After a year of rigorous campaigning the Naiad is to be returned to public display. This famous piece of public art by internationally recognized artist George Wagstaffe had been hidden away from public view for nearly a decade. Eventually the city were forced to pay for the repair caused by its poor storage and theft attempts and store it in the Council house rather that the old gate house at Lady Herbert’s Garden.
Although I, like many Coventry people, will be happy to see her back it raises the question about the poor guardianship of our public art. There are many missing artworks in this city and our city council must also answer for their condition and whereabouts.
Naiad will initially be displayed in the new Friarsgate foyer until a more appropriate setting is provided. Of course, it’s original location in the Earl Street Courtyard after this location has been restored would be ideal but this Grade 2 listed location is now owned by Coventry University and they have proved to be more interested in what they can take from this city than preserving our post war heritage.
Vincent Hammersley
Upper Eastern Green Lane
Coventry
It’s good news this weekend as the Business Secretary has announced new regulations legally requiring the UK’s biggest firms to justify the pay gap between bosses and their workers.
These regulations will build on Britain’s global reputation as a good place to do business, improving transparency and boosting accountability at the highest levels.
For the first time ever, listed companies with more than 250 employees will legally be required to annually publish and justify pay difference between chief executives and their staff.
The directors of all large companies will also have to set out how they are acting in the interests of employees and shareholders.
This forms part of our modern Industrial Strategy, which is helping ensure the UK remains a world-leading place to invest and do business.
Councillor Tim Mayer
Westwood Ward.
Coventry City Council
Did you know that over a third people (34%) in the West Midlands are most scared of spiders? This July, the British Heart Foundation (BHF) is challenging the nation to face their fears and raise money for life saving research into heart and circulatory disease.
Every year, heart and circulatory diseases including heart attack, stroke and vascular dementia kill around 13,800 in the West Midlands.
Today, more than 650,000 people in the region are living with these serious illnesses. We urgently need to find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat these terrible conditions.
That’s why I’m calling on everyone in the West Midlands to join me this July in signing up to the British Heart Foundation’s (BHF) Face a Fear campaign to help fund our fearless researchers. There will be a pint of blood, sweat and fears when I conquer my phobia of needles by donating blood. Knowing I’m helping people in more ways than one is what I will think about to get me through.
So whether its spiders or snakes that leave you squirming, or dizzying heights that have you frozen with fear, it’s time to look fear in the eye and say ‘No more’. It won’t be easy, but every courageous pound you raise by facing your fears is crucial in funding the cutting-edge breakthroughs we need to end the devastation caused by heart disease.
Your heart will race and your legs will wobble, but at the end of it, you’ll feel on top of the world. You’ll overcome something. You’ll conquer an enemy. So join me this July – put your courage to the ultimate test and get sponsored to beat heartbreak forever.
Sign up today at bhf.org.uk/faceafear
Adrian Adams
Head of Face a Fear at the British Heart Foundation
British Heart Foundation
