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WILLIAM GEORGE FRETTON (1829-1900) was the only son of JOHN HENRY & SARAH FRETTON and followed in his father's footsteps, being his pupil and his assistant, until he was appointed as master in his own right at the National School at Southam. It was there that he met his wife, ELIZABETH ANN INNOCENT, mistress of the Southam Girls' School. During his time at Southam, he was organist at the parish church and he helped to found the Warwickshire Teachers' Association. After 7 years, he returned to Coventry when, on his father's death, he was invited to take over the role of master of the Katherine Bayley (or Blue Gift) School. He went on to hold this post until his retirement in 1889, when the school was amalgamated with the Bablake Boys' Hospital. His interests were wide and he seems to have been very energetic in the pursuit of them. He became an influential member (and later Grand Provincial Master) of the Odd Fellows, put the affairs of the Church General Burial Society in order, supported the Dispensary and various mutual benefit societies and gave much of his time to the Coventry Church of England Young Men's Association. It is, however, as an historian and antiquarian that he became best known in Coventry. Indeed, his writings on many aspects of the city - its archaeology, its architecture, its geology etc - are still important now. Indeed they have become prime sources for the study of the city's history today. He published (in 1871) an updated and improved edition of Thomas Sharp's "History and Antiquities" and made a comprehensive and much respected study of the Coventry Fullers' Guild. He drew for the Anastatic Society and wrote on geology and natural features as well as on historical subjects. His architectural descriptions were meticulously and accurately recorded - often preserving information about buildings which have now partly or wholly disappeared.

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Coventry Standard - Friday 19 January 1872 THE LATE MR. DAVID GEE Our obituary last week contained the death of this celebrated local artist, and we take the earliest opportunity of recording some particulars of the life of one who deserves to be numbered among Coventry worthies. Mr. Gee was born on the 24th December, 1793, in the house adjoining the east side of the premises now occupied by Fairfax’s Charity, in which school he received his education (together with his brother, now living) under the late Mr. Barnes. He showed very early indications of a taste for drawing, which he was entirely self-taught, and when only 13 years old produced his first painting, the subject being “The Death of Nelson”; for this he received from a lady the magnificent sum of 5s. On leaving school he was apprenticed to his father, with whom he served his time as a watchmaker. He afterwards worked at the pendant making, but entirely relinquished his trade when about 25 years of age in favour of painting, in which had now acquired considerable skill. He removed about this period to a small house near Barras-lane, where he lived for over 40 years, and where the greater part of his most important labours were accomplished. At the Peace rejoicings in 1815 he was employed in painting the transparencies and mottoes which formed imposing features in the illuminations. His first important work was a painting in oil of the Battle Waterloo, in which he had introduced a portrait of Lord Paget, who led the spirited charge of Somerset’s Brigade in that engagement. This portrait was from a slight sketch privately taken by Mr. Gee on the occasion of his lordship’s stay at Coventry some time before with the regiment of Hussars, of which he was Colonel. The picture was exhibited at Combe on the visit of George IV., then Prince Regent, in 1816, who highly commended the painting, wherein he at once recognised the portrait of the then Marquis of Anglesea, exclaiming “There’s Paget.” The picture became the property Mr. J. Butterworth, who represented Coventry from 1812 to 1818. Mr. Gee now received numerous commissions for the production of historical paintings, of which the chief were the taking of the Danish fleet at Copenhagen for Sir Graham Hammond, two large pictures for Lord Bridport, representative of his grandfather’s engagement with the French fleet, and the taking of the Compte de Grasse. Lord Bridport was generous patron of the rising artist, and prevailed upon him to spend some months in London, where his talents were recognised by West, then President to the Royal Academy. But London proving distasteful to him, he returned to his native city, where he soon acquired a large connexion as a portrait painter, in which department he was eminently successful, and received commissions from the families of the Hoods, Gregorys, Adderleys, Adamses, Ewarts, and many of the neighbouring gentry. His very striking portrait of the Rev. R. Simpson, now hanging in St. Michael’s vestry, with those of Dr. Phillips, and others, will be familiar to most of our readers. He was also skilful as a painter of animals, and was very frequently engaged by the cavalry officers and