CovSoc Committee member, Aaron Law, recently represented Coventry at an international conference in Warsaw.
The conference celebrated the post-war rebuilding of Warsaw, which like Coventry was devastated during the Second World War.
Warsaw is one of Coventry’s twin cities and the conference was also attended by representatives of other cities such as Rotterdam, Berlin and Kharkiv which were rebuilt after the war ended 80 years ago.
Aaron, a committee member of the Coventry Society, attended representing our city. As a born and bred Coventrian, Aaron was an ideal candidate, even more so considering his own family connection to the Coventry Blitz.
His grandfather, was the late Keiran Mullhall, who sadly died last year. Mr Mullhall was not only a councillor, an honorary alderman and former Lord Mayor – he was also a Blitz baby, surviving the harrowing years Coventry was the target of German bomber planes.
“It was not something I would have put my hand up for in the past but knowing it was something grandad would have loved, I thought I better do it,” Aaron said. “It was an honour representing Coventry at the conference in Warsaw discussing the 80th anniversary of their rebuilding beginning in 1945.
“The day featured talks from politicians, academics and writers with their insight on how Warsaw went about this process. As many will know, Warsaw Old Town was put back to how it was before the war – the room I stood in was less than 50 years old.”
The international conference was held in the Royal Castle in Warsaw, a building entirely destroyed during the second world war. Local politicians, experts and dignitaries were also in attendance.
Aaron added: “To get an international perspective the organisers booked people from Berlin, Rotterdam, Kharkiv and Coventry to talk about their cities approach to post war devastation. I’m so pleased we got our story told and it wasn’t just the usual London angle!
“It was quite emotional researching the talk and many thanks to Benjamin Kyneswood and Herbert Art Gallery & Museum for archival access. The Richard Sadler images brought to life what I was saying to an audience who hadn’t heard of Coventry before.
“I’m so proud Coventry wanted to do something new, bold and exciting in the face of horror. I dedicated my presentation to grandad, from blitz baby to Lord Mayor is not a bad effort!”
Further information on the event here: https://um.warszawa.pl/-/historia-wielkiej-determinacji-konferencja-o-odbudowie-warszawy