What's happening in Coventry & Warwickshire

Coventry's Positive Images Multicultural Festival will run from Saturday 13 June to Saturday 4 July. This annual festival celebrating the Coventry's cultural diversity will host over 70 events across the city.
Events include a Community Information Fair, a poetry performance by Dreadlockalien, a Multicultural Book and Craft Fair and a Charity Begins at Home Exhibition.
The highlight of the festival will be a free Multicultural Concert of Music and Dance at the Ukrainian Hall on Saturday 27 June.

The number of confirmed cases of 'Swine Flu' in the UK today passed 1000. The growth rate is now exponential. Luckily the mortality rate is only c 0.5%.

[ Data from Department of Health www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publichealth/Flu/Swineflu ]

Cricket giants - South Africa - have selected Harry Shaw to carry out all their coaching for the 20:20 cricket tournament this summer. The Harry Shaw VIP coach will accompany the team as they travel around.

Harry Shaw have a wealth of experience in handling coach arrangements for all sports teams - current customers include Coventry City FC and The Coventry Blades.

Bablake Weather Station (BWS), based at Bablake School in Coventry, has been running since 1977. Led by head geography teacher, Steve Jackson, and aided by a rota of school pupils the weather station has seen many technological advances over the past three decades. Now fully automated BWS provides daily weather information for Coventry as well as historical weather data going back to 1870 and a webcam. The station is recognised as an official Met Office Climatalogical Station.   www.bablakeweather.co.uk

Railway historian Mike Hitches has produced a new book detailing the history of railways in Warwickshire. From the opening of the first railway to serve the county in 1838 the book recounts the struggles and battles between the various companies - the L&B, TVR, LNWR, GWR and NWR - for supremacy over some of the Warwickshire branches. The book includes archive photographs, period timetables, company advertisements and loco-shed allocations. The paperback, published by The History Press, costs £14.99.

Gil Robottom has produced a new book detailing the history of Coventry's cinemas. Before being ‘Coventrated’ in November 1940, Coventry was home to 22 cinemas, though others had closed earlier. At the end of the war there were still 17. By the 1980s there were only three houses left devoted to the silver screen. Published by the Mercia Cinema Society at £ 14.50, the book is available from The Herbert Art Gallery & Museum or post-free from Mercia Sales, 29 Blackbrook Court, Durham Road, Loughborough LE11 5UA.

Former Blue Peter presenter Peter Purves will be signing copies of his new autobiography at Waterstones Coventry on Saturday 14 March, 12noon - 1.30pm. Peter Purves is the legendary former Blue Peter presenter and "Here's One I Wrote Earlier...The Autobiography" is published to coincide with his 70th Birthday on 10 February 2009. This iconic presenter started life as an actor and many people will have forgotten that he was one of William Hartnell's companions in the early episodes of Doctor Who.

Police investigating an accident in Coventry have released the name of the lady who died following the incident. Pedestrian Eileen Taylor was in collision with a Ford Escort at the junction of Phoenix Way and Austin Drive at 1.25pm on Saturday 6 December. The 81-year-old, from Foleshill, was taken to hospital, where she died as a result of her injuries. A 30-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving. He has been bailed pending further inquiries. Anyone who can assist police with their investigation should contact Stoney Stanton Road police station on 0845 113 5000.

Coventry band Headtapes launch its debut single 'Love is Suicide' at the Hope and Anchor on Friday 31 October. Headtapes is a Coventry based, one man band, Gareth Wright, who writes the songs and music, plays all the instruments and creates a beautifully sad pop cacophony from his own studio. Mixing pop, shoegaze and electronica in a whirlwind two and a half minutes Love Is Suicide is the perfect introduction to Headtapes. Headtapes will play a live set followed by a night of electro tunes past and present.

Mrs Rosemary Page is researching her husband's family tree and would like help tracking down Page family connections in the area.

Her husband's grandfather was born in Foleshill, Coventry.

The photo is of Samuel Page wearing his Met Police officers uniform.