Former Telegraph Theatre Critic returns to Telegraph Hotel

A former Coventry Telegraph Feature Writer and Theatre Critic has given his former offices a first-rate review after returning more than 50 years after his memorable first day.

Roly Smith joined the Coventry Evening Telegraph in Corporation Street in 1968 when the paper was read by an estimated 350,000 people a day across four separate editions.

A reunion event followed by a two-night stay at what is now the Telegraph Hotel has sparked the 80-year-old’s memories of how a chance conversation led to him reviewing plays for the newspaper featuring some of the country’s finest actors.

“I vividly remember my first day on the Coventry Evening Telegraph, my first daily newspaper,” said Roly.

“It was a Bank Holiday Monday, so things were quiet on the news front, and I got chatting to Les Chamberlain, the Deputy News Editor.

“In passing I just happened to mention that I was looking forward to going down to Stratford to see performances by the Royal Shakespeare Company. ‘Oh,’ said Les, ‘Like the theatre, do you? We’re currently looking for a Theatre Critic.’

“Next week – having only ever reviewed village amateur dramatic groups for my weekly paper before that – I found myself reviewing a first night at the RSC, which at the time employed such acting giants as Janet Suzman, Helen Mirren, Alan Richardson and Donald Sinden.

“I also regularly covered opening nights at the Belgrade Theatre across the road, and at the former 2,000-seat Coventry Theatre.”

Roly spent seven “happy and formative” years at the Telegraph working as a News Reporter, Agricultural Correspondent and Feature Writer.

Among the big news stories he covered were the 1972 and 1974 Miners’ Strikes, the three-day week and the resulting power cuts, the IRA bombings and the then-rife football hooliganism. As a football fan, he was also enlisted by the sports department to cover Coventry City reserves at Highfield Road.

The newspaper left the Corporation Street offices in July 2018. The building was then turned into a hotel, retaining many of its original features, after a £20 million investment.

It features 88 individually designed bedrooms, function rooms and meeting spaces, as well as the Forme & Chase Restaurant.

Roly, who left the newspaper after seven years to work for the Birmingham Post & Mail and later as Head of Information Services for the Peak District National Park, returned to his former workplace in September to meet up with former colleagues.

He added: “My wife Val and I stayed at the Telegraph for a couple of nights and were most impressed by the fantastic job which has been done in restoring the building so sympathetically to its newspaper origins, the city and its still-wonderful cathedral.

“I instantly recognised the glass, brassplated front doors and the green marble and fossil-filled walls in the reception and bar areas.

“The staff without exception were most considerate and helpful to us during our stay. And we all enjoyed spotting faces in the photograph of the editorial room which, perhaps appropriately, featured on the cover of the wine list in the Forme & Chase restaurant!”

The team at the Telegraph Hotel are appealing for more memories of the building during its time as the city’s newspaper. More information is available at: https://www.telegraph-hotel.com/ tales-of-the-telegraph/