COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER SPRING 2019 WELCOME FROM WASPS INSIDE THIS ISSUE • New Friargate faces • Kare Adenegan • Boost your digital creativity • Interview: Coombe Abbey • Peace Poem • Coventry Sphinx friargatecoventry.co.uk @FriargateCov WASPS NETBALLERS UNVEILED ON FAMOUS FRIARGATE HOARDING The faces of Wasps Netball stars Jade Clark and Commonwealth Games gold medal winning teammate Natalie Haythornthwaite have been unveiled on the famous Friargate hoarding. Wasps CEO Nick Eastwood joined the hoarding ‘Why do you love Jade and fellow Wasps players Sam Coventry?’ Jade and Natalie May and Tamsin Moala to reveal the declared: “Coventry is a passionate giant smiling images prior to them sporting city; Wasps Netball is one of being fitted to the hoarding. the UK’s top performing teams.” Jade is England’s all-time appearance Daniel responds with: “No matter record-holder and has re-signed for your colour, race, ethnicity or religion, Wasps for the 2019 Vitality Netball Coventry makes you feel at home.” Superleague campaign. Stephen Reynolds of Friargate England international Natalie joined said: “Wasps has made a huge Wasps ahead of their inaugural contribution to the city of Coventry Vitality Netball Superleague since moving here in 2014, so it is campaign, winning back-to-back great to see Jade and Natalie on the league titles. Her elite play has led to hoarding alongside local celebrity, local politics.” her joining NSW Swifts in Australia for Daniel, in recognition of their Nick Eastwood, CEO of Wasps Group, next season. shared love of the city. They have said: “Since Wasps Netball was 17 year-old ‘A’ Level student, each made a contribution to the born in the city the club has gone entrepreneur and ambassador Daniel community and are all inspirational from strength to strength on and Ayodeji, who grew up in Coventry, individuals who serve as role models. off the court. Players such as Jade also unveiled his photo which has The netballers inspire others to and Natalie have inspired so many been added to the distinctive green pursue sporting ambitions, while women and girls to get involved in and white panels. Daniel encourages young people to the sport, whether it is supporting, In answer to the question on engage with education, business and playing or volunteering. It’s great that they will now welcome thousands of people into Coventry every day at Friargate, including those who will be visiting the city as part of this year’s European City of Sport activities.” Daniel added: “I’m really proud to see my face on the hoarding as I love Coventry and everyone is welcome here. One of my volunteering roles is with the city’s Positive Youth Foundation, an organisation which works hard to help young people fulfil their potential.” What do you love about Coventry? Tell us by tweeting us at @ friargatecov using #YourCov. Huge congratulations to Jade, Natalie and their fellow England team mates for picking up two awards at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year show in recognition of their Commonwealth Games success. They were crowned Team of the Year for the historic triumph and were also awarded Greatest Sporting Moment of the Year for Helen Housby’s score in the final second to give England a 52-51 victory over favourites Australia. 5 MINUTES WITH RICHARD HARRISON, MANAGING DIRECTOR AT COOMBE ABBEY Richard, you have recently been that are fitting for the surroundings appointed as the Managing Director but will allow us to drive up at Coombe Abbey Park Ltd, but revenue across the business. The you are not new to Coventry management team and I now need to and Warwickshire? find new and creative ways to do this. Certainly not! Way back in 1996 I was Why do you say it is legendary? appointed as the deputy manager Unique is an over-used word, but at the Ettington Chase in South it fits perfectly for Coombe. There Warwickshire and later became simply is nowhere like it. For starters general manager at Dunchurch it has a fascinating history. It was Park near Rugby, taking it from a originally founded as an Abbey in GEC Marconi training centre to a the 12th century. The Abbey was commercial hotel and conference surrendered to King Henry VIII during venue. I then worked for Corus Hotels the dissolution of the monasteries, in Solihull before joining Warwick and the future Queen Elizabeth I Yours is a new role, Conferences at the University of even lived here as a child. why was it created? Warwick where I rose to become the Head of Conference Centres. I had 12 Its parklands were designed by These are very exciting times for years there before deciding to move Capability Brown, and the park is Coombe Abbey and we see great to Coombe Abbey. open to the public. So many people potential not only for the hotel but I meet have fond memories of also for the