2297 entries.
Dear all Cov's,
looking forward to meeting up with you all next weekend.
Great news about the movie - i thought it had gone a bit quiet - I recall meeting up with Tom the director some 18 months ago,so fingers crossed for the funding and we could be walking down the red carpet!
Stevie Potts and Ginge Crook -i am really glad your team are favourites tommorow - all the pressure's on you - £350 mil v £65 mil.
one thing's for sure - for a change a team called City will win the FA Cup!
regards and best wishes to all ex Cov's,
Mick (jack)
Daniels
Gentlemen
Although I won't be able to get to Coventry or Pompey this year, a friend in 2 Para has organized a reunion in St Petersburg FL on May 21st (the day of the landings) to remember the fallen. Expected to attend are members of the Navy, Marines and 2 & 3 Para, all of whom helped to liberate the islands 29 years ago.
Dougie
Hello all,
My son and I,will be making our annual pilgrimage to Pompey next weekend,and will be laying a wreath on Sunday morning 22nd,non formal event.
I would like to thank Rocky for organising the wreath.
I will be raising a glass or two over the weekend,to remember "those still on patrol" and the other friends and shipmates who have passed away since.
My very best wishes to those attending Coventry,I will be thinking of you.
Take care and stay healthy
Buster
Morning Shipmates
Just to shed a bit more light on why all of a sudden there is interest in our old ship.
Wednesday this week was day one of the Cannes film festival and it was made public that there was an intention to make a cinema release action film (called Destroyer) about Coventry during the FI Conflict. This will largely be based on the Skippers book with additions from various interviews from ships company at the time.
This has been going on now for over 18 months and the script is now ready and taken to the market (Cannes) for funding, it is not certain yet as the funding is the critical path to make this happen. The Skipper and a few others have been working with the film director, Tom Shankland, in order to get a good story told about what happened.
So, clearly the local Coventry and BBC media have been quick to pick up on this and hence have been tracking down members of Coventry, I was also contacted by several of these media including the BBC One Show, in fact the Cov Telegraph run an article Thursday morning.
I will give more information at the Sat DTS next weekend in the Britannia Hotel to those of you that attend as I have personally been working closely with the Director and can add a little more info, but not on this website.
Finally, I look forward to seeing some of you next weekend where you will see our first ever Standard and our new Association ties. We have a great agenda for the weekend and should be a good reunion and service of remembrance.
Take care
Yrs Aye
Chris Howe - Chairman
I was informed the Coventry Telegraph ran an article in todays issue though I have not read it myself. Will post any detail as I find. Looking forward to seeing ex-covs in the city soon...
Yeasterday I got a call out of the blue from Coventry/Warwickshire Radio asking me if I would spend a few minutes live on air to discuss the forthcoming film "Destroyer" based on the book which I believe will be submitted for the Cannes Film Festival. I was a little bit apprehensive but family and friends who listened to it in Coventry said it came across very well. I assume they contacted me because I was born in Coventry. Unable to make reunion this year but will be there next year all being well. Regards Stan (ex LWtr).
Morning Shipmates, I trust you are all well.
Just a quick response to Joe Ersine's 'heads up' (below) re the security issues he raised at the Britannia hotel Coventry where we are basing ourselves for our reunion weekend. As I know many of us are staying there I am keen to address any fears raised over what Joe has said.
I have just spoken personally to the Britannia Hotel Snr Manager and have recieved assurances that measures are being taken to prevent this from happening again.
e.g. a full change over of all room locks (going to digital) has commenced and will be nearly complete by our visit. On top of this I have asked that all Coventry are put in these secure rooms. Also, they have an enhanced physcial security check on the door now and only guests are allowed up onto the guest floors.
The weekend Joe refers to was seen as a 'one off' but the hotel are not taking any chances and have assured me there have been no other such events since and working with local police as well.
I trust this goes some way to allay any fears you may have but it is a little late for me to be changing our plans now, hopefully we will not allow this news to detract from our weekend of reuion and remembrance.
See you next week
Yrs Aye
Chris Howe - Chairman
An article in last Friday,s Portsmouth News shows our skipper, DHD presenting the CO of the new HMS DIOMOND the cross of nails that was made out of wreckage of Coventry Cathedral and used during our church services and subsequently recovered after the war. This was Diomonds commisioning ceremony.
