Amy Rugg When you are 90 feet in the air, it focusses your mind. One week after returning from Dresden, I found myself on the edge of the roof of Coventry Cathedral, where I was abseiling to raise money for a local charity. The abseil coach rolled his eyes as I began shaking uncontrollably. His response… Continue reading Trusting the Air: A Poet’s Dresden Sojourn: Part 1
Author: Michael Hammond
Trusting the Air: A Poet’s Dresden Sojourn: Part 2
Amy Rugg In part 1 Amy describes first impressions of Dresden, the Frauenkirche, meeting artists and working in school. In part 2 she tells us about working with students in a high school, leading a workshop at Veranderbar, a community radio invite, and an unexpected evening meal. Volkshochschule After a brief respite, Annika returned from… Continue reading Trusting the Air: A Poet’s Dresden Sojourn: Part 2
The Spirit of Dunkerque
Inhabiting Modernity: Model Cities of Post-War Reconstruction in Europe Sabine Coady Schäbitz Inhabiting Modernity was the title of a very successful symposium which I attended in September this year in Dunkerque in France. The symposium marked the culmination of an exhibition with the same name which was running from April to September 2025. Both the… Continue reading The Spirit of Dunkerque
At the Priory Undercroft: Photographs from Dresden
Christine and Gunter Starke are renowned photographers from our partner city of Dresden where they have been documenting people and places for over 45 years. They are visiting Coventry this month and in advance they sent over sets of photographs which are now on show in the LTB’s St Mary Priory Undercroft near the cathedral. Christine and Gunter’s particular concern has been… Continue reading At the Priory Undercroft: Photographs from Dresden
Documenting the past
CAIF, the Coventry Association for International Friendship, and CDE, the Coventry-Dresden Exchange, are bringing Günter Starke and his partner, Christine, to Coventry from our twin city of Dresden in October this year. Now more than 80 years old, Günter is a legend in photographic circles in Saxony, having survived as a documentary photographer during the… Continue reading Documenting the past
Remembrance and what it means today
Student UNESCO Ambassadors from Lyng Hall were invited by CAIF – to the Cities of Remembrance symposium in Ypres and Dunkirk which took place from 20-27 May. The Memory Cities network, officially created in Dunkirk in 2016, aims to bring together several cities around the world that have been heavily affected by the conflicts of… Continue reading Remembrance and what it means today
Responsibility
This is one of eight reflections from student UNESCO Ambassadors at Lyng Hall who were invited to the Cities of Remembrance symposium in Ypres and Dunkirk which took place from 20-27 May. An earlier blog describes the background in more detail and points to seven other reflections from the visit. This reflection covers the theme of responsibility and Emmanuel… Continue reading Responsibility
Remembering
This is one of eight reflections from student UNESCO Ambassadors at Lyng Hall who were invited to the Cities of Remembrance symposium in Ypres and Dunkirk which took place from 20-27 May. An earlier blog describes the background in more detail and points to seven other reflections from the visit. This reflection covers the theme of remembering and Daniel writes: Remembering… Continue reading Remembering
Identity
This is one of eight reflections from student UNESCO Ambassadors at Lyng Hall who were invited to the Cities of Remembrance symposium in Ypres and Dunkirk which took place from 20-27 May. An earlier blog describes the background in more detail and points to seven other reflections from the visit. This reflection covers the theme of… Continue reading Identity
Friendship
This is one of eight reflections from student UNESCO Ambassadors at Lyng Hall who were invited to the Cities of Remembrance symposium in Ypres and Dunkirk which took place from 20-27 May. An earlier blog describes the background in more detail and points to seven other reflections from the visit. This reflection covers the theme of friendship and Deborah… Continue reading Friendship
Acceptance
This is one of eight reflections from student UNESCO Ambassadors at Lyng Hall who were invited to the Cities of Remembrance symposium in Ypres and Dunkirk which took place from 20-27 May. An earlier blog describes the background in more detail and points to seven other reflections from the visit. This reflection covers the theme of acceptance and Alex writes: Acceptance… Continue reading Acceptance
Belonging
This is one of eight reflections from student UNESCO Ambassadors at Lyng Hall who were invited to the Cities of Remembrance symposium in Ypres and Dunkirk which took place from 20-27 May. An earlier blog describes the background in more detail and points to seven other reflections from the visit. This reflection covers the theme of belonging and Alicja writes: Belonging… Continue reading Belonging
Heritage
This is one of eight reflections from student UNESCO Ambassadors at Lyng Hall who were invited to the Cities of Remembrance symposium in Ypres and Dunkirk which took place from 20-27 May. An earlier blog describes the background in more detail and points to seven other reflections from the visit. This reflection covers the theme of heritage and Daria writes: Heritage… Continue reading Heritage
Reconciliation
This is one of eight reflections from student UNESCO Ambassadors at Lyng Hall who were invited to the Cities of Remembrance symposium in Ypres and Dunkirk which took place from 20-27 May. An earlier blog describes the background in more detail and points to seven other reflections from the visit. This reflection covers the theme of reconciliation and… Continue reading Reconciliation
Kiel and Coventry (part 1)
Several members from Coventry visited Kiel in May this month. We are very pleased to talk to one of these visitors, Richard Parker, a long-standing member of CAIF, and tour guide for Coventry cathedral. The blog is divided into two parts. Part one is about twin cities and part two is about Richard's talk at… Continue reading Kiel and Coventry (part 1)
Kiel and Coventry Part 2
This is the second part of an interview with Richard Parker, a long-standing member of CAIF, and tour guide for Coventry cathedral. He recently visited Kiel and in part 1 he talked about the friendship between Kiel and Coventry. Here, Richard describes the talk he gave at the Nikolaikirche, Kiel. During your visit you gave a talk…… Continue reading Kiel and Coventry Part 2
Writing as reconciliation
Earlier we published reflections on the CAIF visit to Dresden. These included a contribution from Lisa Hagan, Head of English at Lyng Hall school. Later, we were able to catch up with Lisa to talk about some pieces she had written during her trip grouped together under the title of 'The Creative Fragments of an Anniversary'. Our… Continue reading Writing as reconciliation
Coventry Association for International Friendship 