others, to represent on canvas their favourite chargers. He was very successful as a restorer of pictures, and many collections in this neighbourhood are much indebted to his judicious care for their present condition. In 1831, the remarkable fresco painting in Trinity Church of the Last Judgment was discovered, during some repairs, after having been hidden with whitewash for centuries ; Mr. Gee was engaged to restore this work, which he satisfactorily performed ; and in 1833 painted the Reredos in the same church from a design furnished by Rickman and Hutchinson. As an heraldic painter he was in great request, and executed a large number of hatchments, armorial beatings for carriages, and other works of a similar character. The Roll of the Forest of Arden, and the diplomas of membership of the Woodmen, bear evidences of his ability. In the painting of banners and streamers Mr. Gee was at one time much occupied, more especially when the city companies were represented in the procession at the Great Fair. The flag of the Drapers’ Company and the City Banner are his work. The late Mr. Thomas Sharp employed him to design and execute the engravings illustrating his great work on the Coventry Mysteries, and his estimation of the manner in which Mr. Gee performed the work may be best shown by the following extract from a note appended to the introduction, dated 1825 : — “It is a tribute justly due to the talents and modest ingenuity of the young artist of this city, who executed all the engravings on copper (with the exception of plates 4 and 5), to state that the designs for the woodcuts, as well as the elaborate frontispiece, are entirely of his composition. Such abilities entitle and will recommend him to notice.” The folded plate representative of the procession at Coventry Fair, published in Lewis’s History of Coventry, was engraved by him. Other etchings also bear his name. Mr. Gee painted most of the meritorious emblematical public-house signs in the city and neighbourhood, many of which are much too good for out-door exposure. Some these are worthy of special mention : — White Horse, Toby’s Head, Craven Arms, George 4th, William 4th, Sampson and Lion, Black Prince, Bablake Boy, Cottage, Leopard ; White Lion, Allesley ; Craven Arms, Binley — the last sign he painted. Among his miscellaneous paintings may be enumerated Christ on the Cross, The Hay makers, Boys Riding to School, Exterior and Interior St. Michael’s Church (several), Lammas Day, Godiva Procession starting from St. Mary’s Hall, View from Priory-street, various Landscapes and compositions. His portfolio contains a large collection of original sketches of portraits, &c., remarkable for their spirit and effective rendering ; and they constitute an almost perfect index of his completed works. Mr. Gee was of a quiet and retired disposition, scarcely ever emerging from private life ; and retained his faculties to the Iast. He was much respected by all who knew him, and has departed in a good age, with unblemished reputation. He died at his residence on the Stoney Stanton road on the 9th of January, aged 78, and was buried at the Cemetery on Saturday last. He was twice married, surviving his last wife four years. He had several nephews and nieces. His namesake, Mr. David Gee, whose portrait was his last work, is a non-commissioned officer in the 3rd company of the Coventry Rifle Volunteers

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Coventry Evening Telegraph - Friday 2 October 1942 The Late Mr. W. Coker Iliffe AS briefly reported in our editions yesterday, the death has occurred after a short illness, of Mr. William Coker Iliffe, of Moorcroft, Farleigh Common, Warlingham, Surrey, who, though of late he had appeared little in the public life of the city, was keenly interested in its welfare. He had extensive business interests locally, but always found time to concern himself with many varied aspects of the city’s life, including the care of ancient buildings and aiding charitable institutions. Mr. Iliffe, who was within a few days of his 68th birthday, was director of The Midland Daily Telegraph, Ltd., and a former chairman. He failed to survive a recent operation, and leaves a widow and one son, the latter of whom had been associated with him in a number of his business connections, including the administration of a considerable amount of central property Coventry. PRINTING TRADE ASSOCIATIONS Mr. Iliffe was the elder son of the late Mr. W. I. Iliffe, founder of the firm which, starting in Coventry, came to enjoy a place of wide importance among the leading printing and publishing houses in the country. He was born not far from the premises in Vicar Lane, where the business Iliffe and Sons was founded, and after the death of his father he and his brother, Lord Iliffe, moved the headquarters of the business to London, and issued and controlled a number of leading trade publications in a wide variety of subjects. In his younger days, Mr. Iliffe was keenly interested in the mechanical side of the printing industry, and he paid several visits to America and to continental countries in search of the latest developments and