Upcoming Events

April 2024

Thursday 11/04

19:30 – 21:30
CovSoc AGM

Monday 15/04

19:00 – 21:00
Coventry Society Committee Meeting
Recurs monthly

May 2024

Thursday 09/05

19:30 – 21:30
CovSoc Meeting
Recurs monthly

Monday 20/05

19:00 – 21:00
Coventry Society Committee Meeting
Recurs monthly

June 2024

Friday 14/06

All Day
CovSoc Visit to Pershore

Saturday 15/06

All Day
Civic Day

Monday 17/06

19:00 – 21:00
Coventry Society Committee Meeting
Recurs monthly

July 2024

Monday 15/07

19:00 – 21:00
Coventry Society Committee Meeting
Recurs monthly

Thursday 18/07

14:00 – 16:00
CovSoc Visit to Maxstoke Castle tbc

August 2024

Thursday 08/08

14:00 – 16:00
CovSoc Visit to Sherbourne Valley Project

Monday 19/08

19:00 – 21:00
Coventry Society Committee Meeting
Recurs monthly

September 2024

Wednesday 18/09

19:30 – 21:30
CovSoc Meeting

Monday 23/09

19:00 – 21:00
Coventry Society Committee Meeting

October 2024

Wednesday 09/10

19:30 – 21:30
CovSoc Meeting
Recurs monthly

Monday 14/10

19:00 – 21:00
Coventry Society Committee Meeting

Saturday 19/10

All Day
Heritage Conference

November 2024

Wednesday 06/11Friday 08/11

Feister gathering

Wednesday 13/11

19:30 – 21:30
CovSoc Meeting
Recurs monthly

Monday 18/11

19:00 – 21:00
Coventry Society Committee Meeting
Recurs monthly

December 2024

Wednesday 11/12

19:30 – 21:30
CovSoc Meeting
Recurs monthly

Monday 16/12

19:00 – 21:00
Coventry Society Committee Meeting
Recurs monthly

January 2025

Wednesday 08/01

19:30 – 21:30
CovSoc Meeting
Recurs monthly

Monday 20/01

19:00 – 21:00
Coventry Society Committee Meeting
Recurs monthly

February 2025

Wednesday 12/02

19:30 – 21:30
CovSoc Meeting
Recurs monthly

Monday 17/02

19:00 – 21:00
Coventry Society Committee Meeting
Recurs monthly

March 2025

Wednesday 12/03

19:30 – 21:30
CovSoc Meeting
Recurs monthly

Monday 17/03

19:00 – 21:00
Coventry Society Committee Meeting
Recurs monthly

Coventry University Logo

Coventry University Logo

The Coventry University logo is perhaps the most prolific piece of public artwork in the City. It can be seen on every Coventry University Building in various forms, some carved out of stone or some cut out of metal.

Coventry University can trace its roots back to 1843 when the city set up the Coventry College of Design (later changed to Coventry College of Art). It was set up because Coventry did not have the artists to design silk ribbons and most designs came from France. The City saw the advantage of home grown trained artists. The design for the Coventry University logo is a homage to the silk ribbon industry and the Phoenix is a well recognised symbol of Coventry rising out of the ashes of destruction.

Coventry University Coat of Arms

Coventry University Coat of Arms with the Phoenix in the centre – a bird rising out of the flames.

The first inspiration for the logo was a David Bethel piece of calligraphy created in the 1950’s. David Bethel (1923-2006) was an art lecturer who had moved from Stafford College of Art to be the Deputy Principal at Coventry College of Art (1956-65). Later he became the Principal (1965-69).

David Bethel calligraphy

David Bethel lino cut

A David Bethel lino-cut at St. Mary’s Church, Colston Bassett.

The Coventry University logo design was executed in 1995 by the Graphic Design Company called ‘Negus and Negus’, a husband and wife company run by Dick Negus (1927-2011). He had become prominent during the 1960′ and 70’s following the Festival of Britain of 1951, which he called the most significant design influence on his life. He did work for some of the best known institutions in Britain including the Royal Opera House, the National Theatre, and British Overseas Airways.

Dick Negus

Dick Negus

BOAC poster designed by Negus and Sharland

The standing and reputation of ‘Negus & Negus’ was at its highest in the 1980s when design as a whole seemed finally to have “arrived”, particularly after it was publicly endorsed by Mrs Thatcher. Negus was among those invited to attend a seminar on the subject at 10 Downing Street. Almost as famous as Saatchi and Saatchi, who designed the Conservative election campaign, Negus and Negus designed the SDP campaign.

 SDP Logo

Dick Negus was a member of the Court at the Royal College of Art. Among other committees, he served for 25 years on the Post Office’s Stamps Advisory Committee. His client list broadened during this period to include a number of national organisations such as English Heritage, Royal Armouries, the Tower of London, National Maritime Museum, the National Theatre, the Science Museum and British Airways.

Coventry University Logo

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