.
The name Brierley Hill was formed from three Anglo-Saxon or Old English words; 'brier' meaning the place where the Briar Rose (Rosa rubiginosa) grew, 'leah' or 'ley' meaning a woodland clearing and 'Hill'. The name Merry Hill is derived from the word 'gemeare' which means the boundary, indicating that it was on the boundary of the parish of Kingswinford.
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Brighton and Hove
Brighton and Hove is a unitary authority area and city on the south coast of England. It is England's most populous seaside resort. The major part of the city consists of Brighton, with around 155,000 people of the total population of 251,000. Consequently, people usually refer to the city as just "Brighton". Brighton and Hove's urban area has a population of over 450,000 people. The city is famous for its history as a seaside town, and more recently for its reputation of having a large gay community. The city is also famous for its football team, Brighton & Hove Albion FC (commonly known as just "Brighton" or "Albion"). They currently play in the Football League Championship at the Amex Stadium, opened in 2011.
In 1997, the two large towns of Brighton and Hove were joined to form the unitary authority of Brighton and Hove, which was granted city status by Queen Elizabeth II as part of the millennium celebrations in 2000.
Brighton and Hove forms part of the Brighton/Worthing/Littlehampton conurbation, the 12th largest conurbation in the United Kingdom. Along this area of the south coast, there is little or no gap of countryside between these large towns and city. Directly to the west is Southwick and then Shoreham-by-Sea, and a short distance to the east are Peacehaven and Newhaven. The city, district and urban areas of Brighton and Hove have the biggest populations in the South East England region.
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Brinklow
Coordinates: 52°24′33″N 1°21′48″W / 52.40909°N 1.36342°W / 52.40909; -1.36342
Brinklow is a village and parish in the Rugby district of Warwickshire, England. It is about halfway between Rugby and Coventry, and has a population of 1,041 (2001 census).
Brinklow sits astride the former Roman Fosse Way and is most notable for the remains of a large Norman motte-and-bailey castle (Brinklow Castle, known locally as The Tump or the Big Hill), which is one of the largest and best preserved of its type in England. The castle is believed to be built on the site of an ancient burial mound or Roman signal station, although this has not been confirmed. Brinklow's name may have come from Old English Brincehláw = "burial mound on the brink of a hill" or alternatively perhaps "The Hill of Brynca", an Anglo-Saxon personal name.More likely though the name Brinklow is a combination of the British/Welsh bryn,a hill and the Anglo Saxon hlaw also meaning hill.The name came about when the original Celtic speaking inhabitants were assimilated into Anglo Saxon culture. The meaning of the British word bryn was after some time forgotten causing the Anglo Saxonized inhabitants to add the word hlaw or low to signify a hill. Place names in England which combine both British and Anglo Saxon elements which have the same meaning are quite common. Penhill in Buckinghamshire and Mount Caburn, originally called Caer Bryn, in Lewes East Sussex are both notable examples.
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Bristol
Bristoli/ˈbrɪstəl/ is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone (LUZ) with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007. It is England's sixth and the United Kingdom's eighth most populous city, one of the group of English Core Cities and the most populous city in South West England.
Historically within Gloucestershire, the city received a Royal Charter in 1155 and was granted County status in 1373. From the 13th century, for half a millennium, it ranked amongst the top three English cities after London, alongside York and Norwich, on the basis of tax receipts, until the rapid rise of Liverpool, Birmingham and Manchester during the Industrial Revolution in the latter part of the 18th century. It borders the counties of Somerset and Gloucestershire, and is also located near the historic cities of Bath to the south east and Gloucester to the north. The city is built around the River Avon, and it also has a short coastline on the Severn Estuary, which flows into the Bristol Channel.
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Brownhills
Coordinates: 52°38′49″N 1°55′59″W / 52.647°N 1.933°W / 52.647; -1.933
Brownhills is a town in the West Midlands, England. Located on the edge of Cannock Chase near the large artificial lake Chasewater, it is 6 miles (9.7 km) north-east of Walsall and a similar distance south-west of Lichfield. It is part of the Metropolitan Borough of Walsall and the Aldridge-Brownhills parliamentary constituency and neighbours the ancient villages of Pelsall and Stonnall. Before boundary changes in 1974, it was in the county of Staffordshire.
The town lies on the ancient Watling Street, but is not recorded before the 17th century, although Ogley Hay, which in modern times is a district of the town, is recorded as a settlement in the Domesday Book. Brownhills quickly grew around the coal mining industry, especially after it became linked to the canal and railway networks in the mid-19th century, and by the end of the century had grown from a hamlet of only 300 inhabitants to a town with a population of over 13,000, of whom the vast majority were employed in the coal industry. Mining remained the town's principal industry until the 1950s, but the subsequent closure of the area's pits led to a severe economic decline which has continued until the present day. The local authority has instituted a regeneration programme which it is hoped will revive the town's fortunes, providing better transport and leisure facilities.
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Browns Lane plant
Browns Lane in Coventry, England was originally built as a World War II shadow factory run by the Daimler Motor Company. In 1951 it was leased by Jaguar Cars and remained the company's home until 2005. It was the site of all Jaguar production until 1998, when production of the Jaguar S-Type commenced at Castle Bromwich, as well as the firm's corporate headquarters and the home of the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust. Although the site runs the length of Browns Lane, its proper entrance is now on Coundon Wedge Drive.
Jaguar's production at Browns Lane waned over the years, as new models ranges were assigned to Castle Bromwich Assembly in Birmingham and Halewood Body & Assembly in Halewood, although the core Jaguar XJ and XK ranges remained on the site until they moved to Castle Bromwich in 2005. Subsequently, the Browns Lane site housed just the headquarters and museum as well as 500 staff responsible for wood veneering for Jaguar, Aston Martin, and Land Rover. Although the headquarters has now moved to the Whitley plant, Whitley, Coventry, the Wood Shop, Museum and Pilot Build Workshop are still on site at Browns Lane. Australian property firm Macquarie Goodman announced its purchase of Browns Lane in 2007.
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Brownshill Green
Brownshill Green is a small suburb in the north-west of Coventry, adjacent to the suburbs of Keresley and Coundon. It is bordered on its north side by the northern boundary of Coventry and the village of Corley. Its main thoroughfare is Brownshill Green Road, which runs from its junction with Coundon Wedge Drive in the north to join Keresley Road in the south.
Brownshill Green is a semi-rural residential area with much housing taking the form of traditional 20th century terrace or semi-detached styles. Nearby schools are generally regarded as being in the suburbs of Keresley (Keresley Grange Primary School) or Coundon (Coundon Court School). The area is also known for being the home of a large and well-established garden centre.
In keeping with the semi-rural nature of the area, the speed limit on several main roads is 40mph rather than the usual 30mph found in built-up residential areas. However, a combination of the lack of a direct bus service and the proximity of classified roads in the area means that traffic is often much slower than this, particularly during the rush hour.
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Bubbenhall
Bubbenhall is a village and civil parish in the Warwick district of Warwickshire, England. Bubbenhall lies on the A445 road, about 7 miles south of Coventry. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 687. It has two pubs the Malt Shovel and the Three Horseshoes and a park with a village hall.
Bubbenhall has an amateur Sunday league football team that plays in the Leamington Sunday League.
Coordinates: 52°20′52″N 1°28′04″W / 52.34778°N 1.46778°W / 52.34778; -1.46778
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Bulkington
Coordinates: 52°28′37″N 1°25′30″W / 52.47691°N 1.424989°W / 52.47691; -1.424989
Bulkington is a large village and former parish in the Nuneaton and Bedworth district of Warwickshire, UK. In the 2001 census it had a population of 6,303. It is located around 6 miles (10 km) north-east of Coventry, just east of the towns of Nuneaton and Bedworth and 4 miles (6 km) south-west of Hinckley. Despite historically having stronger links with Bedworth, Bulkington forms part of the Nuneaton Urban Area.
Bulkington was mentioned in the Domesday Book as Bochintone, meaning "estate associated with a man called Bulca". The parish originally contained seven hamlets, two of which were subsumed by Bulkington village following residential building expansion which began in the 1930s. Historically the main industry in Bulkington was ribbon weaving. Today Bulkington is largely a commuter village for larger nearby urban centres such as Coventry, Nuneaton, Bedworth, Hinckley and Leicester. Bulkington has connections with the locally-born author George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans), who knew the village well. She referred to it as Raveloe in her book Silas Marner (1861). The church of St James is where George Eliot's uncle and aunt are buried.
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Burton Green
Burton Green is a village in Warwickshire, England, some 8 km (5.0 mi) southwest of Coventry and close to Kenilworth. It is mostly residential, surrounded by farmland and has a village hall, a primary school and a pub called the 'Peeping Tom'.
Burton Green comprises four roads: Red Lane, Hob Lane, Hodgetts Lane and Cromwell Lane.
The route for the proposed high speed rail line, called High Speed 2, from London to Birmingham will run right through the centre of Burton Green, making use of the disused rail route that is currently a Greenway.
Coordinates: 52°22′52″N 1°36′22″W / 52.381°N 1.606°W / 52.381; -1.606
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Caen
Coordinates: 49°10′59″N 0°22′10″W / 49.1831°N 0.3694°W / 49.1831; -0.3694
Caen (French pronunciation: [kɑ̃]; Norman: Kaem) is a commune in northwestern France. It is the prefecture of the Calvados department and the capital of the Basse-Normandie region. It is located 15 km (9.3 mi) inland from the English Channel.
Caen is known for its historical buildings built during the reign of William the Conqueror, who was buried there, and for the Battle for Caen—heavy fighting that took place in and around Caen during the Battle of Normandy in 1944, destroying much of the city.
Two hours north-west of Paris, and connected to the south of England by the Caen-(Ouistreham)-Portsmouth ferry route, Caen is located in the centre of its northern region, over which it is a centre of political, economic and cultural power.
As the city of William the Conqueror, the city has a long and complex history. In the Second World War, it was a key site of the Battle of Normandy. The city has preserved the memory by erecting a memorial for peace.
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Calderdale
The Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale is a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, England, through which the upper part of the River Calder flows, and from which it takes its name. There are also some small river valleys that contain tributaries of the River Calder.
Calderdale is made up of the amalgamation of six former local government districts, spanning (from east to west), the towns of Brighouse, Elland, Halifax, Sowerby Bridge, Hebden Bridge and Todmorden.
Halifax acts as the borough's main commercial, cultural and administrative centre, with numerous high street chain stores, markets, central library, borough council offices, public transport hub, central police station and the further and higher education college, as well as other major local organisations.
The borough covers part of the South Pennines and is the southern-most of the Yorkshire Dales. However, not being part of the Yorkshire Dales national park, Calderdale is generally less well known than its neighbours to the north.
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Cambridge
The city of Cambridge (i/ˈkeɪmbrɪdʒ/ KAYM-brij) is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia, on the River Cam, about 50 miles (80 km) north of London. According to the United Kingdom Census 2001, its population was 108,863 (including 22,153 students), and was estimated to be 125,717 in mid-2010. There is archaeological evidence of settlement in the area in bronze age and Roman times, and under Viking rule Cambridge became an important trading centre. The first town charters were granted in the 12th century, although city status was not conferred until 1951.
Cambridge is most widely known as the home of the University of Cambridge, founded in 1209 and consistently ranked one of the top five universities in the world. The university includes the renowned Cavendish Laboratory, King's College Chapel, and the Cambridge University Library. The Cambridge skyline is dominated by the last two buildings, along with the chimney of Addenbrooke's Hospital in the far south of the city and St John's College Chapel tower.
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Canley
Canley is a suburban neighbourhood located in southwest Coventry, England. Canley became part of Coventry as a result of successive encroachment of the latter's boundaries between 1928 and 1932, having historically been part of the Stoneleigh parish.
The area is home to a large number of students attending the nearby University of Warwick.
There was a level crossing adjacent to Canley railway station until 2003, when the road was closed and a foot bridge was built over the railway.
The suburb is bisected by the A45 dual-carriageway, with a major state housing development lying to the south (South Canley) and an area of private housing situated north of this road towards Canley rail station (North Canley).
Canley is known as the site of the main factory of the Standard Motor Company and was all open farmland prior to 1916. The initial factory was built around "Ivy Cottage", near to the Canley Train Halt and was first used in 1916 to build First World War fighter aircraft. "Standard" cars were produced there from 1918 onwards. The factory continued to expand over the site throughout the 1920s and most significantly just prior to the Second World War when two additional "Shadow" Factories were added. Production of Standard and Triumph cars continued until car production ceased in August 1980 as part of British Leyland's rationalisation. Some of the site was retained as a technical centre until the mid-1990s but was successively demolished thereafter. A commemorative sculpture of the Standard-Triumph badge now stands on the site of the works, on Herald Avenue, close to the Standard Triumph Club, which is now the only remaining building to remind us of this vast industrial complex, where many thousands of Coventry people once worked.
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Cannon Park
Cannon Park is a suburb in the southwest of the City of Coventry, West Midlands, England. It can be accessed via the major roads Kenpas Highway (A45) or Kenilworth Road. The area has a sizable shopping centre (opened in 1977) of the same name which features food stores, shops and eateries. Tenants include a post office, Tesco, Wilkinsons and Iceland.
The University of Warwick is located directly adjacent to Cannon Park. The suburb is served by Cannon Park Primary School located within it.
It is bounded by the suburbs of Canley to the north and west, Westwood Heath to the south and Gibbet Hill to the southeast.
The bus stop at the shopping centre is used as the stop and sometimes terminus for Megabus services to London, Leeds, Manchester and Portsmouth.
There are currently plans in place to demolish the current shopping centre, and replace it with a new one including a significantly larger Tesco Extra store, similar in size to the one at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry. It is currently unclear when such plans will be developed, as whilst receiving planning permission from the local authority, there has been significant opposition from local residents.
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Cardiff
Cardiff (i/ˈkɑrdɪf/; Welsh: Caerdydd (info) Welsh pronunciation: [kairˈdiːð, kaˑɨrˈdɨːð]) is the capital and largest city in Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for Wales. The unitary authority area's mid 2010 population was estimated to be 341,054, while the population of the Larger Urban Zone was estimated at 861,400 in 2009. Cardiff is a significant tourism centre and the most popular visitor destination in Wales with 18.3 million visitors in 2010. In 2011, Cardiff was ranked 6th in the world in National Geographic's alternative tourist destinations.
The city of Cardiff is the county town of the historic county of Glamorgan (and later South Glamorgan). Cardiff is part of the Eurocities network of the largest European cities. The Cardiff Urban Area covers a slightly larger area outside of the county boundary, and includes the towns of Dinas Powys and Penarth. A small town until the early 19th century, its prominence as a major port for the transport of coal following the arrival of industry in the region contributed to its rise as a major city.
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Caribbean
The Caribbean (pronounced /ˌkærɨˈbiːən/ or /kəˈrɪbiən/) is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles (3,200 km) long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north. From the peninsula of Florida on the mainland of the United States, the islands stretch 1,200 miles (1,900 km) southeastward, then 500 miles (800 km) south, then west along the north coast of Venezuela on the South American mainland.
Situated largely on the Caribbean Plate, the region comprises more than 7,000 islands, islets, reefs, and cays. These islands generally form island arcs that delineate the eastern and northern edges of the Caribbean Sea.
The Caribbean islands are part of the somewhat larger West Indies grouping, which consists of the Greater Antilles on the north, the Lesser Antilles on the south and east (including the Leeward Antilles), as well as the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands (the Lucayan Archipelago, which does not border the Caribbean Sea). Due to its proximity to the equator, the sun rises from 3am EST to 5am EST.[citation needed]
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Chelmsford
Coordinates: 51°44′10″N 0°28′47″E / 51.7361°N 0.4798°E / 51.7361; 0.4798
Chelmsford ( /ˈtʃɛlmzfərd/) is the only city in Essex, England, UK, and the principal settlement of the Borough of Chelmsford. It is located in the London commuter belt, approximately 32 miles (51 km) northeast of Charing Cross, London, and approximately the same distance from the once provincial Roman capital at Colchester. The city currently has a population of approximately 169,500 however this is thought to be rapidly increasing on a year by year basis with many people from Essex and the London borders re-locating to the town.
The main conurbation incorporates all or part of the former parishes of Broomfield, Great Baddow, Moulsham, Widford and Springfield, including Springfield Barnes, now known as Chelmer Village. American tourists often visit the suburb of Springfield, the origin of "Springfield" as a popular place name, first giving its name to the important City of Springfield, Massachusetts, and subsequently Springfield, Illinois, the state capital of Illinois, and Springfield, Missouri, among numerous others.[citation needed]
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Chester
Coordinates: 53°11′33″N 2°53′30″W / 53.1926°N 2.8918°W / 53.1926; -2.8918
Chester ( /ˈtʃɛstər/ CHESS-tər), is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 80,121 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the 2001 Census. Chester was granted city status in 1541.
Chester was founded as a "castrum" or Roman fort with the name Deva Victrix in the year 79 by the Roman Legio II Adiutrix during the reign of the Emperor Vespasian. Chester's four main roads, Eastgate, Northgate, Watergate and Bridge, follow routes laid out at this time – almost 2,000 years ago. One of the three main Roman army bases, Deva later became a major settlement in the Roman province of Britannia. After the Romans left in the 5th century, the Saxons fortified the town against the Danes and gave Chester its name. The patron saint of Chester, Werburgh, is buried in Chester Cathedral.
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Cheylesmore
Coordinates: 52°23′35″N 1°30′18″W / 52.393°N 1.505°W / 52.393; -1.505
Cheylesmore ( /ˈtʃɑːlzmɔr/ CHAHLZ-mor) is a suburb in the southern half of the city of Coventry, West Midlands, England. It is one of Coventry's largest suburbs, sharing borders with Whitley and Stivichall (also spelled Styvechale) in the South, extending into Coventry city centre and bordering with Earlsdon in the North. Cheylesmore has two shopping parades situated in Daventry Road and Quinton Park. These shops overlook a small park and pool known as Quinton Pool.
The Quinton Road and Mile Lane areas of Cheylesmore have been occupied by several companies that contributed to Coventry's motoring heritage, including Rolls Royce, Armstrong Siddeley, Coventry Climax, and the Swift Motor Company. The suburb's proximity to large manufacturing firms resulted in a rapid expansion of the area during the 1930s with planners finding it difficult to get houses constructed in time to meet the demand for them. The advantage of the short distance between the factories and houses was that workers were able to walk to the factories, saving them the bus fare. They were also able to go home for a meal at midday before returning to work.
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Chichester
Coordinates: 50°50′11″N 0°46′45″W / 50.83652°N 0.77918°W / 50.83652; -0.77918
Chichester ( /ˈtʃɪtʃɨstə/; Sussex dialect: Chiddester /ˈtʃɪdɨstə/) is a cathedral city in West Sussex, within the historic County of Sussex, South-East England. It has a long history as a settlement; its Roman past and its subsequent importance in Anglo-Saxon times are only its beginnings. It is the seat of a bishopric, with a 12th century cathedral, and is home to some of the oldest churches and buildings in Great Britain.
Chichester today is a local government stronghold, with three levels of government being administered there. It is also a transport hub, and the centre for culture in the region, with a Festival theatre and two art galleries. Nearby Chichester Harbour, together with the South Downs and the city walls, provide opportunities for outdoor pursuits.
The area around Chichester is believed to have played significant part during the Roman Invasion of A.D 43, as confirmed by evidence of military storage structures in the area of the nearby Fishbourne Roman Palace. The city centre stands on the foundations of the Romano-British city of Noviomagus Reginorum, capital of the Civitas Reginorum. The Roman road of Stane Street, connecting the city with London, started at the east gate, while the Chichester to Silchester road started from the north gate. The plan of the city is inherited from the Romans: the North, South, East and West shopping streets radiate from the central market cross dating from medieval times.
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City of Bradford
The City of Bradfordi/ˈbrædfəd/ is a local government district of West Yorkshire, England with the status of a city and metropolitan borough. It is named after its largest settlement, Bradford, but covers a far larger area which includes the towns of Keighley, Shipley, Bingley, Ilkley, Haworth, Silsden and Denholme. Bradford has a population of 501,700, making it the fourth-most populous metropolitan district and the sixth-most populous local authority district in England. It forms part of the West Yorkshire Urban Area conurbation which in 2001 had a population of 1.5 million and the city is part of the Leeds-Bradford Larger Urban Zone (LUZ), which, with a population of 2,393,300, is the third largest in the United Kingdom after London and Manchester.
The city is situated on the edge of the Pennines, and is bounded to the east by the City of Leeds, the south east by the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees and the south west by the Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale. The Pendle borough of Lancashire lies to the west, whilst the Craven and Harrogate boroughs of North Yorkshire lie to the north west and north east of the city. Bradford, the urban core, is the 11th largest settlement in England, and the contiguous urban area to the north which includes the towns of Shipley and Bingley is heavily populated. The spa town of Ilkley lies further north, whilst the town of Keighley lies to the west. Roughly two thirds of the district is rural, with an environment varying from moorlands in the north and west, to valleys and floodplains formed by the river systems that flow throughout the district. More than half of Bradford’s land is green open space, stretching over part of the Airedale and Wharfedale Valleys, across the hills and the Pennine moorland between. The Yorkshire Dales and the Peak District are both in close proximity.
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City of Canterbury
The City of Canterbury is a local government district with city status in Kent, England. The main settlement in the district is Canterbury, the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury.
The district was formed on 1 April 1974 by the merger of the existing city of Canterbury with the Whitstable and Herne Bay Urban Districts, and Bridge-Blean Rural District. The latter district entirely surrounded the city; the urban districts occupied the coastal area to the north.
Within the district are the towns of Herne Bay and Whitstable, which with the parishes and the cathedral city itself, make up the 'City of Canterbury' district. There are 26 parishes within the district, as follows:
Swalecliffe is an unparished area within the district.
The area is in the main rural, although the entire coastal strip is taken up by the almost unbroken sprawl of seaside towns from Seasalter, west of Whitstable, to Herne Bay, Kent. Between them and the city there is high land, well wooded, south of which the Great Stour flows from its source beyond Ashford. The city of Canterbury stands upon this river.
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City of Carlisle
The City of Carlisle ( /kɑrˈlaɪl/, locally /ˈkɑːlaɪl/) is a local government district of Cumbria, England, with the status of a city and non-metropolitan district. It is named after its largest settlement, Carlisle, but covers a far larger area which includes the towns of Brampton and Longtown, as well as outlying villages including Dalston, Scotby and Wetheral. The city has a population of 100,739, and an area of 1,039.97 square kilometres (402 sq mi), making it the largest city in England by area (although the majority of its territory is not urbanised, but rural).
The current city boundaries were set as part of the provisions of the Local Government Act 1972, and cover an amalgamation of two former local government districts—the City and County Borough of Carlisle and the Border Rural District of Cumberland. The City of Carlisle shares a border with Scotland (to the north), and is bounded on the southwest by the borough of Allerdale, and on the south by Eden. The county of Northumberland is to the east.
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City of Lancaster
The City of Lancaster ( /ˈlæŋkəstər/), is a local government district of Lancashire, England, with the status of a city and non-metropolitan district. It is named after its largest settlement, Lancaster, but covers a far larger area which includes the towns of Morecambe, Heysham, and Carnforth, as well as outlying villages, farms and rural hinterland. The city has a population of 133,914, and an area of 222 square miles (575 km2).
The current city boundaries were set as part of the provisions of the Local Government Act 1972, and cover an amalgamation of five former local government districts—the municipal boroughs of Lancaster and Morecambe and Heysham, together with the Carnforth Urban District and rural districts of Lancaster and Lunesdale, all from the administrative county of Lancashire.
The higher tier of local government is Lancashire County Council. At a lower level, there are many parish councils. There is a List of civil parishes in the district.
The district comprises two parliamentary constituencies: Lancaster and Fleetwood and Morecambe and Lunesdale. In the 2010 General Election both seats were won by the Conservatives.
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City of Leeds
Coordinates: 53°47′59″N 1°32′57″W / 53.79972°N 1.54917°W / 53.79972; -1.54917 The City of Leeds is a local government district of West Yorkshire, England, governed by Leeds City Council, with the status of a city and metropolitan borough. The metropolitan district includes Leeds and the towns of Farsley, Garforth, Guiseley, Horsforth, Morley, Otley, Pudsey, Rothwell, Wetherby and Yeadon. It has a population of 798,800 (2010 est.) and is the second largest local government district in England by population; and the second largest metropolitan district by area.
The current city boundaries were set on 1 April 1974 by the provisions of the Local Government Act 1972, as part a reform of local government in England. The city is a merger of eleven former local government districts; the unitary City and County Borough of Leeds combined with the municipal boroughs of Morley and Pudsey, the urban districts of Aireborough, Garforth, Horsforth, Otley and Rothwell, and parts of the rural districts of Tadcaster, Wharfedale and Wetherby from the West Riding of Yorkshire.
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City of London
The City of London is an area in central London, England. In the medieval period it constituted most of London, but the conurbation has grown far beyond it. As the City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, it is now only a tiny part of the metropolis, though it remains a notable part of central London, holds city status in its own right, and is a separate ceremonial county.
It is often referred to as the City (often written on maps as "City") or the Square Mile, as it is just over one square mile (1.12 sq mi/2.90 km2) in area. These terms are also often used as metonyms for the United Kingdom's financial services industry, which continues a notable history of being based in the City.
The term London now refers to a much larger conurbation roughly corresponding to Greater London, a local government area which includes 32 London boroughs including the City of Westminster as well as the City of London. The local authority for the City, the City of London Corporation, is unique in the United Kingdom, and has some unusual responsibilities for a local authority in Britain, such as being the police authority for the City. It also has responsibilities and ownerships beyond the City's boundaries. The Corporation is headed by the Lord Mayor of the City of London, an office separate from (and much older than) the Mayor of London.
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City of Salford
The City of Salford ( /ˈsɒlfəd/) is a city and metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. It is named after its largest settlement,Salford, but covers a far larger area which includes the towns of Eccles, Swinton and Pendlebury, Walkden and Irlam which apart from Irlam each have a population of over 35,000. The city has a population of 218,000, and is administered from the Salford Civic Centre in Swinton.
The current city boundaries were set as part of the provisions of the Local Government Act 1972, and cover an amalgamation of five former local government districts. It is bounded on the south east by the River Irwell, which forms its boundary with the city of Manchester and by the Manchester Ship Canal to the south, which forms its boundary with Trafford. The metropolitan boroughs of Wigan, Bolton and Bury lie to the west, northwest and north respectively. Some parts of the city, which lies directly west of Manchester, are highly industrialised and densely populated, but around one third of the city consists of rural open space. This is because the western half of the city stretches across an ancient peat bog known as Chat Moss.
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City of St Albans
The City of St Albans /sɨnt ˈɔːlbənz/, also known as the City and District of St Albans or District of St Albans, is a local government district, in Hertfordshire, England. It was created in 1974 and since then has held the status of non-metropolitan district and city. The local authority is St Albans City Council. It has routes to the M1 motorway via the A414 road (formerly the M10 motorway), and rail routes to London St Pancras and Watford via St Albans City railway station and St Albans Abbey railway station respectively.
The district includes St Albans (population c. 58,000), Harpenden (population c. 27,600), the parishes of Colney Heath, Harpenden Rural, London Colney, Redbourn, St Michael's, St Stephen's (including the villages of Chiswell Green and Bricket Wood), Sandridge and Wheathampstead. Nearby places outside the district include Hatfield to the east, Welwyn Garden City to the northeast, Luton and Dunstable to the northwest, Hemel Hempstead to the west, Watford to the southwest and Borehamwood to the south.
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City of Sunderland
The City of Sunderland /ˈsʌndərlənd/ is a local government district of Tyne and Wear, in North East England, with the status of a city and metropolitan borough. It is named after its largest settlement, Sunderland, but covers a far larger area which includes the towns of Hetton-le-Hole, Houghton-le-Spring, Washington, and a range of suburban villages.
The district was formed in 1974 as the Metropolitan Borough of Sunderland as part of the provisions of the Local Government Act 1972 and is an amalgamation of four former local government districts of County Durham. It was granted city status in 1992, the 40th anniversary of the Queen Elizabeth II's accession. The city had a population of 280,807 at the time of the 2001 census, with the majority of the population (177,739) residing in Sunderland. The 'Sunderland Urban Area' (including Whitburn in South Tyneside) is quoted alternatively as having a population of around 200,000.
The metropolitan borough was formed in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972 by the merger of several districts of County Durham - Washington Urban District, Houghton-le-Spring Urban District and Hetton Urban District - with the County Borough of Sunderland.
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City of Wakefield
Coordinates: 53°40′59″N 1°29′56″W / 53.683°N 1.499°W / 53.683; -1.499
The City of Wakefield ( /ˈweɪkfiːld/) is a local government district of West Yorkshire, England, with the status of a city and metropolitan borough. Wakefield is the district's administrative centre. The district includes the "Five Towns" of Normanton, Pontefract, Featherstone, Castleford and Knottingley. Other towns include Ossett, Hemsworth, South Kirkby & Moorthorpe and South Elmsall. Wakefield lies between Leeds and Sheffield and is ranked as the 89th largest city in the European Union. In 2010, Wakefield was named as the UK's third 'most musical' City by PRS for Music.
In recent years, the economic and physical condition of several of the former mining towns and villages in Wakefield District have started to improve due to the booming economy of Leeds - and an increase in numbers of commuters to the city from the sub-region - and a recognition of undeveloped assets. For instance Castleford, to the North East of Wakefield is seeing extensive development and investment because of the natural asset of its outlook on to the River Aire, its easy access to the national motorway network and the availability of former mining land for house-building. In Ossett, house prices have risen from an average of £50,000 in 1998 to £130,000 in 2003.
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City of Westminster
The City of Westminsteri/ˈwɛstmɪnstə/ is a London borough occupying much of the central area of London, England, including most of the West End. It is located to the west of and adjoining the ancient City of London, directly to the east of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and its southern boundary is the River Thames. It is an Inner London borough and was created in 1965 when Greater London was established. At its creation Westminster was awarded city status, which had been previously held by the smaller Metropolitan Borough of Westminster. Aside from a number of large parks and open spaces, the population density of the district is high. Many sites commonly associated with London are located in the borough, including Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, and 10 Downing Street. The borough is divided into a number of localities including the ancient political district of Westminster around the Palace of Westminster; the shopping areas around Oxford Street, Regent Street, Piccadilly and Bond Street; and the night time entertainment district of Soho. Much of the borough is residential, and in 2008 it was estimated to have a population of 236,000. The local authority is Westminster City Council.
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City of Winchester
Winchester ( /ˈwɪntʃɨstər/) is a local government district in Hampshire, England, with city status. It covers an area of central Hampshire including the city of Winchester itself, and neighbouring towns and villages including New Alresford, Colden Common and Bishops Waltham.
The current city boundaries were set on 1 April 1974 when the City of Winchester merged with Droxford Rural District and part of Winchester Rural District.
Other than Gosport and Eastleigh, Winchester is the only non Unitary Authority, council District in Hampshire not to border another county and is the only one that neither borders another county nor the coast. The two Unitary Authorities in Hampshire that don't border another county are Portsmouth and Southampton, Portsmouth and Southampton are the only Unitary Authorities in Hampshire.
Elections to the council are held in three out of every four years, with one third of the seats on the council being elected at each election. From 1995 to the 2004 election the Liberal Democrats had a majority on the council, but after 2 years when no party held a majority the 2006 election saw the Conservative party gain control. The elections on 6 May 2010 saw the Liberal Democrats re take control of the council.
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Clerkenwell
Coordinates: 51°31′34″N 0°06′13″W / 51.52604°N 0.103475°W / 51.52604; -0.103475
Clerkenwell ( /ˈklɑrkənwɛl/) is an area of central London in the London Borough of Islington. From 1900 to 1965 it was part of the Metropolitan Borough of Finsbury. The well after which it was named was rediscovered in 1924. The watchmaking and watch repairing trades were once of great importance. Clerkenwell was once known as London's "Little Italy" because of the large number of Italians living in the area from the 1850s until the 1960s.
Clerkenwell took its name from the Clerks' Well in Farringdon Lane (clerken was the Middle English genitive plural of clerk, a variant of clerc, meaning literate person or clergyman). In the Middle Ages, the London Parish clerks performed annual mystery plays there, based on biblical themes. Part of the well remains visible, incorporated into a 1980s building called Well Court. It is visible through a window of that building on Farringdon Lane. Access to the well is managed by Islington Local History Centre and visits can be arranged by appointment.
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Coombe Country Park
Coombe Country Park is a country park located in Warwickshire, England. Although the park is geographically in Warwickshire, it is only a few miles to the east of Coventry and is managed by Coventry City Council. The park has been developed from the grounds of an old abbey, the buildings of which have now been converted into the Coombe Abbey hotel. In the 18th century the landscape of the park was design by Lancelot Brown making it an historically important site for the region.
The park now contains 500 acres (2.0 km2) of woodlands, formal gardens, arboretum, open grasslands and lake. It has a visitor centre equipped with a Cafe, Gift shop, Discovery Centre, History room and Woodturners workshop. It also has a climbing forest, bird hide, summer wild flower meadow and an extensive events program.
Coordinates: 52°24′43″N 1°24′32″W / 52.412°N 1.409°W / 52.412; -1.409
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Corley
Corley (and the associated hamlets of Corley Ash and Corley Moor) is a village and civil parish in the North Warwickshire district of Warwickshire, England. It is located about 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) northwest of Coventry and is adjacent to the village of Fillongley. The M6 motorway runs close by, and the village is familiar to motorists as it is the site of Corley Services. Other significant buildings in the area include Corley Hall, which was built in the 16th century.
Corley is also home to Corley Cricket Club, which entered its 60th season in 2007. One of the club's most notable former players is James Ormond, who went on to represent England. The club has also seen many of its players compete at county level, including Race Williams and John Wilson, the latter representing Leicestershire young cricketers.
Coordinates: 52°27′N 1°33′W / 52.45°N 1.55°W / 52.45; -1.55
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Courthouse Green
Courthouse Green is a suburb in the north of Coventry. It is bordered by Bell Green in the northwest, by Stoke Heath in the south, and by Foleshill in the southeast.
Longfield House is a 17 story block of flats about 51 m tall situated on Bell Green Road, Courthouse Green. It was completed in 1967, and contains 132 flats.
Courthouse Green is home to a Sainsburys superstore and petrol station, and a number of fast food outlets, which are adjacent to the A444 road, in addition the Gallagher Retail Park is on the opposite side of the A444. Also the Coventry Park and Ride North, funded by Centro and operated by Central Connect under contract, is located in Courthouse Green opposite the Sainsburys store. This service won a sixth month reprieve after being under threat of withdrawal in March 2009 due to low passenger usage.
Coordinates: 52°25′44″N 1°28′55″W / 52.429°N 1.482°W / 52.429; -1.482
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Coventry
Coventry (i/ˈkɒvəntri/) is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although Stoke-on-Trent, Leicester and Nottingham have larger urban areas. The population of Coventry had risen to 315,800 as of 2010, according to the Office of National Statistics.
Historically within Warwickshire, Coventry is situated 95 miles (153 km) northwest of central London and 19 miles (31 km) east-southeast of Birmingham, and is further from the coast than any other city in Britain. Although harbouring a population of almost a third of a million inhabitants, Coventry is not amongst the English Core Cities Group due to its proximity to Birmingham.
Coventry was the world's first twin city when it formed a twinning relationship with the Russian city of Stalingrad (now Volgograd) during World War II. The relationship developed through ordinary people in Coventry who wanted to show their support for the Soviet Red Army during the Battle of Stalingrad. The city is now also twinned with Dresden, Lidice and 23 other cities around the world.
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Coventry Airport
Coventry Airport (IATA: CVT, ICAO: EGBE) is located 3 NM (5.6 km; 3.5 mi) south southeast of Coventry city centre, in the village of Baginton, Warwickshire, England, and about 0.5 miles (0.80 km) outside Coventry boundaries. The airport is owned by Patriot Aviation Group, and has a CAA Ordinary Licence (Number P902) that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction as authorised by the licensee, Coventry Airport Limited.
First opened in 1936 as Baginton Aerodrome, Coventry Airport has been used for general aviation, flight training, and commercial freight and passenger flights, as well as being a World War II fighter base. In 1994-5, it became a focus for animal rights campaigners who protested at the export of live animals from the airport as freight. In 1982, Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass with a crowd of around 350,000 on his only UK visit. From 2004-8, Thomsonfly operated scheduled jet passenger flights from temporary hub facilities at Coventry. A controversial plan to build permanent passenger terminal facilities was rejected by the High Court in 2007. Following financial problems, the airport was briefly closed in 2009, before re-opening as a commercial airport in 2010.
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Coventry Castle
Coventry Castle was a motte and bailey castle in the city of Coventry, England (grid reference SP336788).
It was built in the 11th century by Ranulf Meschines, Earl of Chester, probably out of wood initially. Its first known use was during The Anarchy when Robert Marmion, a supporter of King Stephen, expelled the monks from the adjacent priory of Saint Mary and converted it into a fortress from which he waged a battle against the Earl. Marmion perished in the battle.
Coventry Castle was first mentioned in 1147, when those loyal to the king retreated to its defences during a siege by Ranulf de Gernon, 4th Earl of Chester. After the siege was lifted, King Stephen destroyed the castle, however it was probably later repaired as it was described as a viable fortification in 1182.
Despite Coventry's position at one of the most important road intersections in England, a castle was built there relatively late on.
Today, the site is in the city centre and part of the castle still exists as the part of St Mary's Guildhall called Caesar's Tower. The Cathedral Lanes Shopping Centre was constructed over part of the castle.
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Coventry Cathedral
Coventry Cathedral, also known as St Michael's Cathedral, is the seat of the Bishop of Coventry and the Diocese of Coventry, in Coventry, West Midlands, England. The current (9th) bishop is the Right Revd Christopher Cocksworth.
The city has had three cathedrals. The first was St. Mary's, a monastic building, only a few ruins of which remain. The second was St Michael's, a 14th century Gothic church later designated Cathedral, that remains a ruined shell after its bombing during the Second World War. The third is the new St Michael's Cathedral, built after the destruction of the former and a celebration of 20th century architecture.
The Chapter comprises the Dean, three Canons and various other lay and ordained members:
The Revd Canon Anthony Darby was previously Canon Theologian; however, he has now retired.
The first cathedral in Coventry was St. Mary's Priory and Cathedral, which held such status from a date between 1095 and 1102, when Bishop Robert de Limesey moved the Bishop's see from Lichfield to Coventry, until 1539 when it fell victim to King Henry VIII's Dissolution of the Monasteries. Prior to 1095, it had been a small Benedictine monastery (endowed by Earl Leofric and Lady Godiva in 1043), but shortly after this time rebuilding began and by the middle of the 13th century it was a cathedral of 425 feet in length and included many large outbuildings. Leofric was probably buried within the original Saxon church in Coventry. However, records suggest that Godiva was buried at Evesham Abbey, alongside her father confessor, Prior Aefic.
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Cradley Heath
Coordinates: 52°28′23″N 2°04′45″W / 52.47302°N 2.07908°W / 52.47302; -2.07908
Cradley Heath ((pronunciation: /ˌkreɪdli ˈhiːθ/) is a town in the Black Country, located in Sandwell metropolitan borough, England. Cradley Heath is often confused with neighbouring Cradley in Halesowen, although the two places have long been in separate local authorities.
Cradley Heath is one of several towns in central England still recognisable from their early 20th century appearance. Many of the shops and houses in the town's High Street are still standing after 100 years. Some of these were demolished in the mid-2000s to make way for a long-awaited by-pass, which finally opened in 2007 to relieve the town's severe congestion problem which had been getting worse for decades.
Cradley Heath was originally an area of heath, between Cradley, Netherton and Old Hill, in the Staffordshire parish of Rowley Regis, which subsequently received borough status in 1933. The residents of Cradley had grazing rights, subject to an annual payment to the lord of the manor. The River Stour forms the boundary to the south between Cradley and Cradley Heath. To the north, Mousesweet Brook (which feeds into the River Stour near to Cradley Heath Railway Station) forms the border next to Quarry Bank and Netherton. Both also act between the modern MBCs of Sandwell and Dudley.
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Daimler Green
Daimler Green is an urban village approximately two miles north of Coventry city centre, in the West Midlands, England.
It was built on the site of the Daimler factory in Radford. The railway provided a railway station for the car factory workers, Daimler Halt station was closed in 1965. The factory closed in 1997 and was quickly demolished. The urban village was approved for redevelopment in 1999. The first residential properties were occupied in 2000.
Coordinates: 52°25′26″N 1°30′47″W / 52.424°N 1.513°W / 52.424; -1.513
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Danelaw
The Danelaw, as recorded in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (also known as the Danelagh; Old English: Dena lagu; Danish: Danelagen), is a historical name given to the part of England in which the laws of the "Danes" held sway and dominated those of the Anglo-Saxons. It is contrasted with "West Saxon law" and "Mercian law". The term has been extended by modern historians to be geographical. The areas that comprised the Danelaw are in northern and eastern England. The origins of the Danelaw arose from the Viking expansion of the 9th century, although the term was not used to describe a geographic area until the 11th century. With the increase in population and productivity in Scandinavia, Viking warriors, having sought treasure and glory in the nearby British Isles, "proceeded to plough and support themselves", in the words of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, for the year 876.
Danelaw is also used to describe the set of legal terms and definitions created in the treaties between the English king, Alfred the Great, and the Danish warlord, Guthrum, written following Guthrum's defeat at the Battle of Edington in 878. In 886, the Treaty of Alfred and Guthrum was formalised, defining the boundaries of their kingdoms, with provisions for peaceful relations between the English and the Vikings.
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Darlaston
Coordinates: 52°34′15″N 2°02′45″W / 52.5708°N 2.0457°W / 52.5708; -2.0457
Darlaston is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Walsall in the West Midlands of England.
Archaeological evidence of the history of Darlaston has been destroyed by The de Darlaston family owned Darlaston and lived in the manor between the 12th century and 15th century. When the de Darlaston family died out, the manor was taken over by the Hayes family and renamed Great Croft. The exact location of the manor is not known. It is believed that the site is covered by the new Asda car park, slightly south west of the original parish church, which is now the location for St Lawrence's Church.
Due to being located on the South Staffordshire Coalfield, Darlaston became industrialised very early in its history. The first industries were cottage industries and anyone wishing to mine the coal had to apply for a copyhold from the lord of the manor. In 1698, Timothy Woodhouse was manager of the coal mines belonging to Mrs Mary Offley, who was the lady of the manor. In the first year he sold 3,000 sacks of coal and later went into partnership in his own business. Darlaston also had a windmill which is mentioned in a map of 1695. The mill continued to be in use until about 1860.
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Daventry
Coordinates: 52°16′N 1°10′W / 52.26°N 1.16°W / 52.26; -1.16
Daventry /ˈdævəntri/ (historically /ˈdeɪntri/) is a market town in Northamptonshire, England, with a population of 22,367 (2001 census).
The town is also the administrative centre of the larger Daventry district, which has a population of 71,838. The town is 77 miles (124 km) north-northwest of London, 13.9 miles (22.4 km) west of Northampton and 10.2 miles (16.4 km) southeast of Rugby. Daventry is near the M1 motorway with access to two junctions to the northeast and southeast of the town. The town is also served by the A45 and the A361. The nearest railway station is at Long Buckby where access is gained to the London Midland services to Birmingham New Street and Northampton, on the Northampton loop of the West Coast Main Line. Inter-city services (Virgin Trains) can be accessed from Rugby railway station. The nearest major international airport is at Birmingham International.
Daventry now has a lot of estates, which include: Drayton, Middlemore Farm, Lang Farm, Ashby Fields, Royal Oak, Timken, Stefen Hill, The Grange, the Headlands and the Southbrook and Borough Hill.
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Denmark
The Kingdom of Denmark (Danish: Kongeriget Danmark, pronounced [ˈkɔŋəʁiːəð ˈdanmɑɡ̊] ( listen)) is a constitutional monarchy and sovereign state consisting the country of Denmark in northern Europe and two autonomous constituent countries, the Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic and Greenland in North America. The kingdom is a unitary state with some power being devolved from Denmark proper to Greenland and the Faroe Islands; this polity is referred to as the Danish Realm. Denmark proper is the hegemonial area, where judicial, executive, and legislative power resides. The Faroe Islands are defined to be a community of people within the kingdom, and the Greenlandic people are defined as a separate people with the right to self-determination.
Denmark is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, located southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. The country consists of a large peninsula, Jutland and many islands, most notably Zealand, Funen, Lolland, Falster and Bornholm, as well as hundreds of minor islands often referred to as the Danish Archipelago.
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Derby
Derby (i/ˈdɑːbi/ DAR-bi), is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407. According to the 2001 census, Derby was at that time the 18th largest settlement in England, measured by urban area.
The city has Roman, Saxon and Viking origins.
The Roman camp of 'Derventio' was probably at Little Chester/Chester Green (grid reference SK353375); The site of the old Roman fort is at Chester Green. Later the town was one of the 'Five Boroughs' (fortified towns) of the Danelaw.
Djúra-bý, recorded in Anglo-Saxon as Deoraby "Village of the Deer". This popular belief is asserted by Tim Lambert who states, "The name Derby is derived from the Danish words deor by meaning deer settlement" without reference or proof. However some[who?] assert that it is a corruption of the original Roman name 'Derventio'. The proven origin of the name "Derby" would seem to be elusive.
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Derry
Coordinates: 54°59′45″N 7°18′27″W / 54.9958°N 7.3074°W / 54.9958; -7.3074
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille, (Old Irish "Dhoire") meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille". In 1613, the city was granted a Royal Charter by King James I and the "London" prefix was added, changing the name of the city to Londonderry. While the city is more usually known as Derry, Londonderry is also used and remains the legal name.
The old walled city lies on the west bank of the River Foyle, which is spanned by two road bridges and one footbridge. The city now covers both banks (Cityside on the west and Waterside on the east). The city district also extends to rural areas to the southeast. The population of the city proper (the area defined by its 17th century charter) was 83,652 in the 2001 Census, while the Derry Urban Area had a population of 90,663. The Derry City Council area had a population of 107,300 as of June 2006. The district is administered by Derry City Council and contains both Londonderry Port and City of Derry Airport.
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Diocese of Lichfield
The Diocese of Lichfield is a Church of England diocese in the Province of Canterbury, England. The bishop's seat is located in the Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Chad in the city of Lichfield. The diocese covers 4,516 km² (1,744 sq. mi.) of the counties of Staffordshire, Shropshire, Warwickshire and the West Midlands.
The Diocese of Mercia was created by Bishop Diuma in around 656 and the see was settled in Lichfield in 669 by the then bishop, Ceadda (later Saint Chadd), who built a monastery there. At the Council of Chelsea, Bishop Higbert was raised to the rank of archbishop and given authority over the dioceses of Worcester, Leicester, Lincoln, Hereford, Elmham and Dunwich. This was due to the persuasion of King Offa of Mercia, who wanted an archbishop to rival Canterbury. On Offa's death in 796, however, the Pope removed the archiepiscopal rank and restored the dioceses to the authority of Canterbury. In 803 the Council of Clovesho accepted this decision.
During the 9th century, the diocese was devastated by the Vikings. Lichfield itself was unwalled and had become rather poor, so Bishop Peter moved the see to the fortified and wealthier Chester in 1075. His successor, Robert de Limesey, transferred it to Coventry and the diocese was renamed the Diocese of Coventry and Lichfield. At this stage it also covered Derbyshire and most of Warwickshire.
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Dudley
Coordinates: 52°30′43″N 2°05′45″W / 52.5119°N 2.0957°W / 52.5119; -2.0957
Dudley (i/ˈdʌdli/ DUD-lee) is a large town in the West Midlands county of England, and the administrative centre of the wider Metropolitan Borough of Dudley. At the 2001 census (according to the Office of National Statistics), the Dudley Urban Sub Area had a population of 194,919, making it the one of the largest settlements in England, the second largest town in the United Kingdom behind Reading, and the largest settlement in the UK without its own university.
Dudley is part of the West Midlands conurbation, and is located south of the city of Wolverhampton. It is the largest town in the Black Country region of England, and for many years the town (but not the castle, which was classed as part of Staffordshire) formed part of an exclave of the county of Worcestershire. Despite the more recent changes in county borders, the town still remains part of the Anglican Diocese of Worcester.
Dudley unsuccessfully bid to receive city status in 2012, losing out to Chelmsford, Perth and St. Asaph.
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Dunaújváros
Dunaújváros, known as Sztálinváros from its construction in 1951 to 1961, is an industrial city in Hungary's Central Transdanubia region lying along the Danube river. It is in Fejér county. The city was built around the village of Dunapentele.
Dunaújváros is one of the newest cities of the country. It was built in the 1950s during the industrialization of the country under Socialist rule, as a new city next to an already existing village, Dunapentele.
Dunapentele was not built on until the 1950s. The construction started on the Danube's right side. The area has been inhabited since ancient times. When Western Hungary was a Roman province under the name Pannonia, a military camp and a town called Intercisa stood in this place, at the border of the province. The Hungarians conquered the area in the early 10th century. The village Pentele, named after the medieval Greek saint, Pantaleon, was founded shortly after.
Between 1541 and 1688 the village was under Ottoman rule, and during the 15-year war it was completely destroyed. During the freedom fight led by Prince Francis II Rákóczi the place was deserted again. In the 18th century the village began to prosper. In 1830 the village got the right to hold two market days every week. In 1831 there was a cholera epidemic and the peasants revolted. In 1833 Pentele was granted town status (oppidum) by Ferdinand V. The citizens took part in the freedom fight in 1848-49.
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Dundee
Coordinates: 56°27′50″N 2°58′12″W / 56.464°N 2.970°W / 56.464; -2.970
Dundeei/dʌnˈdiː/ (Scottish Gaelic: Dùn Dè) is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 38th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea. Under the name of Dundee City, it forms one of the 32 council areas used for local government in Scotland.
The town developed into a burgh in Medieval times, and expanded rapidly in the 19th century largely due to the jute industry. This, along with its other major industries gave Dundee its epithet as the city of "jute, jam and journalism".
In mid-2008, the population of the City of Dundee was estimated to be 152,320. Dundee's recorded population reached a peak of 182,204 at the time of the 1971 census, but has since declined.
Today, Dundee is promoted as 'One City, Many Discoveries' in honour of Dundee's history of scientific activities and of the RRS Discovery, Robert Falcon Scott's Antarctic exploration vessel, which was built in Dundee and is now berthed in the city harbour. Biomedical and technological industries have arrived since the 1980s, and the city now accounts for 10% of the United Kingdom's digital-entertainment industry. Dundee has two universities—the University of Dundee and the University of Abertay Dundee. A £1,000,000,000 master plan to regenerate and to reconnect the Waterfront to the city centre which started in 2001 is expected to be completed within a 30 year period, with the Dundee Victoria & Albert Museum opening within 5.
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Durham
Coordinates: 54°46′34″N 1°34′24″W / 54.7761°N 1.5733°W / 54.7761; -1.5733
Durham ( /ˈdʌrəm/, locally /ˈdɜrəm/) is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county. It lies to the south of Newcastle upon Tyne, Chester-le-Street and Sunderland and to the north of Darlington.
Durham is well known for its Norman cathedral and 11th-century castle, both designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986. The castle has been the home of Durham University since 1832. HM Prison Durham is also located close to the city centre.
The name "Durham" comes from the Old English "dun", meaning hill, and the Old Norse "holme", which translates to island. The Lord Bishop of Durham takes a Latin variation of the city's name in his official signature, which is signed "N. Dunelm." Some attribute the city's name to the legend of the Dun Cow and the milkmaid who in legend guided the monks of Lindisfarne carrying the body of Saint Cuthbert to the site of the present city in 995 AD. Dun Cow Lane is said to be one of the first streets in Durham, being directly to the east of Durham Cathedral and taking its name from a depiction of the city's founding etched in masonry on the south side of the cathedral. The city has been known by a number of names throughout history. The original Nordic Dun Holm was changed to Duresme by the Normans and was known in Latin as Dunelm. The modern form Durham came into use later in the city's history. The north eastern historian, Robert Surtees chronicled the name changes in his History and Antiquities of the County Palatine of Durham but states that it is an "impossibility" to tell when the city's modern name came into being.
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East Staffordshire
East Staffordshire is a local government district with borough status in Staffordshire in England. It has two main towns, Burton upon Trent, famous for its breweries, and Uttoxeter, for its racecourse.
Villages in the area include Abbots Bromley, Tutbury, Barton-under-Needwood, Rolleston on Dove, Hanbury, Kingstone, Marchington, Mayfield and The Heath.
The borough was formed on April 1, 1974 by the merger of the former county borough of Burton upon Trent with Uttoxeter Urban District, Tutbury Rural District and Uttoxeter Rural District.
The main roads through the Borough are the A38 through Burton upon Trent and the A50 near Uttoxeter.
There are two railway stations in the Borough, Burton-on-Trent on the Cross Country Route and Uttoxeter on the Crewe to Derby Line, There is also a station serving Tutbury also on the Crewe to Derby Line called Tutbury and Hatton which is in the South Derbyshire district.
