CovSoc former Vice Chair, Terry Kenny, reminds us of the pageant that accompanied the consecration of Coventry Cathedral. Terry writes….
In 1962 Coventry Cathedral was consecrated amid great pageantry. To celebrate the event a diocesan wide festival was held. I remember a ‘Son et Lumiere’ performance at Kenilworth Castle. It seemed to me a magical experience. At dusk the audience assembled in stands erected on the wide expanse of green facing the dark bulk of the castle. It was the first time I had visited the building and in the fading light I did not realise, until I visited it again in daylight, how much of a ruin it was.
The story of the castle’s 1000 year history unfolded in episodes indicated by lights filling the windows of the different sections, from the original keep to the Leicester Building. Jack Warner [he of ‘Dixon of Dock Green’ fame] was the narrator of these events, acting as a guard who had kept watch throughout the castle’s long history. Sounds and voices illustrated each dramatic episode.
Another production I was able to see took place in the courtyard of the Lord Leycester Hospital in Warwick. Watchers of ‘Shakespeare and Hathaway’ will be familiar with the setting as it is used as the detectives H.Q. Local actors performed ‘The Lady’s Not for Burning’. A three person play by Christopher Fry, they used the outside courtyard, staircase and balcony to excellent effect.
Of course the main events were centred in Coventry. I remember the Royal Ballet at the Coventry Theatre (one of their pieces was ‘Scheherazade), but the focus of the celebrations was the Coventry Pageant, a series of 12 episodes depicting Coventry’s history and mythology over 1000 years. The arena was situated in the War Memorial Park in the dip on the south side of the park to the left of the present visitors’ centre.
The audience were accommodated in stands surrounding the circular acting area. The first episode was about the Viking raids on the Coventry Convent (I was a Viking!) and ended in the modern age culminating in a display by the ladies of the League of Health and Beauty [whatever happened to them?]. Succeeding episodes depicted Coventry’s mediaeval history, Tudor period and finally its industrial development. Episodes from various Shakespeare plays were depicted. I took part in that also. The Shakespeare section was directed by Phil Harris a well-known local director/producer at the time. She later went on to form the Rainbow Players. The Pageant Master was Leonard Turner who was the Principal of Coventry Technical College. He masterminded the whole thing.
The real dramatic moment occurred outside the pageant offering, before the Pageant Procession on the Saturday afternoon prior to a performance in the park. The lady cast to play the role of the Festival Lady Godiva and lead the procession was an actress. Just before she mounted the horse to begin, she collapsed and was not able to carry on. It transpired that she was expecting and I believe, unfortunately and sadly, that she lost the baby. It was imperative that someone took her place and at the last minute the lady playing Queen Elizabeth l in the Kenilworth episode agreed to do it (she could ride a horse). Donning body stocking and wig, she led the procession. Her name was MonicaTimmins and she was a teacher and at one time taught at Keresley Newlands High School. The school has long been demolished and replaced by housing. I think she is still with us because I am sure she was on an episode of Pointless a while back. In the Lady Godiva/Earl Leofric episode, the role of Lady Godiva was taken on by one of her ladies in waiting, an unexpected promotion.
I am sure there must be many others in Coventry who remember this event and the Society would love to have your reminiscences of this time in the history of the city.
Terry Kenny