New Cathedral fleche

50 years today the spire was placed on top of the new cathedral by RAF (see pathe news) any memories anybody

I took this photo in Priory Street when they were preparing for a dummy run at installing the fleche - I remember watching the actual installation from my bedroom window at home! Fleche installation (dummy run), 1962

This link is to a British Pathe short film (not sure if it's the same one to which StevieG refers) which I hadn't seen before. Excellent quality and duration. Coventry Spire by Copter (then click the "play" icon)

Terrific Photo Red It was on the news this morning BBC

Just read an article on BBC news about the 50th anniversary of the spire being put onto the 'new' Cathedral. I remember being in town that day with my aunty, just shopping as usual, when the spire was being lowered on to the Cathedral. I remember being excited by this and thinking that it looked like a big tv aerial! Has anyone else got memories of the event?

Mods note : Thanks for your post, Anne - it has been moved into this existing thread to continue discussion

The remains of the GEC factory in Whitefriars Lane backed onto our garden where it formed a raised viewing platform. From on top of that I was able to watch the helicopter fly in (from Baginton?) with the spire slung underneath as well as the entire placement operation.

Very interesting!

One of the days you remember well, I was standing, watching the spire being lowered, in Cox St. But if the police want to know, I don't have an alibi.

Ha ha

I lived in Cedars Avenue in Coundon in my youth and, because it was at the top of a hill, my back bedroom had a view of the city skyline. I watched the helicopter installing the fleche from my bedroom window through binoculars and then watched the report on the television news in the evening.

That must have been fascinating - what a memory to have!

I remember the helicopter putting that flying cross thingy on the roof. I worked at Goodwin Foster Brown in Cox St at the time, almost opposite to the City Mill PH so had a good view. Les

I am sure I can remember watching the flying cross being placed on the spire by a helicopter from where I worked at the EMEB offices in Sandy Lane but I did not start work until 1963. Am I correct in thinking that the original sculpture blew down and was replaced with a plastic one ?

Was out and about in the city centre again yesterday. I thought members may like to see this, what I assume to be the weather vane on top of the newer cathedral. If anyone needs a higher resolution image then please PM me.

Alamy photo 1 and photo 2 of the flèche (incorrectly referred to as a spire) being transported to Coventry