Regards to all,
Tommo.
Funny old world - just discovered that the comedian Miranda Hart (the clues in the name), is a certain Captain's daughter. Looking forward to catching up with shipmates/friends old and new in Cov.
All, will be thinking of you on 25th and over the reuinon weekend. Unfortunately I will not be able to attend due to working in Korea at present.
Woody
Good luck chaps for your reunion. A word of warning about the Britannia Hotel in Coventry (which I have used several times). Make sure that your bedroom dooor is actually locked when you leave it and dont just pull it behind you. Try the handle. Two of us had our rooms burgled at the SAMA (82) AGM weekend and they stole my car as well out of the car park as they stole the car keays out of the room (I got it back fully intact about a week later). Shit loads of stuuf of my wife's bag which they took - cards, house keys. They also got my satnav and blue tooth earpice for my phone. Do NOT leave anything of value in your room anyway as it is suspected that criminals have got master keys for all the rooms. There have been many thefts from the Hotel and also subsequenbtly cars from th Cox Street car park as well. Thye have a major security problem at that hotel which the CID are working with the Hotel to get them to improve it. A tip for parking charges in Cox Street. There is no longer a concession for Hotel Guests as it is now privately owned, so it will cost between £15 and £20 to park for the weekend - BUT - if you push the button on the Pay Machine on your way out and say you lost your ticket, you only have to pay one full day price of £10.
Just finished work - my thoughts have been with the Shinny Sheff today - 29 years ago. On watch in the Ops Room at the time - I will never forget that moment. Thoughts with you all especially those still on patrol.
Hi Shipmates
Just a short heads up that there will be a new HMS Coventry D118 Association - FI 1982 tie available for purchase at the forthcoming reunion weekend. They are a slightly differend and modern design from last time and look very nice indeed, all on a navy blue background.
I have only ordered 36 for now as this is self funded, but would consider getting more should the demand be there. They are for sale on the weekend (purely at cost) @ £13.00 each.
First come, first served on the weekend, there are 35 left
Hope to see many of you for a few wets and dits in a few weeks.
Yrs Aye
Chris Howe - Chairman
Chris Briant ex PO Stwd - Coventry 1980-82 - passed away on 3rd April 2011 in Hereford County Hospital after being taken ill four days before.
Chris’s Funeral will be held at Hereford Crematorium on Friday 15th April 2011 at 12pm.
Further details are on Facebook HMS Coventry D118.
Has anyone got Commodore Millers email address please, trying to get hold of him. Thanks Trev
Sorry I cannot make it this year, as you can see I find myself sat in the sand in Afghanistan, I will think of you all and I will be laying a wreath on the memorial out here on the 25th May.
Stay safe.
Trev
Will be there on the Friday and am looking forward to seeing old shipmates again, especially S+S Dept. Mac McGowan and wife will also be there.
Could everyone who's attending the weekend in May please bring all raffle prizes to my room on the Friday please, as will have to get them sorted out then over Warwick club, cheers lads.
Sorry I can't make it this year again! In fact I've never made it any year with living in Australia since 83. Anyway I will be with you all in spirit.
Next year I promise to make it. Will be great to see Pompey again for the first time since the ship left in early 82.
From memory Selwyn Hunt still owes me a few pints as well as Eli after I gave him the Routine Office keys when he was in Australia at HMAS Cerberus in 1983!
Hope all goes well in Coventry. I'm sure you will do us all proud.
Hi Paul, good to hear from you mate and thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts re attending in May.
I would like to enforce your sentiments and remind everyone that all are of course strongly encouraged to join us and take part in as little or as much of the weekend we have arranged for Coventry in May.
It is not lost on me that we all have our own private reasons for attendance (or not) at our annual gatherings and the formalities I have arranged for this year may not suit or find favour with all, but there are significant reasons for this and the purchase of our own D118 Standard is one of them. Hence the march to Church in a venue where we have been granted 'Freedom of the City' many years ago.
Rest assured I only have best interests of our fellow shipmates and the good name of our ship at heart in placing some structure around the reunion this year, in doing so I only hope you will still be joining us in whatever capacity or involvement you are comfortable with.
I trust others will treat this likewise.
Take care
Yrs Aye - Chairman