Coventry

4.8

Coventry is one of the oldest cities in England. It lies about 140 kilometers north-west of London and has a population of about 350,000 people. Coventry is an industrial center. At its factories many different things are made: motors, farm machines, aeroplanes, radios, television sets, and many other things. During World War II the center of the city was bombed by German planes and more than 70,000 houses were ruined. Thousands of people were killed, among them many women, children and old people.

Coventry is the twin city of Volgograd in Russia. This friendship began in the war years. This was the beginning of the Twin Towns Organization. Delegations from Coventry visited Volgograd many times. And the citizens of Volgograd came to visit Coventry.

There is a Defense Museum in Volgograd, and in it visitors can see many things sent from Coventry. One of them is a table-cloth with the names on it made in silk of many women of Coventry. They collected money in the war years to buy medicines for the heroic people of Stalingrad.

The delegation that came to Volgograd from Coventry in 1981, visited many interesting places in that city. After the Defense Museum they visited a chocolate factory, where they tried some very nice sweets. Then came visits to kindergarten and to a school where the pupils learn English. The children gave a little concert for their visitors from Coventry.

The Coventry delegation also went to see the central fire station in Volgograd, because one of the members of this delegation was a fireman in Coventry. After that they all went to the Mamayev Hill, which was the center of fighting during the heroic defense of Stalingrad. The members of the delegation laid some flowers at the foot of the monument to Victory.