Coventry Trip

In June, Year 7 Opening Minds classes visited Coventry to find out more about the development of cars which they have been studying in lessons. On their guided tour they got to see the first type of bicycles produced in Coventry and learnt how these were combined with a carriage to make the very first car, a Daimler, manufactured in Coventry.

They saw how cars developed over the early 20th century, experienced the Blitz of Coventry and found out how the car industry was transformed into the aeroplane and war machine industries during World War II. The heyday of Coventry was the 1950’s and 1960’s and students really enjoyed seeing some of the classic cars from that era. The 1970’s saw the decline of the industry as it faced competition from abroad but the area is still a focus for car development and parts manufacturing.

The final part of the tour was the chance to admire the design of the two most recent land speed record cars and experience in the simulator the most recent land speed record run.

No trip to Coventry would be complete without a visit to its ruined cathedral and the chance to learn more about the loss and reconciliation associated with Coventry and, of course, the chance to climb the 180 steps up the cathedral tower to see exactly how Coventry has been rebuilt since it was destroyed in 1941. There were a few gasps climbing up the steps but the view was worth it! In the ruins, it was clear to see how much had been destroyed by the incendiary bombs in 1941 and the statues commemorating Hiroshima and Dresden gave students an understanding of the wider war and the common suffering of all of the countries involved. The Coventry Mystery players even entertained us one day so that was an unexpected but enjoyable part of Coventry’s history too.

Mrs N. Hartt