Improvements in specialised machinery. PRESERVATION OF CITY’S HISTORIC FEATURES Mr. Iliffe will best be remembered in Coventry for the practical interest he took in movements for preserving valuable relics of the past. He was a founder member and active supporter of the Coventry City Guild, and his colleagues who were working to the same ends will recall his benefactions to 14th century St. Mary’s Hall. Outstanding among his work in this direction was his presentation in 1930 of stained glass windows for the greater beautification of the East and West walls of the hall. He went to extreme care, in collaboration with contemporary experts, to ensure the best possible arrangement of the heraldic and other features of the windows, and the most suitable retention of such of the old 15th century glass that remained. He took a prominent part in the restoration of King James’ Room at the Old Palace Yard, a building which was destroyed in an enemy raid, and of more recent years had purchased lovely Georgian house in Priory Row and had it restored. This, too, has since been destroyed by fire, only the outer walls remaining as a reminder of one of the best examples of its period of architecture to be found in the Midlands. Mr. Iliffe, shortly before his death, was endeavouring to make arrangements for its restoration after the war. For some years he had resided mainly in Surrey. Formerly his home was at Lion House, Allesley, and also at Coundon House, and in recent years he had a flat in the Priory Row house he loved so well. Mr. Iliffe will be buried in Allesley churchyard near to the grave of his father, at 3.15 tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon.

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Michael J. Kimberley ("Mike") C.Eng., F.I. Mech. E., F.R.S.A., F.I.E.D, F.I.M.I has had a remarkable career in the motor industry over the last 56 years, working with some of the great engineers, innovators and leaders of the worlds motor companies. Mike started as an apprentice with Jaguar in 1953 before rapidly progressing to becoming in Section Leader, Special Projects at Jaguar in 1965 where he lead the team developing the Jaguar XJ13 Le Mans car, under such famous names as Jaguar founder Sir William Lyons and Jaguar race director Frank (Lofty) England. In 1969, he joined Lotus as Manager of Continuous Engineering, with the Lotus Europa Twin Cam being one of his most notable projects. Mike rose steadily but rapidly through the Lotus ranks, joining the Board of Lotus aged 37, and becoming Managing Director of Lotus Cars in 1976 and Managing Director of Lotus Engineering by 1980, being responsible for such Lotus icons as the Esprit, Eclat and Elite. During the 1970s and 80s, Mike had the unique experience of having worked closely with the company's founder Colin Chapman, with whom Mike set up the world class Lotus Engineering consultancy to enable Lotus to work for many other cars companies around the world. Lotus Engineering is now a globally recognised high technology engineering consultancy and serves many of the world's car companies. After Colin Chapman's tragic and untimely death in 1982, Mike became C.E.O of Group Lotus plc, as well as holding board positions with a number of Lotus associated companies such as Chairman of Millbrook Proving Ground and President of Moog Systems Inc. With Lotus under General Motors ownership, Mike became Chairman of Group Lotus plc before leaving Lotus in 1992 to become Executive Vice President (General Motors Overseas Corporation) based in South East Asia. Two years later, Mike became director of the Vector Aeromotive Corporation, and in 1994, he became President & Managing Director of Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A, being responsible for the rebuilding of Lamborghini after Chrysler's ownership and prior to its sale to Audi AG, as part of the VW Group. In the mid 1990s, Mike left Lamborghini and worked directly for Tommy Suharto as a board member of Timor Putra Nasional (owners of Lamborghini) until retiring with an undiagnosed tropical fever. Returning to the automotive industry a few months later, Mike worked in a consultancy role for a number of organisations including Tata Motors Ltd. In August 2005 Mike was appointed to the Lotus Group International Limited and Group Lotus plc Boards as well as other Boards of Proton. He was appointed acting Chief Executive Officer of Group Lotus plc in May 2006, confirmed as Chief Executive Officer of Group Lotus plc in September 2006. During his second tenure at Lotus, Mike was responsible for the creation and execution of a new 5 year strategic business plan, and the new, already award-winning Lotus Evora was the first of the range of new Lotus cars to be designed, developed, manufactured and sold by Britain's most iconic and innovative sportscar company. Lotus Engineering had expanded to become a world-class consultancy employing over 500 highly qualified engineers in five technical centres around the globe. It is revered for innovation, outstanding driving dynamics, exciting niche vehicles and efficient performance engineering. Mike left Lotus in 2009 due to ill health.

