Our Sunday School (Lift up our Hearts)

Hi Mayjan We try to do everything right but at the end of the day life is so fragile. Pam & I talk about possible eventualities. To think that I was trying to get a church organ serviced ready for my friend Mick's funeral tomorrow, only to discover that Paul (the organ expert) who I was trying to get hold of had died in February, leaving a young family. That is why I honestly believe that whilst we have our health & strength, that we do what we want to do, whilst we can, & make the most of it. When I was railroving last week, whilst changing buses in Bedworth, I kept my eyes peeled in case Trish was about although I was relying on her seeing me. Best wishes to you.

Hi all. For Pam & I, today has been dominated by the funeral of our friend Mick. His widow has seen the posts on here, as have members & friends of her family. Her task now is to pick up the pieces of her life & with the support of her family & close friends I am sure that she will do just that. She knows that she is not alone in those circumstances & I have shared with her, those who I know on our site here who are either in the same position as she is now, or are as she was for years as she gave all the support during the illness that eventually took Mick from her. In these difficult times, we are so often overwhelmed by our feelings of our own hopelessness or even inadequacy, but that in turn sometimes becomes a strength as we are able to give support just by the fact that we know just what Mick's widow is going through right now. I honestly believe that our Coventry History Forum performes a valuable link along these lines, whereby members in similar circumstances can share past events, which in isolation might be painful, just as we may avoid certain places because of bad or sad memories. The first time that I had a meal in the Elms restaurant, fifteen years of my childhood memories of orthopaedic surgery accompanied every mouthful as it used to be the Paybody hospital. Fortunately, after a couple of visits any bad feelings that I may have had, have disappeared. I do hope that what I have posted here helps all or any of you who have areas of looking back in time that are no-go areas for you. You going back there might be so valuable for someone else on here, almost as though you are walking with them at your side. Whilst we are alive, no one is redundant. We have all of our Coventry related history to share here. Best wishes.

What lovely words Phillip. I hope Mick had a good send off and that his widow can gather her strength from those who surround her. I lost my dad when I was 20, he was only 47, leaving my mum a widow at 44. She has become a very strong and independent lady - I recently showed her some of the posts and photos on here and she shared some wonderful memories of her and my dad's courtship and early years living in Coventry. The Locarno was featured in much of it! Leanne xx

Hi Leanne Hi all It sounds as though you have been part of your Mum's tower or pillar of strength, Leanne. I am so pleased that you showed her items from our site too. IT', is not everyones cup of tea, but I tell you something, I have benefited so much, being part of our site here, both from the fun of the history as well as a learning curve for IT' & the inter-net. Best wishes to you & thank you.

Hello all, Once again, our History Site bears sad news (link) of a loss of a life. My Pam received news this morning about another work colleague of her's, who has died after a short battle with cancer. So, it goes on & on. If ever we needed reminding of how short life is, these sad events are all around for us to see. I could try & offer comfort by telling you, what I believe, however feeble that might be, but what use is that when you might believe something else that is completely different & the person next to you, believes something totally different again. We can comfort one another though, with a bit of understanding as to where they are. Society likes to pretend that we are all the same. Remember the tele' advert from years ago, where babies were travelling down a conveyor belt on a production line. I don't know where I would have fitted in with them, do you? What is the price of showing kindness? Is it expensive? Some people have arrived in our world with a poor start, which is hardly their fault, whether 'third world' or 'third Coventry'. My only real regret in life is that I have not shown the sort kindness that I would have liked to have shown, whilst the people were still alive.

Knowing you, Sir Philip, and the struggles you have had to cope with through your life, I doubt that your comment above holds any water at all

Hi all, Today, it was my honour to play for the funeral service for Mavis Inglis. She was born in Stockton on Tees, but had lived in Coventry since the age of four. After some time in the employment of Alfred Herbert, she entered nursing where she became a ward sister, serving at the Keresley Hospital. In 1954, she became a district midwife & served as that, travelling around in her little Austin until her retirement. I will always remember her as that 'still small voice of calm', no matter what ever the uproar!