Coordinates: 52°48′29″N 1°38′45″W / 52.8080°N 1.6457°W / 52.8080; -1.6457
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Eastern Green
Eastern Green is a mainly residential suburb in the far west of Coventry, England, and was formerly a village in Warwickshire. Its most western area is Upper Eastern Green and the eastern area is Lower Eastern Green., though residents generally do not distinguish between the two.
The sub-district of Mount Nod is located between Lower Eastern Green and the A45 Coventy to Birmingham dual-carriageway. The suburb of Tile Hill North is to the south and the districts of Allesley, Allesley Green and Whoberley lie to the north and east. To the west is the boundary of the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull, including the village of Berkswell.
A small brook runs from the west to the east through Eastern Green. For parts of its course the brook is set in a narrow band of green land set with bushes and trees.
National Express Coventry route 10 serves the area, with serves running to Coventry city centre, Spon End and Whoberley.
The Church of St Andrew, Upper Eastern Green, established in 1875, is on the western border of Coventry. It overlooks farmland and Solihull to the west. A primary school is situated adjacent to the eastern side of the church grounds.
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Edgwick
Edgwick is a residential area of Coventry, West Midlands, England.
It is situated in the north of the city, near the M6 motorway and the Ricoh Arena sports stadium.
Coordinates: 52°25′32″N 1°29′25″W / 52.4255°N 1.4904°W / 52.4255; -1.4904
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Edinburgh
Edinburgh (i/ˈɛdɪnbʌrə/ ED-in-burr-ə; Scottish Gaelic: Dùn Èideann) is the capital city of Scotland and the seat of the Scottish Parliament. It is the second largest city in Scotland and the seventh most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a 30 square miles (78 km2) rural area. Located in the south-east of Scotland, Edinburgh lies on the east coast of the Central Belt, along the Firth of Forth, near the North Sea.
The city was one of the historical major centres of the Enlightenment, led by the University of Edinburgh, helping to earn it the nickname Athens of the North. The Old Town and New Town districts of Edinburgh were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995 in recognition of the unique character of the Medieval Old Town and the planned Georgian New Town. It covers both the Old and New Towns together with the Dean Village and the Calton Hill areas. There are over 4,500 listed buildings within the city. In May 2010, it had a total of 40 conservation areas covering 23% of the building stock and 23% of the population, the highest such ratios of any major city in the UK. In the 2011 mid-year population estimates, Edinburgh had a total resident population of 495,360.
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England
Englandi/ˈɪŋɡlənd/ is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, while the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separate it from continental Europe. Most of England comprises the central and southern part of the island of Great Britain in the North Atlantic. The country also includes over 100 smaller islands such as the Isles of Scilly and the Isle of Wight.
The area now called England was first inhabited by modern humans during the Upper Palaeolithic period, but it takes its name from the Angles, one of the Germanic tribes who settled during the 5th and 6th centuries. England became a unified state in AD 927, and since the Age of Discovery, which began during the 15th century, has had a significant cultural and legal impact on the wider world. The English language, the Anglican Church, and English law—the basis for the common law legal systems of many other countries around the world—developed in England, and the country's parliamentary system of government has been widely adopted by other nations. The Industrial Revolution began in 18th-century England, transforming its society into the world's first industrialised nation. England's Royal Society laid the foundations of modern experimental science.
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Ernesford Grange
Ernesford Grange is a suburb of Coventry, West Midlands. It is in the southeast of the city and borders the Binley, Stoke Aldermoor and Willenhall areas. It is part of the Coventry South Constituency.
It is served by four primary schools, the Ernesford Grange School & Community College, and Corpus Christi church. There is also a leisure centre with an 18 metre long swimming pool.
Many of the streets are named after miners who worked in the coal pits, which used to cover most of the area.
Coordinates: 52°23′42″N 1°27′29″W / 52.395°N 1.458°W / 52.395; -1.458
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Exeter
Exeter (i/ˈɛksɨtər/ EK-si-tər) is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the County Council. The city is on the River Exe, about 37 miles (60 km) northeast of Plymouth, and 70 miles (110 km) southwest of Bristol. According to the 2001 Census, its population in that year was 111,076, while the mid-2010 estimate was 119,600.
Exeter was the most south-westerly Roman fortified settlement in Britain. Its Exeter Cathedral, founded in the early 12th century, became Anglican at the time of the 16th century Reformation.
Exeter has been identified as one of the top ten most profitable locations for a business to be based. The city has good transport links, with Exeter St David's railway station, Exeter Central railway station, the M5 motorway and Exeter International Airport connecting the city both nationally and internationally. Although a popular tourist destination, the city is not dominated by tourism.
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Exhall Grange School
Exhall Grange School and Science College is a community special school located in Ash Green just outside Coventry in Warwickshire, England. The school caters for pupils ranging in age from two to 19 years, and who have a range of disabilities and learning difficulties, including physical disability, visual impairment and Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Opened in 1951 as a school for visually impaired pupils, Exhall Grange was the first school to cater exclusively for partially sighted children. It later widened its remit to include pupils with other disabilities, and became a grammar school in 1960. Under the stewardship of one of its best known headmasters, George Marshall OBE, the school gained an international reputation for the quality of its education, while Marshall himself became a leading expert on the education and welfare of visually impaired people. Marshall's successor, Richard Bignell, steered the school towards a more comprehensive approach to education, and as a visually impaired person himself championed the use of computers as an aid to learning.
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Fillongley
Coordinates: 52°28′55″N 1°35′17″W / 52.482°N 1.588°W / 52.482; -1.588
Fillongley is a village in the North Warwickshire district of the county of Warwickshire in England.
The village is centred around the crossroads of the B4102 (which connects Solihull to Nuneaton) and the B4098 (connecting Coventry to Kingsbury) and Tamworth.
In medieval times there were two castles. These might not have existed at the same time and neither survived into the 16th century. The earliest was a ring earthwork of prehistoric or King Stephen's time. The second was probably a fortified manor house, held by the de Hastings family. Henry de Hastings was Constable of Kenilworth Castle in 1265-1266 during Simon de Montford's conflict with King Henry III and Edward I of England. The manor house was still standing during the reign of Edward III but unoccupied by the de Hastings. It later passed to the Beauchamp Earls of Warwick.
The parish church of St Mary and All Saints dates from the 12th century but the tower was a later addition. Inside are examples of 14th-century stained glass. Among the graves is that of Isaac Pearson, the uncle of the Victorian novelist George Eliot, who lived in Arbury nearby.
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Finham
Finham is a mainly residential part of the city of Coventry, West Midlands, England, and is the city's southernmost suburb, approximately 3 miles (5 km) from Coventry city centre. Finham shares its northern boundary along the A45 with the suburb of Styvechale/Stivichall to the north, and part of its southeastern boundary is shared with the village of Baginton in Warwickshire. The suburb of Green Lane lies directly to the west and the hamlet of King's Hill lies within a mile of Finham at Coventry's southernmost point.
Finham is roughly triangular in shape; its northern boundary is along the Kenpas Highway (A45); its southeastern boundary is along the A46, and its southwestern boundary is, for the most part, along Green Lane. Finham Park School and Finham Primary School, are the two schools in Finham.
A large comprehensive school Finham Park School, a Mathematics and Computer college and also a teacher training school, is situated on Green Lane. It was completed in 1970 on former farmland on the west side of Green Lane. Also located along Green Lane, is Finham Primary School, a which was moved to Green Lane from its previous location on Brentwood Avenue, also in Finham. The school was almost entirely rebuilt in the mid-1980s. There is a library that is open from Monday to Saturday.
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Finham Park School
Finham Park School a secondary school and sixth form with academy status. It is situated on Green Lane in Finham, Coventry, England.
In September 2003, it became the first Mathematics and Computing College in Coventry. The head teacher is Mr. Mark Bailie, with Deputy Head teachers Mr. R. Plester and Mrs. Maginnis. The previous headteacher had been Mr. Paul Logan who was head between 2002 and 2009.
The school has 1,500 students across the five mandatory years and the two optional years of the sixth form. The student intake is from the Finham, Styvechale, Cheylesmore, Green Lane and Fenside districts of the city, plus parts of Earlsdon.
Finham Park School opened in 1970, but construction of the final school buildings was not completed until late 1971. Before Finham Park School opened, pupils in the area went to a variety of Coventry schools.
A sixth-form block was opened in 2006 and the old sixth-form block became used for Supportive Studies for the main school.
In 2005, Finham Park School became the first school in Coventry to offer the IB Diploma Programme, as an alternative to A Levels. Upper sixth form students, the first to take the IB diploma from the school, sat their IB examinations in May 2007. As of 2008, Finham is still the only school in Coventry that offers the IB diploma.
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Foleshill
Foleshill is a suburb in the north of Coventry in the West Midlands of England. Longford. Courthouse Green and Rowley Green are to its north and Keresley is to its west.
Development of industries within the area such as the Ordnance Works, J&J Cash Ltd (silk ribbon weaving), and various brick works; was aided by the existence of the Coventry to Nuneaton railway and the Coventry Canal.
In July 1905, Courtaulds Ltd opened its factory in Foleshill and grew to become a world leader in the production of artificial fibres requiring a considerable expansion of the facility over the following years. The now-demolished Courtaulds chimney was reputed to be the tallest in England when it was erected in 1924. It stood 365 feet (111 m) tall, was built on 15 feet (4.5 m) - deep foundations, had a base diameter of 26 feet (8 m) tapering to 16 feet (5 m) at the top, and consisted of 917,000 bricks weighing a total of 4,000 tons (4,064 metric tons). Tower Court, formerly one of the Courtaulds buildings, is now used as offices.
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Fordbridge
Coordinates: 52°29′06″N 1°44′24″W / 52.48512°N 1.74006°W / 52.48512; -1.74006
Fordbridge is a civil parish and suburb between Kingshurst and Chelmsley Wood in the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull, which is in the West Midlands county, and also part of the West Midlands conurbation. It is 8 miles (13 km) east of Birmingham City Centre. It has a town council. According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 8,748.
Fordbridge is near to Marston Green and features a new £32 million secondary school, called the 'Grace Academy'. The area falls within the borders of North Solihull, which is now subject to a £1.8 billion regeneration project.
According to statistics, Fordbridge is one of the more poorer areas of the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull. However, Cooks Lane and surrounding areas differ in that there is more expensive housing (well above the average house price for that area), less crime and are different in housing architecture compared to the surrounding areas of Smith's Wood, Kingshurst and Chelmsley wood.
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Fradley Junction
Fradley Junction (grid reference SK140139) is a canal junction between Fradley and Alrewas near Lichfield, Staffordshire, England and the point at which the Coventry Canal joins the Trent and Mersey Canal. It opened in 1790, and several of the buildings around it, including The Swan public house, are grade II listed structures.
The Trent and Mersey Canal, at the time called the Grand Trunk Canal, was conceived as a link between Liverpool and Kingston upon Hull, although it followed a rather circuitous route, passing through the Potteries and Cheshire. It was authorised by an Act of Parliament in 1766, and the 93-mile (150 km) route from Derwent Mouth to Preston Brook was completed in eleven years, opening in 1777.
The Coventry canal was authorised two years after the Trent and Mersey, in 1768, and should have run from Coventry, via Bedworth and Atherstone, to join the Grand Trunk Canal at Fradley. The first 10 miles (16 km) to Bedworth were completed in 1769, and a lucrative trade in coal soon developed between the Bedworth collieries and Coventry. The canal was completed to Atherstone in 1771, but the next stage involved a flight of eleven locks, and the money had run out. Consequently, construction stopped at Atherstone, some 21.4 miles (34.4 km) from Fradley.
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Galați
Galați (Romanian pronunciation: [ɡaˈlat͡sʲ]) is a city and a municipality in Romania. The town of Galaţi is the capital of Galați County.Galaţi lies in the historical region of Moldavia, near to Brăila. Galați is the largest port and the largest sea port on the Danube River. It is the second largest port in Romania.In 2011, census data recorded 231204 inhabitants in the city of Galaţi. At that time it was the seventh most populous city in Romania.Galaţi is an industrial city based around the Naval Shipyard, the Arcelor-Mittal steel plant and the Port.
The name "Galaţi" is derived from the Cuman word galat. This word is borrowed from the Arabic word qal'at, meaning a fortress. Other etymologies have been proposed, such as the Serbian galac. However, the galat root appears in nearby toponyms, some of which show clearly a Cuman origin, for example Gălățui Lake, which has the typical Cuman -ui suffix for "water". Another toponym in the region is the Galicia, with its town of Halych, locally associated with the jackdaw (Kawka, Halka). Other similar place names are Galich, Russia and Galatia in Turkey. Gaul might be a derivation from Galatia, thus suggesting a Celtic origin. A similar pattern occurs with the celtic sounding word, Ligures referring to "Caladaa" being a city of the Ligurian or Genoan territories. Although possible, a celtic origin is, however, unlikely.
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Gibbet Hill
Gibbet Hill is the location of, and name for the University of Warwick's southern campus, based close to the outskirts of Coventry, in the West Midlands, England.
The Gibbet Hill campus is home to School of Life Sciences, the University's Estates Office, Warwick Medical School, and some maths houses. The campus also has its own cafe, serving hot and cold meals throughout the day.
Gibbet Hill is linked to the university's main campus by a path through Tocil Wood, as well as Gibbet Hill Road. It is approximately one kilometre from the heart of Central Campus and takes 10–12 minutes by foot to reach Gibbet Hill. Gibbet Hill is 25–30 minutes away by foot from the Westwood Campus.
The hill itself is named after the crossroads at the apex of the hill (just beyond the campus on the Kenilworth road) on which a scaffold for public hangings called a Gibbet used to stand. Ironically it is now the scene of many car accidents.[citation needed]
In recent years, redevelopment work has taken place at Gibbet Hill, including the conversion of some former mathematics facilities into medical teaching buildings.
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Gibraltar
Gibraltar ( /dʒɨˈbrɒltər/) is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. It has an area of 6.8 square kilometres (2.6 sq mi) and a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region. At its foot is the densely populated city area, home to almost 30,000 Gibraltarians and other nationalities.
An Anglo-Dutch force captured Gibraltar from Spain in 1704 during the War of the Spanish Succession. The territory was subsequently ceded to Britain "in perpetuity" under the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713. It was an important base for the Royal Navy; today its economy is based largely on tourism, financial services, and shipping.
The sovereignty of Gibraltar is a major point of contention in Anglo-Spanish relations as Spain asserts a claim to the territory. Gibraltarians rejected proposals for Spanish sovereignty in a 1967 referendum and again in 2002. Under the Gibraltar constitution of 2006, Gibraltar governs its own affairs, though some powers, such as defence and foreign relations, remain the responsibility of the UK Government.
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Glasgow
Coordinates: 55°51′29″N 4°15′32″W / 55.858°N 4.259°W / 55.858; -4.259
Glasgow (i/ˈɡlɑːzɡəʊ/, locally /ˈɡlazɡo/, GLAZ-goh; Scots: Glesga listen (help·info); Scottish Gaelic: Glaschu ([ˈkɫ̪as̪əxu] listen (help·info))) is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's West Central Lowlands.
Glasgow grew from a small rural settlement on the River Clyde to become one of the largest seaports in Britain. Expanding from the medieval bishopric of Glasgow and the later establishment of the University of Glasgow in the 15th century, it became a major centre of the Scottish Enlightenment in the 18th century. From the 18th century the city also grew as one of Britain's main hubs of transatlantic trade with British North America and the British West Indies. With the Industrial Revolution, the city and surrounding region shifted to become one of the world's pre-eminent centres of heavy engineering, most notably in shipbuilding and marine engineering industry, which produced many innovative and famous vessels. Glasgow was known as the "Second City of the British Empire" for much of the Victorian era and Edwardian period. Today it is one of Europe's top ten financial centres and is home to many of Scotland's leading businesses. Glasgow is also ranked as the 57th most liveable city in the world.
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Gloucester
Gloucester (i/ˈɡlɒstər/ GLOS-tər) is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately 32 miles (51 km) north-east of Bristol, and 45 miles (72 km) south-southwest of Birmingham.
Gloucester was founded in AD 97 by the Romans under Emperor Nerva as Colonia Glevum Nervensis, and was granted its first charter in 1155 by King Henry II. Economically, the city is dominated by the service industries, and has a strong financial and business sector, being home to the bank Cheltenham & Gloucester and historically was prominent in the aerospace industry.
The existence of a British settlement at Gloucester (Caer Glow, Gleawecastre, Gleucestre) is not confirmed by any direct evidence, but Gloucester was the Roman municipality of Colonia Nervia Glevensium, or Glevum, founded in the reign of Nerva. Parts of the walls can be traced, and many remains and coins have been found, though inscriptions are scarce. Evidence for some civic life after the end of Roman Britain includes the mention in the Historia Brittonum that Vortigern's grandfather ruled Gloucester. According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, Gloucester was part of Wessex from the Battle of Deorham in 577 until 584, when it came under the control of Mercia.
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Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the cities of Manchester and Salford. Greater Manchester was created on 1 April 1974 as a result of the Local Government Act 1972.
Greater Manchester spans 493 square miles (1,277 km2). It is landlocked and borders Cheshire (to the south-west and south), Derbyshire (to the south-east), West Yorkshire (to the north-east), Lancashire (to the north) and Merseyside (to the west). There is a mix of high-density urban areas, suburbs, semi-rural and rural locations in Greater Manchester, but overwhelmingly the land use is urban. It has a focused central business district, formed by Manchester city centre and the adjoining parts of Salford and Trafford, but Greater Manchester is also a polycentric county with ten metropolitan districts, each of which has at least one major town centre and outlying suburbs. The Greater Manchester Urban Area is the third most populous conurbation in the UK, and spans across most of the county's territory.
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Halesowen
Coordinates: 52°27′01″N 2°03′03″W / 52.450164°N 2.050935°W / 52.450164; -2.050935
Halesowen ( /heɪlzˈoʊ.ɨn/) is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley, in the West Midlands, England. After the construction of the M5 motorway a part of Halesowen's Lapal suburb, Carters Lane to the east of the M5 and the roads which culminate on it, were separated from the rest of it and thus fell within Birmingham City Council's boundary. It is now included in the city's Woodgate ward but retains Halesowen as its post town and the B62 postcode.
The population, as measured by the United Kingdom Census 2001, was 55,273. Halesowen is included in the Halesowen and Rowley Regis constituency which is held by the Conservative James Morris.
Halesowen was a detached part of the county of Shropshire but was incorporated into Worcestershire in 1844 by the Counties (Detached Parts) Act. Since the local government reorganisation of 1974 it has formed a part of the West Midlands Metropolitan County and Conurbation, in the Dudley Metropolitan Borough, which it joined at the same time as neighbouring Stourbridge.
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Hawkesbury Village
Coordinates: 52°27′31″N 1°28′30″W / 52.4585°N 1.4749°W / 52.4585; -1.4749
Hawkesbury Village is in Warwickshire, England and is located within the Coventry–Bedworth urban area. It borders the city of Coventry at its southern point. It is situated within the Poplar Ward of the Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council area.
Until around 1999, it consisted of three streets with approximately 140 houses and a population of 250. Housing developments have now increased the number of houses to approximately 740 with an adult population of 1,147, this detail being taken from Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council’s property and elector count.
This specific area has previously been referred to as a number of different locations, including Exhall, Longford, Tackley, Little Bayton and Black Horse Road. Due to these anomalies, it was felt that the area should be given a specific identity.
Towards the start of 2005, contact was made between Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council and Warwickshire County Council regarding signage for the area, which is defined as being between the Hawkesbury Lane railway crossing on Black Horse Road and the humpback bridge over the Coventry Canal, alongside Hawkesbury Junction, where the Oxford Canal starts.
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Henley Green
Henley Green is a former council estate in Coventry at grid reference SP366815 adjacent to Wood End, bordered by Deedmore Road, and about a mile from the area of Bell Green. Henley Green now consists of a mixture of private and social housing. The neighbourhood is part of the Henley ward.
This housing estate was mostly built by Wimpey around 1955, the majority of properties were built out of no fines by a method of cast pouring. The 'pour' contains 'no fine' particles (sand) and as such is a mixture of crushed pebbles and cementitious liquid slurry.
Some three storey (four bedroomed) houses were built in Deedmore Road of a more traditional brick design, these are similar structures to the houses in Foxglove Close and Leeder Close off Everdon Road, Holbrooks built around the same time and are early town houses with a utility room and storage on the ground floor, living area on the first floor and bedrooms above. More three bedroomed houses built of traditional brick, stand in Deedmore Road, Eccles Close and Petitor Crescent Henley Green.
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Hereford
Coordinates: 52°03′23″N 2°42′58″W / 52.0565°N 2.7160°W / 52.0565; -2.7160
Herefordi/ˈhɛrɨfərd/ is a cathedral city, civil parish and county town of Herefordshire, England. It lies on the River Wye, approximately 16 miles (26 km) east of the border with Wales, 24 miles (39 km) southwest of Worcester, and 23 miles (37 km) northwest of Gloucester. With a population of 55,800 people, it is the largest settlement in the county.
The name "Hereford" is said to come from the Anglo Saxon "here", an army or formation of soldiers, and the "ford", a place for crossing a river. If this is the origin it suggests that Hereford was a place where a body of armed men forded or crossed the Wye. The Welsh name for Hereford is Henffordd, meaning "old road", and probably refers to the Roman Road and Roman settlement at nearby Stretton Sugwas.
An early town charter from 1189 granted by Richard I of England describes it as "Hereford in Wales". Hereford has been recognised as a city since time immemorial, with the status being reconfirmed as recently as October 2000.
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Herefordshire
Herefordshire ( /ˈhɛrɨfərdʃər/; abbreviated Herefs.) is a historic and ceremonial county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region (code UKG11) and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire" NUTS 2 region. It also forms a unitary district known as the County of Herefordshire. It borders the English ceremonial counties of Shropshire to the north, Worcestershire to the east, Gloucestershire to the south-east, and the Welsh preserved counties of Gwent to the south-west and Powys to the west. Hereford is a cathedral city and is the county town; with a population of approximately 55,800 inhabitants it is also the largest settlement.
The county is one of the most rural and sparsely populated in England, with a population density of 82/km² (212/sq mi). The land use is predominantly agricultural and the county is well known for its fruit and cider production, and the Hereford cattle breed.
From 1974 to 1998, Herefordshire was part of the former non-metropolitan county of Hereford and Worcester.
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Hillfields
Hillfields is a suburb of Coventry in the West Midlands of England. It is situated north of Coventry city centre, and has undergone a series of name changes throughout its history which has seen it change from a village, to a remote suburb, to a large postwar redevelopment zone.
Hillfields was originally known as Harnall and was a district under the Holy Trinity Parish. Harnall was first mentioned in Coombe Abbey Charter as being in the ownership of the Prior's Half of Coventry in the 12th century. It was again mentioned in the 12th century in a passage noting a road that lead "through the middle of Harnall along the country of Stoke". In the 13th century, Harnall was owned by Roger de Montalt and was one of his estates consisting of little more than cottages and crofts. Before this, the Coventry Priory had owned land in Harnall.
In 1542, the land was given by the Priory to the Corporation, and in 1551 the Prior's Orchard with Swans Pool, New Pool, Harnall Field and other land were included in the endowment of Sir Thomas White's Charity. In 1632, Prior's Orchard Mill, located near Springfield Brook and Swanswell Pool, was absorbed into Swanswell Waterworks. The waterworks produced water for Coventry.
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Hinckley
Coordinates: 52°32′29″N 1°22′21″W / 52.5413°N 1.3725°W / 52.5413; -1.3725
Hinckley is a town in southwest Leicestershire, England. It has a population of 43,246 (2001 census). It is administered by Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council. Hinckley is currently the second largest town in Leicestershire, after Loughborough (Leicester itself being a city which is not part of the non-metropolitan county of Leicestershire).
Although part of Leicestershire, it is situated in close proximity to the larger town of Nuneaton in Warwickshire, and comprises part of the Nuneaton Urban Area.
Hinckley has a history going back to Saxon times. By the time of the Domesday Book in 1086, Hinckley was quite a large village, and grew over the course of the following 200 years into a small market town—a market was first recorded there in 1311. To the west of Hinckley lies Saxon Paddock where in 2000 archaeologists from Northampton University discovered a Romano-British settlement and later Saxon items.
In the 17th century, the town developed a hosiery industry, producing stockings and similar items. Hinckley played a prominent part in the English Civil War. Its proximity to several rival strongholds—the royalist garrisons at Ashby de la Zouch and Leicester, those of the Parliamentarians at Tamworth and Coventry, and the presence of parties of troops or brigands occupying several fortified houses in nearby Warwickshire—ensured frequent visits by the warring parties. The local townsfolk were forced to decide whether to declare their allegiances openly or attempt to remain neutral—with the risk of having to pay levies, ransoms, and fines to both sides. In March 1644, Hinckley was occupied by a group of Royalist troops, though they were soon driven out by a force of Parliamentarians, who took many prisoners.
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Holbrooks
Holbrooks, also written Holbrook's, is a residential area of Coventry, West Midlands, England.
Most of the length of the four brooks which pass through the area are covered or culverted, one culvert is adjacent to the recently built housing on Watery Lane. Another brook passes through and under the grounds of Parkgate School. The brooks then head off towards the river Sherbourne and the Sowe.
Holbooks is situated some 3 mi (5 km) north-west to the city centre and was largely developed for private and council housing during the 1950s and to replace the many homes destroyed by air raids during the Second World War.
Some areas are pre-war, Farm Close was built in the 1920s as local industry expanded. A lot of terraced houses were built in Holbrooks around the mid 1930s. One 1930s housing estates is locally known as 'The Dales', a somewhat tired housing estate close to the Ricoh Arena, and separated from it by a railway line and a main road, the A444 Phoenix Way.
The Dales estate was mostly built in 1936, locally named this because it consists of the following streets: Lauderdale Avenue, Kirkdale Avenue, Farndale Avenue, Glaisdale Avenue, Langdale Avenue and Bransdale Avenue. Though the houses on the left when entering Langdale Avenue were built slightly later in the early 1940s and are early examples of a cavity walled brickwork design. The property known as number 8, Langdale Avenue was a dental surgery for many years. Today this estate is troubled by parking problems, a lack of green spaces and any play areas for children.
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Humber
The Humber ( /ˈhʌmbər/) is a large tidal estuary on the east coast of Northern England. It is formed at Trent Falls, Faxfleet, by the confluence of the tidal River Ouse and the tidal River Trent. From here to the North Sea, it forms part of the boundary between the East Riding of Yorkshire on the north bank and North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire on the south bank. Although the Humber is an estuary from the point at which it is formed, many maps show it as the River Humber.
Below Trent Falls, the Humber passes the junction with the Market Weighton Canal on the north shore, the confluence of the River Ancholme on the south shore; between North Ferriby and South Ferriby and under the Humber Bridge; between Barton-upon-Humber on the south bank and Kingston upon Hull on the North bank (where the River Hull joins), then meets the North Sea between Cleethorpes on the Lincolnshire side and the long and thin (but rapidly changing) headland of Spurn Head to the North.
Ports on the Humber include Kingston upon Hull (better known as simply Hull), Grimsby, Immingham, New Holland and Killingholme. The estuary is navigable here for the largest of deep-sea vessels. Inland connections for smaller craft are extensive but currently only handle one quarter of the goods traffic handled in the Thames.
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India
India (i/ˈɪndiə/), officially the Republic of India (Bhārat Gaṇarājya), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the south, the Arabian Sea on the south-west, and the Bay of Bengal on the south-east, it shares land borders with Pakistan to the west;China, Nepal, and Bhutan to the north-east; and Burma and Bangladesh to the east. In the Indian Ocean, India is in the vicinity of Sri Lanka and the Maldives; in addition, India's Andaman and Nicobar Islands share a maritime border with Thailand and Indonesia.
Home to the ancient Indus Valley Civilisation and a region of historic trade routes and vast empires, the Indian subcontinent was identified with its commercial and cultural wealth for much of its long history. Four of the world's major religions—Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism—originated here, whereas Zoroastrianism, Christianity, and Islam arrived in the 1st millennium CE and also helped shape the region's diverse culture. Gradually annexed by and brought under the administration of the British East India Company from the early 18th century and administered directly by the United Kingdom from the mid-19th century, India became an independent nation in 1947 after a struggle for independence that was marked by non-violent resistance led by Mahatma Gandhi.
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Inverness
Coordinates: 57°28′18″N 4°13′31″W / 57.4717°N 4.2254°W / 57.4717; -4.2254
Inverness (from the Scottish Gaelic: Inbhir Nis pronounced [iɲɪɾʲˈniʃ], meaning "Mouth of the River Ness" listen (help·info)) is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland. Inverness lies near two important battle sites: the 11th century battle of Blàr nam Fèinne against Norway which took place on The Aird and the 18th century Battle of Culloden which took place on Culloden Moor. It is the northernmost city in the United Kingdom and lies within the Great Glen (Gleann Mòr) at its north-eastern extremity where the River Ness enters the Moray Firth. At the latest, a settlement was established by the 6th century with the first royal charter being granted by Dabíd mac Maíl Choluim (King David I) in the 12th century. The Gaelic king, Mac Bethad mac Findláich (MacBeth) nicknamed An Rígh Dearg (The Red King) held a castle within the city where he ruled as Mormaer of Moray and Ross.
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Jinan
Coordinates: 36°40′N 116°59′E / 36.667°N 116.983°E / 36.667; 116.983
Jinan (Chinese: 济南; pinyin: Jǐnán; Mandarin pronunciation: [t͡ɕi˧˩nan˧˥];) is the capital of Shandong province in Eastern China. The area of present-day Jinan has played an important role in the history of the region from the earliest beginnings of civilisation and has evolved into a major national administrative, economic, and transportation hub. The city, which holds sub-provincial administrative status, is located in north-western Shandong about 400 kilometres (250 mi) south of the national capital of Beijing, it borders Liaocheng to the southwest, Dezhou to the northwest, Binzhou to the northeast, Zibo to the east, Laiwu to the southeast, and Tai'an to the south.
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Kecskemét
Kecskemét (Hungarian pronunciation: [ˈkɛtʃkɛmeːt]) is a city in the central part of Hungary. It is the 8th largest city of the country, and the county seat of Bács-Kiskun.
Kecskemét lies halfway between the capital Budapest and the country's third-largest city, Szeged, 86 kilometres from both of them and almost equal distance from the two big rivers of the country, the Danube and the Tisza. It is the northern of two centres of the Hungarian Southern Great Plain (Hungarian: Del-Alföld) region (comprising the three counties Bács-Kiskun, Békés and Csongrád); the southern centre is Szeged, the seat of Csongrád county.
The name of the city stems from the Hungarian word kecske, meaning "goat".
Kecskemét was formed at the meeting point of a large sandy region and a sandy yellow soil, its height is 120 meters above sea level. The territory west of the city is covered by wind-blown sand, characterized by the almost parallel northern-southern sand dunes and the plain lands among them. At the end of the 18th and the beginning of the 19th centuries, the pastures had become impoverished. Overgrazing by cattle had destroyed the natural vegetation cover; the movement of sand seriously endangered the town, too. Concentrated reforestation and planting of fruit and vines was carried out to stabilize the soil again.
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Kenilworth
Coordinates: 52°20′28″N 1°33′58″W / 52.341°N 1.566°W / 52.341; -1.566
Kenilworth is a town and civil parish in Warwickshire, England, about 5.5 miles (9 km) southwest of Coventry, 4 miles (6 km) north of Warwick and 90 miles (140 km) northwest of London. The town is on Finham Brook, a tributary of the River Sowe, which joins the River Avon about 2 miles (3 km) east of the centre of the town. The 2001 Census recorded a parish population of 22,582.
Kenilworth is notable for the extensive ruins of Kenilworth Castle. Other local sights include the ruins of Kenilworth Abbey in Abbey Fields park, St Nicholas' parish church and Kenilworth Clock.
A settlement existed at Kenilworth by the time of the Domesday Book of 1086, which records it as Chinewrde.
Geoffrey de Clinton (d. 1134) initiated the building of an Augustinian priory in 1122, at the same time as he initiated the building of Kenilworth Castle.[citation needed] The priory was raised to the rank of abbey in 1450 and suppressed in the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the 1530s. Thereafter the abbey grounds next to the castle, were made common land in exchange for common land that Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester used to enlarge the castle. Only a few walls and a storage barn of the original abbey survive.
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Keresley
Keresley is a village and civil parish in the City of Coventry, West Midlands, England, about 5 miles (8 km) north of Coventry city centre. According to the 2001 census, the parish had a population of 791. Keresley and Keresley End are two separate areas; Keresley is in Coventry, while the slightly more rural Keresely End, also known as Keresley village or Keresley Newlands, is in Warwickshire, with the exception of Thompsons Road in the village, which comes under the Coventry boundary. The village features two grocers shops, two bus stops, a beauty salon, primary school, doctors surgery, a fish and chip shop, a small church, a post office, library, park, garden centre and community centre.
For most of its history, Keresley was a combination of two further villages: Keresley Green was the most northerly and first to exist, but it was Keresley Heath to the south which was developed the most with the building of schools and the church of St. Thomas. However, in 1911 the construction of a colliery by the Warwickshire Coal Company near to Keresley Green brought the focus of development back to that area. It wasn't until 1974 that the two parts of Keresley lost their separate identities and became united, with the closure of the colliery following in 1996.
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Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull (i/ˌkɪŋstən əpɒn ˈhʌl/ KING-stən ə-pon HUL), usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles (40 km) inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of 263,900 (2010 est.). The Larger Urban Zone (LUZ) population stands at 573,300.
Renamed Kings town upon Hull by King Edward I in 1299, the town and city of Hull has served as market town, military supply port, a trading hub, fishing and whaling centre, and industrial metropolis.
Hull was an early theatre of battle in the English Civil Wars. Its 18th-century Member of Parliament, William Wilberforce, played a key role in the abolition of the slave trade in Britain.
The city is unique in the UK in having had a municipally-owned telephone system from 1902, sporting cream, not red, telephone boxes.
After suffering heavy damage during the Second World War, Hull weathered a period of post-industrial decline, during which the city gained unfavourable results on measures of social deprivation, education and policing. In recent years the city has embarked on an extensive programme of economic regeneration, reconstruction and urban renewal. The economic crisis since 2008 has caused some setbacks to these developments.
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Kirklees
Coordinates: 53°35′35″N 1°48′04″W / 53.593°N 1.801°W / 53.593; -1.801
The Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees is a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, England. It has a population of 401,000 and includes the settlements of Batley, Birstall, Cleckheaton, Denby Dale, Dewsbury, Heckmondwike, Holmfirth, Huddersfield, Kirkburton, Marsden, Meltham, Mirfield and Slaithwaite. Huddersfield is the largest settlement of the district, and its centre of administration.
The borough was formed under the Local Government Act 1972 on 1 April 1974, by a merger of the county boroughs of Dewsbury and Huddersfield along with the municipal boroughs of Batley and Spenborough and the urban districts of Colne Valley, Denby Dale, Heckmondwike, Holmfirth, Kirkburton, Meltham and Mirfield.
The name "Kirklees" was chosen by the merging councils from more than fifty suggestions, including "Upper Agbrigg", "Brigantia" and "Wooldale". It was named after Kirklees Priory, legendary burial place of Robin Hood. The site of the priory is now Kirklees Park Estate, situated mid way between Huddersfield and Dewsbury and the location of Kirklees Hall.
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Leeds
Coordinates: 53°47′59″N 1°32′57″W / 53.79972°N 1.54917°W / 53.79972; -1.54917 Leeds (i/ˈliːdz/) is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 (2011 est.), making it the 24th-most populous city in the European Union
Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial heart of the West Yorkshire Urban Area, which at the 2001 census had a population of 1.5 million, and the Leeds-Bradford Metropolitan Area, of which Leeds is the integral part, had a population of around 2.3 million, making it the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom. In addition, the Leeds city region, an economic area with Leeds at its core, had a population of 2.9 million. Leeds is the UK's largest centre for business, legal, and financial services outside London, and its office market is the best in Europe for value. Leeds is considered a Gamma World City, alongside cities such as Phoenix, St. Petersburg and Valencia.
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Leicester
Coordinates: 52°38′03″N 1°08′19″W / 52.63422°N 1.13852°W / 52.63422; -1.13852
Leicester (/lɛstər/ LESS-tər pronunciation (help·info)) is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest. In 2010, the population of the Leicester unitary authority was estimated at 306,600, the second highest in the region, whilst 441,213 people lived in the wider Leicester Urban Area in 2006, making Leicester the tenth most populous settlement in the United Kingdom and the UK's fourteenth largest urban area. It is the largest city in the East Midlands yet has the second largest urban area in the region behind Nottingham Urban Area. Eurostat's Larger Urban Zone listed the population of the area at 772,400 people as of 2004.
Ancient Roman pavements and baths remain in Leicester from its early settlement as Ratae Corieltauvorum, a Roman military outpost in a region inhabited by the Celtic Corieltauvi tribe. Following the demise of Roman society the early medieval Ratae Corieltauvorum is shrouded in obscurity, but when the settlement was captured by the Danes it became one of five fortified towns important to the Danelaw. The name "Leicester" is thought to derive from the words castra of the "Ligore", meaning camp of the dwellers on the (river) Legro. Leicester appears in the Domesday Book as "Ledecestre". Leicester continued to grow throughout the Early Modern period as a market town, although it was the Industrial Revolution that facilitated a process of rapid unplanned urbanisation in the area.
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Lichfield
Coordinates: 52°41′01″N 1°49′36″W / 52.6835°N 1.82653°W / 52.6835; -1.82653
Lichfield ( /ˈlɪtʃfiːld/) is a cathedral city, civil parish and district in Staffordshire, England. One of eight civil parishes with city status in England, Lichfield is situated roughly 25 km (16 mi) north of Birmingham. In 2008, its population was estimated at 30,583 and the wider Lichfield district at 97,900.
Notable for its three-spired medieval cathedral, Lichfield was the birthplace of Samuel Johnson, the writer of the first authoritative Dictionary of the English Language. The city's recorded history began when St Chad arrived to establish his Bishopric in 669 CE and the settlement grew as the ecclesiastical centre of the Kingdom of Mercia. In 2009 the Staffordshire Hoard, the largest hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold and silver metalwork, was found 5.9 km (3.7 mi) south west of Lichfield.
The development of the city was consolidated in the 12th century under Bishop Clinton who fortified the Cathedral Close, and also laid out the town with the ladder-shaped street pattern that survives to this day. Lichfield's heyday was in the 18th century when it developed into a thriving coaching city. This was a period of great intellectual activity, the city being the home of many famous people including Samuel Johnson, David Garrick, Erasmus Darwin and Anna Seward, and prompted Johnson's remark that Lichfield was "a city of philosophers".
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Lisburn
Coordinates: 54°30′43″N 6°01′52″W / 54.512°N 6.031°W / 54.512; -6.031
Lisburn (Irish: Lios na gCearrbhach) is a city in Northern Ireland. It is situated southwest of Belfast on the River Lagan which forms the boundary between County Antrim and County Down. Lisburn forms part of the Belfast metropolitan area. It had a population of 71,465 people in the 2001 Census and a population density of 243 per km². The wider council area has a growing population of 114,000, making it the second largest council district, after Belfast.
Formerly a borough, Lisburn was granted city status in 2002 as part of Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee celebrations. It is the third-largest city in Northern Ireland and the sixth-largest on the island of Ireland, though the proposed changes to the status of Tallaght would render it seventh.
The town was originally known as Lisnagarvy (also spelt Lisnagarvey, Lisnegarvey, Lisnegarvy, Lisnegarvagh or Lisnagarvagh) after the townland in which it formed. This is derived from Irish: Lios na gCearrbhach meaning "ringfort of the gamesters/gamblers".
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Liverpool
Liverpool ( /ˈlɪvəpuːl/) is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Liverpool was 445,200 and was part of a larger urban area of 816,216.
Historically a part of Lancashire, the urbanisation and expansion of Liverpool were both largely brought about by the city's status as a major port. By the 18th century, trade from the West Indies, Ireland and mainland Europe coupled with close links with the Atlantic Slave Trade furthered the economic expansion of Liverpool. By the early 19th century, 40% of the world's trade passed through Liverpool's docks, contributing to Liverpool's rise as a major city.
Inhabitants of Liverpool are referred to as Liverpudlians but are also colloquially known as "Scousers", in reference to the local dish known as "scouse", a form of stew. The word "Scouse" has also become synonymous with the Liverpool accent and dialect. Liverpool's status as a port city has contributed to its diverse population, which, historically, were drawn from a wide range of peoples, cultures, and religions, particularly those from Ireland. The city is also home to the oldest Black African community in the country and the oldest Chinese community in Europe.
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London
Londoni/ˈlʌndən/ is the capital city of England and the United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its founding by the Romans, who named it Londinium. London's ancient core, the City of London, largely retains its square-mile mediaeval boundaries. Since at least the 19th century, the name London has also referred to the metropolis developed around this core. The bulk of this conurbation forms the London region and the Greater London administrative area, governed by the elected Mayor of London and the London Assembly.
London is a leading global city, with strengths in the arts, commerce, education, entertainment, fashion, finance, healthcare, media, professional services, research and development, tourism and transport all contributing to its prominence. It is the world's leading financial centre alongside New York City and has the fifth-largest city GDP in the world (and the largest in Europe). London has been described as a world cultural capital. It was the world's most visited city during 2011 and London Heathrow is the world's busiest airport by number of international passengers. London's 43 universities form the largest concentration of higher education in Europe. In 2012 London will become the first city to host the modern Summer Olympic Games three times.
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Lutterworth
Coordinates: 52°27′31″N 1°12′10″W / 52.4585°N 1.2029°W / 52.4585; -1.2029
Lutterworth is a market town and civil parish in the Harborough district of Leicestershire, England. The town is located in southern Leicestershire, 11 km (6.8 mi) north of Rugby, in Warwickshire and 24 km (15 mi) south of Leicester. It had a population of 8,293 in the 2001 UK census.
Lutterworth lies on the A426 Leicester–Rugby road, adjacent to the M1 motorway at junction 20. It is also located within a few miles of the M6 motorway and A5 trunk road. The town once had a station on the Great Central Railway; however, since its closure the nearest railway station is now at Rugby. A southern bypass, the A4303, was opened in 1999, providing a route for traffic from the M1 to the A5 to avoid Lutterworth town centre.
The name of Lutterworth is probably derived from the Old Norse name "Lutter's Vordig" meaning Luther's Farm. Lutterworth was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086.
The town was granted its Market Charter in 1214 by King John and continues to hold a market to this day.
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M45 motorway
The M45 is a motorway in Northamptonshire and Warwickshire, England and is 7.9 miles (12.7 km) long. It runs from junction 17 of the M1 motorway south east of Rugby and ends with a junction with the A45 road southwest of Rugby. It has one of the lowest traffic volumes of the United Kingdom motorway system.
Built in 1959 when the M1 (as part of a link from London to Birmingham) went as far as Junction 18, the M45 was designed to dissipate some of the motorway traffic before the M1 terminated. Its equivalent at the southern end of the M1 is the former M10, which was downgraded on 1 May 2009 to become part of the A414.
As the signposted route to Birmingham in the 1960s it was one of the busiest roads in Britain, with motorists having to make the final 30 miles (48 km) or so of the journey along the predominantly dual carriageway A45.
In 1972, the opening of the M6 provided a much faster route through to the West Midlands from London. Most traffic diverted to this route, leaving the M45 with only a fraction of its previous traffic.
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M69 motorway
The M69 is a lightly used 15.7-mile (25.3 km) dual three lane dual carriageway motorway in Leicestershire and Warwickshire, England connecting Leicester and Coventry. It opened in 1977.
The motorway, also known at the time as the 'Coventry – Leicester Motorway' was completed in 1977 following a public inquiry in 1972. It replaced the A46 road, which was subsequently downgraded.
Starting at the northeastern suburbs of Coventry at junction 2 of the M6, the motorway crosses the Coventry Canal and then continues northeast past Bulkington and west of Wolvey before turning more easterly to run south of Hinckley. It then crosses the Birmingham to Peterborough railway line before ending on the southwestern edge of Leicester.
The motorway has no services.
There is an aspiration to construct a new slip road and road bridge for traffic travelling southbound on the M1 south to join the M69. The M1 would also be widened to dual 4 lane or dual 5 lane between junctions 21 and 21a.
Since the completion of the M69 motorway linking Coventry and Leicester, the motorway's number has given its name to the derby between the two football clubs playing in each city - Coventry City and Leicester City. These two clubs are rivals in the M69 derby.
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Manchester
Coordinates: 53°28′N 2°14′W / 53.467°N 2.233°W / 53.467; -2.233
Manchesteri/ˈmæntʃɛstər/ is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England with an estimated population of 498,800 in 2010. Manchester lies within one of the United Kingdom's largest urban areas; the Greater Manchester Urban Area which has a population of 2.2 million. The demonym of Manchester is Mancunian and the local authority is Manchester City Council.
Manchester is situated in the south-central part of North West England, fringed by the Cheshire Plain to the south and the Pennines to the north and east. The recorded history of Manchester began with the civilian settlement associated with the Roman fort of Mamucium, which was established in c. 79 AD on a sandstone bluff near the confluence of the rivers Medlock and Irwell. Historically, most of the city was a part of Lancashire, although areas south of the River Mersey were in Cheshire. Throughout the Middle Ages Manchester remained a manorial township, but it began to expand "at an astonishing rate" around the turn of the 19th century. Manchester's unplanned urbanisation was brought on by a boom in textile manufacture during the Industrial Revolution, and resulted in it becoming the world's first industrialised city. An early 19th-century factory building boom transformed Manchester from a township into a major mill town and borough that was granted city status in 1853. In 1894 the Manchester Ship Canal was built, creating the Port of Manchester.
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Merseyside
Merseyside ( /ˈmɜrzisaɪd/) is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. It encompasses the metropolitan area centred on both banks of the lower reaches of the Mersey Estuary, and comprises five metropolitan boroughs: Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton, Wirral, and the city of Liverpool. Merseyside, which was created on 1 April 1974 as a result of the Local Government Act 1972, takes its name from the River Mersey.
Merseyside spans 249 square miles (645 km2) of land which border Lancashire (to the north-east), Greater Manchester (to the east), and Cheshire (to the south and south-west); the Irish Sea is to the west. North Wales is across the Dee Estuary. There is a mix of high density urban areas, suburbs, semi-rural and rural locations in Merseyside, but overwhelmingly the land use is urban. It has a focused central business district, formed by Liverpool City Centre, but Merseyside is also a polycentric county with five metropolitan districts, each of which has at least one major town centre and outlying suburbs. The Liverpool Urban Area is the seventh most populous conurbation in the UK, and dominates the geographic centre of the county, while the smaller Birkenhead Urban Area dominates the Wirral Peninsula in the south.
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Midland Air Museum
The Midland Air Museum (MAM) is situated just outside the village of Baginton in Warwickshire, England, and is adjacent to Coventry Airport. The museum includes the Sir Frank Whittle Jet Heritage Centre (named after the local aviation pioneer and inventor of the jet engine), where many exhibits are on display in a large hangar. It also has a small hangar, and a fenced-off green area where many aircraft are on display in the open.
The museum's two largest aircraft are an Avro Vulcan B.2 and an Armstrong Whitworth Argosy AW.650 (series 101). The restored Avro Vulcan is a delta-winged aircraft that was originally part of the V bomber force and could be equipped with nuclear missiles as part of Britain's role in NATO's nuclear deterrent force during the Cold War. It is on display near the museum's car park, together with an Avro Blue Steel missile, an early design format of such a nuclear missile, and a Boulton Paul BP.111A, an experimental delta-winged aircraft of the 1950s.
The museum also has an English Electric Canberra PR.3, two English Electric Lightnings (the RAF's fastest ever interceptor), two Gloster Meteors (one on loan from the Royal Air Force Museum), an Armstrong Whitworth Sea Hawk FGA.6, a Mil Mi-24 helicopter, and many others.
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Newcastle upon Tyne
Coordinates: 54°58.440′N 1°36.792′W / 54.974°N 1.6132°W / 54.974; -1.6132
Newcastle upon Tyne (locallyi/njuːˈkæsəl/; often shortened to Newcastle) is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne. The city developed in the area that was the location of the Roman settlement called Pons Aelius, though it owes its name to the castle built in 1080, by Robert II, Duke of Normandy, the eldest son of William the Conqueror. The city grew as an important centre for the wool trade and it later became a major coal mining area. The port developed in the 16th century and, along with the shipyards lower down the river, was amongst the world's largest shipbuilding and ship-repairing centres. These industries have since experienced severe decline and closure, and the city today is largely a business and cultural centre, with a particular reputation for nightlife.
Like most cities, Newcastle has a diverse cross section, from areas of poverty to areas of affluence. Among its main icons are Newcastle Brown Ale, a leading brand of beer, Newcastle United F.C., a Premier League team, and the Tyne Bridge. It has hosted the world's most popular half marathon, the Great North Run, since it began in 1981.
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Newport
Newport (Welsh: Casnewydd) is a city and unitary authority in south east Wales. It is located on the River Usk close to its confluence with the Severn estuary, about 12 miles (19 km) east of Cardiff. It is the third largest city in Wales, with a population of 141,300 (2007 estimate).
Newport has been a port since medieval times, when a castle was built by the Normans. The town outgrew the earlier Roman town of Caerleon, immediately upstream, and gained its first charter in 1314. It grew significantly in the 19th century, when its port became the focus of coal exports from the eastern valleys of South Wales. Until the rise of Cardiff from the 1850s, Newport was Wales' largest coal-exporting port. It was the site of the last large-scale armed insurrection in Britain, the Newport Rising of 1839 led by the Chartists.
During the 20th century, the docks declined in importance, but Newport remained an important manufacturing and engineering centre. It was granted city status in 2002. It is the home of the University of Wales, Newport, and the Newport Gwent Dragons rugby union regional team, and hosted the Ryder Cup in 2010.
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Newry
Coordinates: 54°10′34″N 6°20′56″W / 54.176°N 6.349°W / 54.176; -6.349
Newry (IPA: [ˈnjʊərɪ], from Irish: An Iúraigh) is a city in Northern Ireland. The River Clanrye, which runs through the city, forms the historic border between County Armagh and County Down. It is 34 miles (55 km) from Belfast and 67 miles (108 km) from Dublin. Newry (together with Bessbrook) had a population of 27,433 at the 2001 Census, while Newry and Mourne Council Area had a population of 87,058. Newry was founded in 1144 alongside a Cistercian monastery and is one of Northern Ireland's oldest towns.
The city of Newry is one of the constituent cities of the Dublin-Belfast corridor and sits at the entry to the "Gap of the North", close to the border with the Republic of Ireland. It grew as a market town and a garrison and became a port in 1742 when it was linked to Lough Neagh by the first summit-level canal in Britain or Ireland. In March 2002, as part of Queen Elizabeth's Golden Jubilee celebrations, Newry was granted city status alongside Lisburn. Despite being the fourth largest city in Northern Ireland, however, it is not the fourth largest settlement. Newry has long been an important centre of trade because of its position between Belfast and Dublin.
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North Tyneside
The Metropolitan Borough of North Tyneside is a metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England and is part of the Tyneside conurbation. Its seat is Wallsend Town Hall.
North Tyneside is bounded by Newcastle upon Tyne to the west, the North Sea to the east, the River Tyne to the south and Northumberland to the north. Within its bounds are the towns of Wallsend, North Shields and Whitley Bay, which form a continuously built-up area contiguous with Newcastle.
The borough was formed on 1 April 1974 by the merger of the county borough of Tynemouth, with the borough of Wallsend, part of the borough of Whitley Bay, the urban district of Longbenton and part of the urban district of Seaton Valley, all of which were in Northumberland.
The following places are located in North Tyneside:
Unlike most English districts, its council is led by a directly-elected mayor, currently the conservative Linda Arkley. After the 2011 elections the council was Labour led, Labour having 35 councillors, the Conservatives 19 and the Lib Dems 6.
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North Warwickshire
North Warwickshire is a local government district and borough in Warwickshire, England. The main town in the district is Atherstone where the council is based. Other significant places include Coleshill, Polesworth and Kingsbury.
The North Warwickshire district was created on 1 April 1974 by a merger of the Atherstone Rural District and parts of the Meriden Rural District (the rest of which was merged into the West Midlands county).
North Warwickshire is a mostly rural area with several small towns. The area historically had a large coal mining industry, but this has almost died out. The district is relatively remote from the rest of Warwickshire, as the county is almost split in two by the West Midlands.
The boundaries of North Warwickshire are almost the same as the North Warwickshire parliamentary constituency. However the constituency also includes the town of Bedworth. The local MP is Dan Byles.
In 2007 the Conservatives took overall control of the Borough Council for the first time since the creation of the council within its current boundaries. The Council was retaken by Labour in 2011.
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Northampton
Northamptoni/nɔrˈθæmptən/ is a large market town and local government district in the East Midlands region of England. Situated about 67 miles (108 km) north-west of London and around 50 miles (80 km) south-east of Birmingham, Northampton lies on the River Nene and is the county town of Northamptonshire. The demonym of Northampton is Northamptonian.
Original settlements in Northampton date back to the 6th century. Its modern development is largely due to its rapid population increase since the 1960s after a planned expansion occurred under the New Towns Commission in the early 1970s. In 2001, its urban area population was 197,199 while its town population was 189,474, making Northampton the 27th largest settlement in England, and the UK's 3rd largest town without official city status after Reading and Dudley. Northampton is the most populous district in England that is not a unitary authority, a status it failed to obtain in the 1990s local government reform.
