Coventry Peace Month
Last Saturday (15 October) saw the start of Coventry’s annual Peace Month – a month long series of events including live music, dance, multicultural poem recitals, art exhibitions and a host of other activities. Since the end of the Second World War Coventry has contributed to the annual peace month, leading to the twinning of towns and cities in Europe such as Dresden and Belgrade.
The annual commemoration started after the end of the Second World War and the devastating attacks on the city centre in 1940 that left over a thousand civilians dead. The blitz in Coventry came as Hitler sought revenge on Britain after the RAF’s attack on the birthplace of the Nazi movement, Munich. On the evening of 14 November 1940, German bombers destroyed the city as 150,000 firebombs, followed shortly by 130 parachute bombs and 500 tons of high explosives, rained down on the city, destroying most of what was once described as 'one of the finest preserved medieval cities in Europe'.
List of Events
The annual commemoration started after the end of the Second World War and the devastating attacks on the city centre in 1940 that left over a thousand civilians dead. The blitz in Coventry came as Hitler sought revenge on Britain after the RAF’s attack on the birthplace of the Nazi movement, Munich. On the evening of 14 November 1940, German bombers destroyed the city as 150,000 firebombs, followed shortly by 130 parachute bombs and 500 tons of high explosives, rained down on the city, destroying most of what was once described as 'one of the finest preserved medieval cities in Europe'.
List of Events
- Saturday 22 October sees a Multi-Faith peace walk take place around cultural Coventry sites and ending with a meal at the Gurdwara. There is also a charity walk to raise money to buy wheelchairs.
- Sunday 23 October - Launch of new community space at the peace house with food and music from around the globe.
- Wednesday 26 October - Local musicians singing and playing traditional songs from 7:30pm until 11pm at ‘The Cottage’ in Earlsdon.
- Thursday 27 October - Stories of peace at The BBC Open Centre, Priory Place, Coventry from 14:00 to 15:30.
- Saturday 29 October – ‘Two Man Ting’ play jazz at Central Methodist Hall, Warwick Lane.
- Tuesday 1 November (runs until 27 November) The Throne of Weapons comes to ‘The Herbert’ from the British Museum on the final leg of its UK tour, organised as part of Africa 05 in association with the BBC and supported by the UK National Commission for UNESCO.
- Wednesday 2 November – Martin Bell OBE gives his annual peace lecture at St. Mary’s Guildhall from 7pm to 7:30pm.
- Thursday 3 November – a peace conference at St. Mary’s Guildhall discussing peace processes in Africa.
- Saturday 5 November – a second-hand goods and cake sale at the Central Methodist Hall.
- Wednesday 8 November – a celebration of the British Asian marriage ceremony with cultural dancing and music. Saturday matinee 2:30pm.
- Thursday 9 November – a play about conflict between a local Coventry resident and refugees living next door. From Nov 9-12 3pm at Theatre One.
- Saturday 12 November – Fairtrade Fashion Day at the BBC Open Centre from 11am to 4pm – giving local people a chance to find out about fashion and food from other cultures.
- Sunday 13 November – a service in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II. 10am at Coventry Cathedral.
- Monday 14 November – “Earth from the air” exhibition showing famous photographs by Yann Arthus-Bertrand. Council House, 14-18 November.
- Wednesday 16 November – Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra plays classical pieces from the Russian repertoire at the Warwick Arts Centre at 8pm.
For a full programme of events and prices visit