wider park. The site is Why did you choose Coombe? coming here as a child to explore the owned by Coventry City Council and Coombe is not only a top-rated hotel, countryside setting, and it has a place we have developed some ambitious it has almost legendary status in the in the collective heart of Coventry plans. There is a new pub and café in region and is at a very interesting and Warwickshire. the grounds and we are progressing time in its life. It is a hotel which draws Coombe is a Grade I listed building, plans to create a Go Ape tree-top custom – both business and leisure – and we combine candlelit corridors, adventure course. We want to drive from across the country and beyond, medieval entertainment, and the hotel forward and – working in while the country park has a very 119 individually designed luxury partnership with the city council – see loyal customer base and has been a bedrooms, partnered with first class the park helping to create a greater favourite destination for local people guest service and excellent food. income stream that will ultimately for generations. The hotel, not surprisingly with the benefit local residents. The hotel has always been very history and magnificent setting, successful and runs at a very high is a leading wedding venue and occupancy, so there is a need to conference centre. develop other commercial activities BOOST YOUR DIGITAL CREATIVITY WITH COVENTRY LIBRARIES! Libraries across the city “We all know that libraries are great places to go for free computer and are encouraging adults internet access, and this is really and children to explore important, but we also want to encourage people of all ages to their digital creativity by experiment using digital outlets to offering free courses in express themselves. subjects ranging from “The sessions we’re delivering computer coding to through public libraries also allow people to learn and practice digital robotics! skills together so there’s also a James Cotton, Coventry Libraries social aspect to them. People can ICT coordinator, explained: “Digital bounce ideas off each other and Creativity is all about enabling make new friends.” people to use digital platforms to bring their ideas to life. FORTHCOMING COURSES: 4-7 year olds 9-13 year olds 4-11 year olds Code and Go storytimes Code Club Lego Labs Central Library, To book onto a session call the To book onto a session call the Smithford Way CV1 1FY relevant library: relevant library: 024 7683 2314 Allesley Park Library, Allesley Park Central Library, Smithford Way Sunday 31st March 2-3pm Neighbourhood Centre, Whitaker CV1 1FY, 024 7683 2314 Sunday 28th April 2-3pm Road CV5 9JE, 024 7678 5813 Sunday 17th March Sunday 26th May 2-3pm Mondays 4.30pm-5.30pm 1.30pm – 2.30pm Sunday 30th June 2-3pm Foleshill Library, Broad Street Stoke Library, Kingsway 8-17 year olds CV6 5BG, 024 7678 6977 CV2 4EA, 024 7678 6990 Coder Dojos Tuesdays 4.30pm – 5.30pm Saturday 2nd March 1.30pm – 2.30pm Central Library Jubilee Crescent Library, Jubilee Smithford Way CV1 1FY Crescent Community Centre, Jubilee Tile Hill Library, Jardine Crescent 024 7683 2314 Crescent CV6 3EX CV4 9PL, 024 7678 6785 Saturday 2nd March Tuesdays 4pm-5pm Saturday 9th March 1.30pm – 2.30pm 9.30am – 11.30am Tile Hill Library, Jardine Crescent Saturday 16th March CV4 9PL, 024 7678 6785 9.30am – 11.30am Tuesdays 5.30pm – 6.30pm Cheylesmore Library, Cheylesmore Community Centre, Poiters Road CV3 5JX, 024 7678 6966 Thursdays 5pm – 6pm #HUMANSOFCOV LAUNCHES WITH PAPER PEACE Did you see a giant illuminated poem near Friargate? created to celebrate Human Rights. Well that was called the Peace Poem and it spent the day Chenine Bhathena, Creative Director for Coventry City of touring Coventry to open a discussion with people on Culture Trust, said the city was perfectly placed to be at the what they perceive as human rights and where they fit centre of this important conversation. into modern society. She said: “The Declaration of Human Rights was The 14ft travelling poem was the initial event of momentous for citizens and nations around the world. It #HumansOfCov – the first campaign run by The City of gave us freedoms never imagined and opportunities which Culture Trust since the city won the title UK City of Culture previously were only for the few. 2021. It launched on December 10th – the 70th anniversary of the UN Declaration of Human Rights - and will both “Throughout its history, Coventry has always pioneered highlight the everyday heroes in Coventry’s communities activism, fighting for workers’ rights, promoting equality, and the grassroots activism of the city, as well as opening a tackling racism, making the case for arts in education, conversation about human rights and what they mean for a welcoming new communities, finding solutions for poverty modern and diverse city in the 21st Century.