Northampton has a history of the manufacture of boots and shoes yet engineering has taken over as a modern key industry; other industries include food processing, brewing, and the manufacture of shoe machinery, cosmetics, leather goods, and car accessories. At present, the major employers are public administration, financial services, and the distribution trade.
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Norwich
Norwich (i/ˈnɒrɪdʒ/ NORR-ij, (also /ˈnɒrɪtʃ/ NORR-ich) is a city on the River Wensum in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom. Until the Industrial Revolution, Norwich was the capital of England's most populous county and vied with Bristol as England's second city.
The urban area of Norwich has a population of 194,839. This area extends beyond the city boundary, with extensive suburban areas on the western, northern and eastern sides, including Costessey, Hellesdon, Bowthorpe, Old Catton, Sprowston and Thorpe St Andrew. The parliamentary seats cross over into adjacent local government districts. 135,800 (2008 est.) people live in the City of Norwich and the population of the Norwich Travel to Work Area (i.e. the area of Norwich in which most people both live and work) is 367,035 (the 1991 figure was 351,340)[citation needed]. Norwich is the fourth most densely populated local government district within the East of England with 3,480 people per square kilometre (8,993 per square mile).
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Norwich Cathedral
Norwich Cathedral is an English cathedral located in Norwich, Norfolk, dedicated to the Holy and Undivided Trinity. It is the cathedral church for the Church of England Diocese of Norwich and is one of the Norwich 12 heritage sites.
The cathedral was begun in 1096 and constructed out of flint and mortar and faced with a cream coloured Caen limestone. A Saxon settlement and two churches were demolished to make room for the buildings. The cathedral was completed in 1145 with the Norman tower still seen today topped with a wooden spire covered with lead. Several periods of damage caused rebuilding to the nave and spire but after many years the building was much as it is now, from the final erection of the stone spire in 1480.
The large cloister has over 1,000 bosses including several hundred carved and ornately painted ones. The cathedral is on the lowest part of the Norwich river plain with Mousehold Heath, an area of scrubland, to the north.[citation needed]
Norwich Cathedral was built following the removal of the see to the city from Thetford in 1094. At the time of the Norman Conquest it had been at North Elmham. The new cathedral incorporated a monastery of Benedictine monks.
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Nottingham
Nottingham (i/ˈnɒtɪŋəm/ NOT-ing-əm) is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and is one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group.
Nottingham is famed for its links with the legend of Robin Hood and, during the Industrial Revolution, obtained worldwide recognition for its lace-making, bicycle and tobacco industries. With origins tracable back to 600 AD, Nottingham was granted its city charter as part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of Queen Victoria in 1897 and has since been officially titled the City of Nottingham. The city has historically been nicknamed The Queen of the Midlands, being the smaller yet less industrialised regional neighbour to the Midlands biggest city, Birmingham. Nottingham is considered the primary centre of England's East Midlands region, being home to numerous regional headquarters and media stations including the BBC East Midlands and the Regional Government Office.
Whilst Nottingham has always had a tightly-drawn authority boundary, accounting for its relatively small population of 306,700, Nottingham's Urban Area has a population of approximately 670,000; in the 2001 census, it was the eighth largest urban area in the United Kingdom. Eurostat's concept of the Larger Urban Zone listed the area's population at 825,600 as of 2004.
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Nuneaton
Coordinates: 52°31′23″N 1°28′06″W / 52.523°N 1.4683°W / 52.523; -1.4683
Nuneaton (/nəˈniːtən/) is the largest town in the Borough of Nuneaton and Bedworth and in the English county of Warwickshire.
Nuneaton is most famous for its associations with the 19th century author George Eliot, who was born on a farm on the Arbury Estate just outside Nuneaton in 1819 and lived in the town for much of her early life. In her novel Scenes of Clerical Life (1858), "Milby" is the thinly disguised market town of Nuneaton.
The Nuneaton Urban Area is a conurbation based around Nuneaton and several surrounding towns and villages.
The town is located 9 miles (14 km) north of Coventry, 20 miles (32 km) east of Birmingham and 103 miles (166 km) northwest of London. The River Anker runs through the town. Nuneaton (as defined by the Office for National Statistics) had a population of 70,721 according to the 2001 census, though the 2008 estimate is closer to 73,000 inhabitants. However, both of these figures exclude the Camp Hill area of the town, which is deemed to be in the Hartshill subdivision of the Nuneaton urban area by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), as can be seen from the map included in its report on Key Statistics for urban areas and the dataset of this report, which cites a population of 12,207 for the Hartshill subdivision [1] (by comparison, the population of the civil parish of Hartshill in 2001 was just 3,611 [2]). A more representative figure is given by the combined population of Nuneaton's 11 wards, which was 78,403 in 2001 according to the ONS (see table below).
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Oxford
Oxfordi/ˈɒksfəd/ is a city in central southern England, the home of the University of Oxford. The city is the county town of Oxfordshire, and forms a district within the county. It has a population of just under 165,000, of whom 153,900 live within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles (80 km) north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames (also sometimes known as the Isis locally) run through Oxford and meet south of the city centre.
Oxford has a diverse economic base. Its industries include motor manufacturing, education, publishing and a large number of information technology and science-based businesses.
Buildings in Oxford demonstrate an example of every English architectural period since the arrival of the Saxons, including the iconic, mid-18th century Radcliffe Camera. Oxford is known as the "city of dreaming spires", a term coined by poet Matthew Arnold in reference to the harmonious architecture of Oxford's university buildings. The University of Oxford is the oldest university in the English-speaking world.
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Pattison College
Coordinates: 52°24′19″N 1°28′49″W / 52.4054°N 1.4804°W / 52.4054; -1.4804
Pattison College is a non-selective independent school in the east of Coventry, England. Pattison College provides education for children aged 3 to 16 of all abilities. Pupils are taught in small classes, allowing for individual attention in a sheltered environment. The school was established in 1949.
In January 2006, Pattison College was placed seventh nationally, according to the Value Added Measure, which rates progress made from Key Stage 3 to GCSE. In 2004, it was eleventh for progress made from Key Stage 2 to GCSE and sixteenth in 2003.
The school underwent successful Ofsted inspection in November 2004 and January 2005 (Early Years). A 100% A-C GCSE result rate was achieved in 2004, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999 & 1998 examinations.
The school is not academically selective and will accept pupils who it considers would benefit from a traditional education where discipline, hard work, consideration for others and good manners are an important part of the school ethos.
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Pernik
Pernik (Bulgarian: Перник) is a city in western Bulgaria (about 30 km south-west of Sofia) with a population of 81,052 as of 2011[update]. It is the main city of Pernik Province and lies on both banks of the Struma River in the Pernik Valley between the Viskyar, Vitosha and Golo Bardo mountains.
Originally the site of a Thracian fortress founded in the 4th century BC, and later a Roman settlement, Pernik became part of the Bulgarian Empire in the early 9th century as an important fortress. The name Pernik is thought to have originated from that of Slavic god Perun with the Slavic placename suffix –nik (or –ik) added, and was first mentioned in the 9th century. The medieval town was a key Bulgarian stronghold during Bulgarian tsar Samuil's wars against the Byzantine Empire in the 11th century, when it was governed by the local noble Krakra of Pernik, withstanding Byzantine sieges a number of times.
From 1396 until 1878 the city was under Ottoman rule. In the 20th century Pernik developed rapidly as a centre for coal mining and heavy industry. During the Communist rule of Bulgaria it was called Dimitrovo between 1949 and 1962 after Bulgarian Communist leader Georgi Dimitrov. The Surva International Festival of the Masquerade Games is held in the city every January. Pernik has two football teams, PFC Minyor Pernik and FC Metalurg.
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Peterborough
Peterborough (
/ˈpiːtərbrə/ or 
i/ˈpiːtərbərə/) is a cathedral city and unitary authority area in the East of England, with an estimated population of 173,400 in June 2007. For ceremonial purposes it is in the county of Cambridgeshire. Situated 75 miles (121 km) north of London, the city stands on the River Nene which flows into the North Sea approximately 30 miles (48 km) to the north-east. The railway station is an important stop on the East Coast Main Line.
The local topography is flat and low-lying, and in some places lies below sea level. The area known as the Fens is to the east of Peterborough. The City of Peterborough includes the outlying military installation of RAF Wittering, and as a unitary authority it borders Northamptonshire and Rutland to the west, Lincolnshire to the north, and Cambridgeshire to the south and east.
Human settlement in the area dates back to before the Bronze Age, as can be seen at the Flag Fen archaeological site to the east of the current city centre. This site also shows evidence of Roman occupation. The Anglo-Saxon period saw the establishment of a monastery, then known as Medeshamstede, which later became Peterborough Cathedral. The population grew rapidly following the arrival of the railways in the 19th century, and Peterborough became an industrial centre, particularly noted for its brick manufacture.
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Plymouth
Plymouthi/ˈplɪməθ/ is a city and unitary authority area on the south coast of Devon, England, about 190 miles (310 km) south-west of London. It is situated between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound. Since 1967, the City of Plymouth has included the suburbs of Plympton and Plymstock, which are on the east side of the River Plym.
Plymouth's history goes back to the Bronze Age, when its first settlement grew at Mount Batten. This settlement continued to grow as a trading post for the Roman Empire, until the more prosperous village of Sutton, the current Plymouth, surpassed it. In 1620, the Pilgrim Fathers left Plymouth for the New World and established Plymouth Colony – the second English settlement in what is now the United States of America. During the English Civil War the town was held by the Parliamentarians and was besieged between 1642 and 1646.
Throughout the Industrial Revolution, Plymouth grew as a major commercial shipping port, handling imports and passengers from the Americas, while the neighbouring town of Devonport grew as an important Royal Naval shipbuilding and dockyard town. In 1914 the three neighbouring and independent towns, viz., the county borough of Plymouth, the county borough of Devonport, and the urban district of East Stonehouse were merged to form a single County Borough. The new, merged town took the name of Plymouth which, in 1928, achieved city status. The city's naval importance later led to its targeting and partial destruction during World War II, an act known as the Plymouth Blitz. After the war the city centre was completely rebuilt.
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Polesworth
Coordinates: 52°36′55″N 1°37′03″W / 52.61516°N 1.61743°W / 52.61516; -1.61743
Polesworth is a large village and civil parish in the North Warwickshire district of Warwickshire, England. In the 2001 census it had a population of 8,439, inclusive of the continuous sub-villages (often regarded as suburbs) of St Helena, Dordon and Hall End directly to the south. This population technically allows Polesworth market town status.
Polesworth is located near the northern tip of Warwickshire only 3 miles (5 km) northwest of Atherstone and adjacent to the border with Staffordshire, and is only 4 miles (6 km) from Tamworth. The border with Derbyshire is 6 miles (10 km) to the north.
The River Anker and the Coventry Canal run through Polesworth, and the A5 road runs nearby. Polesworth railway station is on the West Coast Main Line. In 2005, Polesworth received no train services due to the modernisation of the West Coast Mainline. Train services were replaced by a replacement bus service. The footbridge to the up platform was removed and has not been replaced. The station in 2011 only receives one northbound service each day (towards Tamworth).
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Portsmouth
Portsmouth (i/ˈpɔːtsməθ/) is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island. It is situated 64 miles (103 km) south west from London and 19 miles (31 km) south east from Southampton.
As a significant naval port for centuries, Portsmouth is home to the world's oldest dry dock still in use and also home to some famous ships, including HMS Warrior, the Tudor carrack Mary Rose and Lord Nelson's flagship, HMS Victory. Although smaller than in its heyday, the naval base remains a major dockyard and base for the Royal Navy and Royal Marine Commandos whose Headquarters resides there. There is also a thriving commercial ferryport serving destinations on the continent for freight and passenger traffic. The City of Portsmouth and Portsmouth Football Club are both nicknamed Pompey.
The Spinnaker Tower is a striking recent addition to the city's skyline. It can be found in the redeveloped former HMS Vernon, formerly a shore establishment or 'stone frigate' of the Royal Navy, now an area of retail outlets, restaurants, clubs and bars now known as Gunwharf Quays.
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Potters Green
Potters Green is a mainly residential suburb situated in the northeast of the city of Coventry, West Midlands, England. The longest road is Yewdale Crescent, while the road used by through traffic is Ringwood Highway, which provides a link between Woodway Lane, Wigston Road and Deedmore Road.
It is not home to any leisure centres, but is close to the NDC's new one (opened March 2009). Potters Green is home to several shops, a post office, various take-away shops, and two pubs close to waste ground, home to Sunday League football. There are not any large businesses located in Potters Green but its close to the Aldermans Green Industrial Estate and the M6. It is home to St. Phillips Church.
Potters Green Primary School, Grace Academy School and Cardinal Wiseman Catholic School are the schools within Potters Green. Woodway Park Secondary School, Wigston Road has become an academy, Woodway Park School has being knocked down (21 April 2010). Since September 2008 it has been Grace Academy Coventry, with the school moved into it's new building March 2010.
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Prescot
Coordinates: 53°25′19″N 2°48′50″W / 53.4220°N 2.8140°W / 53.4220; -2.8140
Prescot is a town and civil parish, within the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley in Merseyside, England. It is 8 miles to the east of Liverpool city centre and lies within the historic boundaries of Lancashire. At the 2001 Census, the population was 11,184 (5,265 males, 5,919 females). Prescot marks the beginning of the A58 road which runs through to Wetherby, West Yorkshire. The town is served by Prescot railway station and Eccleston Park railway station.
Prescot's name is believed to be derived from the Anglo-Saxon prēost "priest" + cot "cot", meaning a cottage or small house owned or inhabited by a priest, a "priest-cottage". (ME prest, preste, priest, OE prēost, LL presbyter, Gk πρεσβύτερος presbýteros "elder, priest").
In the 14th century, William Dacre, 2nd Baron Dacre, obtained a charter for the holding of a three-day market and moveable fair at Prescot, to begin on the Wednesday following Corpus Christi.
From about 1593, into the early years of the 17th century, Prescot was home to the Prescot Playhouse, a purpose-built Shakespearean theatre.
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Princethorpe
Coordinates: 52°19′36″N 1°24′52″W / 52.32664°N 1.41449°W / 52.32664; -1.41449
Princethorpe is a village and civil parish in the Rugby district of Warwickshire, England. In 2001 the parish had a population of 382.
Princethorpe is located roughly halfway between the towns of Rugby and Leamington Spa and is at a crossroads between the A423, B4453 and B4455 (Fosse Way) roads. The village contains a pub called the Three Horse Shoes.
Situated on Leamington Road in the village is Our Lady's Primary School. It is a primary school with around 100 children between the ages of 4 and 11.
Just outside the village is Princethorpe College, a Roman Catholic school. The school incorporates the buildings of the former St. Mary's Priory, which was founded by French Benedictine nuns from Montargis who sought asylum from the French Revolution. The college chapel was designed and built by Pugin. There is also an independent retreat centre close to the college.
The area surrounding the college is heavily wooded. There is a small, well-stocked pond among the trees called Little Switzerland
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Redditch
Redditch is a town and local government district in north-east Worcestershire, England, approximately 15 miles (24 km) south of Birmingham. The district had a population of 79,216 in 2005. In the 19th century it became the international centre for the needle and fishing tackle industry. At one point 90% of the world's needles were manufactured in the town and its neighbourhoods. In the 1960s it became a model for modern new town planning.
Redditch lies just south of the West Midlands urban area but is not part of it (being in Worcestershire), northwest of Studley on the A435, which skirts it to the east. The main route of access is the A441, a trunk road from Birmingham to Cookhill, via junction 2 of the M42 Motorway. The Roman Road known as Icknield Street is prominent, running north to south through the eastern side of the town.
Redditch experiences an oceanic climate (Köppen climate classification Cfb) similar to almost all of the United Kingdom.
The first recorded mention of Redditch ("Red-Dych", thought to be a reference to the red clay of the nearby River Arrow) is in 1348, the year of the outbreak of the Black Death. During the Middle Ages it became a centre of needle-making and later prominent industries were fish-hooks, fishing tackle, motorcycles and springs, the latter notably by Herbert Terry and Sons. It was designated a new town in 1964 and the population increased dramatically from 32,000 to around 77,000. Housing developments such as Church Hill, Matchborough, Winyates, Lodge Park and Woodrow were created to accommodate the large overspill from an industrially expanding Birmingham. Redditch was built as a 'flagship' town using new methods and new town planning; all the main roads (mostly new dual carriageways as well as a ring road for the town centre) in Redditch were banked to reduce noise to the new housing estates and the whole of Redditch was landscaped.
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Ripon
Coordinates: 54°08′17″N 1°31′25″W / 54.13796°N 1.52365°W / 54.13796; -1.52365
Ripon is a cathedral city, market town and successor parish in the Borough of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England, located at the confluence of two streams of the River Ure in the form of the Laver and Skell. The city is noted for its main feature the Ripon Cathedral which is architecturally significant, as well as the Ripon Racecourse and other features such as its market. The city itself is just over 1,300 years old.
The city was originally known as Inhrypum and was founded by Saint Wilfrid during the time of Angle kingdom Northumbria, a period during which it enjoyed prominence in terms of religious importance in Great Britain. After a period of Viking control, it passed to the Cerdic dynasty who unified England and then the Normans who destroyed much of the city. After a brief period of building projects under the Plantagenets, the city emerged with a prominent wool and cloth industry. Ripon became well known for its production of spurs during the 16th and 17th century, but would later remain largely unaffected by the Industrial Revolution.
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Rowley Regis
Coordinates: 52°29′N 2°04′W / 52.48°N 2.06°W / 52.48; -2.06
Rowley Regis is a town in the Sandwell metropolitan borough of the West Midlands county and a part of the Black Country in the United Kingdom. Being part of the Black Country, locals speak with the traditional dialect, though in a form regarded by many as the quickest and the hardest to understand.
The history of Rowley Regis began centuries ago when a small village grew around the parish church of St Giles approximately two miles south-east of Dudley. It began to develop as a town between the two world wars, when thousands of privately owned and local authority houses were built in the surrounding area. During that time, Rowley Regis became a borough and incorporated the neighbouring communities of Blackheath, Old Hill and Cradley Heath. These places were all within the ancient parish of Rowley Regis, which (despite being in the county of Staffordshire) was in the diocese of Worcester. The parish contained the manors of Rowley Regis and Rowley Somery, the latter being part of the barony of Dudley, but the extents of these manors and the relationship between them are not clear.
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Russia
Russiai/ˈrʌʃə/ or /ˈrʊʃə/ (Russian: Россия, tr. Rossiya; IPA: [rɐˈsʲijə] ( listen)), also officially known as the Russian Federation (Russian: Российская Федерация, tr. Rossiyskaya Federatsiya; IPA: [rɐˈsʲijskəjə fʲɪdʲɪˈratsɨjə] ( listen)), is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects. From northwest to southeast, Russia shares borders with Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland (both via Kaliningrad Oblast), Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, China, Mongolia, and North Korea. It also has maritime borders with Japan by the Sea of Okhotsk, and the US state of Alaska by the Bering Strait. At 17,075,400 square kilometres (6,592,800 sq mi), Russia is the largest country in the world, covering more than one eighth of the Earth's inhabited land area. Russia is also the eighth most populous nation with 143 million people. It extends across the whole of northern Asia and 40% of Europe, spanning nine time zones and incorporating a wide range of environments and landforms. Russia has the world's largest reserves of mineral and energy resources and is the largest producer of oil and natural gas globally. Russia has the world's largest forest reserves and its lakes contain approximately one-quarter of the world's fresh water.
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Salisbury
Coordinates: 51°04′26″N 1°47′37″W / 51.0740°N 1.7936°W / 51.0740; -1.7936
Salisbury ( /ˈsɔːlzbri/ SAWLZ-bree or /ˈsɒlzbri/ SOLZ-bree, or locally /ˈsɔːzbri/) is a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England and the only city in the county. It is the second largest settlement in the county (the largest being Swindon). It has also been called New Sarum to distinguish it from the original site of settlement to the north of the city at Old Sarum, but this alternative name is not in common use.
The city is located in the south-east of Wiltshire, near the edge of Salisbury Plain. It sits at the confluence of five rivers: the Nadder, Ebble, Wylye and Bourne are tributary to the Avon, which flows to the south coast and into the sea at Christchurch, Dorset. Salisbury railway station serves the city, and is the crossing point between the West of England Main Line and the Wessex Main Line, making it a regional interchange.
Although the actual city was not established until 1220, there has been a settlement in the area since prehistory. There is evidence of Neolithic settlement on the hilltop of Old Sarum, which became a hill fort in the Iron Age. The Romans called this fort "Sorviodunum" and may also have occupied the fort. The Saxons established themselves there called it "Searesbyrig" and the Normans built a castle or "Seresberi". By 1086, in the Domesday Book, it was called "Salesberie".
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Salisbury Cathedral
Salisbury Cathedral, formally known as the Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is an Anglican cathedral in Salisbury, England, and is considered one of the leading examples of Early English architecture. The main body was completed in only 38 years, from 1220 to 1258.
The cathedral has the tallest church spire in the United Kingdom (123m/404 ft). Visitors can take the "Tower Tour" where the interior of the hollow spire, with its ancient wood scaffolding, can be viewed. The cathedral also has the largest cloister and the largest cathedral close in Britain (80 acres (320,000 m2)). The Cathedral contains the world's oldest working clock (from AD 1386) and has the best surviving of the four original copies of Magna Carta (all four original copies are in England). Although commonly known as Salisbury Cathedral, the official name is the Cathedral of Saint Mary. In 2008, the cathedral celebrated the 750th anniversary of its consecration in 1258.
It is the Mother Church of the Diocese of Salisbury, and seat of the Bishop of Salisbury, the Rt. Revd. Nick Holtam.
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Sandwell
Sandwell is a metropolitan borough of the West Midlands with a population of around 289,100, and an area of 33 square miles (85 km2). The borough is named after Sandwell Priory, and spans a densely populated part of both the Black Country, and the West Midlands conurbation, encompassing the urban towns of Blackheath, Cradley Heath, Oldbury, Rowley Regis, Smethwick, Tipton, Tividale, Wednesbury, and West Bromwich. West Bromwich is the most populous town in Sandwell, but Sandwell Council House (the headquarters of Sandwell's local government) is located at Oldbury.
The Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell was formed in 1974 as part of the provisions of the Local Government Act 1972 and is an amalgamation of the former County Borough of Warley and County Borough of West Bromwich. For its first 12 years Sandwell had a two-tier system of local government; Sandwell Council shared power with the West Midlands County Council. Since the Local Government Act 1985 Sandwell Council has effectively been a unitary authority, serving as the sole executive, deliberative and legislative body responsible for local policy, setting council tax, and allocating budget in the district.
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Sarajevo
Sarajevo (Cyrillic: Сарајево) (pronounced [sǎrajɛʋɔ]) is the capital and largest city of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with an estimated population of over 311,161 people within its administrative limits. It is also the capital of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina entity, as well as the center of the Sarajevo Canton, which has a population of 438,757. Nestled within the greater Sarajevo valley of Bosnia, it is surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of Southeastern Europe and the Balkans.
Sarajevo is the leading social and cultural center of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and its region-wide influence in politics, education, entertainment, media, fashion, science, and the arts contribute to its status as Bosnia and Herzegovina's major economic center.
The city is historically famous for its traditional cultural and religious diversity, with adherents of Islam, Orthodoxy, Catholicism and Judaism coexisting there for centuries. Due to this long and rich history of religious and cultural variety, Sarajevo is often called the "Jerusalem of Europe" or "Jerusalem of the Balkans". It was, until recently in the 20th century, the only major European city to have a mosque, cathedral, Orthodox church and synagogue within the same neighborhood.
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Sedgley
Coordinates: 52°32′24″N 2°07′23″W / 52.540°N 2.123°W / 52.540; -2.123
Sedgley is a small town and ward in the Dudley Metropolitan Borough, in the West Midlands of England. Historically a part of Staffordshire, Sedgley was formerly an ancient manor composed of several smaller villages, including Gornal, Gospel End, Woodsetton, Ettingshall, Coseley and Brierley (now called Bradley), before the Sedgley Urban District was formed in 1894 from Sedgley, Gospel End, the Gornals and Woodsetton, with the remainder of the manor forming Coseley Urban District.
The bulk of Sedgley was merged into the Dudley County Borough in 1966, which was later abolished to form the metropolitan borough.
The place name Sedgley was first mentioned in a 985 charter from King Æthelred to Lady Wulfrūn, when describing the Wolverhampton border. The original Old English place name was 'Secg's lēah' – Secg being a personal name (meaning sword bearing man or warrior) and lēah meaning wood, glade or woodland clearing.
In 1897, the villages of Coseley, Ettingshall and Brierley broke away from the Manor of Sedgley to form the Coseley Urban District Council. At the same time, Sedgley Urban District Council was formed to include the rest of the manor, with the exception of Gospel End (which became a part of the Seisdon Rural District). The entire area was part of the Wolverhampton Parliamentary Borough, created in 1832.
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Sheffield
Sheffieldi/ˈʃɛfiːld/ is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely industrial roots to encompass a wider economic base. The population of the City of Sheffield is 555,500 (2010 est.) and it is one of the eight largest regional English cities that make up the English Core Cities Group.
During the 19th century, Sheffield gained an international reputation for steel production. Many innovations were developed locally, including crucible and stainless steel, fuelling an almost tenfold increase in the population during the Industrial Revolution. Sheffield received its municipal charter in 1843, becoming the City of Sheffield in 1893. International competition in iron and steel caused a decline in traditional local industries during the 1970s and 1980s, coinciding with the collapse of coal mining in the area.
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Shropshire
Shropshire ( /ˈʃrɒpʃər/ or /ˈʃrɒpʃɪər/; alternatively Salop; abbreviated, in print only, Shrops) is a county in the West Midlands region of England. It borders Wales to the west, Cheshire to the north, Staffordshire to the east, Worcestershire to the south-east and Herefordshire to the south. A unitary authority (Shropshire Council) was created on 1 April 2009, taking over from the previous county council and 5 district councils, and covers most of the county. The borough of Telford and Wrekin, included in Shropshire for ceremonial purposes, has been a separate unitary authority since 1998.
The county's population and economy is centred on five towns: the county town of Shrewsbury, which is culturally and historically important and is located in the centre of the county;Telford, a new town in the east which was constructed around a number of older towns, most notably Wellington, Dawley and Madeley, which is today the most populous; and Oswestry in the north-west, Bridgnorth just to the south of Telford, and Ludlow in the south. The county has many further smaller towns, including Whitchurch in the north, Newport just to the north-east of Telford, and Market Drayton in the north-east of the county.
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SkyDome Arena
The SkyDome Arena is a 3,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Coventry, England. It was built in 1999. It is home to the Coventry Blaze Ice hockey team. It was built as part of the SkyDome multiplex, along with the Odeon Cinema, The Spon Gate (Wetherspoons), Lava and Ignite (closed 27 April 2010). Jumpin Jaks, Harvester (previously Old Orleans) and Mortimers. The old Lava (formerly Icon) complex is now home to PureGym (a nationwide franchise of modern, budget gymnasiums) and the old Ignite (formerly Diva) complex is soon to be re-opened as a casino. The Skydome complex now also houses a bar called Crosby's located at the end of the Ice rink. It is used for public ice skating sessions, ice skating lessons, ice hockey, concerts and various other events.
It has also been the site of several large independent professional wrestling shows, featuring stars such as Raven, CM Punk, Samoa Joe, A.J. Styles, Mick Foley, Steve Corino, Doug Williams, and D'Lo Brown. It has also played host to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling's first UK Tour and NOAH's European Navigation in 2008.
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Smethwick
Coordinates: 52°29′34″N 1°58′06″W / 52.492854°N 1.968226°W / 52.492854; -1.968226
Smethwick ( /ˈsmɛðɨk/ SMEDH-ick) is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell, in the West Midlands of England. It is situated on the edge of the city of Birmingham, within the historic boundaries of Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire.
Originally the area was an urban district and from 1894 a municipal borough in the county of Staffordshire. In 1907 it became a county borough. In 1966, Smethwick was merged with the boroughs of Oldbury and Rowley Regis to form the new County Borough of Warley, and was transferred into the county of Worcestershire. This in turn was merged with West Bromwich in 1974 to form the Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell, which was incorporated into the new West Midlands county.
In 1888, there had been plans for Smethwick to be incorporated into the city of Birmingham, but the urban district council voted against these plans by a single vote.
Smethwick had always had strong economic links to Birmingham (even after its independence of county control following the creation of Smethwick County Borough in 1907), although like most areas and towns of the West Midlands has a strong sense of its own identity. The Warley County Borough was placed entirely in Worcestershire on its creation, but Smethwick has also been in Warwickshire and Staffordshire, and since 1974 has formed part of the West Midlands county. The former boundary of Staffordshire, and detached parts of Worcestershire and Shropshire could be found at the Three Shires Oak, in Bearwood.
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Solihull
Coordinates: 52°24′46″N 1°46′20″W / 52.412903°N 1.772094°W / 52.412903; -1.772094
Solihull ( /ˈsɒlɨhʌl/ or /ˈsoʊliːhʌl/ or /soʊliˈhʌl/) is a town in the West Midlands of England with a population of 94,753. It is a part of the West Midlands conurbation and is located 9 miles (14.5 km) southeast of Birmingham city centre. It is the largest town in, and administrative centre of, the larger Metropolitan Borough of Solihull, which itself has a population of 200,400.
Historically part of Warwickshire, Solihull is one of the most prosperous towns in the English Midlands. Residents of Solihull and those born in the town are referred to as Silhillians The motto of Solihull is Urbs in Rure (Town in Country)
Solihull is "commonly thought" to have derived its name from the position of St Alphege parish church – on a “soily” hill. The church was built on a hill of stiff red marl, which turned to sticky mud in wet weather.
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South Staffordshire
South Staffordshire is a local government district in Staffordshire, England. The district lies to the north and west of Wolverhampton and the West Midlands, bordering Shropshire to the west and Worcestershire to the south. It contains no towns of major size and many of the settlements within the district are dormitory villages for Stafford, Wolverhampton, Birmingham and Telford.
The district was formed on 1 April 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972, by the merger of Cannock Rural District (in the north) and Seisdon Rural District (in the south).
Its council is based in Codsall, one of the larger settlements in the district, along with Brewood, Cheslyn Hay, Great Wyrley, Kinver, Landywood, Penkridge, Perton and Wombourne. Other villages in the district include Coven, Essington, Featherstone, Gospel End, Huntington, Lower Penn, Pattingham, Seisdon and Trysull.
The district covers a similar geographic area to South Staffordshire parliamentary constituency, although the north of the district is covered by the Stafford (UK Parliament constituency). Sir Patrick Cormack of the Conservative Party held the South Staffordshire seat, and its predecessors, between 1970–2010, when he retired and the seat was won by Gavin Williamson for the Conservative Party.
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South Tyneside
South Tyneside is a metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear in North East England.
It is bordered by four other boroughs - Newcastle upon Tyne and Gateshead to the west, Sunderland in the south, and North Tyneside to the north. The border county of Northumberland lies further north. The borough was formed on 1 April 1974 by the merger of the County Borough of South Shields along with the municipal borough of Jarrow and the urban districts of Boldon and Hebburn from County Durham.
South Tyneside forms part of the Tyneside conurbation, the sixth largest in the United Kingdom, with a geographical area of 64.43 km2 (24.88 sq mi) and an estimated population of 153,700 (Mid-year 2010). It is bordered to the east by the North Sea and to the north by the River Tyne. A Green Belt of 23.64 km2 (9.13 sq mi) is at its southern boundary.
The main administrative centre and largest town is South Shields. Other riverside towns are Jarrow and Hebburn, while the villages of Cleadon, Whitburn and The Boldons border the South Tyneside green belt which borders Wearside to the south at Sunderland.
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South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It has a population of 1.29 million. It consists of four metropolitan boroughs: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and City of Sheffield. South Yorkshire was created on 1 April 1974 as a result of the Local Government Act 1972.
Lying on the east side of the Pennines, South Yorkshire is landlocked, and borders Derbyshire (to the south-west), West Yorkshire (to the northwest), North Yorkshire (to the north), the East Riding of Yorkshire (to the northeast), Lincolnshire (to the east) and Nottinghamshire (to the southeast). The Sheffield Urban Area is the ninth most populous conurbation in the UK, and dominates the western half of South Yorkshire with over half of the county's population living within it.
South Yorkshire County Council was abolished in 1986, and so its districts (the metropolitan boroughs) are now effectively unitary authority areas; however, the metropolitan county, which is some 1,552 square kilometres (599 sq mi), continues to exist in law and as a geographic frame of reference. As a ceremonial county, South Yorkshire has a Lord Lieutenant and a High Sheriff.
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Southam
Coordinates: 52°15′07″N 1°23′24″W / 52.252°N 1.39°W / 52.252; -1.39
Southam is a small market town in the Stratford-on-Avon district of Warwickshire, England. The 2001 census recorded a population of 6,509 in the town.
The nearest sizeable town to Southam is Leamington Spa, located roughly 7 miles (11 km) to the west. The towns of Rugby and Daventry are also within 10 miles (16 km) of Southam, with Banbury 14 miles (22.5 km) to the south and the major city of Coventry some 13 miles (21 km) to the north.
Southam is located on the River Stowe (known by many of the locals as "the Brook"), which flows from Napton-on-the-Hill and joins Warwickshire's River Itchen just outside of the town, which in turn flows into the River Leam.
Southam can trace its history back to Anglo-Saxon times; a charter exists from 998 granted by King Ethelred the Unready. Southam was mentioned in the Domesday Book as "Sucham". A market was established in 1227.
In the 1540s the town was visited by John Leland, who described it as 'a modest market town of a single street'. Southam is also mentioned in Henry VI, part 3 by William Shakespeare in Act V, Scene I (Lines 10–16).
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Southampton
Southamptoni/saʊθˈhæmptən/ is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated 120 kilometres (75 mi) south-west of London and 30 kilometres (19 mi) north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest. It lies at the northernmost point of Southampton Water at the confluence of the River Test and River Itchen, with the River Hamble joining to the south of the urban area. The local authority is Southampton City Council, which is a unitary authority.
The city represents the core of the Greater Southampton region, and the city itself has an estimated population of 239,700 Southampton combines with Portsmouth to form a single metropolitan area; with a population of over a million this makes the region one of the United Kingdom's most populous metropolitan areas. The city's name is sometimes abbreviated in writing to "So'ton" or "Soton", and a resident of Southampton is called a Sotonian.
Significant employers in Southampton include the University of Southampton, Southampton Airport, the Ford Transit factory, Ordnance Survey, BBC South, the NHS, ABP and Carnival. Southampton is noted for its association with the RMS Titanic, the Spitfire and more recently a number of the largest cruise ships in the world.
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Soviet Union
The Soviet Union (Russian: Советский Союз, tr. Sovetsky Soyuz), officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR; Russian: Сою́з Сове́тских Социалисти́ческих Респу́блик, tr. Soyuz Sovetskikh Sotsialisticheskikh Respublik; IPA: [sɐˈjus sɐˈvʲetskʲɪx sətsɨəlʲɪˈstʲitɕɪskʲɪx rʲɪsˈpublʲɪk] ( listen); abbreviated СССР, SSSR), was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991.
The Soviet Union was a single-party state ruled by the Communist Party from its foundation until 1990. A union of 15 subnational Soviet republics, the Soviet state was structured under a highly centralized government and economy.
The Russian Revolution of 1917 caused the downfall of the Russian Empire. Following the Russian Revolution, there was a struggle for power between the Bolshevik party, led by Vladimir Lenin, and the anti-communist White movement. In December 1922, the Bolsheviks won the civil war, and the Soviet Union was formed with the merger of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, the Transcaucasian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic, the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic and the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic.
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Spon End
Spon End is a suburb of Coventry, England. It is situated west of Coventry City Centre. The Butts Park Arena and the Butts Centre are situated on the main road through Spon End. The Butts Park Arena, which was opened in 2004, is the home of Coventry Rugby Football club. The Butts Centre is the home of City College Coventry (formally called Coventry Technical College, often referred to as "The Butts").
The railway line linking Coventry and Nuneaton passes through Spon End.
Coordinates: 52°24′N 1°31′W / 52.4°N 1.517°W / 52.4; -1.517
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St Asaph
Coordinates: 53°15′28″N 3°26′30″W / 53.2577°N 3.4416°W / 53.2577; -3.4416
St Asaph (English pronunciation: /sənt ˈæsəf/;Welsh: Llanelwy pronounced [ɬanˈɛlʊɨ̯]) is a city and community on the River Elwy in Denbighshire, Wales. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 3,491.
The city of St Asaph is surrounded by countryside and views of the Vale of Clwyd. It is situated close to a number of busy coastal towns such as Rhyl, Prestatyn, Abergele, Colwyn Bay and Llandudno. The historic castles of Denbigh and Rhuddlan are also nearby.
The earliest inhabitants of the vale of Elwy lived in the nearby Paleolithic site of Pontnewydd (Bontnewydd), which was excavated from 1978 by a team from the University of Wales, led by Dr Stephen Aldhouse Green. Teeth and part of a jawbone excavated in 1981 were dated to 225,000 years ago. This site is the most north-western site in Eurasia for remains of early hominids and is considered of international importance. Based on the morphology and age of the teeth, particularly the evidence of tauradontism, the teeth are believed to belong to a group of Neanderthals who hunted game in the vale of Elwy in an interglacial period.
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St Davids
Coordinates: 51°52′55″N 5°16′08″W / 51.882°N 5.269°W / 51.882; -5.269
St Davids (or St David's, a contraction of St David's and the Cathedral Close,Welsh: Tyddewi), is a city and community in Pembrokeshire, Wales. Lying on the River Alun on St David's Peninsula, it is Britain's smallest city in terms of both size and population, the final resting place of Saint David, the country's patron saint, and the de facto ecclesiastical capital of Wales.
The area was originally known in the Welsh language as Mynyw and in Latin as Menevia, and was later renamed in honour of David. The city is built around St David's Cathedral which was a popular place of pilgrimage in the Middle Ages. Next to it, the 14th century Bishop's Palace is a ruin maintained by Cadw and open to visitors. St David's was once a marcher borough, within which lay the hundred of Dewisland. In 1603 the antiquarian George Owen described it as one of five Pembrokeshire boroughs overseen by a portreeve.
Tradition states that Saint David was born to Saint Non at what is now St Non's, a ten-minute walk south of the city, in about AD 500. It is also said that he was baptised at Porthclais, now the city's port, was brought up by his mother at Llanon, and that he founded the city in around 550. Pope Calixtus II reportedly decreed that two pilgrimages to St David's were equivalent to one to Rome. Because of this a vast income was raised from visiting pilgrims in the Middle Ages. Saint Non's Well overlooks the Pembrokeshire Coast Path and St Brides Bay.
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Staffordshire
Staffordshire (/ˈstæfərdʃɪər/ or /ˈstæfərdʃaɪər/; abbreviated Staffs) is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders. It adjoins the ceremonial counties of Cheshire (to the north west), Derbyshire (to the east), Leicestershire (to the east), Warwickshire (to the south east), West Midlands (to the south), Worcestershire (to the south), and Shropshire (to the west).
The largest city in Staffordshire is Stoke-on-Trent, which is administered separately from the rest of the county as an independent unitary authority. Lichfield also has city status, although this is a considerably smaller cathedral city. Major towns include Stafford (the county town), Burton upon Trent, Cannock, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Leek and Tamworth.
Wolverhampton, Walsall, West Bromwich and Smethwick were also in Staffordshire until local government reorganisation in 1974, but are now within the West Midlands County in the West Midlands Conurbation.
With the exception of Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire is divided into the districts of Cannock Chase, East Staffordshire, Lichfield, Newcastle-under-Lyme, South Staffordshire, Stafford, Staffordshire Moorlands, and Tamworth.
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Stirling
Coordinates: 56°07′02″N 3°56′23″W / 56.117222°N 3.939722°W / 56.117222; -3.939722
Stirling (Gaelic: Sruighlea pronounced [ˈs̪t̪ruʝlə]) is a city and former ancient burgh in Scotland, and is at the heart of the wider Stirling council area. The city is clustered around a large fortress and medieval old-town beside the River Forth. Historically it was strategically important as the "Gateway to the Highlands", with its position near the boundary between the Scottish Lowlands and Highlands, and its crossing of the Forth, the nearest to the river mouth.
Once the capital of Scotland, Stirling contains the Great Hall (restored 1999) and the Renaissance Palace (restoration completed 2011) within the Castle that rivalled any building in Europe at the time. Stirling also has its medieval parish church, The Church of the Holy Rude, where King James VI was crowned King of Scots on 29 July 1567. The Holy Rude still functions as living church with a service every Sunday.
Stirling is a centre for local government, higher education, retail, and light industry. Its population in 2008 was 33,710, for Stirling itself, the wider urban area including Bridge of Allan and Bannockburn has a population of 45,750. This makes it the smallest city in Scotland: indeed it is smaller than many of Scotland's larger towns.
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Stivichall
Stivichall or Styvechale ( /ˈstaɪtʃəl/ STY-chəl) is a mainly residential area of south Coventry. It includes Fenside which forms part of southeast Stivichall. To the north and northwest Stivichall has a shared border with the War Memorial Park, along Coat of Arms Bridge Road. The district of Cheylesmore is to the northeast with Whitley to the east. The southern border of Stivichall is shared with the northern border of the city's Finham and Green Lane districts along the A45 dual carriageway.
The western area of Stivichall, known locally as Styvechale Grange, is a large residential district developed during the late-1960s and early-1970s to cater for Coventry's then-rapidly rising population (which peaked at 340,000 inhabitants in 1971).
A rural parish on the outskirts of Coventry, the Styvechale estate had belonged to the Gregory family since the 16th century, but in 1919, the land was purchased by Coventry Corporation and used in part to create the War Memorial Park, with the general development of the area soon following. The main roads from Coventry to both Leamington Spa and Kenilworth pass through and join within the boundaries of Stivichall, and whilst the estate was still in the Gregory family's ownership, access was denied to the roads unless a toll of 1d per horse and 6d per vehicle was paid to them. The toll house which stood at the junction of the roads was demolished in 1964.
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Stoke Aldermoor
Stoke Aldermoor is a suburb in Coventry, West Midlands, England. An area of Stoke Aldermoor consisting of a small estate alongside the northeast of Pinley Fields is called Pinley.
During World War II, the Rootes No 1 Shadow Factory was located in Stoke Aldermoor. Four-wheel drive scout cars, tank engines, truck engines and aero engines were produced at the factory. Rootes also maintained a training school in the area. The factory was more recently used as the Peugeot UK head office until they relocated to new purpose-built premises a short distance away in Pinley in 2008.[citation needed]
Stoke Aldermoor is also known locally in Hollywood movie fame as the place where the famous Mini sewer chase was shot for the film The Italian Job, the Minis were lowered into the newly built sewers on the outskirts of Stoke Aldermoor and driven to the Finham Sewage Works.[citation needed]
In the television series Keeping Up Appearances, exterior shots around Daisy and Onslow's council house were filmed in Stoke Aldermoor.[citation needed]
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Stourbridge
Coordinates: 52°27′27″N 2°08′52″W / 52.4575°N 2.1479°W / 52.4575; -2.1479
Stourbridge /ˈstaʊərbrɪdʒ/ is a large town in the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley, in the West Midlands of England. Historically a part of Worcestershire, Stourbridge was a centre of glass making, and today includes the suburbs of Amblecote, Lye, Norton, Oldswinford, Pedmore, Wollaston, Wollescote and Wordsley.
The population, as recorded in the United Kingdom Census 2001, was 55,480. Stourbridge is included in the Stourbridge parliamentary constituency, currently held by Margot James of the Conservative Party.
Stourbridge is a part of the West Midlands metropolitan county and conurbation, in the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley. Stourbridge is located about 13 miles west of Birmingham, at the edge of the industrial Midlands, located between Kidderminster and Dudley.
Much of the town consists of suburban streets, interspersed with green spaces. Stourbridge borders on green belt land, and is close to unspoiled countryside with rural Shropshire close by to the west. The Clent Hills, Kinver Edge and large areas of farmland lie to the south and west.
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Studley
Coordinates: 52°16′11″N 1°53′29″W / 52.26961°N 1.89151°W / 52.26961; -1.89151
Studley is a large village and civil parish in the Stratford-on-Avon district of Warwickshire, England. Situated on the western edge of Warwickshire near the border with Worcestershire it is 4 miles (6 km) southeast of Redditch and 13 miles (21 km) northwest of Stratford. The Roman road of Ryknild Street, now the A435, passes through the village on its eastern edge, parallel to the River Arrow. The name derives from the Old English leah, being a meadow or pasture, where horses, stod, are kept.
Studley is sometimes claimed to be the largest village in England, however, this is incorrect as it is not even the largest village in Warwickshire, both Polesworth and Bulkington are larger. The United Kingdom Census 2001 reported Studley's population as being 6,624.
The manor of Studley is recorded twice in the Domesday Book mostly as part of the lands of William son of Courbucion; who was appointed Sherrif of Warwick soon after 1086; where it reads, "In Ferncombe Hundred in Stodlei (Studley) 4 hides. Land for 11 ploughs. In lordship 2; 3 slaves. 19 villagers with a priest and 12 smallholders have 9 ploughs. A mill at 5s; meadow, 24 acres; a salt house which pays 19 packloads of salt; woodland 1 league long and 1/2 league wide. The value was and is 100s. Swein held it freely." A further holding is listed as part of the land of William Bonavallet "William holds 1 hide in Stodlei from William. Land for 2 ploughs. In lordship 1 plough. Meadow 4 acres; woodland 3 furlongs long and 2 furlongs wide. Value 10s. Godric held it freely."
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Sutton Coldfield
Coordinates: 52°33′47″N 1°49′19″W / 52.563°N 1.822°W / 52.563; -1.822
Sutton Coldfield ( pronunciation (help·info)) is a town within the city of Birmingham, in the West Midlands of England. Sutton (as it is often abbreviated) is located about 8 miles (13 km) from central Birmingham; it has borders with North Warwickshire, Lichfield, Erdington, Kingstanding and Castle Vale. Sutton is in the northeast of Birmingham, with a population of 105,000 recorded in the 2001 census. It forms part of the West Midlands conurbation.
Historically within Warwickshire, the town has a historical connection to the Royal Family, resulting in it receiving the title of Royal Town when it was a municipal borough in its own right and part of Warwickshire. When the Local Government Act 1972 came into force in 1974, Sutton Coldfield became part of Birmingham and the wider West Midlands County.
The Etymology of the name Sutton appears to be from South Town.
The name "Sutton Coldfield" appears to come from this time, being the "south town" (i.e. south of Tamworth and/or Lichfield) on the edge of the "col field". "Col" is usually derived from "charcoal", charcoal burners presumably being active in the area.
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Swansea
Swansea ( /ˈswɒnzi/ SWONZ-ee; Welsh: Abertawe [abɛrˈtauɛ], "mouth of the Tawe") is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands. Swansea had a population of 169,880 in 2001 and is the second most populous city in Wales after Cardiff and the third most populous county in Wales after Cardiff and Rhondda Cynon Taf. During its 19th century industrial heyday, Swansea was one of the key centres of the world copper industry, earning the nickname 'Copperopolis'.
Archaeological finds are mostly confined to the Gower Peninsula, and include items from the Stone Age, Bronze Age, and Iron Age. The Romans reached the area, as did the Vikings.
Swansea is thought to have originally developed as a Viking trading post. Some think that its name is derived from Sveinn's island (Old Norse: Sveinsey) – the reference to an island may refer to a bank at the mouth of the river Tawe, or perhaps an area of raised ground in marshes. An alternative explanation is that the name derives from the Norse name 'Sweyn' and 'ey', which can mean inlet. The name is pronounced Swans-y /ˈswɒnzi/), not Swan-sea. The Welsh name first appears in Welsh poems at the beginning of the 13th century, as "Aber Tawy".
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Tameside
The Metropolitan Borough of Tameside is a metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester in North West England. It is named after the River Tame which flows through the borough and spans the towns of Ashton-under-Lyne, Audenshaw, Denton, Droylsden, Dukinfield, Hyde, Mossley and Stalybridge. Its western border is approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) east of Manchester city centre. It borders Derbyshire to the east, the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham to the north, the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport to the south, and the City of Manchester to the west. Tameside has a population of 214,400.
The history of the area extends back to the Stone Age. There are over 300 listed buildings in Tameside and three Scheduled Ancient Monuments, which includes a castle of national importance. The settlements in Tameside were small townships centred around agriculture until the advent of the Industrial Revolution. The towns of the borough grew and became involved in the cotton industry, which dominated the local economy. The current borough was created in 1974 as part of the provisions of the Local Government Act 1972. Since then the area has been administered by Tameside Borough Council, which has been judged by the Audit Commission to be "performing strongly".
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Tile Hill
Tile Hill is a suburb in the west of Coventry, West Midlands, England. It is mostly residential and partly industrial, with some common land and wooded areas. Tile Hill railway station is located on the West Coast Mainline which links Coventry with London and Birmingham, and is situated at the south-western border with Canley and Solihull.
Tile Hill is seated in the ancient Forest of Arden, and some remnants of the forest remain between the built up areas. Tile Hill Lane is flanked by Plants Hill Wood to the south and Pig Wood to the north.
Tile Hill Lane approximately divides the suburb into a northern and a southern section. Tile Hill has three main neighbourhoods:
Tanyard Farm built in the 1980s is an extension of Tile Hill Village to the West of Banner Lane.
There are two secondary schools in Tile Hill: Woodlands School, a boys' comprehensive school and sports college, and Tile Hill Wood School, a girls' comprehensive school and Language college. All of the other secondary schools in Coventry are coeducational.
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Tipton
Coordinates: 52°31′33″N 2°04′30″W / 52.5259°N 2.0751°W / 52.5259; -2.0751
Tipton is a town in the Sandwell borough of the West Midlands, England, with a population of around 47,000. Tipton is located about halfway between Birmingham and Wolverhampton. It is a part of the West Midlands conurbation and is a part of the Black Country.
Historically within Staffordshire, Tipton was an urban district until 1938, when it became a municipal borough. The vast majority of the Borough of Tipton was transferred into West Bromwich County Borough in 1966, although the Tividale part of the town became part of Warley. Along with the rest of West Bromwich and Warley, Tipton became part of the Sandwell Metropolitan Borough in 1974 and remains within this local authority to this day.
Tipton was once one of the most heavily industrialised towns in the Black Country.[citation needed] But most of its factories closed during the 1980s and new housing estates have been built on the site of many former factories, the new private homes have seen an upturn in Tipton's fortunes by rising house prices.
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Toll Bar End
Toll Bar End is an area of Coventry that lies on the South East edge of the city. The main focal point of the area is the Toll Bar Island, where the A45, A46 and B4110 (London Road) converge. It is a main transport route out of the city and provides access to Coventry Airport and Middlemarch Business Park. Another area of interest is Gary C King museum that specialises in the Coventry motor industry as the demolished old Peugot Ryton plant lies close by along the A45.
Coordinates: 52°22′44″N 1°28′01″W / 52.379°N 1.467°W / 52.379; -1.467
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Trafford
Coordinates: 53°26′N 2°18′W / 53.433°N 2.3°W / 53.433; -2.3
Trafford is a metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. With an estimated population of about 211,800 in 2006, it covers 41 square miles (106 km2) and includes the towns of Altrincham, Partington, Sale, Stretford, and Urmston. The borough was formed on 1 April 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 as a merger of the municipal boroughs of Altrincham, Sale, and Stretford, the urban districts of Bowdon, Hale, and Urmston and part of Bucklow Rural District. All were previously in Cheshire, apart from Stretford and Urmston which were in Lancashire. The River Mersey flows through the borough, separating North Trafford from South Trafford. Historically the Mersey also acted as the boundary between the historic counties of Lancashire and Cheshire.
The Trafford area has a long heritage, with evidence of Neolithic, Bronze Age, and Roman activity. Amongst the relics of the past are two castles – one of them a Scheduled Ancient Monument – and over 200 listed buildings. The area underwent change in the late 19th century and the population rapidly expanded with the arrival of the railway. Trafford is the home of Manchester United F.C. and Lancashire County Cricket Club and since 2002 the Imperial War Museum North.
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Truro
Coordinates: 50°15′36″N 5°03′04″W / 50.260°N 5.051°W / 50.260; -5.051
Truro ( /ˈtrʊəroʊ/; Cornish: Truru) is a city and civil parish in Cornwall, England. The city is the centre for administration, leisure and retail in Cornwall, with a population recorded in the 2001 census of 17,431. Truro urban statistical area, which includes parts of surrounding parishes, has a 2001 census population of 20,920. It is the only city in the county, and the most southern city in Great Britain. People from Truro are known as Truronians.
Truro initially grew as an important centre of trade from its port and then as a stannary town for the mining industry. The city is well known for its cathedral (completed in 1910), cobbled streets, open spaces and Georgian architecture. Places of interest include the Royal Cornwall Museum, the Hall for Cornwall, Cornwall's Courts of Justice and Cornwall Council.
