Coventry canal culture

In preparation for the Coventry UK City of Culture 2021, our teams put in many months of hard work to revive the blue and green spaces along the Coventry Canal. One of the first City of Culture events to go ahead on the canal was a floating market, put on by the Roving Canal Traders Association (RCTA). We went along to speak to traders, shoppers and members of the local community. Join us for a chat with just a few of them as they enjoy time by water.

Talking on the towpath

Haroon Mota

Marathon runner and community activist, Haroon, works in the Foleshill area of Coventry, helping local residents get more active on the canal: “In my youth I never used the local towpath. Now, I put my running shoes on and go. It’s flat, there’s no traffic. No need to plan a route and I can just see where the canal takes me. It’s a huge blessing on my doorstep. That mental space just to be on your own, reflect and contemplate is so valuable.” Coventry residents, Rose and Blessing, visited the market after reading about it on the Coventry City of Culture website. “I’ve been to lots of markets,” says Rose. “But never to a floating market,” interjects Blessing excitedly. Rose continues: “I’ve lived in Coventry 20 years, but I’ve never been to Canal Basin ever before. I think Covid has made people slow down and explore what’s around them. I was always so busy, always passing through. But with Coventry City of Culture, I don’t want to miss out.” Sue modestly denies being a big name in the RCTA. But she certainly runs one of the most popular stalls. Cheese Aboard had completely sold out by the time we spoke: “It’s been very good, considering the restrictions. Traders had to be resourceful and trade on the towpath where they could without events like these. It’s good to be back. And the Canal & River Trust team have done wonders with the canal. I would never have come here five years ago. I take my hat off to them.”

Rose and Blessing Sue Meads

Lesley and Rob Oliver and Lydia Panditji Ravi Bhushan

Steampunk fans, Lesley, Rob and their dog Albie, were trading for the first time in two years due to the pandemic. Lesley explains: “After a career designing toothbrushes and packaging, I took a fine art degree. Now we tour the whole canal system, selling my illustrated canal maps and paintings of waterway wildlife.” Rob adds: ”It’s been a good weekend. Dressing up adds to the atmosphere and intrigues people. I write software and books about our misadventures, so between those and the art, we make a good living.” Oliver is from just up the road in Nuneaton and grew up roaming the canals nearby, but his partner of six years, Lydia, is from much further afield. She tells us: “I’m from the States. Columbus, Ohio, in fact. We met online but with Covid we haven’t met each other for over a year. It’s been nice to come down and find some canal gifts to bring home.” Oliver says: “I love canals, ever since I learned about their history in school. So we just came to see what it was all about.” As assistant treasurer of the local Lions Club and a respected member of his local community, Panditji now volunteers with the Canal & River Trust. His club colleague, Davinder Prasad explains the Lions are encouraging all local South Asian communities to get involved. “From childhood we are taught in our faith, in our culture to look after the environment,” says Davinder. “Today nature is not happy, because we are not respecting nature. So we are adopting five miles of the canal and all the faith groups will adopt one mile each.”