Wednesday, November 15, 2017

Photos from the Umbrella Club Archives

Called into the History Centre in Coventry recently while down in Coventry and these photos are posted with kind permission of the History Centre. Mostly from the late 50's or early 60's. If anyone can throw any light on these early photos, please comment.


Ron Morris Pottery 1960

Have received an email from Megan Walden (Roberts) regarding the above photo and the one below - 
 "The lady in the red dress who was a friend of mine at the time. Name, Valerie Jones, art teacher, talented artist and fabric designer. Would love to know where she is these days. Loved my days doing all sorts on the committee."

I think this is leading light Terry Watson - no idea who the lady is.

This is Jean Gough with Mr and Mrs Sutherland. It looks like Little Park street premises.

The Umbrella Club at Little Park Street 1950's-
Enroute to the Police Station.

In the 60's,the Umbrella apparently help Miss Umbrella heats - this is just one of the photos held in the Umbrella archives in the Coventry History Centre.

A young looking Terence Watson

In this photo - Geoffrey Sutherland,Arthur King, Norman Reader and poet John Hewitt.

Occasion of the Julian Orchestra at Little Park Street.

Harry Secombe at the opening of the Umbrella 1955
"Long Live the Umbrella"

A H Marshall - early President of the Umbrella 1957


Josie Heath - Club Member

Don Lindon - one of those instrumental in creating the Umbrella Club in 1955 and Chairman of Jazz.


2 comments:

  1. I WAS COVENTRY BORN IN JULY1938. I WAS PRIVILEDGED TO BE AWARDED A SCOLARSHIP TO BABLAKE SCHOOL AND TRAINED AS AN AERONAUTICAL ENGINEER BY A.W.A. AND HAVE CONTINUED THIS PROFESSION SINCE 1959. MY 'PROFESSON' HAS TAKEN ME WORLDWIDE AND TODAY I RESIDE IN RURAL FRANCE. I WAS A LONGTIME MEMBER OF THE UMBRELLA AND CAN STILL RECALL OUR REDECORATION OF THE OLD PUB AT97 LITTLE PARK STREET. IT'S DEMOLITION WAS A TRAVESTY. OPENING NIGHT WAS PERFORMED BY THE GOONS (THEN APPEARING AT THE HIPPODROME LED BY HARRY SEACOMBE IN FULL EVENING DRESS WHO FINISHED HIS SPEACH WITH 'TO THE UMBRELLA CLUB!, LONG MAY IT RAIN! AND, YOU WONDERFUL PEOPLE HAVE SATISFIED THAT REQUEST.
    THANK YOU.
    IN JULY I WILL BE EIGHT-YSIX Y.O. SO JOURNEYS TO MY BIRTHPLACE ARE ARDUASS AND RECENT POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS HAVE ARISEN WHICH MAKE CROSSING THE CHANNEL SOMEWHAT DODGEY TO SAY THE LEAST.
    THE WHOLE OF ALL OF MY GROWING UP TOOK PLACE AT 'THE UMBRELLA' AND I RETAIN WONDEFUL MEMORIES OF ALL OF THESE LONG GONE PEOPLE.

    PLEASE CONTACT ME ON 'JIM @ NEMA. LTD.UK. I'D LOVE TO FILL IN SOME OF YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT THOSE WONDERFUL TIMES.

    JIM RUNNALLS - AERONAUTICAL ENGINEER RETD. IN CENTRAL FRANCE

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Jim, Trev Teasdel here - admin of this site. I was involved later from 1969 when I was 18 by which time the Umbrella was at 18, Queen Victoria Road. I no longer live in Coventry but a small group continued to meet at people's houses until recently. I am really interested in the early days of the Umbrella and will think about possible questions and email. Thank you for responded. I like Harry's quip ie Long may it Rain - very witty!

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