SKY Blues legend Jimmy Hill’s ashes will be scattered in a new memorial garden named after him outside the Ricoh Arena at a special service held by the Dean of Coventry on April 30, before the last home game.
The details were revealed today (Tuesday, April 5) by former Coventry City life president and chairman Joe Elliott, who also helped arrange February’s star-studded thanksgiving to Jimmy at Coventry Cathedral where the news about the ashes was first announced.
Mr Elliott also revealed a carved stone depicting the man who created the modern Sky Blues – as its charismatic and high-profile manager and later chairman – would form the centrepiece of the new memorial garden, located next to the old one which is now full.
The new memorial garden will allow Coventry City fans to be remembered with plaques, memorials or the scattering of ashes, should their loved ones wish.
The service to be held at 1pm on April 30 by the Very Reverend John Witcombe, Dean of Coventry, will also feature a brass band and all are welcome to show their respects to Jimmy, who died aged 87 in December.
Mr Elliott said it was an opportunity to see Jimmy’s “final journey”.
He told the Observer: “We’re delighted that at the celebration at the cathedral, Bryony Hill (Jimmy’s wife) brought some of Jimmy Hill’s ashes.
“Some are in Sussex where he had his home. But she bought some very kindly for Coventry and Coventry City fans. Jimmy Hill loved Coventry, his heart was in Coventry where he was a wonderful manager and a wonderful national figure.
“It so happens that the memorial garden people volunteered to help put together 10 years ago is full. We needed a new one.
“The new one will be called the Jimmy Hill Garden. Lots of people are doing wonderful things to help for nothing.”
He said they included Steel Construction Ltd and owner Keiran Byrne, who did the metal seats around the Jimmy Hill statue, and was now providing the metal fencing for the new garden; Arley-based Planet Granite would produce the new stone centrepiece; with the shrubbery from CCFC fans and businessman Tony Wright.