The origin of Truro's name is debated. It is said to be derived from the Cornish tri-veru meaning "three rivers", but references such as the Oxford Dictionary of English Place Names reject this theory. At best, the "tru" part could mean "three", though this is doubtful. An expert on Cornish place-names, Oliver Padel, in his book A popular dictionary of Cornish place-names wrote that the 'three rivers' meaning is "possible".
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Turin
Turin (Italian: Torino, pronounced [toˈriːno] ( listen); Piedmontese: Turin, pronounced [tyˈɾiŋ]; Latin: Augusta Taurinorum) is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 (November 2008) while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat to be 1.7 million inhabitants. The Turin metropolitan area is estimated by the OECD to have a population of 2.2 million.
The city has a rich culture and history, and is known for its numerous art galleries, restaurants, churches, palaces, opera houses, piazzas, parks, gardens, theatres, libraries, museums and other venues. Turin is well known for its baroque, rococo, neo-classical, and Art Nouveau architecture. Much of the city's public squares, castles, gardens and elegant palazzi such as Palazzo Madama, were built in the 16th and 18th century, after the capital of the Duchy of Savoy (later Kingdom of Sardinia) was moved to Turin from Chambery( nowadays France) as part of the urban expansion.
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Tyne and Wear
Tyne and Wear /ˌtaɪn ənd ˈwɪər/ is a metropolitan county in north east England around the mouths of the Rivers Tyne and Wear. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. It consists of the five metropolitan boroughs of South Tyneside, North Tyneside, City of Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead and the City of Sunderland.
Prior to reforms in 1974, the territory comprising the county of Tyne and Wear straddled the border between the counties of Northumberland and County Durham. North Tyneside and Newcastle upon Tyne had previously existed within of Northumberland, whereas South Tyneside, Gateshead and Sunderland were all previously within the borders of County Durham, with the River Tyne forming the border of the two counties.
Tyne and Wear is bounded on the east by the North Sea, and as a ceremonial county, shares borders with Northumberland to the north and County Durham to the south.
Tyne and Wear County Council was abolished in 1986, and so its districts (the metropolitan boroughs) are now unitary authorities. However, the metropolitan county continues to exist in law and as a geographic frame of reference.
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United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK, or Britain) is a sovereign state located off the north-western coast of continental Europe. The country includes the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland and many smaller islands. Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK that shares a land border with another sovereign state—the Republic of Ireland. Apart from this land border the UK is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea, the English Channel and the Irish Sea.
The United Kingdom is a unitary state governed under a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary system, with its seat of government in the capital city of London. It is a country in its own right and consists of four countries: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. There are three devolved administrations, each with varying powers, based in Belfast, Edinburgh and Cardiff, the capitals of Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. Associated with the UK, but not constitutionally part of it, are three Crown Dependencies. The United Kingdom has fourteen overseas territories. These are remnants of the British Empire which, at its height in 1922, encompassed almost a quarter of the world's land surface and was the largest empire in history. British influence can still be observed in the language, culture and legal systems of many of its former territories.
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Volgograd
Volgograd (Russian: Волгогра́д; IPA: [ˌvəlɡɐˈɡrat] ( listen)), formerly called Tsaritsyn (Russian: Цари́цын (help·info); 1589–1925) and Stalingrad (Russian: Сталингра́д (help·info); 1925–1961) is an important industrial city and the administrative center of Volgograd Oblast, Russia. It is 80-kilometer (50 mi) long, north to south, situated on the western bank of the Volga River. Population: 1,021,244 (2010 Census preliminary results); 1,011,417 (2002 Census); 1,022,578 (1989 Census). The city became famous for its resistance, extensive damage, and death toll during the Battle of Stalingrad in World War II.
Although it is possible the city originated in 1555, it was first mentioned documentally in 1589 as Tsaritsyn, located at the confluence of the Tsaritsa and Volga Rivers. The fortress Sary Su (a local Tatar language name meaning: yellow water/river), was established to defend the unstable southern border of the country. It soon became the nucleus of a trading settlement. It was captured twice by Cossack rebels, under Stepan Razin in the rebellion of 1670 and Yemelyan Pugachev in 1774. Tsaritsyn became an important river port and commercial center in the 19th century.
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Walsall
Coordinates: 52°35′N 1°59′W / 52.58°N 1.98°W / 52.58; -1.98
Walsall ( pronunciation (help·info)) is a large industrial town in the West Midlands of England. It is located northwest of Birmingham and east of Wolverhampton. Historically a part of Staffordshire, Walsall is a component area of the West Midlands conurbation and part of the Black Country.
Walsall is the administrative headquarters of the Metropolitan Borough of Walsall, though it has changed its name to Walsall Council. In the 2001 census, the town had a population of 170,994 with the wider borough having a population of 253,500. Neighbouring towns in the borough include Brownhills, Willenhall, Bloxwich and Aldridge.
The name Walsall is thought to have derived from the words "Walh halh", meaning "valley of the Welsh speakers" (referring to the Brythons). Walsall is first referenced as 'Walesho' in a document dated 1002. Possibly as a result of a clerical error, it is not referenced in the Domesday Book, while the settlements of Aldridge, Bescot, Shelfield, Pelsall, Bloxwich, Great Barr and Rushall within the Metropolitan Borough are. However, it is believed that a manor was held here by William FitzAnsculf, who held numerous manors in the Midlands. By the first part of the 13th century, Walsall was a small market town, with the weekly market being introduced in 1220 and held on Tuesdays. The mayor of Walsall was created as a political position in the 14th century. Walsall is known as "the town of a hundred trades". (This appellation is a nod to the fact that nearby Birmingham is known as "the city of a thousand trades".)
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Walsgrave
Walsgrave-on-Sowe is a village located about 3 miles north-east of Coventry, West Midlands in England. Although it now sees very little flooding, it was built on marsh lands. However, due to urban growth, it is now an outer suburb of Coventry, near to Ansty and Shilton. Walsgrave-on-Sowe neighbours the Potters Green, Henley Green, Wyken, Coombe Fields and Mount Pleasant areas of Coventry and is in the Henley ward of the city, although Walsgrave-on-Sowe was formerly in the Wyken Ward prior to ward changes made in 2003 by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE).
Walsgrave has reputedly been in existence for approximately 1,000 years. The first mention of a chapel in Walsgrave-on-Sowe (then known as Sowe) was in 1221. It is likely that the chapel would have been built after 1086, as there is no reference in the Domesday Book of a priest serving the area. St Mary's Church currently stands on the site of the former chapel. The original graveyard for the church was covered over and now forms the slope in front of the church, facing onto the main road.
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Warsaw
Warsaw (Polish: Warszawa [varˈʂava] ( listen); see also other names) is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly 260 kilometres (160 mi) from the Baltic Sea and 300 kilometres (190 mi) from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most populous city proper in the European Union. The area of the city covers 516.9 square kilometres (199.6 sq mi), while the city's agglomeration covers 6,100.43 square kilometres (2,355.39 sq mi).
Warsaw is an Alpha- global city, a major international tourist destination and an important economic hub in Central Europe. It is also known as the "phoenix city" because it has survived many wars throughout its history. Most notably, the city had to be painstakingly rebuilt after the extensive damage it suffered from World War II, during which 80% of its buildings were destroyed. On 9 November 1940 the city was awarded Poland's highest military decoration for heroism, the Virtuti Militari, for the Siege of Warsaw (1939).
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Warwick
Coordinates: 52°17′N 1°35′W / 52.28°N 1.59°W / 52.28; -1.59
Warwick (i/ˈwɒrɨk/ WORR-ik) is the county town of Warwickshire, England. The town lies upon the River Avon, 11 miles (18 km) south of Coventry and just west of Leamington Spa and Whitnash with which it is conjoined. As of the 2001 United Kingdom census, it had a population of 23,350.
There has been human activity at Warwick as early as the Neolithic, and constant habitation since the 6th century. A Saxon burh was created at Warwick in the 9th century and Warwick Castle was established on the site in 1068 as part of the Norman conquest of England. Warwick School claims to be the oldest boys' school in the country. The earldom of Warwick was created in 1088 and the earls controlled the town in the medieval period. During this time Warwick was given town walls; Eastgate and Westgate survive. The castle developed into a stone fortress and then a country house and is today a popular tourist attraction.
The Great Fire of Warwick in 1694 destroyed much of the medieval town and as a result most of the buildings post-date this period. Though Warwick did not become industrialised in the 19th century, it has experienced growth since 1801 when the population was 5,592. Racing Club Warwick F.C., founded in 1919, are based in the town. The town is administered by Warwick District Counil and Warwickshire County Council has its headquarters in Warwick.
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Warwick Arts Centre
Warwick Arts Centre is a multi-venue arts complex at the University of Warwick in Coventry, England. It attracts around 300,000 visitors a year to over 3,000 individual events embracing contemporary and classical music, drama, dance, comedy, films and visual art.
Warwick Arts Centre comprises six spaces on the same site, including a recently refurbished concert hall, two theatres, a cinema, gallery, and conference room as well as hospitality suites, a restaurant, cafe, shops, and two bars. The site also includes the University bookshop and a branch of the music and DVD retailer RISE.
The Centre also houses the University of Warwick Music Centre with practice rooms, and an ensemble rehearsal room where music societies and groups such as the Brass Band rehearse.
Coordinates: 52°22′48″N 1°33′41″W / 52.379955°N 1.561376°W / 52.379955; -1.561376
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Warwickshire
Warwickshire (i/ˈwɒrɨkʃər/ or /ˈwɒrɨkʃɪər/) is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare and George Elliot. Commonly used abbreviations for the county are Warks or Warwicks.
The five districts of North Warwickshire, Nuneaton & Bedworth, Rugby, Warwick and Stratford-on-Avon together form the Warwickshire County Council area, and are within the 1974 boundaries. The shape of the administrative area of Warwickshire differs considerably from that of the historic county, which also includes the now autonomous unitary authorities of Coventry and Solihull, as well as a small area around central and northeast Birmingham.
For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region (code UKG13) and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region.
Warwickshire is bounded to the north-west by the West Midlands metropolitan county and Staffordshire, by Leicestershire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the east, Worcestershire to the west, Oxfordshire to the south and Gloucestershire to the south-west. The northern tip of the county is only 3 miles (5 km) from the Derbyshire border. An average-sized English county covering an area of almost 2,000 km2, it runs some 60 miles (97 km) north to south.
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Watling Street
Coordinates: 52°39′22.5″N 1°55′37.7″W / 52.65625°N 1.927139°W / 52.65625; -1.927139
Watling Street is the name given to an ancient trackway in England and Wales that was first used by the Britons mainly between the modern cities of Canterbury and St Albans. The Romans later paved the route, part of which is identified on the Antonine Itinerary as Iter III: "Item a Londinio ad portum Dubris" - from London to the port of Dover. Its route is now covered by the A2 road from Dover to London, and the A5 road from London to Wroxeter.
The name derives from the Old English Wæcelinga Stræt. Originally the word "street" simply meant a paved road (Latin: "via strata"), and did not have the modern association with populated areas.
The Roman road followed the broad, grassy trackway already used by the Britons for many hundreds of years, although the newer road was made to follow a more direct course. It led from Richborough in the south-east by way of a ford of the Thames at present-day Westminster to near Wroxeter, where one section went on to Holyhead and another, by way of Chester, on towards Scotland.
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Wednesbury
Coordinates: 52°33′11″N 2°01′12″W / 52.553°N 2.020°W / 52.553; -2.020
Wednesbury (/ˈwɛnzbᵊri/WENZ-bər-ee) is a market town in England's Black Country, part of the Sandwell metropolitan borough in West Midlands, near the source of the River Tame.
It is believed that Wednesbury was originally founded as an Iron Age hill fort. The first authenticated spelling of the name was Wodensbyri, written in an endorsement on the back of the copy of the will of Wulfric Spot, dated 1004. Wednesbury is one of the few places in England to be named after a pre-Christian deity.
Wednesbury is one of the oldest parts of the Black Country. The ending "-bury" comes from the old English word "burgh" meaning a hill or barrow. So "Wednesbury" may mean "Woden's Hill" or "Woden's barrow". It could also mean Woden's fortification, although the former description is often accepted.
During the Anglo-Saxon period there are believed to have been two battles fought in Wednesbury, one in A.D. 592 and one in 715. According to The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle there was "a great slaughter" in 592 and "Ceawlin was driven out". Ceawlin was a king of Wessex and the second Bretwalda, or overlord of all Britain. The second battle, in 715, was fought between Mercia (of which Wednesbury was part) and the kingdom of Wessex. Both sides allegedly claimed to have won the battle, although it is believed that the victory inclined to Wessex.
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Wednesfield
Coordinates: 52°35′59″N 2°04′54″W / 52.5998°N 2.0817°W / 52.5998; -2.0817
Wednesfield is a town within the city of Wolverhampton, West Midlands. It is 2 miles (3.2 km) east-northeast of Wolverhampton city centre, and is part of the West Midlands conurbation. It is historically within the county of Staffordshire.
Its name comes from the Old English Wōdnesfeld meaning Woden's Field, open land belonging to, or holy to, the high god of the Germanic Pantheon.
It is reported by the Englisj Dialectal Society in the publication "A Glossary of dialectal place-nomenclature" available on-line in the Internet Archive of The University of Toronto Library, that the place name "Wednesfield" is pronounced by the local populace as "Wedgefield". Indeed, The 1871 Census enumerators have used the name "Wedgefield" rather than "Wednesfield" when recording the place of birth of some of those persons enumerated.
Local areas include Ashmore Park and Wood End. There is also a formal garden at Wednesfield Park.
Wednesfield lies at 52°35′59″N 2°04′54″W / 52.5998°N 2.0817°W / 52.5998; -2.0817 (52.5998°, -2.0817°), and is located to the northeast of Wolverhampton city centre on the northern fringe of the West Midlands conurbation. It is historically part of the county of Staffordshire, and since 1974 has been part of the West Midlands metropolitan county.
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Wells
Coordinates: 51°12′26″N 2°39′07″W / 51.2073°N 2.6519°W / 51.2073; -2.6519
Wells is a cathedral city and civil parish in the Mendip district of Somerset, England, on the southern edge of the Mendip Hills. Although the population recorded in the 2001 census is 10,406, it has had city status since 1205. It is the second smallest English city in terms of area and population after the City of London although, unlike the latter, Wells is not part of a larger metropolitan conurbation, and is consequently described in some sources as being England's smallest city.
The name Wells derives from the three wells dedicated to Saint Andrew, one in the market place and two within the grounds of the Bishop's Palace and cathedral. There was a small Roman settlement around the wells, but its importance grew under the Saxons when King Ine of Wessex founded a minster church in 704, around which the settlement grew. Wells became a trading centre and involved in cloth making before its involvement in both the English Civil War and the Monmouth Rebellion during the 17th century. In the 19th century, transport infrastructure improved with stations on three different railway lines.
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West Bromwich
Coordinates: 52°31′30″N 2°00′58″W / 52.525°N 2.016°W / 52.525; -2.016
West Bromwichi/wɛst ˈbrɒmɪtʃ/ is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell, in the West Midlands, England. It is 5 miles (8 km) northwest of Birmingham lying on the A41 London-to-Birkenhead road and is part of the Black Country. Historically within Staffordshire, West Bromwich is the largest town within Sandwell, with a population of 136,940 at the time of the 2001 census.
The Latin motto on the town's coat of arms translates as "Work Conquers All".
West Bromwich was first mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, the name meaning "the little village on the heath of broom" (broom being a particular type of bush). It is believed that it may have originally been part of the Handsworth parish. A Benedictine priory existed in West Bromwich from the 12th century around which the settlement of Broomwich Heath grew. In 1727, the town became a stop on the coaching road between London and Shrewsbury and its growth began.
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West Coast Main Line
The West Coast Main Line (WCML) is the busiest mixed-traffic railway route in Britain, being the country's most important rail backbone in terms of population served. Fast, long-distance inter-city passenger services are provided between London, the West Midlands, the North West, North Wales and the Central Belt of Scotland. Since an upgrade in recent years, much of the line has trains running at 125 mph (201 km/h), thereby meeting the European Union's definition of an upgraded high-speed line.
The WCML is the most important intercity rail passenger route in the United Kingdom, connecting London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow and many smaller towns and cities. In addition, several sections of the WCML form part of the suburban railway systems in London, Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow, with many more smaller commuter stations, as well as providing a number of links to more rural towns. In 2008 the WCML handled 75 million passenger journeys.
The WCML is also one of the busiest freight routes in Europe, carrying 43% of all UK rail freight traffic. The line is the principal rail freight corridor linking the European mainland (via the Channel Tunnel) through London and south-east England to the West Midlands, north-west England and Scotland. The line has been declared a strategic European route and designated a priority Trans-European Networks (TENS) route.
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West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972.
West Yorkshire, which is landlocked, consists of five metropolitan boroughs (City of Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, City of Leeds and City of Wakefield) and shares borders with the counties of Derbyshire (to the south), Greater Manchester (to the south-west), Lancashire (to the north-west), North Yorkshire (to the north and east) and South Yorkshire (to the south-east).
West Yorkshire County Council was abolished in 1986, and so its districts (the metropolitan boroughs) are now effectively unitary authorities. However, the metropolitan county, which covers an area of 2,029 square kilometres (783 sq mi), continues to exist in law, and as a geographic frame of reference.
West Yorkshire encompasses the West Yorkshire Urban Area, which is the most built-up and biggest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Yorkshire.
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Westwood Heath
Westwood Heath is a village which is now a western suburb of the City of Coventry in the West Midlands, England. It is bordered by the suburbs of Canley and Cannon Park, and by the University of Warwick campus to the east, the suburb of Tile Hill to the north, the village of Burton Green to the west, and rural Warwickshire to the south.
Coordinates: 52°23′07″N 1°34′38″W / 52.38528°N 1.57722°W / 52.38528; -1.57722
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Whitley Plant
Coordinates: 52°22′59″N 1°29′27″W / 52.3830°N 1.4909°W / 52.3830; -1.4909
The Whitley plant, situated in Whitley, Coventry in the West Midlands of England, is one of the engineering centres of Jaguar Land Rover and the headquarters of Jaguar Cars. The facility is a fully integrated design, research and development centre and is used for the design and development of Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles.
The site now occupied by the Whitley plant was originally an airfield, built during the First World War.
In the early 1920s the site and its associated buildings were bought by Sir W.G. Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft Co. Ltd. From 1923 until the end of the Second World War a series planes, including the Armstrong Whitworth Siskin and the Hawker Hart biplanes and the Armstrong Whitworth Whitley bomber were built at the site.
After the Second World War, Armstrong Whitworth concentrated its guided missile work at the plant, including the development of the Sea Slug surface-to-air missile. In 1968 Hawker Siddeley Dynamics, who had by then absorbed the Armstrong Whitworth company, closed the site with the loss of 2,260 jobs. Work being carried out at the site on the Nike-Ajax and Sea Dart missiles was transferred to Hawker Siddeley Dynamics plants in Hatfield, Cheadle Hulme and Lostock.
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Whitley plant
Coordinates: 52°22′59″N 1°29′27″W / 52.3830°N 1.4909°W / 52.3830; -1.4909
The Whitley plant, situated in Whitley, Coventry in the West Midlands of England, is one of the engineering centres of Jaguar Land Rover and the headquarters of Jaguar Cars. The facility is a fully integrated design, research and development centre and is used for the design and development of Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles.
The site now occupied by the Whitley plant was originally an airfield, built during the First World War.
In the early 1920s the site and its associated buildings were bought by Sir W.G. Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft Co. Ltd. From 1923 until the end of the Second World War a series planes, including the Armstrong Whitworth Siskin and the Hawker Hart biplanes and the Armstrong Whitworth Whitley bomber were built at the site.
After the Second World War, Armstrong Whitworth concentrated its guided missile work at the plant, including the development of the Sea Slug surface-to-air missile. In 1968 Hawker Siddeley Dynamics, who had by then absorbed the Armstrong Whitworth company, closed the site with the loss of 2,260 jobs. Work being carried out at the site on the Nike-Ajax and Sea Dart missiles was transferred to Hawker Siddeley Dynamics plants in Hatfield, Cheadle Hulme and Lostock.
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Whoberley
Whoberley is a small residential suburb of the City of Coventry in the West Midlands, England. Its bordering districts are Allesley and Allesley Park to the north, Canley to the south, Chapelfields to the east and Mount Nod / Eastern Green to the west, while Hearsall Common in the district of Earlsdon lies to the southeast.
Coordinates: 52°24′32″N 1°33′11″W / 52.409°N 1.553°W / 52.409; -1.553
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Willenhall
Coordinates: 52°34′47″N 2°03′38″W / 52.57980°N 2.06046°W / 52.57980; -2.06046
Willenhall is a town in the Black Country area of the West Midlands of England, with a population of approximately 40,000. It is situated between Wolverhampton and Walsall, historically in the county of Staffordshire. It lies upon the River Tame.
The urban district of Willenhall (established by the Local Government Act 1894) was partitioned in 1966 between the county boroughs of Walsall and Wolverhampton (since 1974 the metropolitan boroughs of Walsall and Wolverhampton).
The northern border of Willenhall has always been adjoining green belt land, although Willenhall has expanded so much in the last 100 years that its northern border has been moved by about two miles. This is mostly due to housing developments in the Short Heath and New Invention areas.
As a town it is historically famous for the manufacture of locks and keys. As early as 1770 Willenhall contained 148 skilled locksmiths and its coat of arms reflects the importance of this industry to its growth. Its motto is "Salus Populi Suprema Lex" - The welfare of the people is the highest law.
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Wolston
Coordinates: 52°22′N 1°23′W / 52.37°N 1.39°W / 52.37; -1.39
Wolston is a village and civil parish in the Rugby borough of Warwickshire, England. The village is located roughly halfway between Rugby and Coventry, and has a population of about 2,300. It is close to the A45 road and the Roman road the Fosse Way.
The River Avon flows through the village. Near the river are the remains of a Norman motte-and-bailey castle (Brandon Castle). One of the most notable features in the village is a railway viaduct which dates from the 1830s and was part of the original London and Birmingham Railway. The viaduct separates Wolston from the smaller village of Brandon.
The village contains a primary school (Wolston St Margarets Primary C of E School). St Margaret's Primary was originally in School Street, but that building is now used as offices. Wolston also used to have a secondary school called Wolston High School, but it was knocked down and replaced with a community centre.
The village still has a library, and a small selection of shops and pubs. Wolston once had a railway station, Brandon and Wolston railway station on the Rugby-Coventry line, but this was closed in 1960, although one of the platforms can still be seen. Periodic calls are made to re-open the station as the combined population of Wolston and Brandon is almost 3,000.
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Wolverhampton
Wolverhamptoni/ˌwʊlvərˈhæmptən/ is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. For Eurostat purposes Walsall and Wolverhampton is a NUTS 3 region (code UKG35) and is one of five boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "West Midlands" NUTS 2 region. In 2004, the local government district had an estimated population of 239,100. Wolverhampton is part of the West Midlands Urban Area which had a population of 2.3 million in the 2001 census which makes it part of the second largest urban area in the United Kingdom.
Historically a part of Staffordshire, and forming part of the metropolitan county of the West Midlands from 1974, the city is commonly recognised as being named after King Wulfhere, who established an abbey in 659. The original name being from Wulfereēantūn = "Wulfhere's high or principal enclosure or farm" after the Mercian King. The name Wulfrun is used to denote a later nun who established a church in the city – for example, for the Wulfrun Centre or for Wulfrun Hall.
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Wolvey
Coordinates: 52°29′12″N 1°22′09″W / 52.486614°N 1.369299°W / 52.486614; -1.369299
Wolvey is a village and parish in Warwickshire, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 1,741.
The village, originally on the main route between Leicester and Coventry, is now on the B4065 and B4109 roads and is located on the Warwickshire/Leicestershire border in an outlying part of the borough of Rugby; the village is, however, more than 10 miles (16 km) north-west from the town of Rugby and is closer to Nuneaton (five miles to the north-west) and Coventry (eight miles south-west). It is also close to the source of the River Anker. The medieval hamlet of Bramcote forms a western part of the parish, where Gamecock Barracks - the former HMS Gamecock - is situated.
The village name dates back to Saxon times but Neolithic and Bronze Age discoveries suggest earlier occupation. The Roman road, Watling Street, forms part of the parish boundary. It was a market centre in the 12th century with separate townships of Bramcote and, now deserted, Little Copston or Copston Parva. The most important historic event in Wolvey occurred in 1469, during the Wars of the Roses, when Warwick the Kingmaker captured King Edward IV on Wolvey Heath.
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Worcester
The City of Worcester, commonly known as Worcester, (i/ˈwʊstər/ WUUS-tər), is a city and county town of Worcestershire in the West Midlands of England. Worcester is situated some 30 miles (48 km) southwest of Birmingham and 29 miles (47 km) north of Gloucester, and has an approximate population of 94,000 people. The River Severn runs through the middle of the city, overlooked by the twelfth-century Worcester Cathedral. The site of the final battle of the Civil War, Worcester was where Oliver Cromwell's New Model Army defeated King Charles II's Cavaliers, resulting in the English Interregnum, the ten-year period during which England and Wales became a republic. Worcester was the home of Royal Worcester Porcelain and the birthplace of the composer Sir Edward Elgar. It houses the Lea and Perrins factory where the traditional Worcestershire Sauce is made, and is home to one of the UK's fastest growing universities, the University of Worcester.
Occupation of the site of Worcester can be dated back to Neolithic times, a village surrounded by defensive ramparts having been founded on the eastern bank of the River Severn in around 400 BC. The position, which commanded a ford on the river, was used in the first century by the Romans to establish what may at first have been a fort on the military route from Glevum (Gloucester) to Viroconium (Wroxeter) but which soon developed – as the frontier of the empire was pushed westwards – into an industrial town with its own pottery kilns and iron-smelting plants.
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Worcestershire
Worcestershire (i/ˈwʊstərʃər/ WUUS-tər-shər or /ˈwʊstərʃɪər/ WUUS-tər-sheer ; abbreviated Worcs) is a non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands of England. In 1974, it merged with the neighbouring county of Herefordshire to form Hereford and Worcester. This was divided in 1998, re-establishing Worcestershire as a county. The Malvern Hills forms the east–west border between the two counties, with the exception of West Malvern in Worcestershire.
The county borders Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, West Midlands, Warwickshire and Gloucestershire. To the west, the county is bordered by the Malvern Hills and the spa town of Malvern. The southern part of the county is bordered by Gloucestershire and the northern edge of the Cotswolds; to the east is Warwickshire. There are two major rivers flowing through the county, the Severn and the Avon.
The cathedral city of Worcester is the largest settlement and administrative seat of the county, which includes the principal settlements of Bromsgrove, Stourport-on-Severn, Droitwich, Evesham, Kidderminster, Malvern, and the largest town, Redditch, and a number of smaller towns such as Pershore, Tenbury Wells and Upton upon Severn. The north of the county includes part of the industrial West Midlands conurbation while the south of the county is largely rural. The average salary is £20,300.
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Wychavon
Coordinates: 52°06′50″N 2°04′52″W / 52.114°N 2.081°W / 52.114; -2.081
Wychavon is a local government district in Worcestershire, England. Its council is based in Pershore. Other towns in the district include Droitwich Spa, Evesham and Broadway. The district extends from the south-east corner of Worcestershire north and west. The districts to the west are Malvern Hills and Worcester and to the north Wyre Forest.
The district was created under the Local Government Act 1972, on 1 April 1974. It was a merger of the boroughs of Droitwich and Evesham along with Evesham Rural District and most of Droitwich Rural District and most of Pershore Rural District.
The district's name, which was invented in 1973, contains two elements. "Wych" recalls the Saxon Kingdom of Hwicca, and "Avon" is for the River Avon.
Wychavon District Council is joint 'Council of the Year 2007', along with High Peak Borough Council. It was also featured as the 'Best Council to work for' by the Sunday Times.
The Wychavon district includes the following Civil parishes
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Wyken
Wyken, a suburb of Coventry, England, is situated between the areas of Stoke and Walsgrave, three miles northeast of Coventry city centre. It is a fairly large ward spreading as far as the Binley area. The majority of the houses in Wyken are terraced houses.
The original parish ran close to the River Sowe and was mainly flat except for Wyken Heath and Wyken Knob near Stoke Heath.
The oldest building within Wyken is Saint Mary Magdalene's Church, located within Wyken Croft, which dates to the early 11th century. The village developed opposite the church and remained a small settlement until the 18th century at which point it began to expand. This original layout has since evolved as Wyken was incorporated into Coventry in 1932 resulting in boundary changes. Wyken became much larger than the original village and in the latest boundary change of 1993, Wyken received Coombe Fields from the parish of Rugby.
Wyken is a part of the Coventry North East Constituency, and the Wyken Ward elects three councillors to Coventry City Council, two of whom are Labour , and one Conservative.
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York
York (locali/ˈjɔːk/) is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence. The city offers a wealth of historic attractions, of which York Minster is the most prominent, and a variety of cultural and sporting activities.
The city was founded by the Romans in 71 AD, under the name of Eboracum. It became in turn the capital of the Roman province of Britannia Inferior, and of the kingdoms of Northumbria and Jorvik. In the Middle Ages, York grew as a major wool trading centre and became the capital of the northern ecclesiastical province of the Church of England, a role it has retained.
In the 19th century York became a hub of the railway network and a confectionery manufacturing centre. In recent decades, the economy of York has moved from being dominated by its confectionery and railway-related industries to one that provides services. The University of York and health services have become major employers, whilst tourism has become an important element of the local economy.
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Andy Goode
Andrew James Goode (born 3 April 1980 in Coventry) is a rugby union footballer who plays fly-half (and occasionally fullback) for Worcester and England.
Goode attended King Henry VIII School in Coventry and Bromsgrove School in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire. He started playing rugby union at the age of five at Barkers Butts, before moving to Nuneaton at 12. Up until then he had played at scrum half but soon found out he enjoyed the game better at fly-half. He also played for Warwickshire and the Midlands. He joined Coventry aged 16.
In 1998 Goode was selected to play for England Schools U18 and has since represented England at U21 level, playing at the 2000 SANZAR tournament in New Zealand, as well as appearing 5 times for England A in 2001 and 2002. He has now also played 14 times for England.
Goode joined Leicester Tigers as a youngster, despite his youth he played a substantial part in Tigers record four successive Premiership titles and also won two Heineken Cup winners medals. He later moved to Saracens and after moved back to his old club Leicester in 2003.
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Bablake School
Coordinates: 52°24′49″N 1°31′17″W / 52.4137°N 1.5214°W / 52.4137; -1.5214
Bablake School is a co-educational Independent school located in Coventry, England and founded in 1344 by Queen Isabella, making it one of the oldest schools in the United Kingdom (List of the oldest schools in the United Kingdom). Bablake is part of the Coventry School Foundation, a registered charity, along with King Henry VIII School, King Henry VIII Preparatory School and Cheshunt School. The current headmaster is John Watson, who succeeded Dr Stuart Nuttall following his retirement in 2006. Today Bablake is a selective, fee-paying independent school and a member of the HMC.
Started by Edward II's wife Isabella in 1344, Bablake (or Babbelak in Middle English) was a public school first sited at Hill Street in Coventry. Isabella endowed the Guild of St John with the Babbelak land on which was founded the St John's chapel and the Bablake school linked to it. Bablake church, now known as St John's, still stands adjacent to the school's original buildings. The school and the church shared a long history which continues to this day. The Bablake Carole service is still held in the church, a custom which has continued since medieval times. Many of the pupils were originally choristers of the church. The relationship continued through the figure of Edward Jackson, who from 1734 was both vicar of the church and headmaster of the school. The expansion of the Bablake site continued throughout the 14th century with the aid of further land granted by the Black Prince. In 1563 the school's principal benefactor, Thomas Wheatley, who had been mayor of Coventry in 1556, endowed it with much of his estate.
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Basil Spence
Sir Basil Urwin Spence, OM, OBE, RA (13 August 1907 – 19 November 1976) was a Scottish architect, most notably associated with Coventry Cathedral in England and the Beehive in New Zealand, but also responsible for numerous other buildings in the Modernist/Brutalist style.
Spence was born in Bombay, India, the son of Urwin Archibald Spence, an assayer with the Royal Mint. He was educated at the John Connon School, operated by the Bombay Scottish Education Society, and was then sent back to Scotland to attend George Watson's College in Edinburgh from 1919-1925. He enrolled at Edinburgh College of Art (ECA) in 1925, studying architecture, where he secured a maintenance scholarship on the strength of the "unusual brilliance" of his work. He won several prizes at the college, and meanwhile carried out paid work drawing architectural perspectives for practising architects including Leslie Grahame-Thomson and Reginald Fairlie.
In 1929-1930 he spent a year as an assistant, along with William Kininmonth, in the London office of Sir Edwin Lutyens, whose work was to have a profound influence on Spence's style, where he worked on designs for the Viceroy's House in New Delhi, India. While in London he attended evening classes at the Bartlett School of Architecture under A. E. Richardson. Returning to ECA in 1930 for his final year of studies, he was appointed a junior lecturer, despite the fact that he was still a student. He would continue to teach at ECA until 1939.
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Benjamin Britten
Edward Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten,OM CH (22 November 1913 – 4 December 1976) was an English composer, conductor, and pianist; and one of the central figures of 20th century British classical music. He showed talent from an early age, and first came to public attention with the a cappella choral work A Boy Was Born in 1934. With the premiere of his opera Peter Grimes in 1945, he leapt to international fame. For the next fifteen years he devoted much of his compositional attention to writing operas, establishing him as one of the leading 20th century figures in this genre.
Britten's interests as a composer were wide-ranging; he produced important music in such varied genres as orchestral, choral, solo vocal (much of it written for his life partner, tenor Peter Pears), chamber and instrumental, as well as film music. He also took a great interest in writing music for children and amateur performers, and was an outstanding pianist and conductor.
Britten was born in Lowestoft, Suffolk, on 22 November 1913, the youngest of four children. His father, Robert, was a dentist, and his mother Edith, a talented amateur musician who gave Britten his first lessons in piano and notation. He showed musical gifts very early in life, making his first attempts at composition aged five, and thereafter composing prolifically as a child. He started piano lessons with a teacher from his pre-prep school when aged 7, and viola lessons with Audrey Alston when 10 years old.
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Billie Whitelaw
Billie Honor Whitelaw, CBE (born 6 June 1932) is an English actress. She worked in close collaboration with Irish playwright Samuel Beckett for 25 years and is regarded as one of the foremost interpreters of his works. She is also known for her portrayal of Mrs Baylock, the demonic nanny in The Omen.
In 1991, Whitelaw was awarded the CBE.
Whitelaw was born in Coventry, Warwickshire, the daughter of Frances Mary (née Williams) and Gerry Whitelaw. She grew up in a working class part of the city and later attended Thornton Grammar School in Bradford. At age 11, she began performing as a child actress on radio programmes and later worked as an assistant stage manager at a provincial theatre.
After training at RADA, Whitelaw made her stage debut at age 18 in London 1950. She made her film debut in The Sleeping Tiger (1954), followed by roles in Carve Her Name With Pride (1958) and Hell Is a City (1960). Whitelaw soon became a regular in British films of the 1950s and early 1960s. In her early film work she specialized in blousy blondes and secretaries, but her dramatic range began to emerge by the late 1960s. She starred alongside Albert Finney in Charlie Bubbles (1967), a performance which won her a BAFTA award as Best Actress in a Supporting Role. She would win her second BAFTA as the sensuous mother of college student Hayley Mills in the psychological study Twisted Nerve (1969). She continued in film roles including Leo the Last (1970), Start the Revolution Without Me (1970), Gumshoe (1971) and the Alfred Hitchcock thriller Frenzy (1972).
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Billy Hamill
William Gordon (Billy) Hamill (born 23 May 1970, California, USA) is an American international motorcycle speedway rider. He is a former Speedway World Champion, winning the title in 1996.
Hamill began junior speedway in California in 1983, eventually turning professional in 1986. In 1990, he left California to race for Cradley Heath Heathens in the British League, joining fellow Californian and friend Greg Hancock.
In 1991, Hamill again rode for the Heathens and he also made his World Final debut at the Ullevi Stadium in Gothenburg scoring six points. The 1992 World Championship campaign was cut short for Hamill after breaking his wrist at the Overseas final at Coventry's Brandon stadium, however he was still a major part of the Heathens season, again averaging over eight points. 1993 saw a belated return to Cradley for Hamill who went on to make his second world final appearance in Pocking, Germany which was won by fellow American Sam Ermolenko. In 1994. Hamill missed out on a place in the World Final in Vojens, Denmark, losing out in run off at the semi final stage to Greg Hancock.
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Bishop of Coventry
The Bishop of Coventry is the Ordinary of the England Diocese of Coventry in the Province of Canterbury. In the Middle Ages, the Bishop of Coventry was a title used by the bishops known today as the Bishop of Lichfield.
The present diocese covers most of the County of Warwickshire. The see is in the City of Coventry where the seat is located at the Cathedral Church of Saint Michael. The Bishop's residence is The Bishop's House, Coventry.
From 1102 to 1238, the former Benedictine Priory and Cathedral of St Mary in the city was the seat of the early Bishops of Coventry (previously known as Bishops of Chester or of Lichfield). It was, afterwards, one of the two seats of the Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield until the Reformation of the 1530s when Coventry Cathedral was demolished and the bishop's seat moved to Lichfield, though the title remained as Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry until 1837, when Coventry was united with the Diocese of Worcester.
In the late nineteenth century there were two Suffragan Bishops of Coventry appointed to assist the Bishop of Worcester, the Rt Revd John Perowne, in overseeing the Diocese of Worcester.
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Black British
Black British is a term used to describe British people of black African descent, especially those of Afro-Caribbean background. The term has been used from the 1950s to refer to Black people from former British colonies in the West Indies (i.e. the New Commonwealth) and Africa, who are residents of the United Kingdom and consider themselves British. Others are also from former French-speaking colonies in Africa such as Senegal and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (which was Belgian), and many of the Black Africans in Britain still speak French as well as their own native languages.
The term 'black' has historically had a number of applications as a racial and political label, and may be used in a wider socio-political context, to encompass a broader range of non-European ethnic minority populations in Britain, though this is a controversial and non-standard definition.
Black British is primarily used as an official category in UK national statistics ethnicity classifications, where it is sub-divided into 'Caribbean', 'African' and 'Other Black' groups.
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Bob Ainsworth
Robert William Ainsworth (born 19 June 1952) is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Coventry North East since 1992, and was the Secretary of State for Defence from 2009 to 2010. Following the general election in 2010 he was the Shadow Defence Secretary, but was replaced by Jim Murphy following the election of new Labour leader Ed Miliband.
Ainsworth was born in Coventry and attended the local Foxford Comprehensive School. He first became active in politics as a trade unionist at the Jaguar Cars plant in Coventry where he worked and served in many union capacities, including as Branch President (in what was later to become part of the Manufacturing, Science and Finance union). At this time he attended "a couple" of International Marxist Group meetings but did not pursue an interest in the group. In 1984, he was elected to Coventry City Council, became Chair of the Finance Committee, and was deputy leader of the ruling Labour group. He was also Constituency Labour Party Chairman.
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Bobby Gould
Robert Anthony "Bobby" Gould (born 12 June 1946) is an English former footballer and manager.
Born in Coventry, Gould started his career at Coventry City, making his debut for the club whilst still an apprentice at the age of 16. He did not sign professional until June 1964. A striker, he scored 40 goals in 82 league games for the Sky Blues, helping them to win the Second Division title in 1966–67.
He moved to Arsenal in February 1968 for £90,000. He could not hold down a regular place in the Arsenal first team, although he did score a headed goal in the 1969 League Cup Final against Swindon Town, to send the game into extra time; Arsenal went on to lose 3–1. Gould played no part in Arsenal's European Fairs Cup 1969–70 final win and by the end of 1969–70 was on the sidelines at Arsenal.
In June 1970 Gould was transferred to Wolves for a fee of £55,000, and made his debut against Newcastle United in August 1970, but after just 15 months he was signed by West Bromwich Albion manager Don Howe for £66,666. He made his Albion debut at home to Ipswich Town in the same month, and partnering Jeff Astle in attack, went on to score 12 goals in his first season at the Hawthorns. In all he scored 19 goals in 60 appearances for Albion, but when his form began to wane he was sold to Bristol City for £68,888 in December 1972.
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Brendan Price
Brendan Price (born 24 June 1947) is a theater, movie, and television British actor. He graduated, winning the prize for outstanding Dialect work and began his career, like so many other successful actors, learning his trade in the regional theatres of England. He worked in a number of the major theatres, playing a diverse range of parts in the plays of Anton Chekhov, Shakespeare, Arthur Miller, and in those of many other writers, both classical and modern.
His television career began with a part in the BBC’s prestigious Play of The Month series in James Joyce's Stephen Dedalus.
For the next few years his work moved freely between television and theatre until he made his first film, a starring role in the comedy Secrets of a Door to Door Salesman, which was due to be directed by a young Jonathan Demme, but, unfortunately, he was dismissed from the project. Brendan offered to resign his role in sympathy with him, but Jonathan counselled him to stay with the part. "In this business these things happen,"—Jonathan advised him.
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Brian Kilby
Brian Leonard Kilby (born February 26, 1938 in Coventry, England) is a retired marathon runner from Great Britain, whose best year was 1962. He then won the gold medal in the men's marathon at the European Championships and at the 1962 Commonwealth Games. He represented Great Britain two years later, at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, where he finished fourth in the men's marathon.
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Brian Matthew
Brian Matthew (born 17 September 1928) is a British broadcaster, who became well known in the 1960s. He is still broadcasting on radio for the BBC, having presented Sounds of the 60s since 1990, often employing the same vocabulary and the same measured delivery he used in previous decades.
Born in Coventry, England, Matthew was educated at the city's Bablake School and started broadcasting in 1948 in Germany, and trained as an actor at RADA before joining the BBC in 1954. He became popular in the days of the BBC Light Programme, hosting Saturday Club (originally called Saturday Skiffle Club, starting in 1957 and changing to its more familiar name in 1958) and Easy Beat (starting in 1960). At the time, there was little pop music played on BBC Radio, certainly when compared to the huge demand for it among young people, and the shows attracted audiences into the millions. Virtually all the big stars of the era, including The Beatles, appeared on the shows.
On television, he is probably best remembered as the presenter of Thank Your Lucky Stars (ITV 1961-66).
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British Asian
British Asian is a term used to describe British citizens who descended from mainly South Asia, also known as South Asians in the United Kingdom. In British English, the term 'Asian' usually excludes East Asians (see East Asians in the United Kingdom).
Prior to the formation of the United Kingdom, immigration of South Asian people to England began with the arrival of the East India Company to the Indian subcontinent. This continued during the British Raj and increased in volume after the independence of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka from British rule, chiefly for education and economic pursuits. A major influx of South Asian immigrants, mostly of Indian and Pakistani origin, also took place following the expulsion of Indian communities (then holders of British passports) from Uganda and other East African nations (see African migration to the United Kingdom).
In British English, the word "Asian" is often used to refer to those of South Asian origin, particularly Indians, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis. Clarifying the Definition of Asian. 2005. 1 October 2006. The term generally excludes people of East Asian (such as Chinese, Korean or Japanese) or Southeast Asian origin; they are more likely to be defined by their country of origin, or may instead be grouped under the umbrella term "oriental". This is reflected in the "ethnic group" section of UK census forms and other government paperwork, which treat "Asian" and "Chinese" as separate. This usage contrasts with olga American English, Canadian English, New Zealand English and Australian English, in which "Asian" refers mainly to people with East Asian ancestry.
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British Bangladeshi
A British Bangladeshi (Bengali: ব্রিটিশ বাংলাদেশি) is a person of Bangladeshi origin who resides in the United Kingdom having emigrated to the UK and attained citizenship through naturalisation or whose parents did so; they are also known as British Bengalis. Large numbers of Bangladeshis emigrated to the UK, primarily from Sylhet, located in the north-east of the country, mainly during the 1970s. The largest concentration is in London, primarily in the east London boroughs, of which Tower Hamlets has the highest proportion, making up approximately 37% of the borough's total population. This large diaspora in London leads people in Bangladesh to refer to British Bangladeshis as "Londonis". Bangladeshis also have significant communities in Birmingham, Oldham, Luton and Bradford, with smaller clusters in Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne, Rochdale, Cardiff, and Sunderland.
Bangladeshis form one of the UK's largest immigrant groups and are also one of its youngest and fastest growing communities. The population of Bangladeshis in Britain has grown steadily over the years. At the time of the 2001 UK Census, 154,362 Bangladeshi-born people were resident in the UK, and there were a total of 283,063 residents of Bangladeshi ethnicity. By 2007, the ethnic Bangladeshi population in England only was estimated to be 353,900. Estimates suggest there are about 500,000 Bangladeshis residing in the UK. Bangladeshis form a largely homogeneous community. Rates of unemployment are typically high, there is overcrowding, and some health problems. The latest generation of Bangladeshis, however, form a thriving community who are beginning to establish themselves in the mainstream of commerce and politics. Despite being the most recently settled of the major South Asian communities in Britain, the Bangladeshis are well established throughout the communities.
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British Chinese
British Chinese (Chinese: trad. 英國華僑, simp. 英国华侨, Yīngguó Huáqiáo) are people of Chinese – particularly Han Chinese – ancestry who reside in the United Kingdom, constituting the second or third largest group of overseas Chinese in Europe apart from the Chinese diaspora in France and the overseas Chinese community in Russia. Those born in the UK are known as British-born Chinese or BBCs. The British Chinese community is thought to be the oldest Chinese community in Western Europe, with the first Chinese having come from the ports of Tianjin and Shanghai in the early 19th century to settle in port cities such as Liverpool.
Most British Chinese are, or are descended from, people who were themselves overseas Chinese when they came to Britain. Most are from former British colonies, such as Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. People from mainland China and Taiwan and their descendants constitute a relatively minor proportion of the British Chinese community. Chinese communities are found in many major cities including London, Birmingham, Glasgow, Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Cardiff, Sheffield, Belfast, and Aberdeen. The Chinese community is the fastest growing ethnic group in the UK, with 9.9 percent annual growth between 2001 and 2007. More than 90 percent of this growth was due to net migration.
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British Indian
The term British Indian (also Indian British or Indian Britons) refers to citizens of the United Kingdom whose ancestral roots lie in India. This includes people born in the UK who are of Indian descent, and Indian-born people who have migrated to the UK. Today, Indians number around one and a half million in the UK (not including those of mixed Indian and Other ancestry), making them the single largest visible ethnic minority population in the country. They make up the largest subgroup of British Asians, and are one of the largest Indian communities in the Indian diaspora, largely due to the Indian-British relations (including historical links such as India having been under British occupation and still being part of the Commonwealth of Nations). The British Indian community is the fifth largest in the Indian diaspora, behind the Indian communities in Nepal, the United States, Malaysia and Burma.
British Indians are a well established and middle class ethnic group. A study by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation in 2007 found British Indians have among the lowest poverty rates among different ethnic groups in Britain second only to White British.
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Brummie
Brummie (sometimes Brummy) is a colloquial term for the inhabitants, accent and dialect of Birmingham, England, as well as being a general adjective used to denote a connection with the city, locally called Brum. The terms are all derived from Brummagem or Bromwichham, historical variants or alternatives to 'Birmingham'.
The Brummie accent is an example of a regional accent of English.
Examples of celebrity speakers include singer TV presenter Adrian Chiles, comedian Jasper Carrott, historian and broadcaster Carl Chinn, the Goodies actor and TV presenter Bill Oddie, rock musicians Ozzy Osbourne (and all other members of the original Black Sabbath), Roy Wood, Jeff Lynne (ELO founders), Rob Halford (Judas Priest), Dave Pegg (of Fairport Convention and Jethro Tull), broadcaster Les Ross, politician Clare Short, SAS soldier, author John "Brummie" Stokes and many actresses and actors; Martha Howe-Douglas, Donnaleigh Bailey, Nicolas Woodman, Sarah Smart, John Oliver and Ryan Cartwright.
It is not the only accent of the West Midlands, although the term, Brummie, is often, erroneously, used in referring to all accents of the region. It is markedly distinct from the traditional accent of the adjacent Black Country, although modern-day population mobility has tended to blur the distinction. For instance, Dudley-born comedian Lenny Henry, Daniel Taylor, Smethwick-born actress Julie Walters and award winning soap actress Jan Pearson are sometimes mistaken for Brummie-speakers by people outside the West Midlands county.
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Cal Crutchlow
Calvin "Cal" Crutchlow (born October 29, 1985 in Coventry, England) is a professional motorcycle road racer. He is a former British Supersport champion and British Superbike race winner, and the 2009 Supersport World Champion.
Although his father Derek was a racer, he did not become interested in the sport himself until age 11. He now holds a motorcycle licence for the road. He had football trials with Coventry City and Aston Villa as a youth, but chose to concentrate on motorcycle racing.
Crutchlow won the UK Junior Challenge in 1999, and the Aprilia RS125 Challenge in 2001. He was runner-up in the 2003 Yamaha R6 Cup behind Tommy Hill, who earned a factory sponsored ride in the British Superbike series for this achievement.
He won the British Supersport Championship in 2006, after a 3 year stint in the series in which he finished 3rd in 2005.
For 2007 he made his debut in the prestigious British Superbike Championship, with the Rizla Suzuki team alongside four-time runner-up Chris Walker. He took pole at Croft, and finished 9th overall after finishing the season with his first podium, third at Brands Hatch. For 2008 he moved to HM Plant Honda, sponsored by CIA Insurance. He took his first series win in race 2 at Thruxton. He took pole for round 3 at Oulton Park – he led race 1 before running wide in damp conditions, and crashed heavily out of 2nd place in race 2, injuring his ankle in the process. After initially having the better of team-mate Leon Haslam, Crutchlow was ultimately outpointed by him. He took two wins in the season, and finished 3rd overall in the championship, beating Tom Sykes by two points after the Yorkshireman had a late mechanical failure in the final round.
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Clarrie Bourton
Clarence Frederick Thomas "Clarrie" Bourton (30 September 1908 – 1981) was an English footballer who played in the Football League for Bristol City, Blackburn Rovers, Coventry City and Plymouth Argyle. He is Coventry City's all-time leading goalscorer with 181 goals.
Born in Paulton, Bourton was a primarily a centre forward, but could also play as an inside forward. He played non-league football for Paulton United before being signed by Bristol City, making his debut in the Football League in April 1928. He scored one goal in four appearances towards the end of the 1927–28 season. That summer he was transferred to FA Cup holders Blackburn Rovers and scored on his debut in a 1–1 draw at home to Bury. Bourton scored six goals in his first four matches, including all four in a 4–1 win against Manchester United at Old Trafford, and finished the season with 15 goals in 34 league and cup games as the club finished seventh in the First Division, which was their best since the First World War. He lost his place in the team to Les Bruton at the start of the following campaign, however he returned on Christmas Day 1929 to score in a 5–3 win against Sunderland and finished the season with 23 goals in 26 games, including four in a 7–5 win against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane. Rovers finished sixth in the league. In his last season at Ewood Park, he scored four goals in 11 matches.
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Clint Mansell
Clinton Darryl "Clint" Mansell, (born 7 January 1963) is an English musician, composer, and former lead singer and guitarist of the band Pop Will Eat Itself.
After the disbanding of Pop Will Eat Itself in 1996, Mansell was introduced to film scoring when director Darren Aronofsky, hired him to score his debut film, π. Mansell then wrote the score for the next Aronofsky film, Requiem for a Dream, which has been well received. Its main composition "Lux Aeterna" has become extremely popular, appearing in a wide variety of advertisements and film trailers.
Mansell's composition for The Fountain was nominated for Best Original Score at the 64th Annual Golden Globe Awards. His other notable film scores include Moon, Smokin' Aces, The Wrestler, and Black Swan.
Mansell was the lead singer and guitarist of Pop Will Eat Itself. When PWEI signed to Nothing Records, Mansell became close friends with Trent Reznor, and he performed backing vocals on the 1999 album The Fragile by Nine Inch Nails.
Mansell's score for Darren Aronofsky's π was followed up by his score for Aronofsky's next film, Requiem for a Dream, which became a cult hit. Since their first collaboration in 1996, Mansell has composed the music to every Aronofsky film.
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Clive Owen
Clive Owen (born 3 October 1964) is an English actor, who has worked on television, stage and film. He first gained recognition in the United Kingdom for portraying the lead in the ITV series Chancer from 1990 to 1991. He then garnered critical acclaim for his work in the film Close My Eyes (1991) before getting international notice for his performance as a struggling writer in Croupier (1998). In 2005, Owen won a Golden Globe and a BAFTA Award and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his appearance in the drama Closer (2004). He has since played leading roles in films such as Sin City (2005), Inside Man (2006), Children of Men (2006), and The International (2009).
The fourth of five brothers, Owen was born in Coventry, in the English Midlands, a son of Pamela (née Cotton) and Jess Owen, a country and western singer of Welsh descent. His father left the family when Owen was three years old, and despite a brief reconciliation when Owen was nineteen, the two have remained estranged. Raised by his mother and stepfather, a railway ticket clerk, he has described his childhood as "rough." While initially opposed to drama school, he changed his mind in 1984, after a long and fruitless period of searching for work. Owen graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 1987 with a class that included Rebecca Pidgeon, Serena Harragin, Mark Womack, and Liza Tarbuck. After graduation, he won a position at the Young Vic, performing in several Shakespearean plays.
