TonyS Coventry All posts by this member | 1 of 9 Fri 3rd Feb 2012 6:17pm Member: Joined Jan 2011 Total posts:1549 How many people knew that Coventry had its very own gladiator?
His name was John Parkes, an incredibly successful fighter - he was born in Coventry in 1681, and died in 1733 at the age of 52!
His tombstone lies clearly visible by the footpath in the grounds of Coventry Cathedral and his epitaph reads:-
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John Parkes, Coventry's own Gladiator! | |
Ian Silvera London All posts by this member | 2 of 9 Tue 30th Jul 2013 11:59pm Member: Joined Jul 2013 Total posts:4 Dear All
This is my first post on the forums, but I have enjoyed reading the information on here for a while now.
I recently came across a post about John Parkes, the gladiator of Coventry, and noticed a link to a short BBC article about the man here.
However, I was left unfulfilled by the story and I've carried out my own research.
I uncovered a number of things about the Coventrian I hope you will find interesting.
You can find my story here.
If there's anyone on the forums who thinks I've missed a trick or knows more about Parkes, don't be shy and get in touch. Ian Silvera |
John Parkes, Coventry's own Gladiator! | |
dutchman Spon End All posts by this member | 3 of 9 Wed 31st Jul 2013 12:36am Member: Joined Mar 2010 Total posts:2976 Ian, are you by any chance related to the late Carmen Silvera, she being a Coventry lady? |
John Parkes, Coventry's own Gladiator! | |
Ian Silvera London All posts by this member | 4 of 9 Wed 31st Jul 2013 8:18am Member: Joined Jul 2013 Total posts:4 Yes, Dutchman, I am indeed related to the late Carmen Silvera - she was my great aunt. Ian Silvera |
John Parkes, Coventry's own Gladiator! | |
TonyS Coventry All posts by this member Thread starter | 5 of 9 Wed 31st Jul 2013 8:47am Member: Joined Jan 2011 Total posts:1549 Some direct descendants of Sir Henry Parkes (& John) who live in NSW, Australia are good friends of mine. If there happen to be any pieces of your jig-saw missing I can ask them. I know they also were interested in John's past and I pointed out his grave to them the last time they visited Coventry, about two years ago. The obligatory photo-session followed!
I also arranged for them to meet with our then Lord Mayor; Councillor Keiran Mulhall - to whom they presented a specially minted 1996 Sterling Silver Australian Silver Dollar coin, and amongst the items received in return were cuff-links bearing the Coventry crest. |
John Parkes, Coventry's own Gladiator! | |
Ian Silvera London All posts by this member | 6 of 9 Wed 31st Jul 2013 9:16pm Member: Joined Jul 2013 Total posts:4 Well, there isn't an awful lot I can find - other than advertisements detailing the duels. So if they had any oral history about John or maybe some documents, that would be fantastic. Ian Silvera |
John Parkes, Coventry's own Gladiator! | |
woodford coventry All posts by this member | 7 of 9 Wed 31st Jul 2013 9:36pm Member: Joined Feb 2013 Total posts:156 I have always been fascinated by the grave - before the days of t'internet I used to be puzzled that his profession and the century he lived in didn't match up. Your research has explained this!
Your aunt was a great actor ![]() |
John Parkes, Coventry's own Gladiator! | |
Ian Silvera London All posts by this member | 8 of 9 Wed 31st Jul 2013 11:50pm Member: Joined Jul 2013 Total posts:4 Many thanks for the kind words, Woodford. Unfortunately not - I'm a journalist, but we're not all bad! Ian Silvera |
John Parkes, Coventry's own Gladiator! | |
Midland Red Cherwell All posts by this member | 9 of 9 Tue 6th Aug 2013 8:16am Moderator: Joined Jan 2010 Total posts:5604 On 31st Jul 2013 8:18am, Ian Silvera said:
I am indeed related to the late Carmen Silvera - she was my great aunt.
I have fond memories of her father Roland (Roly) as a top flat-green bowler ![]() ![]() |
John Parkes, Coventry's own Gladiator! |