Hello all I have today received a lovely email message from a relative of Mavis's. This is one of the lovely aspects of our historic forum, where rather than a history book that sits on a shelf, our forum is alive & vibrant. I am very humbled at this point in time.

Hi all So often, it is Christmas time & family anniversary times where the loss of someone close, is so hard, like the empty seat at the dinner table. The family of my friend Mick, are having to face this for the first time now. It is hard enough for me, leave alone his loving family. We have members on here who have become very close to me & who I know once again have to be content with their memories. I was going to post a lasting image pic that I have of Mick, but that can wait for another day. This is going to be hard enough for them. I hope that all of us on here can spare a thought for all of our members & friends who we know will have to cope, as for the time being, we have to cope & carry on. Best wishes to you all from the team & I am sure, the members.

Sorry to hear of your recent sadness Philip. I guess you are doing a lot of reminiscing right now. Dear friends will tell you that life must go on, a very easy thing to say but very hard to do. All the best to you.

Hi all. Another very sad day today, where two funerals have started from the small cul-de-sac that I live in. A former Coventry Councillor & a much, much younger lady. The first time that I have seen a horse drawn hearse in our very small cul-de-sac. If ever there was ever a time or a reminder for us to value our friends & friendships. I do not need much more of a reminder.

What a sad day for you and Pam. You are right we should value our friends and friendship. All my friends are special to me but sometimes I need a reminder to keep touch with them. Comments like the one above, give me the kick up the backside I need. Thank you.

Hi Tricia, I so often feel like that. We can't change history or put the world to right. Visiting friends yesterday morning (on the bus of course) I was asked if I was doing anything special in the coming days. My reply was that every day is special now for me, as was visiting them, as I had not done that before. I am going a bit philosophical, (laugh), but at present, I can transport myself with my thoughts into most eras of my life. Reading your posts, along with Mayjan's, most of your early days were adventures, new discoveries & experiences, just like mine. Then we settled into adult life. Now we have time to reflect & ponder. The thing is Tricia, we are not done-for yet, as we now pass on those experiences to our children, grandchildren & some are gifted to pass it on professionally in our schools & colleges. That is also one of the delights of our forum as we are doing that here. I have to tell myself that our forum is not a book, sitting on a shelf. It's alive with our members, hundreds of them, all with their experiences.

Hello Philip, I thought I would write and thank you for bringing Mavis Inglis to my attention - when I noticed your post a few weeks ago I found the lady who delivered me into this world. For me this was very special, because I was eventually adopted and didn't discover the full details of my life until 40years later when I traced my birth family. My birth mother was Mary Alice Jordan, she was being treated for TB during her pregnancy with me and immediately after my birth I was removed from her for treatment and then went straight to Bramcote Hospital where I was until I was 18months old and then adopted. Mavis is on my birth certificate but I didn't know she was a midwife, I thought she might have been a friend of my mothers. I was born at (Alcock) Keresley Hospital and the address on my birth certificate for Mavis then was 72 Ransom Road Coventry. Whether it was a coincidence or part of my life story, my adopted parents lodged in Ransom Road a few doors away, so maybe Mavis was instrumental in more than my birth. I was told from the earliest point that my patents had died, I have no idea why I didn't believe the story even at the age of 3/4 when I was told I was adopted. I proved myself right after 37 years of searching in one way or another and even now learning about who Mavis Inglis was and her part in my entry into this world is very special. Please pass on my warmest wishes to her family, I would be very interested to hear more about her she sounds like a lovely lady. I have an old photo of a lady called Mavis which I inherited from my adopted parents, I wondered if it is her. Anne Wilkinson (my current name)

Hi Tythebarn9 & welcome to our Coventry History Forum, You & I share a few things in common. I was born at Keresley hospital, (where my mother died during labour) & I was adopted, by an Uncle & Aunt. Regards Mavis Inglis, I can confirm that she lived with her mother in Ransom Rd, well into the sixties. She was also a ward sister at Keresley hospital. I know very little about her family, many of whom live in Ireland & I only met some of them whilst I was playing for her funeral. ps. If you read my previous post on here under 'Rambling, where next', you will see that I was wandering around Solihull yesterday.