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Colin Jordan
John Colin Campbell Jordan (19 June 1923 – 9 April 2009) was a leading figure in postwar Neo-Nazism in Britain. In the far-right nationalist circles of the 1960s, Jordan represented the most explicitly 'Nazi' inclination in his open use of the styles and symbols of the Third Reich.
Through organisations such as the National Socialist Movement and the World Union of National Socialists, Jordan advocated a pan-Aryan "Universal Nazism".
Although later unaffiliated with any political party, Jordan remained an influential voice on the British far right.
The son of a postman, Jordan was educated at Warwick School from 1934 to 1942. After service in the Royal Army Educational Corps he went on to study at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, graduating in 1949 with 2nd class honours in history. He then became a mathematics teacher at Stoke Secondary Modern Boys School, Coventry where he had earned the nickname of 'Jumbo' amongst the pupils on account of his heavy build.[citation needed] He joined the League of Empire Loyalists and became their Midlands organiser.
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Colin Stein
Colin Stein (born 10 May 1947) is a former Scottish footballer.
Stein, who was born in Linlithgow, began his career with Armadale Thistle. He went on to play professionally for Hibernian, Rangers and the Scottish national team during the 1960s and 1970s. He also had a spell in England with Coventry City. He played an important part in Rangers winning the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1972, scoring the opening goal in the final. Rangers beat Stade Rennais, Sporting CP, Torino, Bayern Munich and Dinamo Moscow to win the competition.
On 2 January 1971, during an Old Firm match at Ibrox, Stein scored an equaliser in stoppage time to salvage a draw for Rangers after Celtic had taken the lead in the 89th minute. Minutes later after full time, barriers on Stairway 13 at Ibrox gave way, causing a chain-reaction pileup of spectators that killed 66 and injured over 200 in what would be remembered as the second Ibrox disaster. Initial reports speculated that Rangers supporters who had left the ground turned back upon hearing the crowd roar at Stein's goal, leading to the disaster. The official inquiry into the tragedy conclusively proved that all the spectators were moving in the same direction at the time of the collapse, however.
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Danelaw
The Danelaw, as recorded in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (also known as the Danelagh; Old English: Dena lagu; Danish: Danelagen), is a historical name given to the part of England in which the laws of the "Danes" held sway and dominated those of the Anglo-Saxons. It is contrasted with "West Saxon law" and "Mercian law". The term has been extended by modern historians to be geographical. The areas that comprised the Danelaw are in northern and eastern England. The origins of the Danelaw arose from the Viking expansion of the 9th century, although the term was not used to describe a geographic area until the 11th century. With the increase in population and productivity in Scandinavia, Viking warriors, having sought treasure and glory in the nearby British Isles, "proceeded to plough and support themselves", in the words of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, for the year 876.
Danelaw is also used to describe the set of legal terms and definitions created in the treaties between the English king, Alfred the Great, and the Danish warlord, Guthrum, written following Guthrum's defeat at the Battle of Edington in 878. In 886, the Treaty of Alfred and Guthrum was formalised, defining the boundaries of their kingdoms, with provisions for peaceful relations between the English and the Vikings.
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Danny Grewcock
Daniel Jonathan Grewcock MBE (born 7 November 1972) is a retired English rugby union rugby lock who played for Bath, England and the British and Irish Lions. He also spent time at Coventry RFC and Saracens.
He was born in Coventry and attended Templars Primary School in Tile Hill then the secondary in Eastern Green Woodlands School, Coventry, during his secondary education (September 1984 to July 1989). His career started with Barkers Butts and Coventry and playing for the Warwickshire U21 side at age 19.
He is a graduate of Manchester Metropolitan University
In 1996–97 he moved into the professional ranks with Coventry.
He played for England for the first time in 1997 on the tour to Argentina, scoring his first international try in the test in Buenos Aires. He was sent off during England's 1998 trip to New Zealand. He joined Saracens later that summer but switched to Bath for the 2001–02 season.
He played in all three Test matches for the Lions against the Wallabies and in 6 of the 10 tour matches. The tour brought out the best in Grewcock and he matched the performances of fellow lock Martin Johnson with his own strongest performances.
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Dave Nellist
David John Nellist (born 16 July 1952) is a British Trotskyist activist and former Labour Member of Parliament (MP) for the now abolished constituency of Coventry South East. He is a member of the Socialist Party of England and Wales and a former councillor in Coventry.
From 1982-86, Nellist was a Labour councillor for Coventry on West Midlands County Council.
A long-standing supporter of the Militant tendency, Nellist was the MP for Coventry South East from 1983 to 1992. He was known for his standing as a "workers' MP on a worker's wage", taking only the wage of a skilled factory worker, which amounted to 40% of what he could have earned and what other MPs took for themselves. The rest he donated back to the Labour movement and to charities.
When Tony Blair was first elected to Parliament in 1983, it was intended that he would share an office with Nellist at the Palace of Westminster. The duo's differing political views were considered not to make for the most harmonious working environment, so Blair was quickly allocated office space with another newly-elected Labour MP – Gordon Brown, a friendship which would lead to the creation of New Labour and the party's ideological shift away from the labour movement towards the so-called 'third way'.
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Dave Sexton
David "Dave" Sexton OBE (born 6 April 1930) is an English former football manager and player.
Son of former professional boxer Archie Sexton, he started his playing career with West Ham United in 1948. Playing mainly at inside-forward, he would finish his career with time at Luton Town, Leyton Orient, Brighton and Hove Albion, and Crystal Palace. His biggest success came at Brighton, where he won the Third Division (South) Title in 1957–58.
Sexton started off as a coach at Chelsea, before leaving to begin his managerial career at Leyton Orient in 1965. In 1966 he was appointed by Arsenal manager Bertie Mee as the Gunners' first-team coach, but a year later returned to Chelsea to become manager following the departure of Tommy Docherty. He led the club to FA Cup success in 1970 and the European Cup Winners' Cup a year later. Chelsea also reached the League Cup final in 1972, but lost to Stoke City. However, Sexton fell out with several players, including Peter Osgood and Alan Hudson, who were subsequently sold. This, combined with other problems at the club, ensured that Sexton did not come close to repeating his earlier success and early in the 1974–75 season - which ended in Chelsea's relegation - he was dismissed.
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David Duckham
David John Duckham MBE (born 28 June 1946) is a retired English rugby union player. He played 36 games for England from 1969 to 1976 and scored 10 tries. Duckham made his debut at centre, partnering John Spencer against Ireland in 1969. They were believed by many to be England's greatest centre pairing until Will Carling and Jeremy Guscott.
Born in Coventry, Warwickshire, and educated at King Henry VIII Grammar School, Duckham made his debut against Ireland and quickly established himself as one of England's best centres, playing alongside John Spencer. His game was marked by pace, swerves, sidesteps and an ability to wrong-foot his opponents, although this came at a time when the English team were struggling, especially against rivals Wales. In the late 1960s and thereafter he was played on the wing for his country and in 1971 was part of the successful British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand. Encouraged by coach Carwyn James, he found an attacking freedom that was lacking in the English game. He scored 11 tries in his 16 games on tour.
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David Moorcroft
David Robert Moorcroft (born 10 April 1953) is a former middle-distance and long-distance runner from England, and former world record holder for 5,000 metres. His athletic career spanned the late-1970s and 1980s. He subsequently served as the Chief Executive of UK Athletics from 1997 to 2007. He received an MBE in 1983 and an OBE in 1998 for services to British sport. Moorcroft is still the UK record holder for 3,000 metres.
Moorcroft was born to Robert and Mildred (née Hardy) Moorcroft on 10 April 1953 in Coventry,West Midlands and he has an elder sister. He was a pupil at Woodlands Comprehensive School and Tile Hill College. He studied Physical Education and Sport Science at Loughborough University. He has been a member of the Coventry Godiva Harriers athletics club since 1964 and is currently the club’s President.
Moorcroft made his senior debut for Great Britain in 1973 and competed in his first Olympic Games in Montreal 1976, placing seventh in the 1,500-metre final. He won gold in the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton at 1500 metres. Just four weeks later, he won the bronze medal at the same distance in the European Athletics Championships in Prague. In the 1980 Moscow Olympics, he suffered from stomach problems and was eliminated in the 5,000-metres semifinals.
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Debee Ashby
Debee Ashby (born 2 July 1967 in Coventry) is an English former glamour model, actress and Sun Page Three girl. She is also known as Debbie Ashby or Debby Ashby. During her modelling career she appeared in several British men's magazines, her debut being in Men Only in January 1984.
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Delia Derbyshire
Delia Ann Derbyshire (5 May 1937 – 3 July 2001) was an English musician and composer of electronic music and musique concrète. She is best known for her electronic realisation of Ron Grainer's theme music to the British science fiction television series Doctor Who and for her work with the BBC Radiophonic Workshop.
Derbyshire was born in Coventry, daughter of Emma (née Dawson) and Edward Derbyshire. of Cedars Avenue, Coundon, Coventry, a sheet-metal worker. She had one sibling, a sister, who died young. Her father died in 1965 and her mother in 1994.
During the Second World War, immediately after the Coventry Blitz in 1940, she was moved to Preston, Lancashire for safety, where her parents had moved from and where most of her surviving relatives still live. She was very bright and, by the age of four, was teaching others in her class to read and write in primary school, but said "The radio was my education". Her parents bought her a piano when she was eight years old. Educated at Barr's Hill Grammar School from 1948 to 1956, she was accepted at both Oxford and Cambridge, "quite something for a working class girl in the 'fifties, where only one in 10 (students) were female", won a scholarship to study mathematics at Girton College, Cambridge but, apart from some success in the mathematical theory of electricity, she claims she did badly and after one year switched to music, graduating in 1959 with an MA in Mathematics and Music and specialising in medieval and modern music history. Her other principal qualification was LRAM in pianoforte.
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Dennis Spicer
Dennis Spicer (1936 - 1964) was a British ventriloquist who appeared on British television, and in variety in its twilight years, with his dummies: mainly James Green and Maxwell Monkey, but also Sexy Rexy The Wolf, Puppy Doll The Poodle, Rikki Tikki The Tiger, The Ugly Duckling and Russian bear. He was also well known in America, with five performances on The Ed Sullivan Show between 1962 and 1964. He appeared on the Royal Variety Performance on 2 November 1964 with a corgi as a dummy.
He died in car crash on the A1, near RAF Wittering, near Stamford, Lincolnshire on 15 November 1964.
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Dion Dublin
Dion Dublin (born 22 April 1969 in Leicester, Leicestershire), is a retired English footballer. He was capped four times for England. Dublin started his career as a centre back with Norwich City, but made his name at Cambridge United as a goal-scoring centre forward. However, in his later years he showed his versatility by becoming an accomplished defender. He had spells with Norwich City (twice), Cambridge United, Manchester United, Coventry City, Millwall, Aston Villa, Leicester City and Celtic.
Away from football, Dublin is also an accomplished amateur percussionist. He invented a percussion instrument, which he called "The Dube", and in 2011, he accompanied Ocean Colour Scene in a gig at the University of East Anglia, in Norwich.
Whilst at school in Leicestershire, Dublin played for Wigston Fields; the local team in a small South Leicester Town. Dublin then went on to begin his professional footballing career with Norwich City after leaving school in 1985, but he never made a first team appearance and was released from the club in 1988.
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Dominic Madden
Dominic Madden, born in Coventry, England, 1975, is a theatre and venue owner.
Dominic Madden is an entrepreneur in the music and entertainment sector who is primarily responsible for the redevelopment and successful operation of 2 premiere central London music and nightclub venues, The Coronet, a 2300 capacity ex ABC Cinema located in Elephant and Castle and also the Electric Brixton, an iconic cinema variety theatre, with a 1800 capacity known previously as The Fridge. The Electric Brixton launched on August 28th 2011 following a reputed £1,000,000 refurbishment.
Madden, a Graduate of the University of London in 1997 enjoyed a career as a West End theatre producer, prior to acquiring The Coronet in 2002. In 2008, Dominic Madden formed Kingdom Entertainment as a personal investment vehicle for entertainment properties in the live entertainment sector.
Dominic Madden is also widely known for providing advice on corporate finance transactions in the entertainment sector, with clients including television entrepreneur, Charlie Parsons.
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Donald Trelford
Donald Trelford (born 9 November 1937) is a British journalist and academic, who was editor of The Observer newspaper from 1975 to 1993. He was also a director of The Observer from 1975 to 1993 and Chief Executive from 1992 to 1993.
In 1994, he was appointed Professor of Journalism Studies at the University of Sheffield, and became a Visiting Professor in 2004 and Emeritus Professor in 2007.
Trelford was a member of the Council of the Advertising Standards Authority until 2008 and Chairman of the London Press Club. He was also a member of the Newspaper Panel of the Competition Commission from 2001-7.
He is a regular broadcaster and has published books on snooker and cricket and co-authored (with Daniel King) a book on the 1993 Times World Chess Championship in London between Nigel Short and Garry Kasparov.
He was educated at Bablake School, Coventry and was School Captain from 1955 to 1956.
He is married with four children and lives in England and Majorca.
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Emil Sayfutdinov
Emil Damirovich Sayfutdinov (Russian: Эмиль Дамирович Сайфутдинов; born October 26, 1989 in Salavat, Russia) is a Russian motorcycle speedway rider and member of the Russian national teams (senior and U-21). He won the 2007 and 2008 Under-21 World Championship. He is a permanent rider of the 2010 Speedway Grand Prix.
Sayfutdinov gained his speedway licence in 2005, just before his 16th birthday. He started his career in the Russian league with Mega-Lada Togliatti. His team won the Russian Champion title, and Sayfutdinov was one Mega-Lada's best riders with an average of 2.271 (15th place in league). He won the Individual under-21 Russian Championship and was 6th in the Russian Senior Championship. He also won the Russian Pairs Championship title with Mega-Lada that year.
In international competitions he started in Individual U-19 European Championship. In Semi-Final C in Daugavpils, Latvia he was won qualification to the Final. But he was too young and was not allowed to take part – the minimum age of a rider is 16 years of age at the start of each year.
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Emma Fryer
Emma Fryer is a British stand-up comedian, actress and writer from Coventry, best known for playing Tania in BBC Three's Ideal, Janine in E4's PhoneShop and Gaynor in BBC 2's Home Time, which she co-wrote with Neil Edmond.
In 2005, she was a finalist in the So You Think You're Funny?, Funny Women and Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year competitions. She has also appeared as one of the spoof presenters in Channel 4's Comedy Lab Swizzcall, played the lead character, Dawn Jones, in the online sitcom Where are the Joneses? and provided the single additional voice in the finale of Tim Key's All Bar Luke.
Fryer was nominated for the Times Breakthrough Award 2010, while Home Time was nominated for Best Sitcom at both the 2010 South Bank Show Awards and The Rose D'Or.
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Exhall Grange School
Exhall Grange School and Science College is a community special school located in Ash Green just outside Coventry in Warwickshire, England. The school caters for pupils ranging in age from two to 19 years, and who have a range of disabilities and learning difficulties, including physical disability, visual impairment and Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Opened in 1951 as a school for visually impaired pupils, Exhall Grange was the first school to cater exclusively for partially sighted children. It later widened its remit to include pupils with other disabilities, and became a grammar school in 1960. Under the stewardship of one of its best known headmasters, George Marshall OBE, the school gained an international reputation for the quality of its education, while Marshall himself became a leading expert on the education and welfare of visually impaired people. Marshall's successor, Richard Bignell, steered the school towards a more comprehensive approach to education, and as a visually impaired person himself championed the use of computers as an aid to learning.
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Frank Ifield
Francis Edward Ifield (born 30 November 1937) is an early Australian-English easy listening and country music singer. He achieved considerable success in the early 1960s, especially in the UK Singles Chart, where he had four Number 1 hits between 1962 and 1963.
Born in Coundon, Coventry, Warwickshire, England, Ifield moved with his Australian parents to Dural, 50 km (31 mi) from Sydney, about 1946. It was a rural district and he listened to hillbilly music (now called country) while milking the cows. He learned how to yodel in imitation of country stars like Hank Snow. At the age of thirteen he recorded "Did You See My Daddy Over There?", and by the age of 19 was the number one recording star in Australia and New Zealand.[citation needed] He returned to the UK in 1959.
His first record in the UK was "Lucky Devil" (1960) which got to number 22 in the UK charts. His next six records were less successful, but he finally broke through with "I Remember You" which topped the charts for seven weeks in 1962. Known for Ifield's falsetto and a slight yodel, it was the second highest-selling single of that year in the UK and became the seventh million-selling single.
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Frank Whittle
Air Commodore Sir Frank Whittle, OM, KBE, CB, FRS, Hon FRAeS (1 June 1907 – 9 August 1996) was a British Royal Air Force (RAF) engineer officer. He is credited with independently inventing the turbojet engine (some years earlier than Germany's Dr. Hans von Ohain) and is regarded by many as the father of jet propulsion.
From an early age Whittle demonstrated an aptitude for engineering and an interest in flying. Determined to be a pilot, he overcame his physical limitations to be accepted into the RAF, where his abilities earned him a place on the officer training course at Cranwell. He excelled in his studies and became an accomplished pilot. While writing his thesis there he formulated the fundamental concepts that led to the creation of the turbojet engine, taking out a patent on his design in 1930. His performance on an officers' engineering course earned him a place on a further course at the University of Cambridge where he graduated with a First.
Without Air Ministry support, he and two retired RAF servicemen formed Power Jets Ltd to build his engine with assistance from the firm of British Thomson-Houston. Despite limited funding, a prototype was created, which first ran in 1937. Official interest was forthcoming following this success, with contracts being placed to develop further engines, but the continuing stress seriously affected Whittle's health, eventually resulting in a nervous breakdown in 1940. In 1944 when Power Jets was nationalised he again suffered a nervous breakdown, and resigned from the board in 1946.
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Frederick Gibberd
Sir Frederick Ernest Gibberd (7 January 1908 – 9 January 1984) was an English architect and landscape designer.
Gibberd was born in Coventry, the eldest of the five children of a local tailor, and was educated at the city's King Henry VIII School. In 1925 he was articled to a firm of architects in Birmingham and studied architecture under William Bidlake at the Birmingham School of Art, where his room-mate was F. R. S. Yorke.
A good friend of Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe, Gibberd's work was influenced by Le Corbusier, Mies van der Rohe, and F.R.S. Yorke. He set up in practice in 1930, designing Pullman Court, Streatham Hill, London (1934–6), a low-cost housing development which launched his career. With the success of this scheme, Gibberd became established as the 'flat' architect and went on to build several other schemes including Park Court, Sydenham, London (1936) and Ellington Court, Southgate, London (1936) continuing to practice until the outbreak of the Second World War.
Gibberd and Yorke collaborated on a number of publications including the influential book 'The Modern Flat' which was published in 1937 and featured the then newly completed Pullman Court and Park Court, as well as many other European examples.
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Gary McAllister
Gary McAllister MBE (born 25 December 1964 in Newarthill, Motherwell) is a Scottish former professional footballer.
McAllister played primarily as a midfielder, in a successful career spanning over nineteen years. He started his career at local side Motherwell before moving south of the border to Leicester City at the age of 20. He then went on to play for Leeds United, and he later had spells at Coventry City intersected by a brief, yet triumphant, stint at Liverpool.
McAllister also represented his national side for nine years, winning 57 caps and scoring five goals. His leadership qualities were noticed, and he spent four successful years as Scotland captain in addition to two seasons as Leeds United captain. He was awarded an MBE in the 2001 New Year Honours in recognition of his contribution to football.
As his playing career drew to a close he decided to enter the managerial side of the game. He did this first during his second stay at Coventry when he was appointed manager in April 2002. He resigned a month later and did not enter management again until he returned to Elland Road in January 2008 to replace Dennis Wise.
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Gary McSheffrey
Gary McSheffrey (born 13 August 1982) is an English footballer who plays as a left winger. He is currently in his second spell with hometown team Coventry City in the Football League Championship.
McSheffrey began his professional career with Coventry, and also played in the Football League and Premier League for Stockport County, Luton Town, Birmingham City, Nottingham Forest and Leeds United before returning to Coventry in 2010.
McSheffrey was born in Coventry, and began his football career at home town club Coventry City. When he made his first-team debut against local rivals Aston Villa at the age of 16 years and 198 days on 27 February 1999, a game that Coventry won 4–1, he became the youngest player ever to play in the Premier League. He held the record for over four years until Aaron Lennon made his Leeds United debut at a younger age in August 2003. During his time at Coventry he spent loan spells at Luton Town, Stockport County (scoring once against Burnley) and Swedish side IK Brage. He also won England U-20 honours.
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Geoff Evans
Thomas Geoffrey "Geoff" Evans, (born 1 May 1942 in Llanelli) is a former Wales international rugby union player. In 1971 he toured New Zealand with the British and Irish Lions as a replacement. Evans played club rugby for London Welsh RFC.
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Geoffrey Robinson
Geoffrey Robinson (born 25 May 1938) is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Coventry North West since 1976. He was Paymaster General from May 1997 to January 1999, resigning after it was revealed that he had lent his government colleague Peter Mandelson £373,000 to buy a house. From 1996 to 2008 he was the owner of the New Statesman, a centre-left weekly political magazine.
Robinson was born in Sheffield, England and educated at Emanuel School, Clare College, Cambridge, and Yale University. On completing his formal education he became a Labour Party Researcher, before joining a newly created entity splendidly entitled "The Industrial Reorganisation Corporation", at a time when the British government was enthusiastically promoting a merger between the Leyland Motor Corporation and BMC. The merger duly took place amid high hopes that a solution to the BMC problem was in sight.
A change of government led to a swift demise for "The Industrial Reorganisation Corporation", and in 1970 Robinson joined British Leyland, the company in the creation of which he had been instrumental. His initial job title was "Staff executive, facilities planning", but after four months he was promoted to the position of Financial Controller. It was an unusual appointment in a conservative industry, both on account of his relative youth and because he had no accountancy qualification. (His formal tertiary education had concentrated on Russian, German and, possibly of more direct relevance, Economics.)
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George Eliot
Mary Anne (alternatively Mary Ann or Marian) Evans (22 November 1819 – 22 December 1880), better known by her pen name George Eliot, was an English novelist, journalist and translator, and one of the leading writers of the Victorian era. She is the author of seven novels, including Adam Bede (1859), The Mill on the Floss (1860), Silas Marner (1861), Middlemarch (1871–72), and Daniel Deronda (1876), most of them set in provincial England and well known for their realism and psychological insight.
She used a male pen name, she said, to ensure her works would be taken seriously. Female authors were published under their own names during Eliot's life, but she wanted to escape the stereotype of women only writing lighthearted romances. An additional factor in her use of a pen name may have been a desire to shield her private life from public scrutiny and to prevent scandals attending her relationship with the married George Henry Lewes, with whom she lived for over 20 years.
Her 1872 work, Middlemarch, has been described as the greatest novel in the English language by Martin Amis and by Julian Barnes.
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George Hudson
George Hudson (probably 10 March 1800 – 14 December 1871), English railway financier, known as "The Railway King", was born, the fifth son of a farmer, in Howsham, in the parish of Scrayingham in the East Riding of Yorkshire, north of Stamford Bridge, east of York. He is buried in Scrayingham.
After a cursory education, at age 15, he was apprenticed to Bell and Nicholson, a firm of drapers in College Street, York. He finished his time in 1820, was taken on as a tradesman, and given a share in the business. The following year he married Nicholson's daughter. When Bell retired, the firm became Nicholson and Hudson. By 1827 the company was the largest drapery, indeed the largest business, in York.
In 1827, his great-uncle Matthew Botrill fell ill and Hudson attended at his bedside. In thanks for this, the old man made a will leaving him his fortune of £30,000 From being a Methodist and a Dissenter, Hudson changed his allegiance to become a High Church Tory. In 1833 it became possible for joint stock country banks to conduct their business in the City of London and he took a leading part in the establishment of the York Union Banking Company with its agent in the city being George Carr Glyn.
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George Raynor
George S. Raynor (13 January 1907, in Hoyland Common, Yorkshire – 24 November 1985) was an English professional footballer and one of the most successful international football managers ever. One of his greatest achievements was taking the Sweden national football team to a World Cup final, and he also managed them to an Olympic gold medal.
Raynor first played football in the non-Leagues for Elsecar Bible Class, Mexborough Athletic and Wombwell. When he did sign professional forms Raynor's career took him only on an uninspired jaunt around the Football League. His first professional club was Sheffield United whom he joined in 1930, making only one first team appearance in the two years he was with the club. Between 1932 and 1939 he played for another four different League clubs, the last of these (Aldershot) in the season before the start of the War. However, whilst in the course of working as a training instructor in Baghdad during hostilities, Raynor had clubbed together an international football team and this had come to the notice of the Secretary of the Football Association Stanley Rous. Thereafter, as Brian Glanville notes (with some poetic licence) in his The Story of the World Cup, "the FA whisked him in 1946 from reserve team trainer at Aldershot to the team managership of Sweden".
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Gerry Francis
Gerald Charles James Francis (born Chiswick, 6 December 1951) is an English former footballer and manager, now working as First Team coach at Stoke City.
Francis made his debut for Queens Park Rangers v Liverpool in March 1969. He was captain and central midfield player during the 1970s and was a key player in the QPR side which came within a hair's breadth of their first-ever league title in 1976. He won 12 caps for the England team between 1974 and 1976, and was captain for eight of those matches. He left QPR for Crystal Palace in 1979, although he subsequently returned to QPR for a 2nd spell, before a move to Coventry City. However this was a time when he suffered injury problems.
In 1983 he was appointed player-manager of Exeter City although they endured a difficult season. Francis then had further short playing spells at Cardiff City, Swansea City and Portsmouth before a move to Bristol Rovers in 1985 yielded 32 league appearances, where he ended his playing career in 1987.
Following this playing spell he succeeded Bobby Gould as manager of Third Division side Bristol Rovers. In 1990 he guided the Pirates to the Third Division title and thus they won promotion to the Second Division, but a year later he returned to QPR as manager.
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Gordon Strachan
Gordon David Strachan OBE (born 9 February 1957) is a Scottish football manager and former player. He is currently without a club, having last managed Middlesbrough. Strachan played for Dundee, Aberdeen, Manchester United, Leeds United and Coventry City, as well as the Scotland national team. Prior to Middlesbrough, Strachan managed Coventry City, Southampton and Celtic. In club football, he played 626 games scoring a total of 138 goals, playing 21 of 25 career seasons in either the English or Scottish top flight. In international football Strachan earned 50 caps, scoring 5 goals and playing in two FIFA World Cup final tournaments, Spain 82 and Mexico 86. Strachan retired from playing in 1996 at age 40, setting a Premier League record for an outfield player.
A right-sided midfielder, Strachan made his senior debut in 1974 with Dundee before moving on within Scotland, to spend seven seasons at Aberdeen. He first played for the Scotland national team in 1980. While at Aberdeen Strachan won multiple domestic league and cup honours in the early 1980s, as well as the 1982–83 European Cup Winners' Cup and 1983 European Super Cup. Moving to England, Strachan won the 1985 FA Cup Final in five seasons with Manchester United, before spending the next seven seasons as club captain at Leeds, winning the 1991–92 First Division league title. He played his last game for Scotland in 1992 while still at Leeds, and then moved to Coventry in 1995 for a final three seasons, as a player-coach.
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Graham Alexander
Graham 'Grezza' Alexander (born 10 October 1971 in Coventry, England) is a retired Scottish international footballer who played for and has in the past jointly managed Preston North End.
For most of his career he played as a specialist at right back, but has recently been deployed in defensive midfield, as he did early on in his career with Scunthorpe. He is currently the third oldest player to score in Premier League history. He was also a penalty kick specialist. On 16 April 2011, in Burnley's win over Swansea City in a Championship match, Alexander became only the second outfield player in English football history to have made 1,000 professional appearances, after Tony Ford. He is currently fifth on the List of footballers in England and Scotland by number of league appearances.
Alexander began his career in the late 1980s as a youth player with Scunthorpe United. He made his first-team debut on 27 April 1991, coming on as a substitute for Mark Hine, and signed his first professional contract the same year. In 1991–92, he established himself as a member of Scunthorpe's first team, usually playing at right back.
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Graham Sutherland
Graham Vivien Sutherland OM (24 August 1903 – 17 February 1980) was an English artist.
He was born in Streatham, the son of a lawyer who later became a civil servant in the Land Registry Office and the Board of Education. He attended Homefield Preparatory School, Sutton and was then educated at Epsom College, Surrey until 1919. Upon leaving school, after some preliminary coaching in art, he began an engineering apprenticeship at the Midland Railway Works in Derby under advice from his parents. After a year he succeeded in persuading his father that he was not destined for a career in engineering, and that he should be allowed to study art. There being no vacancies at his first choice, the Slade School of Fine Art, he entered Goldsmith's College School of Art in 1921, specialising in engraving.
Sutherland's early prints of pastoral subjects show the influence of Samuel Palmer, largely mediated by the older etcher, F.L. Griggs. He did not begin to paint in earnest until he was in his 30s, following the collapse of the print market in 1930 due to the Great Depression. These pieces are mainly landscapes, which show an affinity with the work of Paul Nash. Sutherland focused on the inherent strangeness of natural forms, and abstracting them, sometimes giving his work a surrealist appearance; in 1936 he exhibited in the International Surrealist Exhibition in London.
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Greg Hancock
Gregory Alan "Greg" Hancock (born June 3, 1970 in Whittier, California, USA) is an American motorcycle speedway rider.
He is the current Speedway World Champion and a multiple World Team champion with USA, with whom he is currently captain. At the end of the 2011 season, Hancock is the only rider to have appeared in every Grand Prix round since its creation in 1995.
He rode for the Swedish team Rospiggarna for 15 years, but since 2010 he has ridden for Piraterna from Motala, Sweden.
Greg first came to the United Kingdom at the end of the 1988 speedway season to ride exhibition races with fellow 18 year old Californian Billy Hamill. It was during this time that Greg agreed a deal to ride for Cradley Heath the following year – the same team that his mentor Bruce Penhall used to ride for. Greg was an instant success for Cradley in the British League. He also won gold medals for the USA in the 1992 World Pairs and World Team Cup. However due to injury and problems with the American Motorcyclist Association, Greg was not able to contest in the Individual World Championship until 1993. That year he went through to the World Final in Germany where he finished last place. In 1994, Greg again qualified for the last ever 'one off' World Final. He went into his last race needing a victory to become world champion but he finished third in the race and fourth overall on the night.
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Henry VII of England
Henry VII (Welsh: Harri Tudur; 28 January 1457 – 21 April 1509) was King of England and Lord of Ireland from his seizing the crown on 22 August 1485 until his death on 21 April 1509, as the first monarch of the House of Tudor.
Henry won the throne when he defeated Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field. He was the last king of England to win his throne on the field of battle. He was successful in restoring the power and stability of the English monarchy after the political upheavals of the Wars of the Roses. He founded a long-lasting dynasty and, after a reign of nearly 24 years, was peacefully succeeded by his son, Henry VIII.
Although Henry can be credited with the restoration of political stability in England, and a number of commendable administrative, economic and diplomatic initiatives, the latter part of his reign was characterised by a financial rapacity which stretched the bounds of legality. According to the contemporary historian Polydore Vergil, simple "greed" in large part underscored the means by which royal control was over-asserted in Henry's final years.
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Iain Dowie
Iain Dowie (born 9 January 1965) is an English-born Northern Irish football manager, former professional footballer and sports television pundit.
As a player he was a striker from 1983 until 2001, notably in the Premier League for Southampton, Crystal Palace and West Ham United. He earned 59 caps for Northern Ireland, scoring 12 goals. He also played in the Football League for Luton Town, Fulham and Queens Park Rangers, and in Non-league for Cheshunt, St Albans City and Hendon. After retiring from playing he went on to manage Oldham Athletic, Crystal Palace, Charlton Athletic, Coventry City, Queens Park Rangers and Hull City.
Born in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, Dowie was rejected by Southampton aged 16 and later went to the University of Hertfordshire to study for a M.Eng Degree in Engineering. On completion he became an employee of British Aerospace, whilst keeping up football at non-League level playing for Cheshunt alongside his brother Bob. He left Cheshunt to improve his fitness and signed for St Albans City, then moved on to Hendon. While playing for Hendon, Dowie was spotted by Luton Town who signed him in the 1988–89 season, when they were in the First Division. An old-fashioned centre-forward, he then moved in quick succession to Fulham (a brief loan spell), before establishing himself as a first team player in the 1989–90 season when his eight goals in 29 league games helped Luton finish seventh.
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Ian Bell
Ian Ronald Bell MBE (born 11 April 1982) is an English cricketer who plays international cricket for the England cricket team. He also plays county cricket for Warwickshire County Cricket Club. He is a right-handed higher/middle order batsman, described in The Times as an "exquisite rapier," and occasional right-arm medium pace bowler. He is also noted for his sharp reflexes and often fields in close catching positions. He has scored sixteen Test centuries and one ODI 100. He is one of only a handful of Batsman to have scored a test century against all current test playing nations (this excludes Zimbabwe).
In the 2006 New Year Honours List, Ian Bell was awarded the MBE for his role in the successful Ashes campaign of 2005. In November 2006, he was awarded the Emerging Player of the Year award by the International Cricket Council. During 2008 and 2009, he was a more infrequent member of the England teams – however he reclaimed his Test place during the 2009 Ashes, which England won, and featured in several ODIs the following year. During 2010, he captained Warwickshire to victory in the CB40 final before scoring his first Ashes century the following winter as he helped England retain the Ashes down-under. Warwickshire County Cricket Club awarded Bell a benefit in 2011.
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Ivor Preece
Ivor Preece (15 December 1920 - 14 March 1987) was an English rugby union footballer who represented and captained England Schools, England and Coventry. He is the only Coventry RFC player to have achieved this accolade. He was selected to play with the British and Irish Lions, on their tour to New Zealand and Australia in 1950.
Born in Coventry in the West Midlands, he attended Broad Street School, Foleshill, Coventry playing in the schools successful side winning the Coventry F.C Shield one of the oldest trophies played for in schoolboy rugby throughout the world being established in 1897. Once his playing career was over he still dedicated himself to the game of rugby union serving as president for Coventry Schools, Warwickshire RFU, Coventry R.F.C. and Broadstreet RFC from 1970 until his death in 1987. Preece's son, Peter Preece, was also an England rugby union international who played for Coventry - he was capped 12 times between 1972 and 1976.
Broadstreet RFC honoured Preece by naming their ground the Ivor Preece Field after him.
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Jacob Epstein
Sir Jacob Epstein KBE (10 November 1880 – 19 August 1959) was an American-born British sculptor who helped pioneer modern sculpture. He was born in the United States, and moved to Europe in 1902, becoming a British citizen in 1911. He often produced controversial works which challenged taboos on what was appropriate subject matter for public artworks. He also made paintings and drawings, and often exhibited his work.
Epstein's parents were Polish Jewish refugees, living on New York's Lower East Side. His family was middle-class, and he was the third of five children. His interest in drawing came from long periods of illness; as a child he suffered from pleurisy.
He studied art in his native New York as a teenager, sketching the city, and joined the Art Students League of New York in 1900. For his livelihood, he worked in a bronze foundry by day, studying drawing and sculptural modeling at night. Epstein's first major commission was to illustrate Hutchins Hapgood's Spirit of the Ghetto. The money from the commission was used by Epstein to move to Paris.
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James Starley
James Starley (21 April 1831 – 17 June 1881) was an English inventor and father of the bicycle industry. He was one of the most innovative and successful builders of bicycles and tricycles. His inventions include the differential gear and the perfection of chain-driven bicycles.
Starley was born in 1831 at Albourne, Sussex, the son of Daniel Starley, a farmer. He began working on the farm at nine, showing early talent as an inventor by making a rat trap from an umbrella rib and the branch of a willow tree. He ran away from home as a teenager and went to Lewisham, in south London. There he worked as an under-gardener, in his spare time mending watches and creating devices such as a mechanism to allow a duck to get through a hole in a fence, closing a door behind it if a rat tried to follow.
Starley's employer, John Penn, bought a rare and expensive sewing machine. Starley mended it when it broke down and improved the mechanism. Penn knew Josiah Turner, a partner of Newton, Wilson and Company, the makers of the machine, and in 1859 Starley joined its factory in Holborn. Turner and Starley started their own sewing machine company in Coventry around 1861. Coventry was the centre of the British bicycle industry and Turner's nephew brought a new French bone-shaker to the factory in 1868. The company started making bicycles.
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Jen Ledger
Jennifer Carole "Jen" Ledger (born 8 December 1989, Coventry, England) is the English drummer and backing vocalist for the Grammy Award-nominated Christian rock/hard rock band Skillet. At the age of eighteen she became Skillet's drummer, when their former drummer Lori Peters retired.
Ledger relocated to the United States at age 16 to major in drums at Living Light School of Worship in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
She toured as Skillet's drummer on the "Comatose Tour", where she sang a vocal solo in "Yours to Hold".
Ledger sang on the tracks "Hero" and "Awake and Alive", from the album Awake. She also sang back up on "Monster" in the remix EP.
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Jerry Dammers
Jeremy David Hounsell "Jerry" Dammers (born 22 May 1955) is a British musician who is a founder, keyboard player and primary songwriter of the Coventry, England based ska revival band The Specials, The Special A.K.A. and The Spatial AKA Orchestra.
Dammers was born in Ootacamund, Tamil Nadu, South India, the son of a clergyman who went on to become Dean of Bristol Cathedral, he attended King Henry VIII School, Coventry.
Dammers was a Mod in the 1960s, then became a hippie, before becoming a skinhead. He had been a member of The Cissy Stone Soul Band, and studied art at Coventry's Lanchester Polytechnic (now Coventry University), where he met Horace Panter.
He contributed to the founding of 2 Tone Records, which helped develop the 1970s/1980s ska revival. He became an anti-Apartheid campaigner, helping to create Artists Against Apartheid in the U.S., and writing the song "Free Nelson Mandela" about the jailed African National Congress leader in South Africa. In 1985, in the wake of the Band Aid single, he organized the recording and release of the "Starvation" single, a version of The Pioneers' 1969 song, in aid of famine relief in Africa, featuring members of The Special AKA, UB40, Madness, The Pioneers, and The Beat. In early 1986, he took part Red Wedge tour that also featured The Style Council, The Communards, Junior Giscombe, Lorna Gee and other special guests. He also introduced Simple Minds to producer Tony Hollingsworth and they became the first major act to agree to perform at Hollingsworth's Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute concert, which was broadcast worldwide from London's Wembley Stadium, on 11 June 1988. That same year, he briefly played with the re-formed Madness on their single "I Pronounce You" and its attendant album, The Madness.
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Jesse Carver
Jesse Carver (7 July 1911 - 29 November 2003) was an English footballer, best remembered for his enlightened management of some of Europe's finest clubs.
Carver started out in football as a player, he was a centre half and had a rugged style of playing. During the 1933-34 season, he made one appearance for Blackburn Rovers who finished 8th that year in the old Football League First Division.
He moved further up North to play for Newcastle United, making his debut against Barnsley in August 1936; with Carver playing the Toon's highest finish was 4th in the old Football League Second Division (second tier of the league). After playing 70 times in the league and 6 in the FA Cup for Newcastle United, Carver's playing career was cut short by the Second World War. During the war years he worked as a policeman.
In the years following World War II football training still commonly took place without a football, aiming at running alone. It was even suggested that allowing players to kick a ball between matches would quench their thirst for the game. Carver was at the forefront of innovation in improving the skills, athleticism and theoretical knowledge of players and using the ball during training.
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Jimmy Hill
James William Thomas "Jimmy" Hill OBE (born 22 July 1928) is an English association football personality. His career has taken in virtually every role in football, including player, union leader, coach, manager, director, chairman, television executive, presenter, analyst and match official.
Hill was born in Balham, London, the son of Alice Beatrice (Wyatt) and William Thomas Hill, a World War I veteran, milkman, and bread delivery worker. He was a pupil at Henry Thornton Grammar School, Clapham (1939–45), and is now President of the Old Boys' Association. He then did national service as a clerk in the Royal Army Service Corps in which he attained the rank of Corporal and was considered a potential candidate for officer training.
Hill first came into football as a fan, regularly watching football at local club Crystal Palace, but, despite this, he started playing in 1949 with Brentford, before moving to Fulham in March 1952, for whom he played over 300 games. He scored five goals for Fulham in an away match against Doncaster Rovers and was part of the team that gained promotion to the First Division.
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John Kemp Starley
John Kemp Starley (1854 - 1901) was an English inventor and industrialist who is widely considered the inventor of the modern bicycle, and also originator of the name Rover.
Starley was born in Walthamstow, Essex, and was the son of a gardener. In 1872 he moved to Coventry to work with his uncle, the inventor James Starley. He worked with his uncle and William Hillman for several years building Ariel cycles.
In 1877 he started a new business Starley & Sutton Co with William Sutton - a local cycling enthusiast. They set about developing safer and easier to use bicycles than the prevailing penny farthing or "ordinary" bicycles. They started by manufacturing tricycles, by 1883 their products were being branded as Rover.
In 1885 Starley made history when he produced the Rover Safety Bicycle - a rear-wheel-drive, chain-driven cycle with two similar-sized wheels, making it more stable than the previous high wheeler designs. Cycling magazine said the Rover had 'set the pattern to the world' and the phrase was used in their advertising for many years. Starley's Rover is usually described by historians as the first recognisably modern bicycle. This new "safety bicycle" was an immediate success and was exported across the world.
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John Sillett
John Charles Sillett (born 20 July 1936 in Southampton) is a former football player and manager.
His father Charlie Sillett was a footballer (playing at full-back) with Southampton between 1931 and 1938. He is the younger brother of Peter Sillett, also a footballer.
Sillett played for Chelsea, Coventry City and Plymouth Argyle. He won the Championship with Chelsea in 1955, playing alongside his brother. Between 1954 and 1956 he did his National Service in the RAMC at the Royal Herbert Hospital, Woolwich, London.
He was manager of Coventry City from 1986 until 1990. He managed the Sky Blues to their finest moment on 16 May 1987, when they unexpectedly beat Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 in the FA Cup final at Wembley. It was the club's first appearance in an FA Cup final.
John is a larger than life character, well known in the footballing world. He played a large part in the history of both Hereford United and Coventry City, helping both teams to historic wins.
Sillett's playing days saw him and his elder-brother Peter, follow in his father's footsteps, and sign for their hometown side, Southampton, although John never played for the first team. After their brief spells with the south coast team, they both moved on to Chelsea as teenagers, where John would enjoy the highlight of his playing career, winning the Championship title in 1955.
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Julianne Regan
Julianne Regan (born 30 June 1962, Coventry) is an English singer, song writer, guitarist, bass guitarist and keyboard player. She is best known for being the lead singer of the band, All About Eve.
Julianne Regan was born in Coventry in the English Midlands, into an Anglo-Irish working class Catholic family[citation needed]. It is written in the sleeve notes to the All About Eve anthology Keepsakes that her family's roots were impoverished to the point that as a boy, her father had to share a single pair of shoes with his siblings. Little else about her childhood is on the public record other than that she has a younger sister, Lise, who married All About Eve's first full-time drummer Mark Price in 1989, although they have since divorced.
Regan moved to London at the age of 19 and found work as a journalist for music magazine ZigZag, while also studying at the London College of Fashion. In her capacity as a journalist she was given the task of interviewing Gene Loves Jezebel and then subsequently joined that band on bass guitar. Soon after, apparently unhappy with the tension between the group's twin frontmen, she left to make music with good friend and former Xmal Deutschland drummer Manuela Zwingmann, while working in a book shop on Charing Cross Road after Zig Zag went bust. It was during this period that she met, though friends of friends, both Andy Cousin and Tim Bricheno then both playing for goth band Aemotii Crii. The band that resulted, at first consisting of Regan, Zwingman, Bricheno and James Richard Jackson, was originally called The Swarm but was changed to All About Eve after Regan and Zwingman watched the classic film at Regan's parents' house in Southport, Merseyside.
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Keith Fairbrother
Keith Fairbrother (born 8 May 1944) is a former Chairman and rugby union player of Coventry R.F.C.. He also played for England national team as a prop. He was bought out as Chairman of Coventry R.F.C. in August 2006 by Andrew Green, though he retained the lease to part of the Butts Park Arena site. He had been chairman for eight years. He took over the club after it had gone into receivership in 1998.
He also had a brief stint in Rugby League with Lancashire club Leigh RFC in the 1970s.
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Kelvin Tatum
Kelvin Martin Tatum MBE (born 8 February 1964, in Epsom, England) is a former British international motorcycle speedway and Grasstrack rider.
Tatum attended Brighton College from 1977 to 1980. He started riding speedway bikes at Hackney's training school at the Hackney Wick Stadium in the winter of 1982/1983. He was given his first team place at Hackney's rivals, the Wimbledon Dons, riding in the top flight British League in 1983. He finished the season with an average of over six points per meeting.
In 1985 he signed for the Coventry Bees, staying there for the next six seasons. Stints then followed at the Berwick Bandits, Bradford Dukes, Arena Essex Hammers, Poole Pirates, Peterborough Panthers, and the ill-fated London Lions, with brother Neville Tatum among his team-mates.
Tatum became British Champion twice; in 1987 and 1990.
Later in Tatum's career, he turned his attention to Grasstrack and Long track to much success. He won the Long Track World Championship three times between 1995 and 2000. Kelvin was almost unbeatable in domestic Grasstrack events in the latter stage of his career, winning 4 British Masters Championships. Inevitably, Kelvin won his last ever Grasstrack event, the Bonfire Burnup in 2006 at Collier Street in Kent.
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Kenneth Hegan
Kenneth Edward "Jackie" Hegan OBE (24 January 1901 – 3 March 1989) was an English amateur footballer who played on the wing and made four appearances for England in 1923, scoring four goals. He was a member of the Corinthian amateur club, and a professional soldier.
Hegan was born in Coventry, and attended Bablake School. On leaving school, he attended the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, going on to represent both the college and the Army whilst serving with the 1st Dublin Fusiliers.
He made his Corinthians debut on 27 December 1919 in a 7–2 victory over The Army. Ironically, he was due to play for the Army, but was "lent" to the Corinthians, who turned up for the match three players short.
During the 1920s and early 1930s he played in many of Corinthians' more important matches, including most of their FA Cup ties. He was a member of the Corinthian team that defeated Blackburn Rovers 1–0 in the First Round of the cup on 12 January 1924, before going out to West Bromwich Albion in the second round. In 1925–26, Corinthian met Manchester City on 9 January 1926; after a 3–3 draw in the first match (in which Hegan scored once, with Norman Creek scoring the others), Corinthian lost the replay 4–0. In 1927, he again scored in a 4–0 victory over Walsall in the third round, before a 3–1 defeat by Newcastle United at Crystal Palace in front of a crowd of 56,338.
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Kevin Gallacher
Kevin William Gallacher (born November 23, 1966 in Clydebank) is a Scottish former professional footballer and now a sports pundit. He played as a striker from 1983 until 2002 notably in the Premier League with Blackburn Rovers where he was part of the title winning side in 1995.
He started his career in his native land with Dundee United and went on to also play in the English top flight for Coventry City and Newcastle United, as well as in the Football League for Preston North End, Sheffield Wednesday and Huddersfield Town. He made 53 appearances for Scotland, scoring 9 goals.
Gallacher started his Scottish League career with Dundee United, where he spent seven years as part of a successful team under the guidance of Jim McLean. He appeared in the 1987 UEFA Cup Final, where United lost on aggregate to IFK Göteborg. He won his first Scotland cap against Colombia in 1987. Gallacher scored Dundee United's goal in the 1988 Scottish Cup Final, in the 2-1 defeat by Celtic.
Gallacher moved to Coventry City in 1990 and became a fans favourite for three years. He then joined Blackburn Rovers in March 1993 for £1.5million, as they looked for new blood in their ultimately unsuccessful bid to win the FA Premier League title that season and fill the gap up front left by the long-term injury absence of Alan Shearer.
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Kevin Warwick
Kevin Warwick (born 9 February 1954 Coventry, UK) is a British scientist and professor of cybernetics at the University of Reading, Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom. He is known for his studies on direct interfaces between computer systems and the human nervous system, and has also done research in the field of robotics.
Kevin Warwick was born in 1954 in Coventry in the United Kingdom. He attended Lawrence Sheriff School in Rugby, Warwickshire. He left school in 1970 to join British Telecom, at the age of 16. In 1976 he took his first degree at Aston University, followed by a Ph.D and a research post at Imperial College London.
He subsequently held positions at Oxford, Newcastle and Warwick universities before being offered the Chair in Cybernetics at the University of Reading in 1987.
Warwick is a Chartered Engineer, a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology and a Fellow of the City and Guilds of London Institute. He is Visiting Professor at the Czech Technical University in Prague and the University of Strathclyde and in 2004 was Senior Beckman Fellow at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA. He is also Director of the University of Reading Knowledge Transfer Partnerships Centre, which links the University with Companies and is on the Advisory Boards of the Instinctive Computing Laboratory, Carnegie Mellon University and the Centre for Intermedia, University of Exeter.
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Lady Gaga
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta (/ˈstɛfəniː dʒʌrməˈnɑːtə/ STE-fə-nee jurr-mə-NAH-tə; born March 28, 1986), known by her stage name Lady Gaga, is an American singer and songwriter. Born and raised in New York City, she primarily studied at the Convent of the Sacred Heart and briefly attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts before withdrawing to focus on her musical career. She began performing in the rock music scene of Manhattan's Lower East Side, and was signed with Streamline Records by the end of 2007. During her employment as a songwriter for the record company, her vocal abilities captured the attention of recording artist Akon, who signed her to his label Kon Live Distribution.
Lady Gaga came to prominence as a recording artist following the release of her debut album The Fame (2008), which was a critical and commercial success that topped charts around the world and included the international number-one singles "Just Dance" and "Poker Face". After embarking on the The Fame Ball Tour, she followed the album with The Fame Monster (2009), which spawned the worldwide hit singles "Bad Romance", "Telephone" and "Alejandro". The album's success allowed her to embark on the eighteen-month long Monster Ball Tour, which later became one of the highest-grossing concert tours of all time. Her most recent album Born This Way (2011) topped the charts of most major markets and generated more international chart-topping singles, including "Born This Way", "Judas" and "The Edge of Glory". Besides her musical career, she involves herself with humanitarian causes and LGBT activism.
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Lady Godiva
Godiva (Old English: Godgifu, "god gift"), often referred to as Lady Godiva, was an 11th century Anglo-Saxon noblewoman who, according to legend, rode naked through the streets of Coventry in order to gain a remission of the oppressive taxation imposed by her husband on his tenants. The name "Peeping Tom" for a voyeur originates from later versions of this legend in which a man named Tom had watched her ride and was struck blind or dead.
Lady Godiva was the wife of Leofric, Earl of Mercia. They had one proved son Aelfgar, Earl of Mercia.
Lady Godiva's name occurs in charters and the Domesday survey, though the spelling varies. The Old English name Godgifu or Godgyfu meant "gift of God"; Godiva was the Latinised version. Since the name was a popular one, there are contemporaries of the same name.
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Laura Davies
Laura Jane Davies CBE (born 5 October 1963) is an English professional golfer who has achieved the status of her nation's most accomplished female golfer of modern times, being the first non-American to finish at the top of the LPGA money list as well as winning the LET Order of Merit a record seven times: in 1985, 1986, 1992, 1996, 1999, 2004 and 2006.
As of 2012, she has 81 professional wins worldwide, with 20 on the LPGA, including four majors and, since turning professional in 1985, has won at least one title somewhere in the world every season, except for 2005. She is a member of U.S.-based LPGA Tour, a life member of the Ladies European Tour, and needs only one major victory or two regular LPGA Tour wins to enter the World Golf Hall of Fame.
A native of Coventry, Laura Davies began as an amateur international player for Great Britain, compiling a notable record. She was the 1983 English Intermediate Champion, the 1984 Welsh Open Stroke Play Champion and the South Eastern Champion in both 1983 and 1984. She was also a member of the Great Britain and Ireland Curtis Cup Team in 1984. She turned professional in 1985.
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Lee Child
Jim Grant (born 1954), better known by his pen name Lee Child, is a British thriller writer. His wife Jane is a New Yorker, and they currently live in New York state. His first novel, Killing Floor, won the Anthony Award for Best First Novel.
Each of Child's novels follows the adventures of a former American Military Policeman, Jack Reacher, who wanders the United States. Child is a fan of Aston Villa Football Club.
Though Grant was born in Coventry, England, his parents moved him and his three brothers to Handsworth Wood in Birmingham when he was four years old, so the boys could get a better education. Grant attended Cherry Orchard Primary School in Handsworth Wood until the age of 11 and was one of the cleverest boys in his year. He attended King Edward's School, Birmingham, also the alma mater of J. R. R. Tolkien and Enoch Powell. His father was a civil servant and his younger brother, Andrew Grant, is also a thriller novelist.
