The summer Coventry City Diamond Club lunch was held today at the Ricoh Arena and as usual the event was well attended by around 180 members and guests.
The Chairman of the Diamond Club committee, Alan Ludford announced that today’s special guests were the Lord Mayor of Coventry John Blundell and the Lady Mayoress Lindsay Blundell. The other guest was the ITV and Sky Sports broadcaster Gary Newbon.
Alan said that the Diamond Club’s life presidents John and Jean Sillett sent their best wishes to the members and they hoped to be able to attend a lunch later in the year.
The Chairman also asked that members who have yet to return their GDPR (Data Protection) permissions to him as soon as possible otherwise they would no longer receive notifications about the Diamond Club.
As 2018 marks the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Diamond Club a special presentation was made to the President and Lady President, Joe Grace Elliott in recognition of their commitment, dedication and hard work in helping the committee and in organising guest speakers. Grace received a bouquet of flowers and Joe, an engraved rock crystal award.
Joe spoke to the Lord Mayor John Blundell. The Lord Mayor said it had been a fantastic fortnight for the city of Coventry, starting with the Radio 2 Big Weekend that was broadcast from the War Memorial Park. Then Coventry City FC winning the League 2 Play-Off final against Exeter City and gaining promotion to League 1, the first promotion for the club in 51 years. Then there was the hastily arranged Civic reception and open top bus parade through the city for the team. The fortnight ended with the Rolling Stones performing live at The Ricoh on the Saturday evening followed by the Motofest on the Sunday, in which the Lord Mayor was driven through the city in a rare Ferrari Californian.
The Lord Mayor also congratulated Coventry Rugby Club on their promotion and sent his condolences to the club and family of club legend Harry Walker who died recently aged 103. Harry was the oldest surviving England Rugby Union international, having won nine caps in an international career interrupted by the Second World War.
The Lord Mayor said he was determined to be back in his seat after half time at Wembley because he did not want to miss a second of the game. As the ball was passed to Jordan Willis, the Bishop of Coventry walked past him, blocking his view of City’s opening goal.
He said he was very impressed by attitude, manners and bearing of the Coventry City’s players he met at the civic reception.
Rather wistfully, the Lord Mayor said it would be wonderful if Coventry City managed to win promotion back to the Premier League during the city’s time as City of Culture in 2021.
Speaking of other matters pertaining to the city of Coventry, the Lord Mayor said that 2018 marks the 100th anniversary of the Diocese of Coventry and the consecration of the old St Michael’s church (sadly destroyed in conflict in November 1940) as the city’s cathedral. 2018 also mark the 100th anniversary of the founding of the world’s first independent air force, the RAF and as Coventry has a significant aviation history, including supplying the RAF with aeroplanes, it is also the birthplace of the inventor of the jet engine Sir Frank Whittle. He has hopes that the RAF will bring a Bae Hawk trainer to Coventry and display it in the city centre.
The Lord Mayor thanked the Diamond Club for inviting him and the Lady Mayoress to the lunch saying it been a pleasure to attend.
Joe then spoke to Gary Newbon who proceeded to regale the members with tales of his long career in broadcasting and journalism. Gary mentioned the plight of several West Midlands football clubs who are owned by Chinese investors and who find themselves on the wrong side of a Chinese ban on sending money out of the China, leaving many clubs in dire financial difficulties. Only two clubs are not affected by the issue, Coventry City and Walsall.
Gary had the members in fits of laughter with his stories about the likes of Jimmy Greaves, who is in very poor health, Brian Clough and Alex Ferguson, to name but three. Gary proved to be a fair impersonator of Greavsie and Cloughie, but he didn’t quite get Sit Alex quite right.
Gary recounted the story of when he went to interview Cloughie at Nottingham Forest, but Gary had lost his voice and had difficulty in speaking. Brian Clough asked Gary what was wrong, to which he replied, “I have lost my voice.” Cloughie replied, “That should please the population of the Midlands”.
Gary revealed the falling out he had with Sir Alex Ferguson after he asked him an awkward question and in subsequent interviews Gary would always let Sir Alex what questions he would be asking. Gary mentioned that Sir Alex phoned him shortly before a big game to ask after Gary’s wife, who was seriously ill at the time and to offer any support he could. Gary said the call could wait until after the game, but Ferguson was not having any of it.
The afternoon drew to a close with the usual raffle and bingo and a one off special auction of two items of club memorabilia, a signed football, which made £50 and a small collection of 1987 FA Cup winning memorabilia, including a 1987 Coventry City shirt, a CD and 20th anniversary Cup Final commemorative program which raised £110.
The next Diamond Club lunch will be on Thursday 20th September and if members wish to receive notifications they are once again reminded to return their GDPR permission as soon as possible.
Pictures courtesy and copyright of Pete Chambers BEM