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Born at 40 Lythalls Lane, she married (at least) twice; in 1947 to Joseph Waxman, and 1982 to Walter Gradner, where her maiden name was shown as "Harris" She died of cancer in St Mary's Hospital, Paddington on 27 April 1997

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BBC Sport - Thursday, 31 January 2008 They say the past is a foreign country - they do things differently there. The 2008 England team prepared for the Six Nations by carbo-loading, anaerobically exercising and isotonically hydrating. In 1947, the build-up to the Championship was a little different. There were no week-long training camps - you would turn up the afternoon before an international, have a quick run out with your team-mates and then go and give it a lash. And while modern-day England players pull up to their swish team hotel in their sleek saloons, in the post-war era you were supposed to take a bus while on England duty. Former prop Harry Walker, one of England's oldest surviving internationals at 92, won nine caps in a career interrupted by the war. He left school at 14, promptly founded his own old boys' team and went on to earn his living as a machine tool fitter while devoting a lifetime to Coventry RFC. He was first called up by England two years after the Second World War, going on to be one of only two ever-presents in the 1947 and 1948 Five Nations. Modern-day England stars would barely recognise Walker's Red Rose experience - he even had to buy his own white shorts. "For a home game you got up to London on Friday. You'd have a run that afternoon at Rosslyn Park and that was it," Walker told BBC Sport. "One day I was travelling down with (current Barbarians president) Mickey Steele-Bodger from the Midlands by train and we had been delayed, so we took a taxi from Euston station to Twickenham. "The secretary of the Rugby Football Union (RFU) had us into his office and gave us a doing. He told us we weren't allowed to take a taxi and should have caught a bus." Wales and Ireland were Walker's favourite opponents because of the intensity and passion and he says there was not the "same bite" facing Scotland, while France tended to get a "bit overheated". Although England tried to tempt him back in 1952, Walker turned them down because he no longer felt his body was up to it. He started his playing career at 17 as a flanker in Coventry's 2nd XV and ending up as club president after the best part of 20 years in the 1st XV. He came out of a Coventry state school system that was a prolific rugby union nursery. Like many working class lads in the pre-war years, Walker left school young but, showing the drive and fighting spirit that still burns brightly, he formed the John Gulson Old Boys so he could continue to play the game he loved. From there he progressed to Coventry - a "working man's club" as he describes it. He was converted from flanker to prop after two games for the 2nd XV and never looked back, breaking into the first team at 18. "You knew you had made it when you were given a ticket to go down to the local sports shop, Tommy Pollard's, and buy yourself a pair of boots," Walker recalled. "Training was on Tuesday and Thursday nights and we didn't have floodlights. You'd run round in the mud and the rain and then go home and have a bath. "We didn't have a gym - we shared three skipping ropes." Cardiff and neighbours Leicester were the most eagerly-contested rivalries. Leicester away was "bloody murder", but it is the Cardiff encounters that stick most in Walker's mind. Trips to the old Arms Park were special and the fact they had a clubhouse - Cov still used local pub The Coundon - marked them out as big time. Walker can still clearly recall the very first time he faced the club from the Welsh capital. "The first game I ever played against Cardiff was at Coundon Road (Coventry's home before their move to Butts Park Arena in 2004)," he said. "I got down in the first scrum and, Christ, the opposition prop (then-Wales captain Archie Sykm) hit me - I didn't know whether I was coming or going. "When the scrum broke up and the ball had gone Arthur Wheatley, my second row, said 'are you all right?' "I couldn't bloody speak but he said 'at the next scrum don't put your head in so quickly'. "At the next scrum I didn't want to go down but as I was packing down I felt the wind rushing past my ear as Arthur took a swing. "A hand patted me on the shoulder and a voice said from behind me said 'you should be all right now. Put your head down and keep your back straight and you won't have any trouble'. And I didn't." After a playing career which saw him also represent the Barbarians and be dropped by Coventry for scoring too many tries - he was told his job was to "put his head down and push" - he eventually retired at the age of 37. He went on to hold every major role at Coventry, helping the club develop the likes of England internationals David Duckham and Peter Rossborough. He was also match secretary for Warwickshire when they won four County Championships. Walker remains closely connected to his beloved Coventry as club patron, but he has no doubt the game has changed for the worse since his days, on and off the field. "You don't get the same