Some of Grant's early influences include Enid Blyton, W.E. Johns, and Alistair MacLean.[citation needed]
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Lee Dorrian
Lee Dorrian (born 1968) is a singer from Coventry, England. Originally the editor/publisher of the Cov punk fanzine "Committed Suicide" he then went on to be the singer and lyricist with Napalm Death and recorded one and a half albums with them, namely the second half of Scum and From Enslavement to Obliteration. He left the band after the Mentally Murdered EP was released which he also appeared on. He first used a brutal death grunt style of singing, but adopted a cleaner style when he left Napalm Death to form Cathedral, who first played doom metal on their debut album Forest of Equilibrium, then stoner rock since their second album. He also formed a record label, Rise Above Records, to release music by Cathedral and bands such as Electric Wizard, Sally and Orange Goblin. He presented an award to Napalm Death at the Metalhammer Golden Gods Awards 2007.
He performed on the track "Ice Cold Man" for the Probot project in 2003. He has also did vocals for the Teeth of Lions Rule the Divine project.
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Les Sealey
Leslie Jesse "Les" Sealey (29 September 1957 – 19 August 2001) was an English footballer who played as a goalkeeper for, among others, Coventry City, Luton Town, Manchester United, Aston Villa and West Ham United. He was a nephew of Alan Sealey, another West Ham United player.
Sealey joined Coventry City as an apprentice in 1976 and made his debut as a 19-year-old on 11 April 1977, in a 1–1 draw at Queens Park Rangers. He spent the next five seasons at the West Midlands club before joining Luton Town in 1983. He was a regular in the team for much of his time at Kenilworth Road, but he missed their 1988 League Cup triumph due to injury,his place being taken by Andy Dibble. A year later, Luton reached the final again and he was able to keep goal this time in a 3–1 defeat to Nottingham Forest in which Sealey had a poor game and went on to lose his place in the line-up to Alec Chamberlain.
In December 1989, Sealey was loaned to Manchester United and made two league appearances during the final weeks of the season. He was named as goalkeeper for the 1990 FA Cup Final replay against Crystal Palace (even though United had signed him after the transfer deadline), after a poor display from Jim Leighton in the preceding 3–3 draw, and made several saves to help his side win 1–0. He later gave his winner's medal to Jim Leighton who had played throughout the cup run but the FA subsequently granted medals to both Leighton and Sealey.
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Mark Hateley
Mark Wayne Hateley (born 7 November 1961 in Wallasey, Merseyside) is a retired English football player who played as a centre-forward. He was capped 32 times for the English national team (including games in the 1986 World Cup), and played in top-level football leagues in England, Italy, France and Scotland. His nickname is Attila.
Hateley started his career at Coventry City, playing over 90 games in the First Division before moving to Portsmouth in the summer of 1983. He scored 22 league goals in the 1983–84 season and on 28 June 1984 he was transferred to A.C. Milan for £1million.
However, his move did not come at one of the famous Italian side's greatest times, when they were still re-establishing themselves in Serie A after slipping out of it twice (the first time due to demotion as a result of a match fixing scandal) in the previous six years. That year he also helped England win the 1984 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, scoring six goals in the knockout stages, bringing his final tally for the Under-21 side to eight goals in 10 appearances.
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Marlon Devonish
Marlon Ronald Devonish, MBE (born 1 June 1976) is an English sprint athlete.
He is a member of the Coventry Godiva Harriers athletics club and is coached by Tony Lester. Early in his career he was successful at both 100 and 200 metre distances, winning English Schools and European Junior titles at both, but in recent years he has concentrated mostly on the longer distance. He has also been a regular member of both the British and, at the Commonwealth Games, English 4 x 100 metre sprint relay teams, to some considerable success. He is a current Commonwealth Games record holder in the relay event.
The most notable achievement of his career to date came at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. There Devonish, along with Jason Gardener, Darren Campbell and Mark Lewis-Francis, won a gold medal in the 4 x 100 m. relay, where the quartet defeated the pre-race favourites, United States team, by just 0.01 seconds, in a season's best of 38.07.
At the British Championships (and team trials for the 2006 European Championships) in July 2006, Devonish became the first man since Linford Christie in 1988 to win both the 100 m and 200 m races at the event. At the championship finals, he took the bronze medal in the 200 m.
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Martin Jol
Maarten Cornelis "Martin" Jol (born 16 January 1956) is a Dutch football manager and former midfielder who currently manages Fulham in the Premier League. Jol played over 400 games during his career which included spells in the Netherlands, Germany, and England, as well as earning three caps with the Dutch national team. He subsequently became a manager and has worked for Roda JC, RKC Waalwijk and Ajax in his homeland, as well as German Bundesliga club Hamburger SV and English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur.
Jol was born in The Hague. He started his playing career with an amateur team before joining the local professional side ADO Den Haag. He turned professional with Den Haag in 1973. He won the 1975 Dutch Cup with the team defeating FC Twente. He played in the Bundesliga for the 1978–79 season with Bayern Munich before returning to the Dutch Eredivisie to play for FC Twente in 1979. While with Twente, he won his first cap for the Netherlands national football team in October 1980. Jol moved to England in 1982, joining West Bromwich Albion. He appeared in the semi-finals of both domestic cup competitions in 1981–82. He signed for Coventry City in 1984. Jol returned to Den Haag in 1985, and won the 1985 Dutch Footballer of the Year award in the Eerste Divisie league.
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Micky Adams
Michael Richard "Micky" Adams (born 8 November 1961) is an English former professional footballer turned football manager who is in charge of League Two side Port Vale. As a player he was a full back, and made a total of 438 league appearances in a nineteen year professional career in the Football League, including five years with Southampton at the highest level. He began his managerial career as player-manager for Fulham in 1994 and has led several teams at varying levels with mixed success, being named Manager of the Season twice, and sacked a number of times.
Born in Sheffield, Adams was part of the youth team at Sheffield United from the age of twelve until released in 1977. He turned professional at the Third Division team Gillingham in 1979, where he established himself in the first team, winning a move in 1983 to Coventry City who were in the First Division. He spent four years at Coventry before being sold on to Leeds United in 1987. He was bought by Southampton for £250,000 in 1989, where he enjoyed five years of top-flight football. He was loaned out to Stoke City in 1994, before he signed with Fulham later in the year. Appointed as Fulham's player-manager in March 1996, he led the club out of the Third Division in 1996–97, and was named as the Third Division Manager of the Season. Sacked by Fulham despite his success, he walked out on Swansea City after less than two weeks in charge, and instead took charge at Brentford in November 1997. He was sacked after the club were relegated at the end of the season. At this point he ended his playing career.
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Mo Mowlam
Marjorie "Mo" Mowlam (18 September 1949 – 19 August 2005) was a British Labour Party politician. She was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Redcar from 1987 to 2001 and served in the Cabinet as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
Mowlam's time as Northern Ireland Secretary saw the signing of the historic Good Friday Peace Agreement in 1998. Her personal charisma, reputation for plain speaking and her fight against a brain tumour led her to be perceived by many as one of the most popular "New Labour" politicians in the UK. When Tony Blair mentioned her in his speech at the 1998 Labour Party Conference, she received a standing ovation.
Mowlam was born at 43 King Street, Watford, Hertfordshire, England, the middle of three children of Tina and Frank, but grew up in Coventry, where her father rose to become Coventry's assistant postmaster. She would later be awarded the Freedom of the City in 1999. She was the only one of the family's three children to pass the 11-plus exam. She started at Chiswick Girls' grammar school in West London, then moved to Coundon Court School in Coventry, which, at the time, was one of the first comprehensive schools in the country. She then studied at Trevelyan College, Durham University, reading sociology and anthropology. She joined the Labour Party in her first year. She worked for then-Labour MP Tony Benn in London and American writer Alvin Toffler in New York, moving to the United States with her then-boyfriend and studying for a PhD in political science at the University of Iowa on the effects of the Swiss system of referenda.
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Neil Back
Neil Antony Back MBE (born 16 January 1969) is a former international rugby union footballer for England, who also played for Leicester Tigers, and captained both England and Leicester during his career. He is currently the Head Coach at National League 3 Midlands side Rugby Lions.
During his international career, he gained 66 caps for England, captaining them four times and was part of the 2003 World Cup winning side. He played as an openside flanker. He is married with two daughters.
Back and Nick Beal share the unusual distinction of being contemporary players whose names are anagrams of each other's, and they both worked for insurance company Equity & Law at the same time, too.
Back was born in Coventry, where he attended the Woodlands School between September 1980 and July 1985. During his time at the school, he also played football and cricket before opting for rugby union. Back learnt his trade at Barker's Butts RFC and went on to represent England at U18, U21 and 'A' level before making his full England debut against Scotland in 1994. He also played for Nottingham.
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Neville Staple
Neville Eugenton Staple (born 11 April 1955) is a singer for the two-tone ska band, The Specials as well as his own combo, The Neville Staple Band. Along with Ranking Roger, he also sings in Special Beat.
Staple was born in Manchester, Jamaica. At the age of five, Neville left Jamaica to live in the English town of Rugby, Warwickshire but later moved to Coventry. He was initially active in the sound system scene forming his own crew called "Jah Baddis". Neville was a regular fixture at the Locarno ballroom in Coventry where he met its resident DJ, Pete Waterman. Pete was heavily involved in the seventies reggae scene before going on to become a major pop producer in the 1980s. Pete has written the foreword to Neville's biography - "Original Rude Boy" - and briefly managed The Specials.
Neville's first involvement with The Specials was when they were still called The Coventry Automatics. He initially joined as their roadie but at a gig supporting The Clash, Neville took to the stage and never looked back. For a while, The Specials were managed by The Clash's manager Bernard Rhodes of whom Neville used to toast "Bernie Rhodes knows don't argue" at the beginning of the Specials hit single "Gangsters".
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Nigel Boocock
Nigel Boocock (born 17 September 1937 in Wakefield, England) is a former speedway rider who appeared in eight Speedway World Championship finals and was a reserve in one other (1962).
Boocock started his career with the Bradford Tudors in 1955 and stayed there until 1957, followed by spells with the Birmingham Brummies and the Ipswich Witches, before moving in 1959 to the Coventry Bees. He spent the next eighteen seasons with the Bees, winning the British League Championship in 1968.
Boocock was the first English rider to win the prestigious FIM Internationale meeting held at Wimbledon. He was known for the blue leathers he raced in when most other riders wore black leathers – he was nicknamed "Little Boy Blue". He appeared with brother Eric Boocock in the 1970 Speedway World Pairs Championship finals, finishing in third place. He was also a regular England International rider and captain of the National team for many years.
Boocock married Cynthia Boon in 1958, and they had three children, Victoria, Darren and Mandy. He and Cynthia retired to Australia, which he had visited on numerous occasions with British Lions and England teams during the English winter months. For some time they lived in Maroubra, NSW; and Darren and Mandy attended Maroubra Bay Public School.
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Nigel Hawthorne
Sir Nigel Barnard Hawthorne, CBE (5 April 1929 – 26 December 2001) was an English actor, perhaps best remembered for his role as Sir Humphrey Appleby, the Permanent Secretary in the 1980s sitcom Yes Minister and the Cabinet Secretary in its sequel, Yes, Prime Minister. For this role he won four BAFTA Awards during the 1980s in the 'Best Light Entertainment Performance' Category. In the 1990s he won two more BAFTAs, one as Best TV Actor for The Fragile Heart, and one as Best Film Actor for The Madness of King George. His role in the latter also garnered him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.
Hawthorne was born in Coventry, England, the son of Agnes Rosemary (née Rice) and Charles Barnard Hawthorne, a physician. He grew up in South Africa, where he was educated at St George's Grammar School, Cape Town and Christian Brothers College. He enrolled at the University of Cape Town but withdrew and returned to the United Kingdom in the 1950s to pursue a career in acting.
Hawthorne made his professional stage debut in 1950, playing Archie Fellows in a Cape Town production of The Shop at Sly Corner.
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Noel Cantwell
Noel Euchuria Cornelius Cantwell (28 February 1932 – 8 September 2005) was an Irish cricketer and football player born in County Cork, Irish Free State. He was educated at the Roman Catholic Presentation Brothers College in Cork.
Cantwell played as a full-back for Western Rovers, Cork Athletic, West Ham United, and Manchester United.
While at West Ham, he featured in the London XI side that competed in the 1955-58 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup final on 1 May 1958. He captained the Hammers to winning the Division Two championship in the 1957-58 season and thereby leading the club into the top flight for the first time since 1930.
In November 1960, Cantwell joined Manchester United for £29,500 which at the time was a record for a full back. He helped the club win the 1965 and 1967 league titles and captained United when winning the 1963 FA Cup Final - just as his fellow countryman Johnny Carey had done in United's previous FA Cup win 15 years earlier.
He also served as Chairman of the Professional Footballers' Association.
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Panjabi MC
Rajinder Singh Rai (Punjabi: ਰਜਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ; born in Coventry, England), better known by his stage name Panjabi MC is a British Indian musician. He is best known for the worldwide bhangra hit "Mundian To Bach Ke" (1998).
Rajinder Singh adopted his stage name from the Punjabi language he used in the music he plays and raps. "One of [his] main goals is to fuse the two worlds [of bhangra and hip-hop]."
Nachural Records signed Panjabi MC following a remix of Kuldeep Manak's "Ghariah Milan De". Although the single was taken off the market, Panjabi MC continued making records. Another successful release was "Mundian To Bach Ke" ("Beware of the Boys") (1998; it first appeared on the album Legalised) which mixed the theme of the TV series Knight Rider with bhangra. An underground hit on the internet, it was picked up by the German record label Superstar Recordings, and became a hit in Germany and across Europe, including the UK. A version of this recording in 2003 featured American rapper Jay-Z named "Beware of the Boys".
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Pattison College
Coordinates: 52°24′19″N 1°28′49″W / 52.4054°N 1.4804°W / 52.4054; -1.4804
Pattison College is a non-selective independent school in the east of Coventry, England. Pattison College provides education for children aged 3 to 16 of all abilities. Pupils are taught in small classes, allowing for individual attention in a sheltered environment. The school was established in 1949.
In January 2006, Pattison College was placed seventh nationally, according to the Value Added Measure, which rates progress made from Key Stage 3 to GCSE. In 2004, it was eleventh for progress made from Key Stage 2 to GCSE and sixteenth in 2003.
The school underwent successful Ofsted inspection in November 2004 and January 2005 (Early Years). A 100% A-C GCSE result rate was achieved in 2004, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999 & 1998 examinations.
The school is not academically selective and will accept pupils who it considers would benefit from a traditional education where discipline, hard work, consideration for others and good manners are an important part of the school ethos.
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Paul Connew
Paul Connew (born 1947) is a British former newspaper editor.
Born in Coventry, Connew attended King Henry VIII Grammar School. He entered journalism with the Coventry Evening Telegraph, then moved to the Coventry Express, and then up to London to work for the Daily Mirror. He worked as Deputy Editor of the News of the World before returning as Deputy Editor of the Mirror. He edited the Sunday Mirror for a short period starting in 1994, and subsequently worked as a consultant for Express Newspapers and TalkSport.
Connew married Lowri Turner in and became a househusband, but the couple split the following year, and divorced in 2004. Connew subsequently worked as Director of Communications for the Sparks charity, and as a judge for the British Press Awards.
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Pete Waterman
Peter Alan Waterman OBE (born 15 January 1947) is an English record producer, occasional songwriter, radio and club DJ, television presenter, president of Coventry Bears rugby league club and a keen railway enthusiast. As a member of the Stock Aitken Waterman songwriting team he wrote and produced many hit singles. He is the owner of significant collections of both historic and commercial railway locomotives and rolling stock, a passion and expensive hobby made possible by the commercial success of the acts he signed.
Born in Stoke Heath, Coventry, Warwickshire, Waterman had left Whitley Abbey Comprehensive School (now rebuilt and called Whitley Abbey Community School) to work at a railway depot. After closure of the depot, Waterman chose to follow a career in music, being inspired by The Beatles. To supplement his income as a DJ, Waterman became a gravedigger and then an apprentice at General Electric Company, becoming a trade union official.
Building a record collection through rare US imports, his DJ work began to take him across the UK, entertaining bigger crowds with a blend of rhythm and blues and soul music tunes he had sourced. Given a residency with the Mecca Leisure Group, he developed new initiatives including matinée discos for under 18s at Coventry’s Locarno club, which gave him a valuable insight into what music interested a younger audience. Waterman noticed that the younger dancers preferred records with high beats per minutes and this influenced his later work. It was at the Locarno that Waterman first met Neville Staple, later to be a vocalist for The Specials - a band that Waterman would manage for a brief period. In early 2009, Waterman wrote the foreword to Neville's biography "Original Rude Boy", which was published by Aurum Press in May 2009.
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Peter Reid
Peter Reid (born 20 June 1956) is an English football manager, pundit and retired player, who is currently without a club since his departure from Plymouth Argyle.
A defensive midfielder in his playing days, Reid enjoyed a long and successful career. He built his reputation as one of England's brightest midfield talents of the time at Bolton Wanderers, before signing for Everton in 1982. It was there that he enjoyed the most fruitful spell of his career, as he helped the club win domestic and European honours, including the Football League twice. He was voted as the PFA Players' Player of the Year in 1985 and came fourth in the World Soccer Player of the Year award, behind Michel Platini, Preben Elkjær and Diego Maradona. He also received his first senior England call-up that year, and represented his country at the 1986 FIFA World Cup and 1988 UEFA European Championship. He won 13 caps in total. Reid joined Queens Park Rangers in 1989, but moved on to Manchester City a year later to begin his managerial career.
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Phil Neal
Philip George "Phil" Neal (born 20 February 1951 in Irchester, Northamptonshire, England) is a former footballer who was, at one time, the most successful player in English football history. He played for Liverpool 650 times over an eleven year period and is the only player to have appeared in the first five of their European Cup finals, winning four of them. He was a dependable full back. His son, Ashley Neal, also had a footballing career, albeit short-lived.
Neal also had a seven year career with England, winning 50 caps and playing in the 1982 World Cup.
Neal began his career at Wellingborough Town F.C. before he joined Northampton Town.
A full back who joined the club on 9 October 1974 for £66,000 after making his name in English football's lower divisions with Northampton, Neal was the first signing to be made by manager Bob Paisley, snapped up as a replacement for the ageing Chris Lawler. Although he played a few games on the left side of the defence, it was as an industrious, energetic right back that he made his name.
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Philip Larkin
Philip Arthur Larkin, CH, CBE, FRSL (9 August 1922 – 2 December 1985) is widely regarded as one of the great English poets of the latter half of the twentieth century. His first book of poetry, The North Ship, was published in 1945, followed by two novels, Jill (1946) and A Girl in Winter (1947), but he came to prominence in 1955 with the publication of his second collection of poems, The Less Deceived, followed by The Whitsun Weddings (1964) and High Windows (1974). He contributed to The Daily Telegraph as its jazz critic from 1961 to 1971, articles gathered together in All What Jazz: A Record Diary 1961–71 (1985), and he edited The Oxford Book of Twentieth Century English Verse (1973). He was the recipient of many honours, including the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry. He was offered, but declined, the position of poet laureate in 1984, following the death of John Betjeman.
After graduating from Oxford in 1943 with a first in English language and literature, Larkin became a librarian. It was during the thirty years he served as university librarian at the Brynmor Jones Library at the University of Hull that he produced the greater part of his published work. His poems are marked by what Andrew Motion calls a very English, glum accuracy about emotions, places, and relationships, and what Donald Davie described as lowered sights and diminished expectations. Eric Homberger called him "the saddest heart in the post-war supermarket"—Larkin himself said that deprivation for him was what daffodils were for Wordsworth. Influenced by W. H. Auden, W. B. Yeats, and Thomas Hardy, his poems are highly structured but flexible verse forms. They were described by Jean Hartley, the ex-wife of Larkin's publisher George Hartley (The Marvell Press), as a "piquant mixture of lyricism and discontent", though anthologist Keith Tuma writes that there is more to Larkin's work than its reputation for dour pessimism suggests.
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Ray Winstone
Raymond Andrew "Ray" Winstone (born 19 February 1957) is an English film and television actor. He is mostly known for his "tough guy" and "geeza" roles, beginning with that of Carlin in the 1979 film Scum and as Will Scarlet in the cult television adventure series Robin of Sherwood. He has also become well known as a voice over actor. More recently he has branched out into film production. His film résumé includes Cold Mountain, Nil By Mouth, King Arthur, The Proposition, The Departed, Beowulf, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and Edge of Darkness.
Winstone was born in Hackney Hospital, Homerton, Hackney, London. His family was originally from Cirencester, Gloucestershire – half of them moving to London, the other half to Wales. Winstone moved via Plaistow to Enfield when he was seven, and grew up on a council estate just off the A10 road. His father, Raymond J. Winstone, ran a fruit and vegetable business (he is now a black cab driver), while his mother, Margaret (née Richardson), had a job emptying fruit machines. Winstone recalls playing with his friends on bomb sites until "Moors Murderers" Ian Brady and Myra Hindley were arrested for killing three children. Winstone joined Brimsdown Primary School and then he was educated at Edmonton County School, which had changed from a grammar school to a comprehensive upon his arrival. He also attended Corona Theatre School. He did not take to school, eventually leaving with a single CSE (Grade 2) in Drama.
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Reg Matthews
Reginald Derrick Matthews (20 December 1933 – 7 October 2001) was an English football goalkeeper.
In a playing career spanning almost 20 years, Matthews turned out for Coventry City, Chelsea and Derby County, making over 100 league appearances for each. He was selected to play for the Third Division South team against the North in 1955/56 and 1956/57.
He won five caps for the England national team, all of which came in 1956. He was the first Coventry-born footballer to be capped by England. Matthews is one of only five post-war players to be capped while playing for a Third Division club.
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Richard Keys
Richard Keys (born 23 April 1957 in Coventry) is an English radio presenter best known for his time with British sports channel Sky Sports from 1991 until 2011. In February 2011, Keys along with fellow Sky presenter, Andy Gray signed with talkSPORT. He is a Coventry City supporter.
In the mid to late 1980s, he co-presented TV-am, a breakfast show on the ITV network, with Anne Diamond. He also commentated on football matches for ITV and cycling for Channel 4. Keys was one of the presenters for The Sports Channel on British Satellite Broadcasting (BSB) in Spring 1990. When BSB merged with Sky in 1991, the channel was renamed Sky Sports. Keys presented TV-am for the final time on 28 December 1990 before he left for Sky Sports full time. In January 2011, Keys and his colleague Andy Gray were suspended for off-air sexist remarks they made about a female assistant referee; he resigned on 26 January, subsequent to Gray's dismissal.
Keys presented Sky Sports coverage of Premier League football since the league's inception in 1992. He was the presenter of the flagship Super Sunday and also presented Sky's Monday Night Football until Ian Payne took over in 2003, which coincided with Sky gaining rights for the UEFA Champions League. Sky broadcast their 1,000th Premier League game on 10 May 2007 with Keys fronting the majority of them. Taking into account all the other competitions, Keys had already clocked up a personal milestone of 1,000 games (558 Premiership fixtures, 134 FA Cup and 57 League Cup ties, 71 England internationals, 20 Scottish matches and 11 Charity Shields) back in 2002 and was given a Merit Award by the Premier League sponsor's Barclaycard in recognition.
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Robbie Keane
Robert David "Robbie" Keane (Irish: Roibeárd Ó Catháin; born 8 July 1980) is an Irish footballer who plays as a striker for Los Angeles Galaxy and captains the Republic of Ireland national football team.
Keane has scored 53 goals for his national side making him the all-time record Irish goalscorer, having become the first Irish player to score 50 international goals in June 2011. He is ranked the 25th highest international scorer in the world. Keane was Ireland's top scorer at the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Japan and South Korea, with three goals plus a converted penalty in the shoot-out with Spain. With 115 full caps, he is Ireland's second most capped player of all time and is a member of the FIFA Century Club. He is the eleventh highest goalscorer in the history of the Premier League with 125 goals (as of 21 January 2012), (Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink is tenth with 127) and is the ninth highest goalscorer in Tottenham Hotspur history.
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Rod Stewart
Roderick David "Rod" Stewart, CBE (born 10 January 1945) is a British singer-songwriter, born and raised in North London, England, and currently residing in Epping. He is of Scottish and English ancestry.
With his distinctive raspy singing voice, Stewart came to prominence in the late 1960s and early 1970s with The Jeff Beck Group and then Faces. He launched his solo career in 1969 with his debut album An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down (US: The Rod Stewart Album). His work with The Jeff Beck Group and Faces influenced heavy metal genres.
With his career in its fifth decade, Stewart has sold over 100 million records worldwide, making him one of the best selling artists of all time. In the UK, he has had six consecutive number one albums, and his tally of 62 hit singles include 31 that reached the top 10, six of which gained the number one position. He has had 16 top ten singles in the U.S, with four of these reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2008, Billboard magazine ranked him the 17th most successful artist on the "The Billboard Hot 100 Top All-Time Artists". He was voted at #33 in Q Magazine's list of the top 100 Greatest Singers of all time, and #59 on Rolling Stone 100 Greatest Singers of all time. As a solo artist, Stewart was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994, and was inducted a second time, as a member of Faces, in April 2012.
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Ron Atkinson
Ronald Ernest Atkinson, (born 18 March 1939) commonly known as "Big Ron" and (earlier in his managerial career) "Bojangles" is an English former football player and manager. In recent years he has become one of Britain's best-known football pundits. He is perhaps most famous for his idiosyncratic turn of phrase: his utterances have become known as "Big-Ronisms" or "Ronglish".
Ron Atkinson, who was born in Liverpool but moved to Birmingham a few weeks after his birth, did not achieve great heights in his playing career. He was originally signed by Aston Villa at the age of 17, but never played a first-team match for them. He still refers to then Villa coach Jimmy Hogan as his biggest influence.
He transferred to Oxford United (then called Headington United) in the close season of 1959 on a free transfer. There he played with his younger brother Graham Atkinson. He went on to make over 500 appearances in all competitions as a wing-half for the club, earning the nickname "The Tank", and scoring a total of 14 goals. He was United's captain through their rise from the Southern League to the Second Division, achieved in only six years from 1962 to 1968, an impressive achievement. He was the first ever footballer to captain a club from the Southern League through three divisions of the Football League.
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Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti (Arabic: صدام حسين عبد المجيد التكريتي Ṣaddām Ḥusayn ʿAbd al-Maǧīd al-Tikrītī; 28 April 1937 – 30 December 2006) was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003. A leading member of the revolutionary Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party, and later, the Baghdad-based Ba'ath Party and its regional organisation Ba'ath Party – Iraq Region, which espoused ba'athism, a mix of Arab nationalism and Arab socialism, Saddam played a key role in the 1968 coup, later referred to as the 17 July Revolution, that brought the party to long-term power of Iraq.
As vice president under the ailing General Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr, and at a time when many groups were considered capable of overthrowing the government, Saddam created security forces through which he tightly controlled conflict between the government and the armed forces. In the early 1970s, Saddam nationalized oil and other industries. The state-owned banks were put under his control, leaving the system eventually insolvent mostly due to the Iran–Iraq War, the Gulf War, and UN sanctions. Through the 1970s, Saddam cemented his authority over the apparatuses of government as oil money helped Iraq's economy to grow at a rapid pace. Positions of power in the country were filled with Sunnis, a minority that made up only a fifth of the population.
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Steve Beaton
Steve Beaton (born 5 April 1964 in Coventry, Warwickshire, England) is an English professional darts player for the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC). He won the British Darts Organisation (BDO) version of the World Professional Darts Championship in 1996.
Beaton is currently introduced in the PDC as The Bronzed Adonis, a nickname derived from his tanned appearance. His entrance music is Stayin Alive by The Bee Gees. Most recently, Beaton has taken part in a number of marathons in order to keep fit and raise money for charity and Beaton has been referred to as The Marathon Man as a result.
Beaton made his World Championship debut in 1992, at a time when the world darts championship was still a unified tournament. He lost in the first round to Chris Johns, but he was encouraged by his performance in the same tournament in 1993 when he achieved a huge upset win over the tournament favourite and former world champion, Dennis Priestley, and he also beat another former world champion in Bob Anderson, before losing in the semi-final to Alan Warriner. He turned professional later in 1993 at a time after the split, which saw the WDC players banned from all BDO tournaments - and Beaton went on to win the prestigious Winmau World Masters, beating Les Wallace in the final.
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Steve Ogrizovic
Steven "Steve" Ogrizovic, nicknamed Oggy (from Serbian: Огризовић, Ogrizović) (born 12 September 1957 in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire) is a former English professional footballer and current goalkeeping coach of Football League Championship side Coventry City.
As a player he was a goalkeeper from 1977 until 2000 and achieved fame during 16 years at Coventry City (1984 to 2000). He holds the record at Coventry for the most appearances as a player at 601 in all competitions (504 in the league) and he played in the winning FA Cup team of 1987. He also played for Chesterfield, Liverpool and Shrewsbury Town.
He started his professional career at Chesterfield before moving to Liverpool and then Shrewsbury Town before joining Coventry for £72,500 in 1984. He was also selected to play for the Football League vs The Rest Of The World at Wembley in 1987.
During the late 1980s and early 1990s, Ogrizovic was generally considered to be the best goalkeeper never to have won a full England cap. Although frequently considered for selection during this period by a number of England managers including Bobby Robson and Graham Taylor, he was never selected for the full squad. Pundits agree that this was not due to his lack of ability, more because he was representing a relatively unfashionable side at club level.
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Stuart Pearce
Stuart Pearce MBE (born 24 April 1962) is an English football manager and former player. He is currently manager of the England national under-21 team and most recently been made manager of the Great Britain Olympic football team. As a player, Pearce captained both the England national football team and Nottingham Forest, turning out 78 times for England between 1987 and 1999.
He retired as a player in 2002 while at Manchester City. He remained with the club as a coach under Kevin Keegan's managership until being promoted to the manager's job in 2005. He was manager of the club for two years before being dismissed. He is now full-time manager of the England U-21 team, a position he previously held part-time while still Manchester City manager.
Born in Shepherds Bush, London, Pearce first attended Fryent Primary School in Kingsbury, North West London before attending Claremont High School in Kenton. He failed a trial at Queens Park Rangers and then rejected an offer from Hull City, instead settling into a career in the non-league game with his local side, Wealdstone, while training and working as an electrician and plumber. For almost five years, he was the first choice full back for the team, then amongst the biggest names of non-league football in the Alliance Premier League.
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Terry Gibson
Terence Bradley "Terry" Gibson (born 23 December 1962 in Walthamstow) is an English former footballer who played as a forward for several clubs, including Tottenham Hotspur, Coventry City, Manchester United and Wimbledon.
Gibson was educated at Highams Park School in Highams Park, London. He started his career at Tottenham Hotspur, making his first team debut at the age of 17 years and 6 days, before moving to Coventry City in 1983. In 1981, he was loaned out to the Swedish team GAIS, who in that time played in the Swedish second division.
At Coventry, his impressive tally of 52 goals in just over 100 appearances (including a hat-trick in Coventry's famous 4-0 league win over Liverpool at Highfield Road in December 1983) earned him a high-profile transfer to Manchester United in January 1986. His arrival came when Mark Hughes was in the process of agreeing a transfer to FC Barcelona of Spain for the end of the season, and manager Ron Atkinson was looking to buy a new striker. However, with Hughes not leaving until the close season and his strike partner Frank Stapleton staying put, Gibson spent most of his time on the bench and his chances of first team action barely improved even when Hughes left as Atkinson had since signed striker Peter Davenport. The Reds had been top of the league when Gibson had joined them but a disappointing second half of the season sucked them down to fourth place, and Atkinson was sacked in early November following a terrible start to the 1986-87 season. His successor Alex Ferguson did not appear to want to keep Gibson at United, and with the arrival of Brian McClair in the 1987 close season Gibson was on his way out of Old Trafford after just 18 months.
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Terry Yorath
Terence Charles Yorath (born 27 March 1950 in Grangetown, Wales[citation needed]) is a former footballer and has been a manager at both club and international level. He is also the father of television presenter Gabby Logan.
He represented Leeds United, Coventry City, Tottenham Hotspur, Bradford City, Swansea City and the Welsh national team. He later became a football manager for Bradford City, Swansea City, Cardiff City and Sheffield Wednesday as well as assistant at Huddersfield Town, and also internationally managed Wales and Lebanon.
Yorath was an apprentice at Leeds United signing professional forms at the age of 17. Along with other Leeds midfield players of the time, such as Mick Bates and Terry Hibbitt, he found it difficult to establish himself ahead of Don Revie's preferred pairing of Billy Bremner and Johnny Giles. Between 1967 and 1972 he made just 14 League appearances for Leeds.
In the 1972–73 season, injuries and suspensions allowed Yorath to establish himself as a first team regular. However, his first season ended with two cup final runners-up medals; he was a substitute in the 1973 FA Cup Final, which Leeds lost 1–0 to Sunderland, and also appeared in the 1973 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Final, which Leeds lost in controversial circumstances to AC Milan.
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Tom Cartwright
Thomas William Cartwright MBE (22 July 1935 – 30 April 2007) was an English cricketer. He played in five Tests for England in 1964 and 1965. His withdrawal from the 1968-69 tour to South Africa, and replacement in the touring team by Basil D'Oliveira, precipitated the sporting isolation of South Africa until apartheid was abolished.
Cricket writer, Colin Bateman, stated, "Cartwright was an exceptional bowler whose talents could not find a niche in the England side, much to the discredit of the selectors. His high, flowing action off a few steady paces produced unnerring accuracy and nip for his rich assortment of seam and swing deliveries, but England looked usually for a first change bowler with extra pace".
Cartwright was born in Alderman's Green, Coventry, in a miner's cottage with no running water. He was the last of four children, with three older sisters. His Methodist father worked in the Riley car factory; his mother's father was a coal miner. He inherited strong socialist views from his parents, and a strong sense of personal integrity. He was educated at Foxford School, a secondary school in Coventry, and he captained his school and the Coventry's schools teams in football and cricket. He took trials as a right-winger at Aston Villa, but began working at the Rootes car factory.
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Tom Farndon
Tom Farndon (born 11 September 1910 Coventry, England died 30 August 1935), was a Speedway rider who won the Star Riders' Championship in 1933 whilst with the Crystal Palace Glaziers.
He started his career with Coventry, initially at the Lythalls Lane track and later with the club based at Brandon Stadium, before enjoying a spell with the Crystal Palace Glaziers. He moved to New Cross Lambs with Palace promoter Fred Mockford in 1934.
Farndon was the British Individual Match Race Champion and was undefeated from 1934 until his death in 1935.
Tom Farndon was killed after a crash on 28 August 1935 whilst racing at New Cross Rangers Stadium in a second half scratch race final. He was involved in a collision with team-mate Ron Johnson which hurled him through the air and saw him land head first on the track.
Tom died two days later in Miller General Hospital, Greenwich, without regaining consciousness.
Thousands lined the streets to see his funeral. An art deco memorial in the form of a motorbike racer, carved by local sculptor Richard Ormerod out of black granite stands at Tom's final resting place in St. Paul's Cemetery, Holbrook Lane, Coventry.
wn.com/Tom_Farndon -
Tom Mann
Tom Mann (1856–1941) was a noted British trade unionist. Largely self-educated, Mann became a successful organiser and a popular public speaker in the labour movement.
Mann was born on 15 April 1856 in Longford, now a suburb of Coventry, the son of a clerk who worked at a colliery. He attended school from the ages of six to nine, then began work doing odd jobs on the colliery farm. A year later he became a trapper, a labour-intensive job that involved clearing blockages from the narrow airways in the mining shafts. In 1870, the colliery was forced to close and the family moved to Birmingham. Mann soon found work as an engineering apprentice. He attended public meetings addressed by Annie Besant and John Bright, and this began his political awareness. He completed his apprenticeship in 1877 and moved to London, however he was unable to find work as an engineer and took a series of unskilled jobs.
In 1879, Mann found work in an engineering shop. Here he was introduced to socialism by the foreman, and decided to improve his own education. His reading included the works of William Morris, Henry George and John Ruskin. In 1881 he joined the Amalgamated Society of Engineers, and took part in his first strike. In 1884, he joined the Social Democratic Federation (SDF) in Battersea. Here he met John Burns and Henry Hyde Champion, who encouraged him to publish a pamphlet calling for the working day to be limited to eight hours. Mann formed an organisation, the Eight Hour League, which successfully pressured the Trades Union Congress to adopt the eight-hour day as a key goal.
wn.com/Tom_Mann -
Tommy Hutchison
Thomas "Tommy" Hutchison (born 22 September 1947 in Cardenden, Fife) is a Scottish former footballer.
Beginning his professional career with Alloa Athletic in the Scottish Second Division, being spotted by Archie McPherson. He showed enough potential and promise to attract the attention of larger clubs, and he joined Stan Mortensen's Blackpool in February 1968 for just over £10,000. Almost immediately, he took the place of Graham Oates at outside-left, making his debut against Plymouth on March 30 in the English Second Division. In the Blackpool team that day was long-term club stalwart and former England International, Jimmy Armfield.
The Scot was brought in to bolster the Seasiders' flagging promotion drive, and out of the final nine games of the 1967-68 season, they won eight. Promotion was missed on the final day, but 'Hutch' had been impressive throughout.
Les Shannon took over from Mortensen as manager, and in his first season achieved promotion to the First Division in 1970 - but it only lasted one season. When Bob Stokoe took over from Shannon in June 1971, he worked on Hutchison's crossing ability, believing it to be his only weak spot.
wn.com/Tommy_Hutchison -
Vince Hill
Vince Hill (born Vincent Hill, 16 April 1937, Holbrooks, Coventry, England) is an English traditional pop music singer, songwriter and record producer.
Hill first sang professionally in a public house called The Prospect in Margate, Kent, when he was fifteen years old. But the decision to become a full time musician came after he had worked as baker, truck driver, and coal miner.
When he called up for military service, Hill received the deciding trigger for a professional career. He went on to be a singer with the Royal Signals Band. After leaving the military service he toured with a musical called Floradora, and he then became a singer with the Teddy Foster's Band, a big band based in London.
At the beginning of the 1960s, he joined the critically acclaimed British vocal group, The Raindrops, which gave him his first opportunity to perform in television and radio shows, especially on the BBC radio show Parade Of The Pops. The Raindrops also had in its ranks Jackie Lee, Len Beadle and Johnny Worth. After leaving The Raindrops, Lee went on to record the popular singles "White Horses", and "Rupert", whilst Johnny Worth worked as a songwriter (under his pen-name, Les Vandyke he wrote many hits including the early successes of Eden Kane and Adam Faith). By late 1961 however, Hill left The Raindrops for a fledgling solo career.
wn.com/Vince_Hill -
Willie Carr
William McInanny Carr (born 6 January 1950 in Glasgow) is a former Scottish international footballer.
Carr was born in Glasgow but spent part of his formative teenage years in Cambridge, where his family relocated in 1963. He is famed for the donkey kick goal scored for Coventry City against Everton in October 1970, when he took a free kick by gripping the ball between his ankles and flicking it up for Ernie Hunt to volley home. The move gained widespread fame as the match was televised on Match of the Day, and moved the authorities to ban such a skill at the end of the season.
The midfielder had joined Coventry in 1967 as an apprentice and made his debut as a substitute against Arsenal that year. He remained at Highfield Road until 1975, scoring 37 goals in 292 games in all competitions for the Sky Blues. Along with Hunt and the likes of Neil Martin and Dennis Mortimer he was part of the Coventry side that achieved the club's highest ever league finish – sixth in 1970, meriting a place in the UEFA Cup the season after.
wn.com/Willie_Carr -
World War I
World War I (WWI), which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939 (World War II), and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918. It involved all the world's great powers, which were assembled in two opposing alliances: the Allies (based on the Triple Entente of the United Kingdom, France and Russia) and the Central Powers (originally centred around the Triple Alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy; but, as Austria–Hungary had taken the offensive against the agreement, Italy did not enter into the war). These alliances both reorganised (Italy fought for the Allies), and expanded as more nations entered the war. Ultimately more than 70 million military personnel, including 60 million Europeans, were mobilised in one of the largest wars in history. More than 9 million combatants were killed, largely because of enormous increases in lethality of weapons, thanks to new technology, without corresponding improvements in protection or mobility. It was the sixth-deadliest conflict in world history, subsequently paving the way for various political changes such as revolutions in the nations involved.
wn.com/World_War_I
a switchblade flashes on a coventry night
a kid lies there, he didn't want to fight
I didn't do it as he throws up his hands
but everyone knows where the blame is to land
we're always on the wrong side of whatever side there is
we're always on the wrong side of whatever side there is
the lights go down in coventry
meanwhile on the east side of town
we didn't know what was going down
the cops pulled us to the side of the road
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Bench clearance - Braehead Clan v Coventry Blaze January 29 2013
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 2:07
- Updated: 02 Feb 2013
There was an acrimonious end to a thrilling match between Braehead and Coventry. A late winner from the home side clearly hurt some Coventry players who wanted to throw punches rather than shake hands.
http://wn.com/Bench_clearance_Braehead_Clan_v_Coventry_Blaze_January_29_2013
There was an acrimonious end to a thrilling match between Braehead and Coventry. A late winner from the home side clearly hurt some Coventry players who wanted to throw punches rather than shake hands.
FLog Day 2 • I Can Talk for England & Meet Up in Coventry?
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 17:30
- Updated: 05 Feb 2013
VOTE FOR ME AS KING OF THE WEB HERE: kingofweb.com WHAT I AM WEARING (first outfit) Jumper: chicnova.com (tinyurl.com Shirt: ASOS Scarf: eBay (tinyurl.com Nail Polish: Vixen by Revlon: rstyle.me WHAT I AM WEARING (second outfit) Top: Topshop (rstyle.me Jeans: runwaybandits.com (tinyurl.com Scarf: eBay (tinyurl.com Nail Polish: Vixen by Revlon: rstyle.me OTHER LINKS Blog: www.fashionrocksmysocks.com Main Channel: www.youtube.com Twitter: twitter.com Instagram: @rhiannonashlee (instagram.com Facebook: www.facebook.com Tumblr: fashionrocksmysocks.tumblr.com
http://wn.com/FLog_Day_2_•_I_Can_Talk_for_England_Meet_Up_in_Coventry?
VOTE FOR ME AS KING OF THE WEB HERE: kingofweb.com WHAT I AM WEARING (first outfit) Jumper: chicnova.com (tinyurl.com Shirt: ASOS Scarf: eBay (tinyurl.com Nail Polish: Vixen by Revlon: rstyle.me WHAT I AM WEARING (second outfit) Top: Topshop (rstyle.me Jeans: runwaybandits.com (tinyurl.com Scarf: eBay (tinyurl.com Nail Polish: Vixen by Revlon: rstyle.me OTHER LINKS Blog: www.fashionrocksmysocks.com Main Channel: www.youtube.com Twitter: twitter.com Instagram: @rhiannonashlee (instagram.com Facebook: www.facebook.com Tumblr: fashionrocksmysocks.tumblr.com
- published: 03 Feb 2013
- views: 5620
- author: RhiannonAshleeExtra
Capital One Cup 2012/2013 - Arsenal v Coventry City
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 3:00
- Updated: 01 Feb 2013
I do not own this video "Fair Use" Emirates Stadium 26/9/2012 All copyright belongs to Arsenal pvt ltd co. Taken from Arsenal Player- Arsenal.com
http://wn.com/Capital_One_Cup_2012_2013_Arsenal_v_Coventry_City
I do not own this video "Fair Use" Emirates Stadium 26/9/2012 All copyright belongs to Arsenal pvt ltd co. Taken from Arsenal Player- Arsenal.com
- published: 27 Sep 2012
- views: 59985
- author: syahmietherattlehead
BEST Goalmouth Scramble EVER (Coventry vs Tranmere)
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 0:19
- Updated: 05 Feb 2013
More awesome football videos daily at www.facebook.com Play "Goal United", the most successful Online Football Manager bit.ly - Available in English, German, French & many more Try now, it's FREE!
http://wn.com/BEST_Goalmouth_Scramble_EVER_Coventry_vs_Tranmere
More awesome football videos daily at www.facebook.com Play "Goal United", the most successful Online Football Manager bit.ly - Available in English, German, French & many more Try now, it's FREE!
- published: 17 Jan 2013
- views: 26790
- author: FootballClips247
Arsenal Vs Coventry 6-1 All Goals & Highlights HD
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 12:59
- Updated: 20 Jan 2013
Arsenal Vs Coventry City 6-1 All Highlights And Goals 9-26-2012 arsenal-coventry city 6-1 arsenal 6-1 coventry coventry city vs arsenal 1-6 (It's not fake) Like & Subscribe !! Sorry for the voice ! All copyright belongs to Arsenal pvt ltd co Goals : 39' [1 - 0] O. Giroud 57' [2 - 0] A. Oxlade-Chamberlain 63' [3 - 0] A. Arshavin 73' [4 - 0] T. Walcott 78' [4 - 1] C. Ball 79' [5 - 1] I. Miquel 89' [6 - 1] T. Walcott i do not own the video !! Copyrated !
http://wn.com/Arsenal_Vs_Coventry_6-1_All_Goals_Highlights_HD
Arsenal Vs Coventry City 6-1 All Highlights And Goals 9-26-2012 arsenal-coventry city 6-1 arsenal 6-1 coventry coventry city vs arsenal 1-6 (It's not fake) Like & Subscribe !! Sorry for the voice ! All copyright belongs to Arsenal pvt ltd co Goals : 39' [1 - 0] O. Giroud 57' [2 - 0] A. Oxlade-Chamberlain 63' [3 - 0] A. Arshavin 73' [4 - 0] T. Walcott 78' [4 - 1] C. Ball 79' [5 - 1] I. Miquel 89' [6 - 1] T. Walcott i do not own the video !! Copyrated !
- published: 27 Sep 2012
- views: 25211
- author: TheMARTINFCC
[FULL HD] Olivier Giroud GOAL!!! Arsenal vs Coventry City 1st half 26/9/2012
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 1:16
- Updated: 03 Feb 2013
goto www.mediafire.com to download Full match! I hope you enjoy it! First Goal for Arsenal From Olivier Giroud!!! [FULL HD] Olivier Giroud GOAL!!! Arsenal vs Coventry City 1st half 26/9/2012 Highlight.
http://wn.com/_FULL_HD_Olivier_Giroud_GOAL!!!_Arsenal_vs_Coventry_City_1st_half_26_9_2012
goto www.mediafire.com to download Full match! I hope you enjoy it! First Goal for Arsenal From Olivier Giroud!!! [FULL HD] Olivier Giroud GOAL!!! Arsenal vs Coventry City 1st half 26/9/2012 Highlight.
- published: 29 Sep 2012
- views: 27753
- author: Tuấn Nguyễn Quang
Alison Moyet Coventry Carol
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 3:25
- Updated: 02 Feb 2013
From www.ChristmasSongsArchive.org this is a beautiful version of "Coventry Carol" by Alison Moyet
http://wn.com/Alison_Moyet_Coventry_Carol
From www.ChristmasSongsArchive.org this is a beautiful version of "Coventry Carol" by Alison Moyet
- published: 29 Nov 2010
- views: 33680
- author: peel4me
Braehead Clan v Coventry Blaze 29 January 2013
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 5:29
- Updated: 02 Feb 2013
Braehead won a place in the semi finals of the Challenge Cup with a last gasp victory over Coventry Blaze. The away side took an early two-goal lead but Clan fought back and scored two late goals to win the match 4-3. Blaze were clearly unhappy and a bench clearance at the end of the game showed how much the match meant to both sides.
http://wn.com/Braehead_Clan_v_Coventry_Blaze_29_January_2013
Braehead won a place in the semi finals of the Challenge Cup with a last gasp victory over Coventry Blaze. The away side took an early two-goal lead but Clan fought back and scored two late goals to win the match 4-3. Blaze were clearly unhappy and a bench clearance at the end of the game showed how much the match meant to both sides.
- published: 30 Jan 2013
- views: 5545
- author: BraeheadClan
Tangerine Dream at Coventry Cathedral. 3D.
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 27:40
- Updated: 04 Feb 2013
Tangerine Dream at Coventry Cathedral. 1975. UK Ricochet. 3 Genious: Edgar Froese, Chris Franke, Peter Baumann. The Best Era. For more information about TD's music visit the Official Website: www.tangerinedream-music.com
http://wn.com/Tangerine_Dream_at_Coventry_Cathedral_3D
Tangerine Dream at Coventry Cathedral. 1975. UK Ricochet. 3 Genious: Edgar Froese, Chris Franke, Peter Baumann. The Best Era. For more information about TD's music visit the Official Website: www.tangerinedream-music.com
- published: 19 Mar 2012
- views: 21034
- author: goblindigital2
The Coventry Carol - Mediaeval Baebes
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 5:55
- Updated: 03 Feb 2013
Song: The Coventry Carol Artist: Mediaeval Baebes Song Number: 7 Album: Salva Nos I DO NOT OWN MUSIC, PHOTO OR VIDEO
http://wn.com/The_Coventry_Carol_Mediaeval_Baebes
Song: The Coventry Carol Artist: Mediaeval Baebes Song Number: 7 Album: Salva Nos I DO NOT OWN MUSIC, PHOTO OR VIDEO
- published: 04 Jun 2010
- views: 17704
- author: gingerdots
Robert Shaw Chamber Singers: Coventry Carol
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 2:57
- Updated: 01 Jan 2013
Optimal Sound when viewed in High Quality ( &fmt;=18 )... Robert Shaw conducts the Robert Shaw Chamber Singers on July 23-24, 1993. The Chamber Singers and Shaw's Festival Singers were, (at the time when Robert Shaw was alive), arguably the best adult choirs in the world. The blend, along with the overall musicianship, was absolutely incredible: the Bass section was the true foundation of the Singers, with the rest of the sections Tuning to them; the Sopranos would resort to singing Vowels Only during high notes, (they would drop the beginning consonants of the words, thereby achieving uniform-shaped vowels with the rest of the Choir), letting the lower sections carry the whole words; the Altos and Tenors never "over-sang" their parts. I could go on-and-on with compliments about these most superior Choirs in the world! Thank You for listening!
http://wn.com/Robert_Shaw_Chamber_Singers_Coventry_Carol
Optimal Sound when viewed in High Quality ( &fmt;=18 )... Robert Shaw conducts the Robert Shaw Chamber Singers on July 23-24, 1993. The Chamber Singers and Shaw's Festival Singers were, (at the time when Robert Shaw was alive), arguably the best adult choirs in the world. The blend, along with the overall musicianship, was absolutely incredible: the Bass section was the true foundation of the Singers, with the rest of the sections Tuning to them; the Sopranos would resort to singing Vowels Only during high notes, (they would drop the beginning consonants of the words, thereby achieving uniform-shaped vowels with the rest of the Choir), letting the lower sections carry the whole words; the Altos and Tenors never "over-sang" their parts. I could go on-and-on with compliments about these most superior Choirs in the world! Thank You for listening!
- published: 06 Dec 2008
- views: 52900
- author: csheff1014
Coventry City v Derby Protests - Crowd Trouble
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 6:20
- Updated: 05 Feb 2013
Footage of the sporadic outbreaks of violence at the Coventry v Derby game that followed attempts to eject and remove banners from people protesting against club owners SISU (reason later given was that the banners were a "fire hazard"). The fan targeted by the police (for no obvious reason it seems) has since been issued a 3 year banning order. The real antagonists I'd suggest were the stewards, and the police only intervened when things had started to get heated. I'll leave it up to you to make your mind up about what followed. This is Sky TV footage which has also been reproduced by the Coventry Telegraph. Not attempting to glorify anything by posting this - merely trying to make people aware of the incident and also the overall plight of our football club.
http://wn.com/Coventry_City_v_Derby_Protests_Crowd_Trouble
Footage of the sporadic outbreaks of violence at the Coventry v Derby game that followed attempts to eject and remove banners from people protesting against club owners SISU (reason later given was that the banners were a "fire hazard"). The fan targeted by the police (for no obvious reason it seems) has since been issued a 3 year banning order. The real antagonists I'd suggest were the stewards, and the police only intervened when things had started to get heated. I'll leave it up to you to make your mind up about what followed. This is Sky TV footage which has also been reproduced by the Coventry Telegraph. Not attempting to glorify anything by posting this - merely trying to make people aware of the incident and also the overall plight of our football club.
- published: 11 Dec 2011
- views: 124162
- author: covlad87
Coventry Carol
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 2:56
- Updated: 31 Jan 2013
The Coventry Carol Lully, lullay, Thou little tiny Child, By, by, lully, lullay. Lullay, thou little tiny Child, By, by, lully, lullay. O sisters too, how may we do, For to preserve this day This poor youngling for whom we do sing By, by, lully, lullay. Herod, the king, in his raging, Charged he hath this day His men of might, in his own sight, All children young to slay. Then, woe is me, poor Child for Thee! And ever mourn and sigh For thy parting neither say nor sing, By, by, lully, lullay.
http://wn.com/Coventry_Carol
The Coventry Carol Lully, lullay, Thou little tiny Child, By, by, lully, lullay. Lullay, thou little tiny Child, By, by, lully, lullay. O sisters too, how may we do, For to preserve this day This poor youngling for whom we do sing By, by, lully, lullay. Herod, the king, in his raging, Charged he hath this day His men of might, in his own sight, All children young to slay. Then, woe is me, poor Child for Thee! And ever mourn and sigh For thy parting neither say nor sing, By, by, lully, lullay.
