Christmas / New Year Memories

Is the Hearsall star up yet or has that been cancelled?

Ok, I'll bite - what is the Hearsall star?

Hello, It's a former Baptist chapel at the junction of Hearsal Common, which for decades had a huge illuminated star on its tower.

I think it is (or was) on the tower of the Baptist Church at the Hearsall Common end of Queensland Avenue. Every year, there was an illuminated star, quite a big one, made of a few 5' or 6' fluorescent lamps. I cannot remember if the star had 5 or 6 vertices. Age erodes the memory, you will understand. I'm not a regular visitor to Coventry nowadays. I daresay, bearing in mind that fluorescent lamps are now old hat, LED technology may be used. But it's quite likely that the star is no longer erected around the winter solstice season, because of elf 'n safety concerns; or that planning permission has been refused by the council (remember, planning permission is usually needed before you can put up illuminated signs for businesses); or that it cannot go up because it has some symbolic religious significance and might cause offence to some people, leading to a visit by our partial police force, and possible arrest, as recent events show. For several years, we used to put on an old time music hall show, in the building, on 25th December, in the arvo, for people who would otherswise be on their own, probably sitting at home alone in misery. It was great fun (the concert, not sitting in misery). They had a piano, an old upright one that wasn't badly out of tune, and our entertainment group (four of us) and the audience enjoyed it. Got them and us out of the house on an otherwise boring day, it did.

Flying visit back home this Friday to catch up with a dear friend so I'll be doing a detour past the Common to see if said star is up Gonna be some heap big trouble if it ain't. EDIT DELIGHTED TO SEE IT'S BEEN ERECTED.

I'm reliably informed the Star is back up - not my pic btw and this was a couple of years ago but for those that don't recall it -

Ah, yes, a 5-vertex star. Now I remember.

It's very rare I travel anywhere near Hearsal Common these days, except when travelling by taxi to and from Walsgrave Hospital or the train station, though I understand the same as Neil, the star is up. I'm not a Facebook (or Instagram user), but I'm told if you visit the visit the ECHO Community Newspaper website, or check the Marpe Assembly Facebook page, there are updates there.

Loved the wax wrapped sliced products that were wrapped in festive wrap produced by the Cooperative bakery in the 50/60s.