spirit as you had in the amateur days," he said. "After I stopped playing I would go to Twickenham for Wales games and when I saw some of my oppos the first thing they would do was embrace you - I don't think players of this generation still have that. "And the game today is always a pile-up, it's not how the game should be played," added Walker, although he does rate Ireland fly-half Ronan O'Gara. "He knows how to nurse his pack but it's all crash, bang, wallop in the midfield, there's no finesse, no room for players like (former Wales centre) Bleddyn Williams. "In our day we had centres who were classy players who relied on sheer artistry rather than just crashing about." You get the impression Walker was never overly fond of some of the blazers running the game during his playing days and well into his dotage he remains critical of the modern-day authorities. "The RFU, although they've got all these millions, they don't look after us old guys. If I want two tickets for a game I have to pay full price for them," he said. "I'm not happy about the way they treat us. And make sure you put that into your piece!" The game may have changed radically from Walker's era, but England's current front row warriors could do worse than to take inspiration from one old prop who still refuses to take a backwards step.

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Link to "A to Z of British League Riders", which includes year-by-year statistics Link to National Speedway Museum rider profile Link to a tribute on www.speedwayfirst.com - an excellent read!

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Selina Dix was the daughter of Edward Dix, a lace machine smith and his wife Emma, and was born in Beeston, Nottingham, on 15th March, 1859. She took over the headship of the Girls department of South Street Board School (later Southfields Primary School) in 1889 and made huge improvements to the standard of education in the school and an enormous contribution to the improvement of the quality of life and opportunity for many children in the Hillfields area. She was the first woman president of the Warwickshire County Teachers Association, a president of the Coventry Head Teachers Association, a member of the executive of the National Union of Teachers, a worker for its Benevolent and Orphans Fund (see below), a founder member of the local branch of the NSPCC, a worker for the Red Cross Society and a representative of the Prince of Wales Fund, visiting hard-pressed families in the Hillfields ward. At South Street she began domestic science classes for the girls in 1890, correlating these with instruction in first aid and home nursing, and encouraged all the members of staff and older children to attend evening classes to broaden their knowledge, leading by example. She also introduced a lending library at the school. She was presented with the Bronze Medal from the Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce for the highest success in Great Britain in an examination in Domestic Economy. She held views well in advance of her time on sanitation and personal hygiene and, working as she did in an area where deprivation was rife in the 1890’s, she introduced order, cleanliness, punctuality and regular attendance, along with an understanding of the importance of preparing nourishing food to improve the health of the next generation. She was elected, on attainments, to the Institute of Hygiene and she lectured in Hygiene and Physiology at the Technical Institute in the evenings whilst still working at the school. In 1893, she was appointed head teacher of the girls' department of the newly-built Wheatley Street School, a showpiece in its day, which received visitors from across the world. She established many links with the ‘outside world’ (the RSPCA, the Children’s National Guild of Courtesy, the Young Helpers League, etc.) and expanded the curriculum to include French, school visits to places of interest, trips to lectures and concerts, fieldwork in geography, swimming, netball and gymnastics, all innovations at the time. Miss Dix even arranged cookery demonstrations for adults during the deprivations of the First World War to advise on the best and most economical use of food, which was in very short supply. She received the MBE in 1918 in recognition of her labours in the cause of education and for the welfare of women and children, particularly during the war and, although she was not a suffragette, she was a strong proponent of the right of women to the vote. She was the secretary of the Coventry Benevolent and Orphans fund for fifteen years from 1895, during which the membership grew from 11 to 373, and served on the National Committee of the Central Council, pioneering its work. She founded the Coventry Society in 1900 and when women later became eligible for membership of the House of Commons she was offered support if she wished to become a parliamentary candidate but had to decline because of failing health. She was an extraordinary woman who made a major contribution to the welfare and education of girls and women in Hillfields during thirty-five years of working there and continued to work for their interests in the city at large right up until her death in 1942.