- published: 20 Dec 2008
- views: 87213
- author: DVIchannel
Coventry Free Kick 1970
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 0:39
- Updated: 01 Feb 2013
Coventry City score a rather unique free kick goal against Everton in 1970.
http://wn.com/Coventry_Free_Kick_1970
Coventry City score a rather unique free kick goal against Everton in 1970.
- published: 30 May 2006
- views: 637744
- author: empj83
Sent To Coventry Part 2
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 5:09
- Updated: 05 Feb 2013
A little bit about me... and what it would be like if i was on tv
http://wn.com/Sent_To_Coventry_Part_2
A little bit about me... and what it would be like if i was on tv
- published: 05 Feb 2013
- views: 2
- author: Tee Cee
Lights On ! Charlie Brown - Coldplay live at Coventry Ricoh Arena 29th May 2012
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 4:32
- Updated: 05 Feb 2013
Awesome!!!!! This is the first time the Xylobands came on in the dark - it was amazing to feel part of the light show!
http://wn.com/Lights_On_!_Charlie_Brown_Coldplay_live_at_Coventry_Ricoh_Arena_29th_May_2012
Awesome!!!!! This is the first time the Xylobands came on in the dark - it was amazing to feel part of the light show!
- published: 30 May 2012
- views: 129018
- author: TheLiddlers
Coventry Carol - Westminster Cathedral Choir
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 3:35
- Updated: 02 Feb 2013
The traditional Christmas carol "Coventry Carol" sung by the choir of Westminster Cathedral. The "Coventry Carol" is a Christmas carol dating from the 16th Century. The carol was performed in Coventry as part of a mystery play called The Pageant of the Shearmen and Tailors. The play depicts the Christmas story from chapter two in the Gospel of Matthew. The carol refers to the Massacre of the Innocents, in which Herod orders all male infants under the age of two in Bethlehem to be killed. The lyrics of this haunting carol represent a mother's lament for her doomed child. It is the only carol that has survived from this play. Wikipedia.
http://wn.com/Coventry_Carol_Westminster_Cathedral_Choir
The traditional Christmas carol "Coventry Carol" sung by the choir of Westminster Cathedral. The "Coventry Carol" is a Christmas carol dating from the 16th Century. The carol was performed in Coventry as part of a mystery play called The Pageant of the Shearmen and Tailors. The play depicts the Christmas story from chapter two in the Gospel of Matthew. The carol refers to the Massacre of the Innocents, in which Herod orders all male infants under the age of two in Bethlehem to be killed. The lyrics of this haunting carol represent a mother's lament for her doomed child. It is the only carol that has survived from this play. Wikipedia.
- published: 15 Jan 2009
- views: 226295
- author: drwestbury
Coventry- Chartered- Accountant -Accountants-Coventry- http://coventrycharteredaccountants.co.uk
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 1:16
- Updated: 04 Feb 2013
coventrycharteredaccountants.co.uk Coventry Accountant. Looking for a Chartered Accountant in Coventry? Preparing your Accounts in the Coventry Area can be confusing and time consuming. We have been helping individuals and businesses in the Coventry area prepare their Accounts for years, including, Payroll, Vat, Tax, Book Keeping and Business Planning. Take the burden off of your shoulders and let us do the work for you. Keeping up with the latest tax laws and learning all of the areas in which you or your business can benefit from them can be difficult. Our job at Coventry Accountant is to get you the best possible return on your Accounts. If you have any questions about Accounts preparation Coventry please don't hesitate to call us. One of our Accountant professionals is ready to serve you. coventrycharteredaccountants.co.uk
http://wn.com/Coventry_Chartered_Accountant_-Accountants-Coventry_http_coventrycharteredaccountantscouk
coventrycharteredaccountants.co.uk Coventry Accountant. Looking for a Chartered Accountant in Coventry? Preparing your Accounts in the Coventry Area can be confusing and time consuming. We have been helping individuals and businesses in the Coventry area prepare their Accounts for years, including, Payroll, Vat, Tax, Book Keeping and Business Planning. Take the burden off of your shoulders and let us do the work for you. Keeping up with the latest tax laws and learning all of the areas in which you or your business can benefit from them can be difficult. Our job at Coventry Accountant is to get you the best possible return on your Accounts. If you have any questions about Accounts preparation Coventry please don't hesitate to call us. One of our Accountant professionals is ready to serve you. coventrycharteredaccountants.co.uk
- published: 18 Jan 2013
- views: 15
- author: sandra rees
Football Manager 2013 | The Coventry City Series - Episode Seventeen
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 20:26
- Updated: 04 Feb 2013
Alright lads, back again with another episode of the Coventry City series and this time we look back and yet another month in the Championship which is then followed up by a live com with Sheffield Wed. Follow me on twitter ~ twitter.com Add me on skype ~ quadropheniasmz Add me on steam - quadrophenia
http://wn.com/Football_Manager_2013_|_The_Coventry_City_Series_Episode_Seventeen
Alright lads, back again with another episode of the Coventry City series and this time we look back and yet another month in the Championship which is then followed up by a live com with Sheffield Wed. Follow me on twitter ~ twitter.com Add me on skype ~ quadropheniasmz Add me on steam - quadrophenia
- published: 04 Feb 2013
- views: 3
- author: PaperRosesSMz
Trailer for the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry's play Marriage by Gogol
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 2:57
- Updated: 05 Feb 2013
This is a short trailer for the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry's production of Nikolai Gogol's Marriage. This new version has been written by Laurie Slade and directed by Hamish Glen. It runs in the Belgrade's B2 auditorium from 2 - 23 Feb 2013. This trailer features clips from the play and interviews with Hamish Glen and cast members, Mark Fleischmann, Janine Mellor and John Hopkins. For further details about the production visit www.belgrade.co.uk
http://wn.com/Trailer_for_the_Belgrade_Theatre,_Coventry's_play_Marriage_by_Gogol
This is a short trailer for the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry's production of Nikolai Gogol's Marriage. This new version has been written by Laurie Slade and directed by Hamish Glen. It runs in the Belgrade's B2 auditorium from 2 - 23 Feb 2013. This trailer features clips from the play and interviews with Hamish Glen and cast members, Mark Fleischmann, Janine Mellor and John Hopkins. For further details about the production visit www.belgrade.co.uk
- published: 05 Feb 2013
- views: 1
- author: belgradetheatre
Coventry V Liverpool 10/12/1983 @ Highfield Road
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 10:00
- Updated: 21 Jan 2013
Memorable game where the Sky Blues won 4-0 against Liverpool - a hatrick by Terry Gibson and the other goal by Nicky Platnauer. Manager was Bobby Gould. Attendance was 20586
http://wn.com/Coventry_V_Liverpool_10_12_1983_@_Highfield_Road
Memorable game where the Sky Blues won 4-0 against Liverpool - a hatrick by Terry Gibson and the other goal by Nicky Platnauer. Manager was Bobby Gould. Attendance was 20586
- published: 04 Apr 2007
- views: 18297
- author: Dean Lander
Sting: Coventry carol. (12/14) Live from Durham Cathedral 2009
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 3:02
- Updated: 05 Feb 2013
"If on a winter's night". Live from Durham Cathedral 2009 Sting - the best song interpreter ever! The hole concert: www.youtube.com
http://wn.com/Sting_Coventry_carol_12_14_Live_from_Durham_Cathedral_2009
"If on a winter's night". Live from Durham Cathedral 2009 Sting - the best song interpreter ever! The hole concert: www.youtube.com
- published: 22 Dec 2010
- views: 42523
- author: popkantor
Gabbie and Dannys Adventures: EP 1 - Journey Back From Coventry.
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 4:58
- Updated: 05 Feb 2013
Episode One: Danny and Gabbie travel back from visiting our lovely friend in Coventry and deiced to make the most of the journey. Sorry for the bad lighting we are still learning and realising that driving in the dark is not the best time to record videos. Danny and Gabbie are two friends with great banter - who enjoy each other company. We are hoping to bring out more videos of our adventures so please subscribe for more. Cheers
http://wn.com/Gabbie_and_Dannys_Adventures_EP_1_Journey_Back_From_Coventry
Episode One: Danny and Gabbie travel back from visiting our lovely friend in Coventry and deiced to make the most of the journey. Sorry for the bad lighting we are still learning and realising that driving in the dark is not the best time to record videos. Danny and Gabbie are two friends with great banter - who enjoy each other company. We are hoping to bring out more videos of our adventures so please subscribe for more. Cheers
- published: 21 Jan 2013
- views: 26
- author: gabriellex0x
photo: AP / Vahid Salemi
05 Feb 2013
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has arrived in Cairo, marking the first visit to Egypt by an Iranian president since Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution. Ahmadinejad flew into the capital, Cairo, to attend a summit of the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation (OIC), which begins on Wednesday. Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi kissed the Iranian leader as he got off the plane on Tuesday ... "My wish is bigger than this ... Iran does not recognise Israel ... ....(size: 17.9Kb)
photo: AP / Jerome Delay
04 Feb 2013
French warplanes have carried out air strikes in Mali's far north as they try to secure the final rebel stronghold of Kidal after a three-week offensive. Thirty jets targeted Islamist militants' training and communication centres around Tessalit - a mountainous area near the Algerian border. French President Francois Hollande has pledged to help rebuild Mali after the rebels who seized its north are beaten ... ....(size: 2.7Kb)
photo: AP / SANA
04 Feb 2013
Tweet. London, Feb. 4 (ANI). Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has accused Israel of trying to 'destabilise' his country. Assad's comments came as he claimed that last week's airstrike showed the Jewish state was behind the revolution seeking to overthrow his regime ... Assad insisted however, that his country could still meet 'current threats and aggression' ... (ANI) ... Israel ... ... ) .. ). ... . . . . . .. . . .. ....(size: 3.0Kb)
photo: UN / John Isaac
04 Feb 2013
About 800,000 people died during the 1994 Rwandan genocide. ....(size: 0.5Kb)
photo: US Navy / MCS2 Matthew D. Leistikow
03 Feb 2013
At least 33 people were killed on Sunday after a suicide bomber and two gunmen attacked a police headquarters in Kirkuk, northern Iraq, official sources said, the third major attack in the region in several weeks. By News Wires (text). . A suicide bomber driving a car and gunmen disguised in police uniforms killed at least 33 people in the Iraqi city Kirkuk on Sunday when they tried to storm the police headquarters ... (REUTERS). IRAQ....(size: 8.5Kb)
The Guardian
06 Feb 2013
By Matt Scuffham. LONDON (Reuters) - Royal Bank of Scotland will be punished on Wednesday for its role in a global interest rate rigging scandal, with fines of between 400-500 million pounds ($783 million) expected ... Reports have said it could also face criminal charges ... RBS will be the third bank to settle with regulators investigating the affair ... Business ... Provider AER Coventry BS 2% More Newcastle BS 2% More Virgin Money 2% More....(size: 14.8Kb)
Huffington Post
06 Feb 2013
Fictitious friends and games of make-believe may be allowed on the playground at one Colorado elementary school, but imaginary weapons certainly are not ... "Honestly I don’t think the rule is very realistic for kids this age," Evans' mother, Mandie Watkins, told KDVR ... Also on HuffPost ... Ben Forrer outside Sita UK, a scrap yard in Coventry, today, 25, 2012 ... Ben Forrer looked on in horror as a Coventry scrapyard crushed his van by mistake ... 9k....(size: 22.3Kb)
noodls
05 Feb 2013
Coventry City Football Club Ltd) ... Coventry City welcome Crewe Alexandra to the Ricoh Arena for the first leg of the Johnstone Paint Trophy Area Final ... Coventry has only played Crewe 19 times since 1925, and City has won nine of them ... Coventry's most famous win over Crewe came in 2002 when Lee Hughes scored a hat-trick in a 6-1 win at Gresty Road. ... 01/09/2012 Crewe 1-0 Coventry City League One ... 08/01/2005 Coventry 3-0 Crewe FA Cup....(size: 7.0Kb)
noodls
05 Feb 2013
(Source. Coventry City Football Club Ltd) Tue 05 Feb 2013. Author. Kieran Crowley ... distributed by. This noodl was issued by Coventry City Football Club Ltd. and was initially posted at www.ccfc.co.uk ... (noodl. 17445424) ....(size: 1.6Kb)
noodls
05 Feb 2013
Coventry City Football Club Ltd). Coventry City boss Mark Robins has kept an unchanged side for the game against Crewe.. Coventry City boss Mark Robins has named an unchanged side for the first leg of the Johnstone Paint Trophy Area final ... Coventry City ... This noodl was issued by Coventry City Football Club Ltd....(size: 2.1Kb)
noodls
05 Feb 2013
Coventry City Football Club Ltd). COVENTRY City host Swindon Town at 3pm at the Ricoh Arena on Saturday, March 2nd and you can enjoy a superb luxury day out with the Sky Blues on our annual legends day!. The CCFC hospitality team have put together a fantastic hospitality package so Coventry fans can enjoy a luxury ......(size: 2.1Kb)
noodls
05 Feb 2013
Coventry City Football Club Ltd) ... Coventry fan, Carlisle manager and previous JPT winner Greg Abbott speaks exclusively to PUSB about the game while Graeme Hawley gives his view from the terraces. "Well I will tell you something," he writes, "we've got a great team here now, and some of the best supporters in the land and tonight we are going to prove to everyone, especially ourselves, that Coventry City are back."....(size: 3.3Kb)
noodls
05 Feb 2013
(Source. Coventry City Football Club Ltd). Coventry City captain Carl Baker believes leading the team out at a sell-out Ricoh Arena will be his 'proudest moment.' ... Coventry are set to break the record for the highest attendance at a Johnstone Paint Trophy fixture outside of Wembley, having sold out last week ... Baker said ... Baker continued ... distributed by. This noodl was issued by Coventry City Football Club Ltd ... (noodl. 17438390) ....(size: 3.5Kb)
noodls
05 Feb 2013
(Source. Coventry City Football Club Ltd). Coventry City fans are being urged to arrive early for tonight's Johnstone's Paint Trophy Area Final against Crewe Alexandra ... The doors at the Ricoh Arena open at 6pm with Sky Blue Sam entertaining the crowd early on by giving away football's in the crowd ... Ticketing manager Dan Walker said ... This noodl was issued by Coventry City Football Club Ltd ... (noodl....(size: 2.8Kb)
noodls
05 Feb 2013
Coventry University) ... Coventry University is set to showcase its expertise later this week as Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal formally opens its £55 million engineering and computing facility on campus ... Paul Ivey, dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Computing at Coventry University, said. ... This noodl was issued by Coventry University and was initially posted at www.coventry.ac.uk....(size: 5.4Kb)
The Daily Mail
05 Feb 2013
noodls
05 Feb 2013
(Source. Coventry City Football Club Ltd). It was a night of missed chances for the Sky Blues at a packed Ricoh Arena as they left themselves with a mammoth task in order to reach Wembley after a 3-0 Johnstone's Paint Trophy Area Final first-leg defeat to Crewe Alexandra ... Attendance. 31,054 (1,472 away). Teams. Coventry City ... Subs. Dunn (GK), J Clarke, Thomas. Crewe Alexandra ... Subs ... This noodl was issued by Coventry City Football Club Ltd....(size: 9.6Kb)
BBC News
05 Feb 2013
Scotland are the fifth side the 55-year-old has managed, following stints at Coventry City, Southampton, Celtic and Middlesbrough ... Coventry City 0-1 Gillingham (November 1996). Premier League side Coventry handed managerial duties to Strachan after Ron Atkinson became director of football at Highfield Road. Strachan started as player-manager of Coventry City....(size: 7.1Kb)
For other uses, see Coventry (disambiguation).
| City of Coventry | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| — City & Metropolitan borough — | |||
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| Coordinates: 52°24′29″N 1°30′38″W / 52.40806°N 1.51056°W / 52.40806; -1.51056 | |||
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom  |
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| Constituent country | England  |
||
| Region | West Midlands | ||
| Ceremonial county | West Midlands | ||
| Admin HQ | Coventry city centre | ||
| Founded | 1043 | ||
| Founder | Leofric, Earl of Mercia | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | Metropolitan borough | ||
| • Governing body | Coventry City Council | ||
| • Executive: | Labour | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 98.64 km2 (38.09 sq mi) | ||
| Population (2006 est) | |||
| • Total | 315,700 (Ranked 19th) | ||
| • Density | 3,108/km2 (8,050/sq mi) | ||
| • LUZ | 651,000 | ||
| Time zone | Greenwich Mean Time (UTC+0) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | British Summer Time (UTC+1) | ||
| Postcode | CV | ||
| Area code(s) | 024 | ||
| ISO 3166-2 | GB-COV | ||
| ONS code | 00CQ | ||
| OS grid reference | SP335785 | ||
| NUTS 3 | UKG33 | ||
| Ethnicity (2009 Est.[1]) |
79.2% White 12.3% South Asian 3.1% Black British 2.4% Mixed Race 3.0% East Asian and Other |
||
| Website | Coventry | ||
Coventry (i/ˈkɒvəntri/)[2] is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom.[3] It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848,[4] although Stoke-on-Trent, Leicester and Nottingham have larger urban areas. The population of Coventry had risen to 315,800 as of 2010, according to the Office of National Statistics.
Historically within Warwickshire, Coventry is situated 95 miles (153 km) northwest of central London and 19 miles (31 km) east-southeast of Birmingham, and is further from the coast than any other city in Britain. Although harbouring a population of almost a third of a million inhabitants, Coventry is not amongst the English Core Cities Group due to its proximity to Birmingham.
Coventry was the world's first twin city when it formed a twinning relationship with the Russian city of Stalingrad (now Volgograd) during World War II. The relationship developed through ordinary people in Coventry who wanted to show their support for the Soviet Red Army during the Battle of Stalingrad.[5] The city is now also twinned with Dresden, Lidice and 23 other cities around the world.[6]
Coventry Cathedral is one of the newer cathedrals in the world, having been built following the World War II bombing of the ancient cathedral by the Luftwaffe. Coventry motor companies have contributed significantly to the British motor industry, and it has two universities, the city centre-based Coventry University and the University of Warwick on the southern outskirts.
History[link]
Main article: History of Coventry
Coventry is an ancient city which predates many of the large cities around it including Birmingham and Leicester. It is likely that Coventry grew from a settlement of the Bronze Age near the present-day city centre where Coventry's bowl shape and, at that time large flowing river and lakes, created the ideal settlement area, with mild weather and thick woods: food, water and shelter would have been easily provided. The people of the Coventry area may have been the Corieltauvi, a largely agricultural people who had few strongly defended sites and signs of centralised government.[citation needed]
The Romans settling in Baginton founded another settlement and another formed around a Saxon nunnery, founded ca. AD 700 by St Osburga,[7] that was later left in ruins by King Canute's invading Danish army in 1016. Leofric, Earl of Mercia and his wife Lady Godiva built on the remains of the nunnery and founded a Benedictine monastery in 1043 dedicated to St Mary.[8][9] In time, a market was established at the abbey gates and the settlement expanded.
By the 14th century, Coventry had become an important centre of the cloth trade, and throughout the Middle Ages was one of the largest and most important cities in England. The bishops of Lichfield were often referred to as bishops of Coventry and Lichfield, or Lichfield and Coventry (from 1102 to 1541). Coventry claimed the status of a city by ancient prescriptive usage, was granted a charter of incorporation in 1345, and in 1451 became a county in its own right.[10][11]
Hostile attitudes of the cityfolk towards Royalist prisoners held in Coventry during the English Civil War are believed[citation needed] to have been the origin of the phrase "to be sent to Coventry", which in Britain means "to be ostracised"; although their physical needs were catered for, the Royalist prisoners were literally never spoken to by anybody[citation needed].
In the 18th and 19th centuries, Coventry became one of the three main British centres of watch and clock manufacture and ranked alongside Prescot, near Liverpool and Clerkenwell in London.[12][13] As the industry declined, due mainly to competition from Swiss made clock and watch manufacturers, the skilled pool of workers proved crucial to the setting up of bicycle manufacture and eventually the motorbike, car, machine tool and aircraft industries.
In the late 19th century, Coventry became a major centre of bicycle manufacture. The industry being energised by the invention by James Starley and his nephew John Kemp Starley of the Rover Safety Bicycle, which was much safer and more popular than the pioneering Penny Farthing. The company later became Rover. By the early 20th century, bicycle manufacture had evolved into motor manufacture, and Coventry became a major centre of the British motor industry. The design headquarters of Jaguar Cars is still in the city at their Whitley plant and although they ceased vehicle assembly at their Browns Lane plant in 2004, their head office has returned to the city in 2011, and is sited at their Whitley Plant. However Tata Motors from India owns Jaguar now.
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Coventry became home to one of Britain's first local ambulance services in 1902. The local entertainment business received a boost in 1910 when the city's first cinema opened. Public transport was enhanced in 1914 when motorbuses took to local roads.
With many of the city's older properties becoming increasingly unfit for habitation, the first council houses were let to their tenants in 1917. With Coventry's industrial base continuing to soar after the end of World War I a year later, numerous private and council housing developments took place across the city in the 1920s and 1930s. The development of a southern by-pass around the city, starting in the 1930s and being completed in 1940, helped deliver more urban areas to the city on previously rural land.
Coventry suffered severe bomb damage during World War II, most notoriously from a massive Luftwaffe air raid known as the "Coventry Blitz" on 14 November 1940. Firebombing on this date led to severe damage to large areas of the city centre and to Coventry's historic cathedral, leaving only a shell and the spire. More than 4,000 houses were damaged or destroyed, along with around three-quarters of the city's industrial plants. More than 800 people were killed, with thousands injured and homeless. The Germans coined the term "Coventrate" to describe the tactics of complete urban devastation developed for the raid.[14]
Aside from London, Hull and Plymouth, Coventry suffered more damage than any other British city during the Luftwaffe attacks, with huge firestorms devastating most of the city centre. The city was probably targeted due to its high concentration of armaments, munitions, aircraft and aero-engine plants which contributed greatly to the British war effort, although there have been claims that Hitler launched the attack as revenge for the bombing of Munich by the RAF six days before the Coventry Blitz and chose the Midlands city because its medieval heart was regarded as one of the finest in Britain. Following the raids, the majority of Coventry's historic buildings could not be saved as they were in ruinous states or were deemed unsafe for any future use, although several were later demolished simply to make way for modern developments which saw the city centre's buildings and road infrastructure almost completely altered by 1970.
Further housing developments in the private and public sector took place after World War II, partly to accommodate the growing population of the city and also to replace condemned and bomb damaged properties.
In the postwar years Coventry was largely rebuilt under the general direction of the Gibson Plan, gaining a new pedestrianised shopping precinct (the first of its kind in Europe on such a scale) and in 1962 Sir Basil Spence's much-celebrated new St Michael's Cathedral (incorporating one of the world's largest tapestries) was consecrated. Its prefabricated steel spire (flèche) was lowered into place by helicopter. In 1967, the Eagle Street Mosque opened as Coventry's first mosque.
Major expansion to Coventry had taken place previously, in the 1920s and 1930s, to provide housing for the large influx of workers who came to work in the city's booming factories. The areas which were expanded or created in this development included Radford, Coundon, Canley, Cheylesmore and Stoke Heath.
Coventry's motor industry boomed during the 1950s and 1960s and Coventry enjoyed a 'golden age'. During this period the disposable income of Coventrians was one of the highest in the country and both the sports and the arts benefited. A new sports centre, with one of the few Olympic standard swimming pools in the UK, was constructed and Coventry City Football Club reached the First Division of English Football. The Belgrade Theatre was also constructed along with the Herbert Art Gallery. Coventry's pedestrianised Precinct shopping area came into its own and was considered one of the finest retail experiences outside of London. In 1965 the new University of Warwick campus was opened to students, and rapidly became one of the country's leading higher-education institutions.
Coventry's large industrial base made it attractive to the wave of Asian and Caribbean immigrants who arrived from Commonwealth colonies after 1948. In 1960, one of Britain's first mosques – and the very first in Coventry – was opened on Eagle Street to serve the city's growing Islamic community.[15] The 1970s, however, saw a decline in the British motor industry and Coventry suffered particularly badly. Coal mining at the city's Keresley colliery also ceased during this period. By the early 1980s, Coventry had one of the highest unemployment rates in the country and crime rates rose well above the national average.[citation needed] Some 30 years later, Coventry is now considered as one of the UK's safer major cities and has gradually recovered economically with newer industries locating there, although the motor industry continues to decline. By 2008, only one motor manufacturing plant was operational, that of LTI Ltd, producing the popular TX4 taxi cabs. On 17 March 2010 LTI announced they would no longer be producing bodies and chassis in Coventry, instead producing them in China and shipping them in for assembly in Coventry.[16]
On the sporting scene, Coventry Rugby Football Club was consistently among the nation's leading rugby football sides from the early 20th century, peaking in the 1970s and 1980s with a host of major honours and international players. [17] Association football, on the other hand, was scarcely a claim to fame until 1967, when Coventry City F.C. finally won promotion to the top flight of English football as champions of the Football League Second Division.[18] They would stay among the elite for the next 34 years, reaching their pinnacle with FA Cup glory in 1987 – the first and to date only major trophy in the club's history.[19] Their long stay in the top flight of English football ended in relegation in 2001,[20] and in 2012 they were relegated again to the third tier of English football. Highfield Road, to the east of the city centre, was Coventry City's home for 106 years from 1899. They finally departed from the stadium in 2005 on their relocation to the 32,600-seat Ricoh Arena some three miles to the north of the city centre, in the Rowleys Green district.[21]
City boundaries[link]
Unlike other major UK cities, Coventry does not have an extensive 'greater' urban area. This is partly because the city boundaries were drawn so as to include practically all of its suburbs, and partly because Coventry has comparatively little in the way of contiguous satellite towns and dormitory settlements.
The M6 motorway directly to the north of Coventry acts as an artificial boundary which precludes expansion into the Bedworth-Nuneaton urban area, as does the protected West Midlands Green Belt which surrounds the city on all sides. This has circumvented the expansion of the city into both the administrative county of Warwickshire and the metropolitan borough of Solihull (the 'Meriden Gap'), and has helped to prevent the coalescence of the city with surrounding towns such as Kenilworth, Leamington Spa, Warwick, Rugby and Balsall Common.
Panoramic views of Coventry City Centre from the Cathedral Tower
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Places of interest[link]
Cathedral[link]
St. Michael's Cathedral is Coventry's best-known landmark and visitor attraction. The 14th century church was largely destroyed by German bombing during World War II, leaving only the outer walls and spire. At 303 feet (92 metres) high, the spire of St. Michael's is claimed to be the third tallest cathedral spire in England, after Salisbury and Norwich.[22] Due to the architectural design (in 1940 the tower had no internal wooden floors and a stone vault below the belfry) it survived the destruction of the rest of the cathedral. The new Coventry Cathedral was opened in 1962 next to the ruins of the old. It was designed by Sir Basil Spence. The cathedral contains the tapestry Christ in Glory by Graham Sutherland. The bronze statue St Michael's Victory over the Devil by Jacob Epstein is mounted on the exterior of the new cathedral near the entrance. Benjamin Britten's War Requiem, regarded by some as his masterpiece, was written for the opening of the new cathedral.[23]
The spire of the ruined cathedral forms one of the "three spires" which have dominated the city skyline since the 14th century, the others being those of Christ Church (of which only the spire survives) and Holy Trinity Church (which is still in use).
Art gallery and museums[link]
The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum is a major art gallery in the city centre. About four miles from the city centre and just outside Coventry in Baginton is the Lunt Fort, a reconstructed Roman fort. The Midland Air Museum is situated just within the perimeter of Coventry on land adjacent to Coventry Airport and near Baginton.
Another major visitor attraction in Coventry city centre is the free-to-enter Coventry Transport Museum, which has the largest collection of British-made road vehicles in the world. The most notable exhibits are the world speed record-breaking cars, Thrust2 and ThrustSSC. The museum received a major refurbishment in 2004 which included the creation of a striking new entrance as part of the city's Phoenix Initiative project. The revamp saw the museum exceed its projected five-year visitor numbers within the first year alone, and it was a finalist for the 2005 Gulbenkian Prize.
Coventry was one of the main centres of watchmaking during the 18th and 19th centuries and as the industry declined the skilled workers were key to setting up the cycle trade. A group of local enthusiasts are in the process of setting up a museum in Spon Street.[12]
The city's main police station in Little Park Street also hosts a museum of Coventry's police force. The museum, based underground, is split into two sections – one representing the history of the city's police force, and the other compiling some of the more unusual, interesting and grisly cases from the force's history. The museum is funded from charity donations – viewings can be made by appointment.
Coventry City Farm was a small farm in an urban setting. It was mainly to educate city children who might not get out to the countryside very often. The farm closed in 2008 due to funding problems.[24]
Football stadia[link]
Since 2005, Coventry City F.C. have been playing at their new home, the Ricoh Arena, a 32,609 capacity stadium in Rowleys Green in north Coventry. Their football academy is now based at the Alan Higgs Centre, a leisure centre in south-east Coventry opened in 2004.
The Highfield Road stadium has been demolished, making way for new housing and a small green.
Redevelopment[link]
File:MillenniumSquareCov.jpg
Millennium Square by night, showing the Time Zone Clock designed by Francoise Schein with the Whittle Arch soaring above
Major improvements continue to regenerate the city centre. The Phoenix Initiative, which was designed by MJP Architects, reached the final shortlist for the 2004 RIBA Stirling Prize and has now won a total of 16 separate awards. It was published in the book 'Phoenix : Architecture/Art/Regeneration' in 2004.[25] Further major developments are potentially afoot, particularly the Swanswell Project, which is intended to deepen Swanswell Pool and link it to Coventry Canal Basin, coupled with the creation of an urban marina and a wide Parisian-style boulevard. A possible second phase of the Phoenix Initiative is also in the offing, although both of these plans are still on the drawing-board. The redevelopment of the Belgrade Theatre is currently in progress, and the building of IKEA's first city centre multi-storey store has recently been completed and was opened to the public on 16 December 2007.[26]
The River Sherbourne runs under Coventry's city centre; the river was paved over during the rebuilding after World War II and is not commonly known. When the new rebuild of Coventry city centre takes place 2009 onwards, it is planned that river will be re-opened, and a river walk way will be placed along side it in parts of the city centre.[27] In April of 2012, the pedestrianisation of Broadgate was completed.
Twinning with other cities; "city of peace and reconciliation"[link]
Coventry and Stalingrad (now Volgograd) were the world's first 'twin' cities when they established a twinning relationship during World War II. The relationship developed through ordinary people in Coventry who wanted to show their support for the Soviet Red Army during the Battle of Stalingrad.[5] The city was also subsequently twinned with Dresden, as a gesture of peace and reconciliation following World War II. Coventry is now twinned with 27 other cities around the world.
Coventry Cathedral is notable for being one of the newest cathedrals in the world, having been built following the World War II bombing of the ancient cathedral by the Luftwaffe. Coventry has since developed an international reputation as one of Europe's major cities of peace and reconciliation,[28] centred around its cathedral, and holds an annual Peace Month.[29]
Climate[link]
As with the rest of the British Isles and the midlands, Coventry experiences a maritime climate with cool summers and mild winters. The nearest Met Office weather station is Coundon/ Coventry Bablake. Temperature extremes recorded in Coventry range from −18.2 °C (−0.8 °F) in February 1947, to 35.1 °C (95.2 °F) in August 1990.[30] The lowest temperature reading of recent years was −10.8 °C (12.6 °F) during December 2010.[31][32]
| Climate data for Coundon/Bablake 89m asl, 1971-2000, Extremes 1890- | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 14.4 (57.9) |
18.1 (64.6) |
22.0 (71.6) |
26.7 (80.1) |
30.9 (87.6) |
32.4 (90.3) |
34.4 (93.9) |
35.1 (95.2) |
34.2 (93.6) |
28.2 (82.8) |
20.6 (69.1) |
18.9 (66.0) |
35.1 (95.2) |
| Average high °C (°F) | 6.9 (44.4) |
7.2 (45.0) |
9.9 (49.8) |
12.4 (54.3) |
16.2 (61.2) |
19.1 (66.4) |
21.8 (71.2) |
21.4 (70.5) |
18.1 (64.6) |
13.9 (57.0) |
9.7 (49.5) |
7.6 (45.7) |
13.7 (56.7) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 1.4 (34.5) |
1.0 (33.8) |
2.9 (37.2) |
4.0 (39.2) |
7.0 (44.6) |
9.9 (49.8) |
12.2 (54.0) |
11.8 (53.2) |
9.7 (49.5) |
6.7 (44.1) |
3.7 (38.7) |
2.3 (36.1) |
6.1 (43.0) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −16.7 (1.9) |
−18.2 (−0.8) |
−15.6 (3.9) |
−6.1 (21.0) |
−5 (23.0) |
−0.6 (30.9) |
3.4 (38.1) |
0.8 (33.4) |
−1.1 (30.0) |
−4.9 (23.2) |
−8.9 (16.0) |
−16.1 (3.0) |
−18.2 (−0.8) |
| Precipitation mm (inches) | 61.2 (2.409) |
44.3 (1.744) |
50.6 (1.992) |
49.3 (1.941) |
50.8 (2) |
56.9 (2.24) |
49.5 (1.949) |
66.3 (2.61) |
59.0 (2.323) |
59.4 (2.339) |
58.0 (2.283) |
62.3 (2.453) |
667.6 (26.283) |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 55.1 | 68.2 | 100.3 | 138.1 | 193.6 | 176.5 | 200.1 | 186.6 | 135.9 | 103.7 | 66.9 | 48.2 | 1,473.2 |
| Source: Bablake weather station[33] | |||||||||||||
Education[link]
See also: List of schools in Coventry
Coventry has two universities; Coventry University is situated on a modern city centre campus while the University of Warwick lies 3½ miles (5.5 km) to the south of the city centre, mostly within Coventry and straddling the border with Warwickshire. The University of Warwick is one of only five universities never to have been rated outside the top ten in terms of teaching excellence and research and is a member of the prestigious Russell Group. A team from the University won the BBC TV University Challenge trophy in April 2007. Coventry University is one of only a handful of universities to run a degree course in automotive design in the world renowned Coventry School of Art and Design
Coventry also has three further education colleges within city boundaries, City College, Henley College and Hereward College.
Many of the secondary schools in and around Coventry are specialist colleges, such as Finham Park School, which is a Mathematics and IT college, a teacher training school and the only school in Coventry to offer studying the International Baccalaureate, and Coventry Blue Coat Church of England School which has recently become a specialist college of Music, one of only a few in the country. Bishop Ullathorne RC School became a specialist college in Humanities in 2006. Woodlands School in Coventry is now also a sports college, which has a newly built sport centre. Ernesford Grange School, in the south east, is a specialist science college. Coundon Court School is a Technology College. Pattison College, a private school opened in 1949, specialises in the performing arts. There is also Caludon Castle School, a business and enterprise school, which has been rebuilt over 2005–2007. Exhall Grange School and Science College is in the north of the city, although, its catchment area is north Warwickshire. There is also Cardinal Newman Catholic School and specialist arts college.
Coventry has a variety of schools: one of the oldest secondary schools is Sidney Stringer School which is located in the centre of the city. It is a co-educational school that has made improvements in the last few years and has moved into a larger building costing £28million; it is now known as Sidney Stringer Academy.
The Coventry School Foundation comprises the independent schools King Henry VIII School and Bablake School together with King Henry VIII Preparatory School.
The Woodlands School, which is an all-boys' school, and Tile Hill Wood School are the only single-sex schools left in Coventry. However, their sixth forms have merged to form the "West Coventry 6th Form", whose lessons take place in mixed classes on both sites.
The Westwood School, which is a Technology College, is close to the University of Warwick. It is the only school in Coventry that is a CISCO Academy and prides itself on its links with other educational establishments, industry and the local community.
Sherbourne Fields School is an educational special needs school for young people with physical disabilities and is located in the Coundon area. It opened in the 1960s and there are now discussions as to whether to close this school.
Arts and culture[link]
Literature and drama[link]
- During the early 19th century, Coventry was well-known due to author George Eliot who was born near Nuneaton. The city was the model for her famous novel Middlemarch (1871).
- The Coventry Carol is named after the city of Coventry. It was a carol performed in the play The Pageant of The Shearman and Tailors, written in the 15th century as one of the Coventry Cycle Mystery Plays. These plays depicted the nativity story, the lyrics of the Coventry Carol referring to the Annunciation to the Massacre of the Innocents, which was the basis of the Pageant of the Shearmen and Tailors. These plays were traditionally performed on the steps of the (old) cathedral, and the plays are believed to have been performed for both Richard III in 1484 and Henry VII in 1584. The Belgrade Theatre brought back the Coventry Mystery Plays in 2000 to mark the city's millennium celebrations: the theatre now produces the Mystery Plays every three years.
- The Belgrade Theatre was Britain's first purpose-built civic theatre, opened in 1958. In 1965 the world's first Theatre-in-Education (TiE) company was formed to develop theatre as a way of inspiring learning in schools. The TiE movement spread worldwide, the theatre still offers a number of programmes for young people across Coventry and has been widely recognised as a leader in the field.
- The poet Philip Larkin was born and brought up in Coventry, where his father was the City Treasurer.
Music and cinema[link]
- During the late-1970s and early-1980s, Coventry was the centre of the Two Tone musical phenomenon, with bands such as the Specials and the Selecter coming from the city, spawning several major hit singles and albums. The Specials achieved two UK #1 hit singles between 1979–1981, namely Too Much Too Young and Ghost Town. Notable singles by the Selecter included On My Radio and Three Minute Hero.
- Today Coventry is recognised for its range of music events including one of the UK's foremost international jazz programmes, the Coventry Jazz Festival, and the award-winning Godiva Festival. On the Saturday of the Godiva Festival, a carnival parade also starts in the city centre and makes its way to War Memorial Park where the festival is held. In recent times the city has also given birth to Hip Hop C.O.V.
- In the film The Italian Job, the famous scene of Mini Coopers being driven at speed through Turin's sewers was actually filmed in Coventry, using what were then the country's biggest sewer pipes, that were accessible because they were being installed. More recently various locations in Coventry have been used in the BAFTA nominated film The Bouncer starring Ray Winstone, All in the Game, also starring Ray Winstone (Ricoh Arena), the medical TV series Angels (Walsgrave Hospital), the BBC sitcom Keeping Up Appearances (Stoke Aldermoor and Binley Woods districts) and in August 2006 scenes from "The Shakespeare Code", an episode of the third series of Doctor Who, were filmed in the grounds of Ford's Hospital.
Venues[link]
Theatre, art and music venues in Coventry include:
- The Warwick Arts Centre: situated at the University of Warwick, Warwick Arts Centre includes an art gallery, a theatre, a concert hall and a cinema. It is the second largest arts centre in the UK, after London's Barbican.[dubious – discuss]
- The College Theatre: used to be the city's main community theatre, it is housed at what used to be the Butts Centre of City College Coventry. It's a fully functioning theatre with flying scenery, full sound and lighting boxes.
- The Belgrade Theatre: one of the largest producing theatres in Britain, the 858-seat Belgrade was the first civic theatre to be opened in the UK following World War II. The theatre underwent a huge redevelopment and reopened in September 2007; in addition to refurbishing the existing theatre the redevelopment included a new 250-seat studio auditorium known as B2, a variety of rehearsal spaces and an exhibition space that traces the history of theatre in Coventry.
- Also currently being built is the Belgrade Plaza.
- The Ricoh Arena: located 3½ miles (5.6 km) north of the city centre, the 32,600 capacity Coventry City F.C. stadium is also used to hold major rock concerts for some of the world's biggest acts, including Oasis, Bon Jovi, Lady Gaga, Rod Stewart, Kings of Leon and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. It is also one of the venues chosen for the footballing events at the 2012 Olympic Games. The adjacent Jaguar Exhibition Hall is a 6,000-seat events venue for hosting a multitude of other acts.
- The SkyDome Arena, which is a 3,000 capacity sports auditorium, and has played host to artists such as Girls Aloud, Paul Oakenfold, Judge Jules and Paul Morrell. It is the home ground for Coventry Blaze ice hockey club, and has also hosted professional wrestling events from WWE, TNA and Pro Wrestling Noah
- War Memorial Park, which holds various festivals including the Godiva Festival and the Coventry Caribbean Festival, every year.
- The Butts Park Arena, home of Coventry Rugby Football Club, holds music concerts occasionally.
- The Kasbah nightclub, Hillfields. It was renamed after refurbishment in 2007, but is still often referred to by its previous name, 'Colosseum'. By older Coventrians, it is still remembered as the Orchid Ballroom.
- The Criterion Theatre, a small theatre, in Earlsdon.
- Coombe Country Park, although outside the city boundary, Coventry City Council's only country park.
Sport[link]
Sporting teams include: Coventry City F.C. (association football); Coventry Buildbase Bees (speedway); Coventry R.F.C. (rugby union); Coventry Bears (rugby league); Coventry Godiva Harriers (athletics); Coventry Crusaders (basketball); Coventry Jets (American football); City of Coventry Swimming Club (swimming); Coventry Blaze (ice hockey); Four Masters G.A.A. Club (Gaelic football); Coventry United F.C. (association football).
In football, Coventry City have been in existence since the late 19th century, but did not reach the top flight of the Football League until 1967, when they were promoted as Second Division champions. Their highest league position so far is sixth place in the First Division in 1970, when they qualified for the European Fairs Cup (later the UEFA Cup, now The Europa League) in 1970–71. Their only major trophy to date is the FA Cup which was won in 1987 with a 3–2 win over Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley.
Coventry City were founder members of the Premier League in 1992, but currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football, where they have been since 2001, following relegation after 34 successive seasons of top flight football. Their current stadium is the 32,600 capacity Ricoh Arena, which opened in Rowleys Green in the north of the city in 2005, replacing 106-year-old Highfield Road to the east of the city centre.
Notable former players include Reg Matthews (the first Coventry-born footballer to be capped by England), Clarrie Bourton, George Hudson, Bobby Gould, Willie Carr, Ian St. John, Dion Dublin, Stuart Pearce, Gerry Francis, Kevin Gallacher, Terry Gibson, Mark Hateley, Ian Wallace, Tommy Hutchison, Martin Jol, Les Sealey, Robbie Keane, Gary McAllister, Steve Ogrizovic, Colin Stein and Terry Yorath.
Their most famous former managers are Jesse Carver, George Raynor, Harry Storer and Jimmy Hill. Others include Noel Cantwell, Dave Sexton, John Sillett, Bobby Gould, Phil Neal, Ron Atkinson, Gordon Strachan, Peter Reid, Gary McAllister, Micky Adams, Iain Dowie and Chris Coleman.
The Coventry Bees are based at Coventry Stadium (formerly Brandon Stadium) to the east of the city. The stadium has operated both sides of World War II. The Bees started in 1948 and have operated continuously ever since. They started out in the National League Division Three before moving up to the Second Division and, later to the top flight. They have operated at this level ever since.
Amongst the top speedway riders who have represented Coventry teams are Tom Farndon, Jack Parker, Arthur Forrest, Nigel Boocock, Kelvin Tatum, Chris Harris, Emil Sayfutdinov and World Champions Ole Olsen, Hans Nielsen, Greg Hancock, Billy Hamill and Jack Young.
Between 1998 and 2000, Coventry Stadium hosted the Speedway Grand Prix of Great Britain.
In 2007, the Bees won the domestic speedway treble of Elite League, Knock-out Cup and Craven Shield, whilst Chris Harris won both the Speedway Grand Prix of Great Britain and the British Championship. The Bees retained the Craven Shield in 2008, and Chris Harris added further British Championship victories in both 2009 and 2010. The Elite League Championship Trophy returned to Brandon in 2010 when the Bees convincingly beat Poole Pirates in the play-off finals.[34]
Before World War II speedway also operated for a short time at Foleshill Stadium, off Lythalls Lane in the city.
In 2003, Coventry Blaze won the British National League and Playoffs. In 2007, Coventry Blaze won the Elite League and the British Challenge Cup and narrowly missed out on the treble by losing in the semi-finals of the playoffs.
Coventry Bears are the major rugby league team in the city now playing in the Rugby League Conference. In 2002 they won the Rugby League Conference, and took the step up to the national leagues. In 2004 they won the National Division 3 title and have appeared in the Challenge Cup.
2005 was a good year for sport in Coventry. Not only did it become the first city in the UK to host the International Children's Games,[35] but three of the city sports teams won significant honours. The Blaze won the treble consisting of Elite League, playoff and Challenge Cup; the Jets won the BAFL Division 2 championship and were undefeated all season; and the Bees won the Elite League playoffs.
| Club | Sport | Founded | League | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coventry R.F.C. | Rugby union | 1874 | National Division One | Butts Park Arena |
| Coventry City F.C. | Football | 1883 | Football League Championship | Ricoh Arena |
| Coventry Bees | Speedway | 1928 | Elite League | Coventry Stadium |
| Coventry Crusaders | Basketball | 1987 | English Basketball League | Coventry Sports Centre |
| Coventry Bears | Rugby league | 1998 | Rugby League Conference | Butts Park Arena |
| Coventry Blaze | Ice hockey | 2000 | Elite Ice Hockey League | SkyDome Arena |
| Coventry United F.C. | Football | 2012 | N/A | N/A |
Coventrians[link]
History and politics
Coventry is well known for the legendary 11th century exploits of Lady Godiva who, according to legend, rode through the city naked on horseback in protest at high taxes being levied on the cityfolk by her husband Leofric, Earl of Mercia.
According to the legend the residents of the city were commanded to look away as she rode, but one man did not and was allegedly struck blind. He became known as Peeping Tom thus originating a new idiom, or metonym, in English.
There is a Grade II* listed statue[36] of her in the city centre, which for 18 years had been underneath a much-maligned Cathedral Lanes shopping centre canopy, removed in October 2008.[37]
There is also a bust of Peeping Tom looking out across Hertford Street shopping precinct, and overlooking Broadgate and the statue of Godiva is a clock where, at every hour, Lady Godiva appears on her horse while being watched by Peeping Tom.
The Labour politician Mo Mowlam was educated in Coventry; trade union organiser Tom Mann and National Socialist Movement leader Colin Jordan also came from the city.
The statesman and founder of modern Australia, Sir Henry Parkes, was born in Canley in 1815.
Science, technology and business
Coventry has been the home to several pioneers in science and engineering.
Sir Frank Whittle, the inventor of the jet engine, was from the city, as was the inventor James Starley, instrumental in the development of the bicycle and his nephew J.K. Starley, who worked alongside his uncle and went on to found car company Rover.
Cyborg scientist Kevin Warwick is also a Coventrian, as is Sir John Egan, industrialist and former Chief Executive of Jaguar Cars.
Sir Frederick Gibberd, architect and designer, was born in Coventry, and amongst the buildings for which he is best known are Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral and Didcot Power Station.
Donald Trelford, journalist and academic, was born in Coventry and attended Bablake School. He was editor of The Observer newspaper from 1975 to 1993.
Born in Coventry, former King Henry VIII Grammar School pupil Paul Connew became editor of the Sunday Mirror and deputy editor of the Daily Mirror and News of The World – he is now Director of Communications at the children's charity Sparks.
Coventrians who established successful businesses from very humble beginnings were known as Coventry Kids.
The arts
Dame Ellen Terry, one of the greatest Shakespearian actors, was born in Coventry in 1847.
Other Coventrians in the arts include the highly acclaimed poet Philip Larkin, actors Billie Whitelaw, Nigel Hawthorne, Brendan Price and Clive Owen, and the author Lee Child.
Many notable musicians originated in Coventry, including Frank Ifield, Vince Hill, Delia Derbyshire, Jerry Dammers, Terry Hall, Neville Staple, Hazel O'Connor, Clint Mansell, Julianne Regan, Lee Dorrian, Jen Ledger of Skillet (band), Taz (lead singer of the band Stereo Nation), and Panjabi MC.
2 Tone music developed in and around Coventry in the 1970s and two of the genre's most notable bands, The Specials and The Selecter are both from the city. Other Coventry bands include Coventry Automatics, The Primitives, Adorable, Fun Boy Three, The Colourfield, King, Jigsaw, The Sorrows, and The Enemy.
Record producer Pete Waterman is also from the city and is president of Coventry Bears.
Broadcaster Brian Matthew, theatre producer Dominic Madden, comedian and writer Emma Fryer and adult model Debee Ashby are also Coventrians, as were comedian Reg Dixon and ventriloquist Dennis Spicer.
Disgraced former Sky Sports broadcaster Richard Keys is also a Coventrian, a product of Whitley Abbey School.
Sport
Notable Coventrian sportsmen include speedway rider Tom Farndon; Davis Cup tennis player Tony Mottram; footballers Kenneth Hegan, Reg Matthews, Bobby Gould, Graham Alexander and Gary McSheffrey; cricketers Tom Cartwright and Ian Bell MBE; rugby union players Ivor Preece, Keith Fairbrother, David Duckham MBE, Neil Back, Danny Grewcock MBE, Geoff Evans and Andy Goode; motor-cyclist Cal Crutchlow; golfer Laura Davies CBE; sprinter Marlon Devonish MBE; distance runners Brian Kilby and David Moorcroft OBE; darts player Steve Beaton; fencer Kevin Reilly.
Economy[link]
Historically Coventry was the most important seat of ribbon-making in the UK. In this industry it competed locally with Norwich and Leicester and internationally with St Etienne in France.
Coventry has long been a centre of motor and cycle manufacturing, dating from 1896. Starting out with some less familiar names such as Coventry Motette, Great Horseless Carriage Co, Swift Motor Company and more familiar names like Humber, Riley, Francis-Barnett and Daimler and the Triumph motorcycle having its origins in 1902 in a Coventry factory. The Massey-Ferguson tractor factory was situated on Banner Lane, Tile Hill, until it closed in the late 1990s. Although the motor industry has declined almost to the point of extinction, the Jaguar company has retained its corporate and research headquarters in the city (at Allesley and Whitley), and Peugeot still have a large parts centre in Humber Road. The famous London black cab taxis are produced in Coventry by LTI and these are now the only vehicles still wholly built in Coventry.
The manufacture of machine tools was once a major industry in Coventry. Alfred Herbert Ltd became one of the largest machine tool companies in the world. Unfortunately in later years the company faced tough competition from foreign machine tool builders and ceased trading in 1983. Another famous Coventry machine tool manufacturer was the A. C. Wickman company. The last Coventry machine tool manufacturer was Matrix Churchill which was forced to close in the wake of the Iraqi Supergun (Project Babylon) scandal. It had been owned by the Saddam Hussein government, via front companies, and closed amidst much controversy and bad feeling.
Coventry's main industries include: cars, electronic equipment, machine tools, agricultural machinery, man-made fibres, aerospace components and telecommunications equipment. In recent years, the city has moved away from manufacturing industries towards business services, finance, research, design and development, creative industries as well as logistics and leisure.
Coventry motor companies once contributed significantly to the British motor industry but that role is now much diminished.
This is a chart of trend of regional gross value added of Coventry at current basic prices by Office for National Statistics with figures in millions of British Pounds Sterling:[38]
| Year | Regional Gross Value Added 1 | Agriculture 2 | Industry 3 | Services 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 3,407 | 3 | 1,530 | 1,874 |
| 2000 | 4,590 | 3 | 1,873 | 2,714 |
| 2003 | 5,103 | 2 | 1,529 | 3,572 |
Notes:
- Components may not sum to totals due to rounding
- Includes hunting and forestry
- Includes energy and construction
- Includes financial intermediation services indirectly measured
Transport[link]
Coventry is near the M6, M69, M45 and M40 motorways. It is also served by the A45 and A46 dual carriageways. Coventry has a much used inner ring road opened in the 1960s (approx.). Phoenix Way, a dual carriageway running north – south opened 1998 (approx.), has improved traffic flows through the city.
For rail, Coventry railway station is served by the West Coast Main Line, and has regular rail services between London and Birmingham (and stations beyond). It is also served by railway lines to Nuneaton via Bedworth. There is a line linking it to Leamington Spa and onwards to the south coast. Coventry also has two Suburban Rail stations in Canley and in Tile Hill.
Bus service operators in Coventry include National Express Coventry, Travel de Courcey and Stagecoach in Warwickshire. Pool Meadow Bus Station is the main bus and coach interchange in the city centre. Two park and ride sites exist in the city, one at War Memorial Park and one at Courthouse Green.
The nearest major airports are Birmingham International Airport, some 11 miles (18 km) to the west of the city and Coventry Airport in Baginton, located 5 miles (8 km) south of the city centre.
The Coventry Canal terminates near the city centre at Coventry Canal Basin and is navigable for 38 miles (61 km) to Fradley Junction in Staffordshire.
Waste management[link]
Coventry has a large energy from waste incinerator [6] which burns rubbish from both Coventry and Solihull, producing electricity for the National Grid and some hot water that is used locally through the Heatline project [7]. Some rubbish is still put into landfill.
Coventry City Council is assisting recycling as part of their waste management strategy in line with national trends:[citation needed]
- many areas of Coventry have kerb-side plastic, metal (tins and cans), and paper recycling. Garden-green rubbish is also collected and composted.
- a wide range of waste materials can be taken by car to the recycling depot, which is adjacent to the incineration unit.
- there are many recycling points throughout the City for paper, glass recycling and metal / tin can recycling.
In October 2006, Coventry City Council signed the Nottingham Declaration, joining 130 other UK councils in committing to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of the council and to help the local community do the same.
