Chairman's Newsletter - July 2022

                                 July 2022
 

 

Cathedral Platinum Birthday Honours

TWO NEW OFFICERS of the Order of the British Empire appointed in the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Birthday Honours list are well known to many members for their links with Coventry Cathedral.
      His Honour Anthony Cleary, the founding editor of the Family Court Practice, was awarded the honour for services to the family justice system.   He is a familiar face as a choral clerk of the Coventry Cathedral Choir.
      The Reverend Canon Dr. Paul Oestreicher, described in the citation as Priest, Journalist and Broadcaster, received his award for services to Peace, Human Rights and Reconciliation.   Canon Oestreicher was a Cathedral residentiary canon from 1986 to 1997 when he was Director of the International Ministry.
 

 

At the start of the four day celebration of her Platinum Jubilee the Queen began a chain of lights across the world when at Windsor Castle she touched a model globe.  
The Cathedral Ruins, bathed in red, white and blue lights, was the venue for the Coventry beacon that was lit at a civic event entitled “Hope For The Future”. Across the UK more than 2,000 beacons were lit to mark the occasion.
 

 

 

     ELVIS PRESLEY DIED on the 16th August 1977.  
     Three days later the chairman of the Elvis Presley Fan Club in Coventry, Ron West, telephoned the Cathedral offices with a request.
  “I am a bus driver by trade, but I am speaking on behalf of the local Elvis Presley fans.   He died the other day.   We want to hold a service in his memory tonight, and I am asking if the Cathedral can help us.”
     The call was put through to Canon Joseph Poole, who later wrote that two thoughts flashed into his mind as he listened.   “What an honour for the Cathedral to be invited by these people to help them”; and “Of course, we must help them if we can.”
     Ron explained that the service was to be held in The Climax Inn, a Coventry city centre pub, at 9.15pm that night.   Canon Poole agreed to meet him there.
     Dressed in his distinctive grey Coventry Cathedral cassock and wearing his black coat and hat, Canon Poole arrived promptly trailing members of the Cathedral youth club behind him.   The Climax was packed.   The Chairman was behind the bar pulling pints but as soon as introductions were over he thrust forward a microphone in the direction of his visitor, banged loudly on the bar and shouted - ”Silence, please, we’re going to have a service.”
     Canon Poole spoke over the microphone of the ways in which the music of Elvis had helped many young people to conquer the hell of loneliness which weighed just as heavily with the young then as it does today.    “Elvis banished this loneliness.   Their admiration of him, and their affection for him, bound them together, millions of them all over the world, into a company of people who no longer felt alone.”
     He read from the “Last Poems” of A E Housman – “The rain, it streams on stone and hillock…”
     That was followed by Psalm 130 – “Out of the deep have I called unto thee, O Lord…”
And before the blessing a simple prayer –
     Grant, O Lord God, that the soul of they servant ELVIS who at thy bidding has left this world, may rest in thy peace and protection, and reign in thy kingdom in heaven; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  
          

Canon Poole recalled – “When I had finished speaking, there was silence still, a silence which lasted for some time.   Then a very strange thing happened.   There was a sharp outburst of clapping, as sharp as rifle fire.   Never before, in all my life, had I heard Divine Service applauded.”

 

On Mondays in July at 12.30pm there is a free recital on the magnificent Harrison & Harrison organ of Coventry Cathedral.   The full music programme booklet is available at the Cathedral and music information can also be found on the Cathedral website.
                         4^th July 2022 – Paul Griffiths  (Dubai)     
                       11th July 2022 – Stefan Donner  (Vienna)
                       25th July 2022 – Thomas Corns  (Sheffield)
        

 

  Free for Every Member
 

    On the left is a picture of the FREE Cathedral bookmark available to every member of the Friends of Coventry Cathedral with their copy of CATHEDRAL REFLECTIONS.
  The Friends have published CATHEDRAL REFLECTIONS to mark the Cathedral’s Diamond Jubilee. 
    CATHEDRAL REFLECTIONS is available from members of the Friends Council and at the Cathedral nave bookstall and at St Clare’s in St Michael’s Avenue.
  The book is full of stories and photos of Cathedral events during the last 60 years.   It is an ideal tool for you to use to encourage new members to join you in the Friends.
   For those members away from Coventry the book is also available
BY POST     Order online at [email protected] and send £5 plus postage to Friends of Coventry Cathedral, 63 Daventry Road, Coventry CV3 5DH
PAYMENT  either  by cheque  or  direct to the Friend's bank
POSTAGE (single copy)
    UK - £1.65 (2^nd class)
    Europe - £4.25
    Worldwide - £5.85 (standard international)
Friends of Coventry Cathedral bank account
HSBC, PO BOX 24, City Branch, Coventry CV1 1QJ
Sort code 40 18 17    Account number 80360244
IBAN: GB61HBUK40181780360244
Branch identifier: HBUKGB4103V

 

   
       
 

ON A BALMY Summer evening in June the Coventry Cathedral Choir gave a recital at St John the Baptist Church in Wasperton for the Warwickshire guests attending a Coventry Cathedral Garden Party hosted by David and Sandra Burbidge, whose home, Cedar House, is situated next to the church.  
     The hosts afforded the Dean the opportunity to thank and to cement relationships with some of the Cathedral’s Warwickshire supporters many of whom live in distant parts of the diocese.   Many of the guests were subscribers to “Investors In Hope”, the sponsorship scheme that has done so much to stabilise the finances of the Cathedral. 
      If you would like to add your support to the Cathedral through the “Investors In Hope” scheme, please let the Dean know and he will be pleased to send you full details.
                (Email: [email protected])
 

 

          
 

THE CATHEDRAL FLECHE and Flying Angel sculpture were lifted on to the Cathedral roof on 26^th April 1962 by the RAF Belvedere helicopter XG465.   The helicopter was piloted by Wing Commander John Dowling assisted by his co-pilot Flight Lieutenant R Salt and crewman, Flight Lieutenant J H Martin.
     That flight made headlines across the world, not only because of its dramatic contribution to the Cathedral, but also because of its military significance.   The flight heralded the introduction of Belvedere helicopters into service with the RAF Helicopter Support squadron.
     What subsequently happened to the helicopter, however, did not make international headlines on the same scale.    Sadly, on 30^th July that same year Belvedere XG465 crashed while on NATO deployment in Germany.   In the crash six young RAF aviators lost their lives.
     In these weeks we are remembering the Cathedral Consecration 60 years ago.    Elsewhere later this month two services of remembrance for the six aviators will take place.  
     On 27^th July 2022 a remembrance service arranged by the Royal Air Force Association will be held at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.   A private service of remembrance will also be held at the Memorial Garden of the RAF Helicopter Support base at Odiham in Hampshire.