Roads

Leighfield Road

Named after: Sir John Leighfield

Date of naming: 2011

About:J ohn Leighfield, Pro Vice-Chancellor, CBE

In recognition of the contribution of former Pro-Chancellor, John Leighfield CBE, a road on campus has been named after him. 'Leighfield Road' is now the official name for the road opposite the new Bluebell halls of residence on the south/east side of campus, off Gibbet Hill Road. 

Lord Bhattacharyya Way

Named after: Professor Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya

Date of naming: November 2018

About: Kumar Bhattacharyya (6 June 1940 – 1 March 2019)

Coventry City Council asked if University Road, from the Scarman roundabout to the Lord Bhattacharyya Building is renamed Lord Bhattacharyya Way. 

WMG was founded by Professor Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya in 1980 to help reinvigorate UK manufacturing. From its inception, WMG’s mission has been to improve the competitiveness of organisations through the application of value adding innovation, new technologies and skills deployment - bringing academic rigour to industrial and organisational practice. The Group has grown into an international role model for how universities and business can successfully work together, with Professor Lord Bhattacharyya continuing to lead as Chairman of WMG until his death on 1 March 2019.

Scarman Road

Named after: Sir Robert Scarman

Date of naming:

About:Robert Scarman.

Scarman Road (according to Google) is named after Sir Robert Scarman, a prominent British judge and lawyer, who was a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary (a member of the House of Lords). Robert Scarman: was a prominent figure in the legal world, known for his work as a judge and his contributions to law. He served as a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary (a member of the House of Lords) from 1978 to 1987.

The road is named in recognition of his contributions to the legal profession and his service to the country. 

Sir William Lyons Road

Named after: Sir William Lyons

Date of naming:

About: William Lyons (4 September 1901 – 8 February 1985) 

Sir William Lyons Road in Coventry is named after Sir William Lyons, the co-founder of Jaguar, who passed away in 1985. He was a prominent figure in the British automotive industry, known for co-founding the Swallow Sidecar Company, which later became Jaguar. In 1928, Lyons moved the company (and his family) from Blackpool toCoventry. His family home was Woodside, Gibbet Hill, on the fringe of the city.   

He was knighted in 1956 for his contributions to British industry and the outstanding export performance of Jaguar.  Lyons retired in 1972, but remained involved with the company, frequently visiting the Jaguar factory. He passed away in 1985.  The road honours his significant role in the development of the Jaguar brand and his contributions to the city's automotive heritage,