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The Coventry I Remember, by M. S. Garratt I shall remember the city I love Her tall spires gleaming, gold tipped above. Godiva processions, the ancient fair, And where the centuries met in Broadgate square With glittering windows of bright modern shops And above on the skyline, old mossy rooftops, Peeping Tom staring at all who passed by The great market clock, n'er telling a lie. I shall remember the beauty of dawn That shone on the wreck that November morn. Gone, the old buildings the pride of the city And homes of the poor, Oh Lord have pity. Yet brave were the smiles that shone through the tears Though night must come with horror and fears, And still the proud spires looked up to the sky Godiva's fair city would never die. I shall remember the dear friends I knew Who gave up their lives "True Coventry Blue" And the sirens that screamed as they laid them to rest In one long grave forever blessed. Our great Cathedral, dim and all holy With quiet sanctuary and care for the lowly Where the spirits of those from ages passed Did join in our prayers until the last. I must remember 'ere Christ was dead In pain and anguish still he said "Forgive them for they know not what they do" And so on the day when our dreams come true, When the last "All clear" has died away, Let me remember lord that I may pray, My life forever more shall worthier be Of those who died for Coventry

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Mary Dormer Harris was born in 1867 at Dale House, Stoneleigh and educated in Kenilworth, Twickenham, France and Germany before going to Oxford University, where she took a first class honours degree in 1888. She then taught and researched many aspects of the history of Coventry, eventually producing an edition of the fifteenth century Leet Book. She published a number of articles and books, including the popular “Unknown Warwickshire” in 1924. She was connected with the Dugdale Society and the Birmingham Archaeological Society, lectured in local history at Birmingham University and was a Vice President of the Workers Educational Association. Before the first World War she had been active in the women's suffrage movement and she continued to encourage the involvement of women in public work. She was also as a member of the local League of Nations Union and In 1916 became the first lady to address the Leamington Literary Society and in 1917 she became one of the two first ladies elected as members. A playwright herself, she was a founder of the Dramatic Study Club in 1922 and was much involved in the amateur productions of the Loft Theatre. She was well known for her parties at her home at 16 Gaveston Road, Leamington, which might start with earnest readings from Shakespeare or Shaw, but then develop into riotous charades. Her obituaries talk about “her zest for life, her sympathy with the joys and sorrows of everyone about her, here kindliness and humour and her unaffected sympathy”. Others mentioned “her wide circle of friends, young and old”, her tact and wise counsel, her love of the past “balanced by a perpetually fresh and gay enthusiasm which carried a touch of idealism”, her “gaiety and fun” and her “profound scholarship”. “Above all, she was a very good friend, and was most helpful to a number of young people who came into her circle”. Many of those “young people” still remember her kind deeds. A fascinating biography, “Mary Dormer Harris: The Life and Works of a Warwickshire Historian”, by Jean Field, was published in 2002. This well illustrated book is of great interest to those wishing to learn more about Miss Harris's life and to local historians alike.

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He started his speedway career at Birmingham in 1950 and had his first first of many racing engagements in Australia in the1951/52 season and later also toured New Zealand. Ron was a part of the Birmingham team that toured South Africa in the 1954 close season and who were subsequently banned for racing on unlicenced tracks. Birmingham closed their doors and Ron moved over to Coventry where he scored almost 3000 points for the "Bees" in a long career. His spectacular style of racing was seriously affected when he lost the sight of an eye in a workshop accident. Ron formed a close bond with Rick France at Coventry and they opened a garage together in Walsall. They famously missed a meeting for Coventry at Long Eaton believing the race date was Wednesday and not Tuesday. They were notoriously late arrivals for matches. When Coventry promoter Charles Ochiltree telephoned their workshop when they had not arrived at 7.30pm, he was surprised to hear Ron answer the telephone and to say they were working on their machines ready for Long Eaton the next night. I was the Long Eaton promoter at the time and I thought the CO would explode. Long Eaton won the match, which I believe was the only time in their history against Coventry.