Local and national government[link]
Traditionally a part of Warwickshire (although it was a county in its own right for 400 years), Coventry became an independent county borough in 1889. It later became a metropolitan district of the West Midlands county under the Local Government Act (1974), even though it was entirely separate to the Birmingham conurbation area (this is why Coventry appears to unnaturally "jut out" into Warwickshire on political maps of the UK). In 1986, the West Midlands County Council was abolished and Coventry became administered as an effective unitary authority in its own right.
Coventry is still strongly associated with its traditional county, Warwickshire. This may be because of its geographical location, forming a large protrusion into the county.
Coventry is administered by Coventry City Council. The city is divided up into 18 Wards each with three councillors. Coventry has usually been controlled by the Labour Party over the past few decades, and at times they appeared to be in safe control. However, the Conservatives held control for a short time in the 1970s, and they have also been in control since June 2004. (For a time they held control on the casting vote of the Lord Mayor, but they won clear control at the local elections of 4 May 2006). However in 2010 the Conservatives lost control of Coventry City Council when Labour gained enough seats to have overall control.
The leader of the Conservative group is Ken Taylor, who held the post of Leader of the Council between 2004 and 2010. The leader of the controlling Labour group is John Mutton, he has held the post of Leader of the Council since the 2010 Local Elections.
A notable politician serving with Coventry City Council is former Militant Tendency Labour MP Dave Nellist who now represents the Socialist Party (England and Wales).
Certain local services are provided by West Midlands wide agencies including the West Midlands Police, the West Midlands Fire Service and the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive (Centro) which is responsible for public transport.
In 2006, Coventry and Warwickshire Ambulance Service was merged with the West Midlands Ambulance Service. The Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance service is based at Coventry Airport in Baginton.
Coventry is represented in Parliament by three MPs all of whom are Labour. These are:
- Bob Ainsworth – (Coventry North East)
- Jim Cunningham – (Coventry South)
- Geoffrey Robinson – (Coventry North West)
Up until 1997, Coventry was represented by four Members of Parliament, whereupon the Coventry South West and Coventry South East constituencies were merged to form Coventry South.
At the Annual Meeting of the City Council on 20 May 2009, Councillor Jack Harrison was elected as the new Lord Mayor of Coventry. Councillor Harrison has been a Labour councillor for 13 years representing the Lower Stoke Ward. Councillor Harrison's wife, Jill, is Lady Mayoress.[39][40] The Deputy Lord Mayor is Councillor Brian Kelsey. He has been a Conservative councillor in Bablake Ward since 1999.[41][42]
The Bishop of Coventry since April 1998 has been the Rt Revd. Colin James Bennetts, who retired from the post on 31 January 2008. The Reverend Canon Dr Christopher John Cocksworth BA, PhD, PGCE was nominated Bishop of Coventry on 3 March 2008 and HM The Queen then approved the nomination.
Council affiliation[link]
As of May 2011, it was as follows[43]-
| Party | Number of councilors | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour | 35 | |
| Conservative | 17 | |
| Liberal Democrat | 1 | |
| Socialist Alternative | 1 | |
Demographics[link]
Like most major British cities, Coventry has a large ethnic minority population, making up 25.2% of the population as of 2006 estimates.[1] The ethnic minority population is concentrated in the Foleshill and the St. Michael's wards.
The composition of the ethnic minority population is not typical of the UK. Sikhs are the largest non-Christian religion, with significant numbers of other South Asians. The Black population is just 3.1%, only slightly above the British average, and lower than many other cities.
8.2% of the population identify as ethnically Indian, 2.2% as Pakistani, 0.8% as being from other South Asian groups, and 0.7% as Bangladeshi.
White Irish people constitute 2.8%, and 2.9% of the city's population identify as "White Other" (non-Irish, non-British white groups).
1.7% of the population are Black African, 1.2% Black Caribbean, and 0.2% from other black groups.
1.5% are ethnically Chinese and the remaining 0.9% is mainly composed of East Asians.
People reporting two or more ethnicities make up 2.1% of the population.[1]
Year and current total population:[44]
- 1801 – 21,853
- 1851 – 48,120
- 1901 – 88,107
- 1911 – 117,958
- 1921 – 144,197
- 1931 – 176,303
- 1941 – 214,380
- 1951 – 260,685
- 1961 – 296,016
- 1971 – 336,136
- 1981 – 310,223
- 1991 – 305,342
- 2001 – 300,844
- 2007 – 306,700
- 2009 – 309,800
- 2010 – 310,500
Closest cities, towns and villages[link]
 |
Birmingham, Sutton Coldfield, Lichfield | Bedworth, Nuneaton, Burton-on-Trent | Hinckley, Leicester | |
| Solihull, Redditch |  |
Rugby, Lutterworth | ||
 Coventry East |
||||
 |
||||
| Warwick, Stratford-upon-Avon | Kenilworth, Leamington Spa | Daventry, Northampton |
|
Cities (within 50 miles (80 kilometres)
Towns (within 20 miles (32 kilometres)
|
Villages
|
Postcodes[link]
Main article: CV postcode area
Postal districts CV1 to CV6 inclusive cover the city of Coventry and its immediate suburbs. Postal districts CV7 to CV47 cover almost all of the surrounding administrative county of Warwickshire, with the exception of those areas around Coleshill, Polesworth, Alcester and Studley in western Warwickshire, which have Birmingham (B) postcodes instead. However, Coventry remains the post town for settlements within the CV7 postcode (e.g., Balsall Common and Berkswell etc.), even though they do not form part of the city.[citation needed]
Twin cities[link]
 |
This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (March 2012) |
Coventry first twinned with Volgograd, Russia. After World War II Coventry twinned with Dresden as an act of peace and reconciliation, both cities having been very heavily bombed during the war. Each twin city country is represented in a specific ward of the city and in each ward has a peace garden dedicated to that twin city.
Coventry is now twinned with 26 places across the world:
| City | Country | Year twinned | Ward |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parkes, New South Wales | Australia | 1939[45] | Bablake |
| Graz | Austria[46] | 1957 | Binley & Willenhall |
| Sarajevo | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1957 | Cheylesmore |
| Pernik | Bulgaria | 1990 | Canley |
| Cornwall, Ontario | Canada | 1972 | Earlsdon |
| Granby, Quebec | 1963 | ||
| Windsor, Ontario | 1963 | ||
| Jinan | China | 1983 | Foleshill |
| Lidice | Czech Republic | 1947 | Henley |
| Ostrava | 1959 | ||
| Caen | France | 1957 | Longford |
| Saint-Étienne | 1955 | ||
| Dresden | Germany | 1959 | Lower Stoke |
| Kiel | 1947 | ||
| Dunaújváros | Hungary | 1962 | Radford |
| Kecskemét | 1962 | ||
| Bologna | Italy | 1960 | Sherbourne |
| Kingston | Jamaica | 1962 | St Michael's |
| Arnhem | Netherlands | 1958 | Upper Stoke |
| Warsaw | Poland | 1957 | Wainbody |
| Cork | Ireland | 1958 | Holbrooks |
| Galați | Romania | 1962 | Westwood |
| Volgograd/Stalingrad | Russia | 1944 | Whoberley |
| Belgrade | Serbia | 1957 | Woodlands |
| Coventry, Connecticut | United States | 1962 | Wyken |
| Coventry, New York | 1972 | ||
| Coventry, Rhode Island | 1971 |
Accent[link]
Origins: Coventry in a linguistic sense looks both ways, towards both the 'West' and 'East' Midlands.[47] One thousand years ago, the extreme west of Warwickshire, what today we would designate Birmingham and the Black Country was then separated from Coventry and east Warwickshire by the forest of Arden, with resulting inferior means of communication.[47] The west Warwickshire settlements too were smaller in comparison to Coventry which, by the 14th century, was England's third city.[47] Even as far back as Anglo-Saxon times Coventry, situated as it was along Watling Street was a trading and market post between King Alfred's Saxon Mercia and Danelaw England with a consequent merging of dialects.[48]
Coventry & Birmingham accents: Phonetically the accent of Coventry is similar to Northern English in that it eliminates the long a /ɑː/, so cast is pronounced /kæst/ rather than /kɑːst/.[48] Yet the clipped, flatter vowels in the accent also contain traces of Estuary English (T-glottaling), increasingly so amongst the young since 1950.[48] One notable feature which television producers have been apt to overlook is the distinction between Coventry and Birmingham accents. In Birmingham and the Black Country 'Old' and 'cold' may be pronounced as "owd" and "cowd", this linguistic feature stops starkly as one moves beyond Solihull in the general direction of Coventry, a possible approximation of the 'Arden Forest' divide perhaps.[49] Yet accents alter briskly in this particular part of the Midlands, North Warwickshire (Bedworth & Nuneaton) displays increased East Midlands dialect features.[47] Then again, just to the south, the general Southern English feature of the longer 'a' in words such as "bath" and "path" (becoming like the nonce words "barth" and "parth" as pronounced in a non-rhotic accent) starts to occur regardless of class or geodemographic grouping across an east to west band of settlements somewhere between Southam and Banbury, positioning Coventry right at the edge of England's phonetic crossroads.[48]
Coventry accent on Television: Dramatic representations on film have been very uneven down the years, ranging from Yorkshire sounding builders visiting the Queen Vic in EastEnders [1987] to Black Country sounding factory workers in the Jeffrey Archer adaptation 'First Among Equals' (1984).[50] The BBC's 2009 documentary The Bombing of Coventry contained useful phonetic data on the 'Coventry Accent' in the form of interviews with Coventrians. A recent performance from the actress Becci Gemmell, playing Coventry character Joyce in the BBC drama Land Girls, also gave a more accurate phonetic representation of the accent.[51]
Honours[link]
A minor planet 3009 Coventry discovered by Soviet astronomer Nikolai Stepanovich Chernykh in 1973 is named after the city.[52]
2008 bomb scare[link]
The city was bombed many times during the Second World War by the Luftwaffe. Second World War bombs were often abandoned if they fell in areas of little significant importance to the war effort and continue to be found during construction work to this day. Many old bombs have been found to still be viable explosive devices.
On 12 March 2008 an unexploded World War II Luftwaffe bomb was discovered at 12 noon. It was found at the Belgrade Plaza development in Upper Well Street in Coventry's city centre. Police said the device seemed genuine but it was not clear if it was live.[53]
A Royal Engineers Bomb Disposal team was deployed from 33 Engineer Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) near Cambridge. A controlled explosion was conducted at approximately 02:40 GMT on the morning of 13 March.[54]
At first areas in close range of the bomb were evacuated (including a school and a hospital), however, as the day progressed larger parts of the city were closed off. Later, a cordon of 500 metres was enforced. The event attracted mass media coverage throughout the West Midlands region. In an ironic coincidence the finding of the bomb led to a performance of "One night in November", a play about The Blitz being cancelled.[55]
See also[link]
Further reading[link]
- Smith, Albert & Fry, (1991) The Coventry We Have Lost. 2 vols. Berkswell: Simanda Press, 1991, 1993 ISBN 0-9513867-1-9; ISBN 0-9513867-2-7
References[link]
- ^ a b c "Neighbourhood statistics". UK government. http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=276801&c=Coventry&d=13&e=13&g=373870&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1202579430538&enc=1&dsFamilyId=1812.
- ^ Roach, Peter; Hartman, James; Setter, Jane et al., eds. (2006). Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary (17th ed.). Cambridge: CUP. ISBN 978-0-521-68086-8.
- ^ List of English cities by population from census 2001 figures
- ^ "2001 Census: Area Statistics: Key Figures: Area: Coventry (Local Authority)". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=276801&c=coventry&d=13&e=16&g=373870&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1276032397109&enc=1. Retrieved 8 June 2010.
- ^ a b "Twin towns and cities:Volgograd, Russia". Coventry City Council. http://www.coventry.gov.uk/directory_record/6224/volgograd_russia. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
- ^ "Twin towns and cities". Coventry City Council. http://www.coventry.gov.uk/directory/25/twin_towns_and_cities. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
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- ^ Fox (1957), p. 3.
- ^ The history of Coventry Cathedral on the cathedral's website Retrieved on 28 September 2008
- ^ Home Office List of English Cities by Ancient Prescriptive Right, 1927, cited in Beckett, J V (2005). City status in the British Isles, 1830–2002. Aldershot: Ashgate. p. 12. ISBN 0-7546-5067-7.
- ^ "The City of Coventry: Local government and public services: Local government to 1451". A History of the County of Warwick: Volume 8: The City of Coventry and Borough of Warwick. British History Online. 1969. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=16033. Retrieved 15 January 2009.
- ^ a b "Coventry Watch Museum Project". Coventry Watch Museum. http://www.coventrywatchmuseum.co.uk.
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- ^ "BBC ON THIS DAY / 15 / 1940: Germans bomb Coventry to destruction". BBC News Online. 15 November 1940. http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/november/15/newsid_3522000/3522785.stm.
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- ^ "Councillor Jack Harrison MBE JP". Coventry City Council. http://cmis.coventry.gov.uk/CMISWebPublic/Member.aspx?personID=2. Retrieved 20 October 2009.
- ^ "Next Deputy Lord Mayor nomination announced". Coventry City Council. 3 March 2009. http://www.coventry.gov.uk/ccm/content/chief-executives-directorate/corporate-policy/communications-team/news-releases-2009/next-deputy-lord-mayor-nomination-announced.en. Retrieved 20 October 2009. [dead link]
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- ^ http://www.coventry.gov.uk/councillors
- ^ Coventry District: Total Population
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- Coventry's Heritage, by Levi Fox (1957)
- Coventry: History and Guide, by David McGrory (1993) ISBN 0-7509-0194-2
- A History of Warwickshire, by Terry Slater (1981) ISBN 0-85033-416-0
- The Bombing of Coventry BBC Television (2009)
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Coordinates: 52°24′29″N 1°30′38″W / 52.40806°N 1.51056°W / 52.40806; -1.51056
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This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License, which means that you can copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license.
 Giroud playing for Tours in 2010 |
|||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Olivier Giroud | ||
| Date of birth | (1986-09-30) 30 September 1986 (age 25) | ||
| Place of birth | Chambéry, France | ||
| Height | 1.92 m (6 ft 3 1⁄2 in) | ||
| Playing position | Striker | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Montpellier | ||
| Number | 17 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1994–1999 | Froges | ||
| 1999–2005 | Grenoble | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2005–2008 | Grenoble | 23 | (2) |
| 2007–2008 | → Istres (loan) | 33 | (14) |
| 2008–2010 | Tours | 44 | (24) |
| 2010– | Montpellier | 71 | (33) |
| 2010 | → Tours (loan) | 17 | (6) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2011– | France | 5 | (1) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 11 April 2012. † Appearances (Goals). |
|||
Olivier Giroud (born 30 September 1986 in Chambéry) is a French footballer who plays for French club Montpellier in Ligue 1. He plays as a striker and is known for his size, physical style of play, and heading ability.[1] After starring for several clubs in the lower divisions, Giroud secured a move to his current club in August 2010. His performances over two seasons with the club culminated into a call-up to the senior national team. Giroud made his international debut on 11 November 2011 in a match against Belgium.
Contents |
Club career[link]
Early career[link]
Giroud was born in the commune of Chambéry in the Rhône-Alpes region, but was raised in the nearby town of Froges.[2] As a youth, he grew an attraction to football through former players Zinedine Zidane and Marco van Basten.[3] Giroud began his football career playing for his hometown club Olympique Club de Froges. He spent five years training at the club before joining professional club Grenoble at the age of 13.[2]
Grenoble[link]
Giroud spent six years developing in Grenoble's youth academy before signing his first professional contract at the age of 19. He later admitted that signing his first contract was an important part in his development as a player stating "It took me signing my first professional contract to become aware of my abilities. If you (a club) trusted me, it must know that I have some qualities".[4] Ahead of the 2005–06 season, he was promoted to the club's reserve team, which was playing in the Championnat de France amateur 2, the fifth level of French football. Giroud quickly became an important player in the team scoring 15 goals in 15 matches.[4] His performances over seven months with the reserve team resulted in the player being called up to the senior team in March 2006 by manager Thierry Goudet. Giroud made his professional debut on 24 March appearing as a late-match substitute in a 1–1 draw with Gueugnon in Ligue 2.[5] He remained a part of the senior team for the rest of the campaign making five more substitute appearances.
Giroud was promoted to the senior team permanently for the 2006–07 season by new manager Yvon Pouliquen and was assigned the number 22 shirt. After appearing as a substitute in the team's first league match of the campaign, he made his first professional start in a 2–1 defeat away to Niort playing the entire match.[6] On 26 February 2007, Giroud scored his first professional goal netting the injury time winner against Le Havre.[7] He described the goal as "a fantastic memory. I could not dream better for a first pro goal". A month later, Giroud made his third start of the campaign against Gueugnon. In the match, which ended 0–0, Giroud incurred his first professional red card.[8] He finished the campaign with 18 total appearances and two goals as Grenoble finished in fifth place.
- Loan to Istres
In an attempt to earn some playing time, Giroud spent the 2007–08 season on loan at Istres in the Championnat National, the third level of football in France.[4] Under the tutelage of manager Frédéric Arpinon, he continued his development as a striker and, in his second match with the club, scored his first goal in a 2–1 win over Laval.[9] Two weeks later, Giroud scored goals in back-to-back matches against Vannes and Créteil.[10][11] He scored his first double of the season in a 2–0 win against Arles-Avignon.[12] A fortnight later, Giroud converted two goals again, this time in a 3–2 win over Pau.[13] After going through the months of November and December without scoring a league goal, Giroud returned to form in January scoring goals in a 3–2 defeat to Vannes and a 2–0 win over Beauvais.[14][15] He finished the campaign by scoring goals in April league fixtures against Paris and Martigues, which brought his total goal tally with Istres to 14.[16][17] Of the 14 goals, Giroud only scored four at the Stade Parsemain, Istres' home stadium.[18]
After a successful loan stint, Giroud returned to Grenoble with hopes of receiving some significant playing time as the club was now playing in Ligue 1. However, club manager Mehmed Baždarević, who was hired while Giroud was on his loan stint at Istres, deemed the player surplus to requirements and, subsequently, listed him for transfer. According to reports, Baždarević had declared that Giroud "did not have the level to play among the elite".[4] In 2011, Giroud reevaluated his departure from Grenoble stating "I am neither resentful nor vengeful. I am just disappointed with what happened to Grenoble when there was great potential".[4]
Tours[link]
On 28 May 2008, it was reported that Giroud had agreed to a three-year deal with Ligue 2 club Tours. The striker was lured to the club by sporting director Max Marty who had previously served as the chief executive officer of Grenoble, Giroud's former club.[4] Giroud was also fond of Tours' manager Daniel Sanchez stating "It's always a plus to have a former striker as a coach. His advice to me really helped a lot. With him, I progressed in my positioning and also in front of goal".[4] Giroud was given the number 12 shirt and, due to injury, made his club debut on 3 September 2008 in a 2–1 defeat to Boulogne in the Coupe de la Ligue.[19] He made his league debut a week later playing the entire match in a 1–0 win over Nîmes.[20] A month later, Giroud scored his first goal for the club converting the opener in a league match against Lens. In the second half, he scored another goal to cap a 3–1 win.[21] Two weeks later, Giroud scored his third goal for the club in a victory over Ajaccio.[22]
In the Coupe de France, Giroud scored five goals in two matches. In the eighth round of the competition, he scored the team's only goal in a 1–0 win over semi-professional club Pacy Vallée-d'Eure.[23] In the ensuing round against Réunionais club Jeanne d'Arc, Giroud scored four goals in a 7–1 win.[24][25] Tours would later be eliminated in the next round by Lorient.[26] After his four-goal display against Jeanne d'Arc, Giroud followed up the performance by scoring goals in back-to-back league matches against Montpellier and Metz.[27][28] After a double against Nîmes on 20 February 2009[29], the striker suffered an injury, which forced him to miss three league matches. After making two substitute appearances on his return, in his first start since the injury on 3 April against Angers, Giroud scored the team's opening goal in a 3–1 win.[30] Giroud later re-aggravated the previous injury in training, which led to him missing the entire month of April as Tours were contesting a promotion battle with several clubs. Despite losing Giroud, the club went unbeaten in the four league matches he missed. On his return against Boulogne on 8 May, Giroud scored his final goal of the season in a victory.[31] In Tours' final three league matches of the campaign, the club failed to achieved a win, which resulted in the club failing to earn promotion to Ligue 1. Giroud finished the season with 27 total appearances and 14 goals.
In the 2009–10 season, Giroud was promoted to the lead striker role following the departure of Tenema N'Diaye to Nantes. The promotion immediately paid off as Giroud scored two goals in the team's opening match of the season; a 2–1 win over Le Havre in the Coupe de la Ligue.[32] On 18 August 2009, he scored his first league goal against the same opposition in another win.[33] Following another league goal in a win over Guingamp[34], on 18 September, Giroud scored all four of Tours' goals in a 4–2 win over Arles-Avignon.[35][36] It was his second career four-goal match at the professional level and his third overall having had one at amateur level while playing with the Grenoble reserve team.[37] In the team's next 15 matches in all competitions, Giroud remained on form scoring ten goals. During that span, the striker scored in consecutive matches on three occasions. Giroud finished the fall campaign with 16 goals, 13 of which came in league play.[37]
On 26 January 2010, it was reported that Ligue 1 club Montpellier had signed Giroud from Tours on a three and a half year deal.[38] The transfer fee was priced at €2 million and it was also announced that Montpellier would loan Giroud back to Tours until the end of the 2009–10 season.[38][39] The striker admitted the move to Montpellier would benefit him the most stating "I feel that here (Montpellier), the coach and staff will be able to help me make real progress. The environment is ideal, the training center is good, the group is healthy, and there's a beautiful stadium with an audience that responds to this".[40] Following the transfer, Giroud went three weeks without scoring a goal before converting one on 19 February 2010 in a win over Arles-Avignon.[41] Two weeks later, he scored the team's only goal in a 2–1 defeat to Nantes.[42] On 19 March, Giroud scored two goals in a shutout win against Châteauroux.[43] A week later, he scored in another shutout victory over Strasbourg.[44] After the goal against Strasbourg, Giroud went seven matches without scoring before netting on the final matchday of the season against Nîmes.[45] He finished the season with 42 appearances and 24 goals. Giroud scored 21 in the league and was named the league's top goalscorer. After the season, he was named the National Union of Professional Footballers (UNFP) Ligue 2 Player of the Year. Giroud was also named to the league's Team of the Year.[46]
Montpellier[link]
Giroud officially joined Montpellier on 1 July 2010. He simultaneously made his club and European debut on 29 July in the first leg of Montpellier's UEFA Europa League third qualifying round with Hungarian club Győri ETO. In the match, Giroud scored his first goal for the club in the first half.[47] Montpellier won the match courtesy of Giroud's goal, but were defeated on aggregate after losing on penalties in the second leg.[48] Giroud made his league debut in the team's first match of the campaign; a 1–0 win over Bordeaux.[49] On 28 August, he scored his first league goal in a 1–0 away win against Valenciennes.[50] On 25 September, Giroud scored two goals in a home victory over Arles-Avignon.[51] The double brought his career goal tally to nine against the Bouches-du-Rhône-based club. A week later, he scored Montpellier's lone goal in a 3–1 loss to Lille.[52] In November 2010, Giroud scored game-winning goals in consecutive weeks against Toulouse and Nice.[53][54]
In the Coupe de la Ligue, Montpellier surprisingly reached the final of the competition.[55][56] In the semi-finals against Paris Saint-Germain, Giroud played the entire match, which went into extra time. In the 117th minute, he scored the match-winning goal to send Montpellier to its first major final since the 1993–94 season when the club reached the final of the Coupe de France.[57][58] In the 2011 Coupe de la Ligue Final, Montpellier faced Marseille and were defeated 1–0 courtesy of a goal by Taye Taiwo.[59][60] Giroud played the entire match.[61] Following his goal against Paris Saint-Germain, Giroud went scoreless for nearly two months before converting both club goals against the same opposition in a 2–2 draw at the Parc des Princes.[62] Towards the end of the league season, Giroud scored goals against title contenders Marseille and Lyon. However, Montpellier lost both matches.[63][64] After finishing the season as the club's top scorer, on 31 May 2011, Giroud signed a contract extension with Montpellier until 2014.[65]
Giroud began the 2011–12 campaign on form scoring in the team's first two league matches of the season against Auxerre and the defending champions Lille.[66][67] Montpellier won both matches. After scoring a double in a 2–2 draw with Brest[68], French newspaper Le Parisien affectionately dubbed him le buteur de charme (English: the charm striker).[3] The nickname paid tribute to his goalscoring ability, as well as personality and looks and was, subsequently, used by several other media outlets in France to describe the player.[25][69] In the team's next 18 matches in all competitions, Giroud lived up to the nickname by scoring 13 goals. The impressive output consisted of hat-tricks against Dijon and Sochaux[70][71], match-winning goals against Nancy, Lyon, and Nice, and a goal each in the Coupe de la Ligue and Coupe de France.[72][73][74][75][76]
As a result of Giroud's performance and the team as a whole, Montpellier topped the league table in November 2011.[77] In January 2012, Giroud was linked with a transfer to several clubs. Montpellier's owner Louis Nicollin responded to the rumours on French radio station RTL and surprised many by deeming one club "not big enough" for Giroud, while also declaring that the striker would cost "at least €50 or €60 million".[78]
International career[link]
Prior to representing the senior national team, Giroud did not earn any caps with the national youth teams. In 2001, he was called up to the under-16 team alongside the likes of Yoann Gourcuff, Yohan Cabaye, and Sylvain Marveaux by coach Pierre Mankowski to participate in a training camp held at the Clairefontaine academy.[79] After the camp, Giroud was not called up for the duration of the 2001–2002 under-16 campaign.
On 3 November 2011, in a effort to reward Giroud for his performances domestically with Montpellier, national team coach Laurent Blanc named the striker to the squad to play in friendly matches against the United States and Belgium on 11 and 15 November 2011, respectively.[80][81] Giroud described the call up as "a childhood dream come true", while also stating it is "immensely satisfying and a privilege" to represent the national team.[82] He made his international debut in the match against the United States appearing as a substitute. France won the match 1–0.[83] Against Belgium, Giroud earned another cap appearing as a substitute as the match ended 0–0.[84] Giroud scored his first career international goal in a 2–1 friendly victory over Germany on 29 February 2012.
Career statistics[link]
Club[link]
- As of 21 May 2012
| Club | Season | League | Cup[nb 1] | Europe | Other[nb 2] | Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | ||
| Grenoble | 2005–06 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 6 | 0 | 0 | |||||
| 2006–07 | 17 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — | 21 | 2 | 0 | ||||||
| Total | 23 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — | 27 | 2 | 0 | ||||||
| Istres | 2007–08 | 33 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 34 | 14 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 33 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 34 | 14 | 0 | ||||||
| Tours | 2008–09 | 23 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 1 | — | 27 | 14 | 3 | |||||
| 2009–10 | 38 | 21 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | — | 42 | 24 | 7 | ||||||
| Total | 61 | 30 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 1 | — | 69 | 38 | 10 | ||||||
| Montpellier | 2010–11 | 37 | 12 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | 43 | 14 | 3 | ||
| 2011–12 | 36 | 21 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 0 | — | 43 | 25 | 9 | ||||||
| Total | 73 | 33 | 11 | 11 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | 86 | 39 | 12 | |||
| Career total | 190 | 79 | 20 | 24 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | 216 | 93 | 22 | |||
International[link]
- As of 31 May 2012[85]
| National team | Season | Apps | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | 2011–12 | 5 | 1 | 2 |
| Total | 5 | 1 | 2 | |
International goals[link]
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 29 February 2012 | Weserstadion, Bremen, Germany |  Germany |
|
|
Friendly | |||||
| Correct as of 29 February 2012 | |||||||||||
Honours[link]
Club[link]
- Montpellier
Individual[link]
- UNFP Ligue 1 Team of the Year (1): 2011–12
- UNFP Ligue 2 Player of the Year (1): 2009–10
- UNFP Ligue 2 Team of the Year (1): 2009–10
- Ligue 2 UNFP Player of the Month (2): September 2009, November 2009[86]
Notes[link]
- ^ Includes Coupe de France and Coupe de la Ligue matches.
- ^ Includes Trophée des champions, UEFA Supercup, and FIFA Club World Cup matches.
References[link]
- ^ "Giroud, un avenir en bleu" (in French). Le Dauphine. 8 November 2011. http://www.ledauphine.com/actualite/2011/11/07/giroud-un-avenir-en-bleu. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
- ^ a b "Interview Olivier Giroud avant RC Strasbourg - Tours FC" (in French). Tours FC. 27 October 2009. http://toursfc.over-blog.com/article-interview-olivier-giroud-avant-rc-strasbourg-tours-fc-38281708.html. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
- ^ a b "Giroud, le buteur de charme" (in French). Le Parisien. 17 September 2011. http://www.leparisien.fr/sports/giroud-le-buteur-de-charme-17-09-2011-1612049.php. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Olivier Giroud, buteur né" (in French). Le Monde. 30 October 2011. http://www.lemonde.fr/sport/article/2011/10/30/ligue-1-olivier-giroud-buteur-ne_1595293_3242.html. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
- ^ "Gueugnon v. Grenoble Match Report" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 24 March 2006. http://www.lfp.fr/ligue2/feuille_match/50374. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
- ^ "Niort v. Grneoble Match Report" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 4 August 2006. http://www.lfp.fr/ligue2/feuille_match/50922. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
- ^ "Grenoble v. Le Havre Match Report" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 26 February 2007. http://www.lfp.fr/ligue2/feuille_match/51254. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
- ^ "Gueugnon v. Grenoble Match Report" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 30 March 2007. http://www.lfp.fr/ligue2/feuille_match/51172. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
- ^ "Laval v. Istres Match Report" (in French). Foot-National. 11 August 2007. http://www.foot-national.com/match-foot-laval-istres-8958.html. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
- ^ "Istres v. VannesMatch Report" (in French). Foot-National. 25 August 2007. http://www.foot-national.com/match-foot-istres-vannes-9052.html. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
- ^ "Créteil v. Istres Match Report" (in French). Foot-National. 1 September 2007. http://www.foot-national.com/match-foot-creteil-istres-9114.html. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
- ^ "Arles-Avignon v. Istres Match Report" (in French). Foot-National. 22 September 2007. http://www.foot-national.com/match-foot-arles-avignon-istres-9292.html. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
- ^ "Pau v. Istres Match Report" (in French). Foot-National. 6 October 2007. http://www.foot-national.com/match-foot-pau-istres-8978.html. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
- ^ "Vannes v. Istres Match Report" (in French). Foot-National. 26 January 2008. http://www.foot-national.com/match-foot-vannes-istres-9053.html. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
- ^ "Beauvais v. Istres Match Report" (in French). Foot-National. 16 February 2008. http://www.foot-national.com/match-foot-beauvais-istres-9175.html. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
- ^ "Paris v. Istres Match Report". Foot-National. 5 April 2008. http://www.foot-national.com/match-foot-paris-fc-istres-9151.html. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
- ^ "Martigues v. Istres Match Report" (in French). Foot-National. 19 April 2008. http://www.foot-national.com/match-foot-martigues-istres-9059.html. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
- ^ "Olivier Giroud: Saison 2007/2008 en National avec Istres" (in French). Foot-National. http://www.foot-national.com/28-2380-92-saison-football-Giroud-Olivier.html. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
- ^ "Tours v. Boulogne Match Report" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 3 September 2008. http://www.lfp.fr/coupeLigue/feuille_match/52984. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
- ^ "Nîmes v. Tours Match Report" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 12 September 2008. http://www.lfp.fr/ligue2/feuille_match/52658. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
- ^ "Tours v. Lens Match Report" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 20 October 2008. http://www.lfp.fr/ligue2/feuille_match/52697. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
- ^ "Tours v. Ajaccio Match Report" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 31 October 2008. http://www.lfp.fr/ligue2/feuille_match/52599. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
- ^ "Pacy v. Tours Match Report" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 13 December 2008. http://www.lfp.fr/autresCompetitions/coupeFrance/feuille_match/53033. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
- ^ "Jeanne d'Arc v. Tours Match Report" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 3 January 2009. http://www.lfp.fr/autresCompetitions/coupeFrance/feuille_match/53049. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
- ^ a b "Olivier Giroud, buteur de charme" (in French). So Foot. 4 November 2011. http://www.sofoot.com/blogs/footaises/olivier-giroud-buteur-de-charme-148616.html. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
- ^ "Lorient v. Tours Match Report" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 30 January 2009. http://www.lfp.fr/autresCompetitions/coupeFrance/feuille_match/53102. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
- ^ "Montpellier v. Tours Match Report" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 9 January 2009. http://www.lfp.fr/ligue2/feuille_match/52602. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
- ^ "Tours v. Metz Match Report" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 16 January 2009. http://www.lfp.fr/ligue2/feuille_match/52776. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
- ^ "Tours v. Nîmes Match Report" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 20 February 2009. http://www.lfp.fr/ligue2/feuille_match/52813. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
- ^ "Tours v. Angers Match Report" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 3 April 2009. http://www.lfp.fr/ligue2/feuille_match/52869. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
- ^ "Tours v. Boulogne Match Report" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 8 May 2009. http://www.lfp.fr/ligue2/feuille_match/52963. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
- ^ "Tours v. Le Havre Match Report" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 1 August 2009. http://www.lfp.fr/coupeLigue/feuille_match/53499. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
- ^ "Tours v. Le Havre Match Report" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 18 August 2009. http://www.lfp.fr/ligue2/feuille_match/53113. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
- ^ "Tours v. Guingamp Match Report" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 30 August 2009. http://www.lfp.fr/ligue2/feuille_match/53114. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
- ^ "Tours v. Arles-Avignon Match Report" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 18 September 2009. http://www.lfp.fr/ligue2/feuille_match/53192. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
- ^ "Tours FC – Un quadruplé pour Olivier Giroud" (in French). Espoirs du Football. 19 September 2009. http://www.espoirsdufootball.com/8533-8533.html. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
- ^ a b "Interview d’Olivier Giroud (football)" (in French). Espoirs du Football. 11 January 2010. http://www.interviewsport.fr/olivier_giroud.php#.TzBywcg8cw8. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
- ^ a b "Olivier Giroud a signé" (in French). Montpellier HSC. 26 January 2010. http://www.mhscfoot.com/liste-saisons/saison-2009-2010/articles/olivier-giroud-en-approche. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
- ^ "Olivier Giroud signe à Montpellier à partir de l'été" (in French). Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 26 January 2010. http://fr.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=1162434.html. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
- ^ "Olivier Giroud: "Cette équipe me plait beaucoup"" (in French). Montpellier HSC. 26 January 2010. http://www.mhscfoot.com/liste-saisons/saison-2009-2010/articles/olivier-giroud. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
- ^ "Arles-Avignon v. Tours Match Report" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 19 February 2010. http://www.lfp.fr/ligue2/feuille_match/53461. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
- ^ "Nantes v. Tours Match Report" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 5 March 2010. http://www.lfp.fr/ligue2/feuille_match/53355. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
- ^ "Châteauroux v. Tours Match Report" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 19 March 2010. http://www.lfp.fr/ligue2/feuille_match/53371. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
- ^ "Tours v. Strasbourg Match Report" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 26 March 2010. http://www.lfp.fr/ligue2/feuille_match/53386. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
- ^ "Nîmes v. Tours Match Report" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 14 May 2010. http://www.lfp.fr/ligue2/feuille_match/53138. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
- ^ "Trophées UNFP: Olivier Giroud à l'honneur" (in French). Web MHSC. http://www.webmhsc.com/trophees-unfp-olivier-giroud-a-lhonneur-av3462.html. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
- ^ "Győr v. Montpellier Report" (in French). Union of European Football Associations. 29 July 2010. http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=2011/matches/round=2000126/match=2002775/index.html. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
- ^ "Montpellier v. Győr Report" (in French). Union of European Football Associations. 5 August 2010. http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=2011/matches/round=2000126/match=2002810/index.html. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
- ^ "Montpellier v. Bordeaux Match Report" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 8 August 2010. http://www.lfp.fr/ligue1/feuille_match/53671. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
- ^ "Valenciennes v. Montpellier Match Report" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 28 August 2010. http://www.lfp.fr/ligue1/feuille_match/53651. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
- ^ "Montpellier v. Arles-Avignon Match Report" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 25 September 2010. http://www.lfp.fr/ligue1/feuille_match/53700. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
- ^ "Lille v. Montpellier Match Report" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 3 October 2010. http://www.lfp.fr/ligue1/feuille_match/53740. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
- ^ "Montpellier v. Toulouse Match Report" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 13 November 2010. http://www.lfp.fr/ligue1/feuille_match/53753. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
- ^ "Nice v. Montpellier Match Report" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 20 November 2010. http://www.lfp.fr/ligue1/feuille_match/53759. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
- ^ "Montpellier et Marseille en finale!" (in French). French Football Federation. 19 January 2011. http://www.fff.fr/coup/clig/actualite/536138.shtml. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
- ^ "Une finale Olympique de Marseille – Montpellier Hérault SC" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 26 January 2011. http://new.lfp.fr/coupeLigue/article/une-finale-olympique-de-marseille-montpellier-herault-sc.htm. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
- ^ "Montpellier v. Paris Saint-Germain Report" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 18 January 2011. http://www.lfp.fr/coupeLigue/feuille_match/73785. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
- ^ "Late, late goal takes Montpellier through". Ligue de Football Professionnel. 18 January 2011. http://www.ligue1.com/coupeLigue/article/late-late-goal-takes-montpellier-through.htm. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
- ^ "L'OM conserve son trophée!" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 23 April 2011. http://new.lfp.fr/coupeLigue/article/l-om-conserve-son-trophee.htm. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
- ^ "Taiwo paye sa Coupe!" (in French). RMC Sport. 23 April 2011. http://www.rmcsport.fr/editorial/158602/taiwo-paye-sa-coupe/. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
- ^ "Marseille v. Montpellier Report" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 23 April 2011. http://www.lfp.fr/coupeLigue/feuille_match/73933. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
- ^ "Paris Saint-Germain v. Montpellier Report" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 13 March 2011. http://www.lfp.fr/ligue1/feuille_match/53882. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
- ^ "Montpellier v. Marseille Report" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 17 April 2011. http://www.lfp.fr/ligue1/feuille_match/53917. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
- ^ "Lyon v. Montpellier Report" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 27 April 2011. http://www.lfp.fr/ligue1/feuille_match/53966. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
- ^ "Giroud signs new Montpellier contract". Fox Sports. 31 May 2011. http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/europe/story/montpellier-striker-olivier-giroud-extends-contract-until-2014-053111. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
- ^ "Montpellier v. Auxerre Report" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 6 August 2011. http://www.lfp.fr/ligue1/feuille_match/74375. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
- ^ "Lille v. Montpellier Report" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 14 August 2011. http://www.lfp.fr/ligue1/feuille_match/74381. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
- ^ "Brest v. Montpellier Report" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 17 September 2011. http://www.lfp.fr/ligue1/feuille_match/74420. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
- ^ "Olivier Giroud, qui c'est celui-là?" (in French). L'Express. 10 November 2011. http://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/sport/football/olivier-giroud-qui-c-est-celui-la_1049246.html?xtor=x. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
- ^ "Montpellier v. Dijon Report" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 15 October 2011. http://www.lfp.fr/ligue1/feuille_match/74464. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
- ^ "Sochaux v. Montpellier Report" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 26 November 2011. http://www.lfp.fr/ligue1/feuille_match/74517. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
- ^ "Montpellier v. Nancy Report" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 29 October 2011. http://www.lfp.fr/ligue1/feuille_match/74484. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
- ^ "Montpellier v. Lyon Report" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 14 January 2012. http://www.lfp.fr/ligue1/feuille_match/74565. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
- ^ "Nice v. Montpellier Report" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 28 January 2012. http://www.lfp.fr/ligue1/feuille_match/74575. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
- ^ "Montpellier v. Lorient Report" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 26 October 2010. http://www.lfp.fr/coupeLigue/feuille_match/75648. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
- ^ "Prix-Lès-Mézières v. Montpellier Report" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 8 January 2012. http://www.lfp.fr/autresCompetitions/coupeFrance/feuille_match/75758. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
- ^ "Giroud hat-trick sends Montpellier top". ESPN. 26 November 2011. http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/989014/ligue-1:-giroud-hat-trick-sends-montpellier-top?cc=5901. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
- ^ "Newcastle 'too small' for Olivier Giroud who would cost '£42m or £50m'". Guardian Media Group. 28 December 2011. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/dec/28/newcastle-olivier-giroud-arsenal-montpellier. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
- ^ "La liste des participants au rassemblement du CTNFS" (in French). French Football Federation. 17 August 2001. http://www.fff.fr/selections/m16ans/9956.shtml. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
- ^ "Top scorer Giroud joins France squad". France24. 3 November 2011. http://www.france24.com/en/20111103-football-striker-top-scorer-giroud-joins-france-squad-montpellier-sport. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
- ^ "Giroud and Gonalons out to seize France chance". Union of European Football Associations. 10 November 2011. http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/news/newsid=1715051.html. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
- ^ "Le joueur du MHSC Olivier Giroud sélectionné en équipe de France" (in French). Midi Libre. 3 November 2011. http://www.midilibre.fr/2011/11/03/le-footballeur-montpellierain-olivier-giroud-selectionne-en-equipe-de-france,411880.php. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
- ^ "France 1–0 USA". Guardian Media Group. 11 November 2011. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/nov/12/usa-france-jurgen-klinsmann-laurent-blanc. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
- ^ "Belgium draws 0-0 at France in uneventful friendly". Mail.com. 15 November 2011. http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/845752-belgium-draws-0-0-france-uneventful-friendly.html. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
- ^ GIROUD Olivier, French Football Federation, accessed 5 February 2012
- ^ "Trophées UNFP: Olivier Giroud: Palmarès & trophée" (in French). National Union of Professional Footballers. http://www.footballeurspros.fr/site-officiel/olivier-giroud/p/palmares-trophee.html. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
External links[link]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Olivier Giroud |
- Official site
- Olivier Giroud French league stats at LFP.fr (French)
- Olivier Giroud at L'Équipe Football (French)
- Olivier Giroud – UEFA competition record
- Olivier Giroud career stats at Soccerbase
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| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| Name | Giroud, Olivier |
| Alternative names | |
| Short description | Footballer |
| Date of birth | 30 September 1986 |
| Place of birth | Chambéry, France |
| Date of death | |
| Place of death | |
http://wn.com/Olivier_Giroud
Related pages:
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http://cs.wn.com/Olivier Giroud
http://id.wn.com/Olivier Giroud
http://es.wn.com/Olivier Giroud
http://ru.wn.com/Жиру, Оливье
http://nl.wn.com/Olivier Giroud
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http://de.wn.com/Olivier Giroud
This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olivier_Giroud
This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License, which means that you can copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license.
This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License, which means that you can copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license.
| Alison Moyet | |
|---|---|
 Alison Moyet, Dublin 2008 |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Geneviève Alison Jane Moyet |
| Also known as | Alf |
| Born | (1961-06-18) 18 June 1961 (age 51) |
| Origin | Billericay, Essex, England |
| Genres | New Wave, synthpop (with Yazoo), pop, rock, blues |
| Years active | 1981–present |
| Labels | Columbia, Sanctuary, W14 Music, Sony Music |
| Associated acts | Yazoo, The Vandals |
| Website | alisonmoyet.com |
Alison Moyet (born Geneviève Alison Jane Moyet 18 June 1961, Billericay) is an English singer, songwriter and performer noted for her bluesy voice.
Her UK album sales have reached a certified 2.3 million, with over a million singles sold, All seven of her studio albums and three compilation albums have charted in the Top 30 UK Album Chart, with two of the albums reaching number one. She has also achieved nine Top 30 singles and five Top 10 hits in the UK Singles Chart.[1]
Contents |
Early life[link]
 |
This biographical section of an article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (November 2011) |
Geneviève Alison Jane Moyet was born in the small Essex town of Billericay to a French father and English mother. She grew up in the nearby town of Basildon, where she attended Markhams Chase Junior School. Upon leaving school at 16, she worked as a shop assistant and trained as a piano tuner. She was involved in a number of punk rock, pub rock and blues bands in the South East Essex area during the late 1970s and early 1980s, including the Vandals, the Screamin' Ab Dabs, the Vicars and the Little Roosters (the latter featuring Gary Lammin formerly of Cock Sparrer).
Yazoo[link]
Main article: Yazoo (band)
Beginning her mainstream pop career in 1982, at the age of 21, she formed the synthpop duo Yazoo with former Depeche Mode member Vince Clarke. In the United States, the band became known as Yaz, as there was a record label in the region already operating as Yazoo Records that presented trademark issues. Yazoo had several hits, including "Only You", "Don't Go", "Situation" and "Nobody's Diary", and recorded two albums, Upstairs at Eric's and You and Me Both.
In 1983, Moyet and Clarke decided to disband Yazoo. While Clarke went on to form The Assembly (another duo, this time with Eric Radcliffe) and then Erasure (a duo again, with Andy Bell), Moyet signed to CBS (in part because it had been Janis Joplin's label), and began her solo career.
During mid-2008, Moyet reunited with Clarke as Yazoo for a series of live dates.
Solo career[link]
In 1984, Moyet released her debut solo album Alf (titled after her punk-era nickname). Alf was produced by the record producing and songwriting team of Jolley & Swain. The album was co-written by the duo and Moyet, with the exception of "Invisible", which was written specifically for her by Lamont Dozier. The record was a hit in Britain, reaching No. 1 in the album chart. Alf spawned three international hit singles, "Love Resurrection" (UK #10), "Invisible" (UK #21) and "All Cried Out" (UK #8). In the US, "Invisible" was a Top 40 hit (something Yazoo had never achieved). In some European territories, a fourth single, "For You Only", was also released.
In 1985, Moyet performed at Live Aid alongside Paul Young, and later returned unscheduled to the stage (alongside Bob Geldof, David Bowie and Pete Townshend) to provide vocals on "Let It Be" when Paul McCartney's vocal microphone at his piano failed, leaving him unable to be heard for the first stanza of the song. (Twenty years later he overdubbed his vocal for the Live Aid DVD release.) Moyet also released a single not featured on Alf, a cover of the standard "That Ole Devil Called Love", which climbed to No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart (it remains Moyet's highest-charting UK single).
Moyet had another big UK hit the following year with "Is This Love?" (co-written by the Eurythmics' David A. Stewart, under the pseudonym Jean Guiot), followed in 1987 by her second LP, Raindancing. Raindancing spawned further hit singles, including a cover of Floy Joy's "Weak in the Presence of Beauty" and "Ordinary Girl". In 1987, she scored another cover hit with "Love Letters", which peaked at UK #4. The video for the song featured comedy duo French & Saunders.
Following a period of personal and career evaluation, Hoodoo was released in 1991. The album sold respectably in the UK, and Moyet was nominated for a Grammy for the single "It Won't Be Long". However, the release of Hoodoo marked the beginning of what was to become a long fight for Moyet to secure complete control of her artistic direction. Like many similar artists (including Aimee Mann and the late Kirsty MacColl), Moyet was reluctant to record a radio-friendly "pop" album simply for the sake of creating chart hits.[citation needed]
Moyet's next album, Essex (1994), was also a source of controversy for her; in order for the album to be released, her label (now Sony) insisted that certain Essex tracks be re-recorded and re-produced, and that there be additional material remixed to create a more 'commercial' package. The video for the single "Whispering Your Name" again featured Dawn French.
Following the release of Essex, Sony released a greatest hits compilation of Moyet's work. Singles entered the UK charts at No. 1 and, following a UK tour, was re-issued as a double CD set which included "Live (No Overdubs)", a bonus live CD. Upon re-issue, Singles charted again, this time in the Top 20.
Due to prolonged litigation with Sony, Moyet did not record or release a new studio album for over eight years after the release of Essex. During this time, however, she recorded vocals for Tricky, Sylk-130, Ocean Colour Scene, The Lightning Seeds, and King Britt, and was featured on the British leg of the Lilith Fair tour. 2001 saw the release of The Essential Alison Moyet CD, and in 2002 The Essential Alison Moyet DVD.
In 1995, she sang back-up vocals with Sinéad O'Connor for one of Dusty Springfield's last television appearances, singing "Where Is a Woman to Go?" on the music show Later With Jools Holland.
In August 2002, Moyet was released from her Sony contract. Moyet signed to Sanctuary Records and released her first studio album in eight years. Hometime was produced by The Insects, who had also produced works by Massive Attack and Madonna. The release of the CD launched Moyet into the top five best-selling female UK artists of 2002,[2] and resulted in a BRIT Awards nomination for Best Female Vocalist,[3] as well as a nomination for the Mercury Music Prize.[4] Hometime was certified Gold in the UK for sales in excess of 100,000 copies with little promotion.
Voice, a collection of cover versions, was released on 6 September 2004 and entered the UK charts at #7. Scored and produced by Moyet's neighbour (and Academy Award winner) Anne Dudley, the album was later re-issued with a bonus track, "Alfie". A companion DVD, One Blue Voice, was released in 2006. Voice was certified Gold in the UK within four weeks of its release.
In December 2006 Moyet signed a recording contract with W14 Music,[5] a Universal Music Group imprint. The deal saw Moyet reunited with label head John Williams, who was her A&R man for her last two albums, Hometime and Voice.
Moyet's album, The Turn, was released on 15 October 2007, preceded by the single "One More Time" a week earlier. The album featured self-penned songs, including the three numbers she wrote for the stage play, Smaller in which she starred with Dawn French. For these songs, again Moyet worked alongside producer/songwriter and frequent Moyet collaborator Pete Glenister. The Turn debuted at No. 21 on the UK Albums Chart on 22 October 2007. Alison left W14 shortly after the release of The Turn. Promotional videos for the tracks "One More Time", "Anytime At All", "The Man in the Wings" and "A Guy Like You" are on Youtube and Moyet's Myspace site.
Sony Music released Revisited: The Very Best of Alison Moyet on 19 October 2009. The track listing was compiled by Moyet including material from her seven solo albums. The 'deluxe' version of the album contained an extra disc, with re-recorded versions of older songs. In support of the release Moyet toured the UK and Ireland during November and December 2009.[6]
Sony Music confirmed that Moyet's four solo albums (Alf, Raindancing, Hoodoo and Essex) were being digitally re-mastered and will include b-sides and bonus material.
Moyet was Jools Holland's Special Guest throughout his UK Tour of the UK for 2010. She has contributed vocals on the latest Jools Holland album released 15 November 2010 on the song titled 'The Man That Got Away. The song was made famous by Judy Garland.
More recently, Moyet wrote a new album with Guy Sigsworth. She announced on BBC 6 that her new album would be released in 2012. However, in February 2012, Moyet announced on Twitter that “I appear to have forfeited my recording deal because I won’t do reality TV. No-one needs to make an album that badly. Tea anyone?”[7]
Theatre[link]
Moyet made her stage debut in the London West End production of the musical Chicago in 2001. She played the part of Matron 'Mama' Morton, and although initially planned to be a short run, it was extended to six months. In 2006, she appeared in the play Smaller, which undertook a regional tour before a stint at London's Lyric Theatre.
Personal life[link]
Moyet's first marriage to hairdresser Malcolm Lee, with whom she has a son, Joe, ended in divorce. A short-lived relationship with tour manager Kim McCarthy produced a daughter, Alex, and her present marriage to teaching assistant David Ballard resulted in a daughter, Caitlin.[8]
Discography[link]
Main article: Alison Moyet discography
References[link]
- ^ allmusic (((Alison Moyet > Overview)))
- ^ "Alison Moyet.com". http://alisonmoyet.com/. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
- ^ "Brit Awards 2003: Winners". BBC News. 21 February 2003. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/2655109.stm.
- ^ "Debut stars scoop Brits nominations". BBC News. 19 February 2003. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/2652495.stm.
- ^ "Alison Moyet (ex-Yazoo) joins W14 Music". Side-line.com. 19 December 2006. http://www.side-line.com/news.php?id=P19578. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
- ^ "alisonmoyet.com". alisonmoyet.com. http://www.alisonmoyet.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=250:2009-solo-tour&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=50. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
- ^ "Simply The Best 7 Days A Week :: News :: Streep slammed for forgetting Thatcher in acceptance speech". Daily Star. 4 February 2012. http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/view/233528/Reality-bites-for-Alison-Moyet/. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
- ^ Published on Monday 29 July 2002 01:00 (29 July 2002). "The Scotsman". The Scotsman. http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/s2.cfm?id=815582002. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
External links[link]
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| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| Name | Moyet, Alison |
| Alternative names | |
| Short description | English singer |
| Date of birth | 18 June 1961 |
| Place of birth | |
| Date of death | |
| Place of death | |
http://wn.com/Alison_Moyet
Related pages:
http://ru.wn.com/Мойе, Элисон
http://fr.wn.com/Alison Moyet
http://nl.wn.com/Alison Moyet
http://pt.wn.com/Alison Moyet
http://de.wn.com/Alison Moyet
http://it.wn.com/Alison Moyet
http://pl.wn.com/Alison Moyet
http://es.wn.com/Alison Moyet
This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alison_Moyet
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This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License, which means that you can copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license.
