Profiles

After lots of voting, planning and secret meetings, the first names to appear in the Coventry Walk of Fame have been announced.

One of the major inventors of the Jet Engine, Sir Frank Whittle, gained the most votes in the public poll, which closed on Monday, 18 February. Almost 3,000 votes were cast through the media and via the Coventry City Council website.

The chosen ten will now have their names inscribed on bronze plaques and set into the floor of Priory Place, Coventry on Friday, 16 May at noon.

The Specials

Those attending the ceremony include Pete Waterman, members of The Specials, David Moorcroft, and Jimmy Hill.

Head of Economic Development for city centre managers CV One, Peter Walters, who chairs the organising group said: “I think that’s a terrific response and we’re celebrating some great names here."

“They are a diverse and impressive group, every one of them a worthy recipient of this honour, and the great thing about it is that each has been chosen by the people of the city. I would point out too that this is just the start."

The first ten names to appear in the Coventry Walk of Fame are:

• Sir Frank Whittle – Inventor of the Jet Engine
• Lady Godiva – Medieval Benefactor
• Mo Mowlam – Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
• Sir William Lyons – Founder of Jaguar Cars
• The Specials – 2-Tone Band
• James Starley – Father of the Cycle Industry
• Jimmy Hill – Coventry City Manager and Football Innovator
• Sir Henry Parkes – Father of the Australian Federation
• David Moorcroft – Athlete and World Record Holder
• Pete Waterman – Pop Impresario

Walk of Fame anthem

An official Walk of Fame anthem has been penned by Coventry songwriters, Steve and Heather Taylor.

The song, They Touched The Heart of the World, has been recorded by 21-year-old Debbie Hall - also from Coventry - under her professional name Chilė Rose.

Chilė Rose has recorded the anthem

The inspiring lyrics talk about the city's past and future, and is a nod to all of the people from Coventry who have made an impression on lives around the world.

Coventry Music Historian Pete Chambers, - who originally had the idea of creating a Coventry Walk of Fame - said: “I think the song really says it all perfectly. It brings home the message of just how influential this great city of ours has been in many ways. It’s cleverly constructed and beautifully sung and the fact it’s written and performed by Coventry people, makes it all the more poignant."

They Touch The Heart of the World will open and close the ceremony on Friday, 16 May 2008.

Sneak preview

The stars will be unveiled on Friday, but as BBC Coventry & Warwickshire are based in Priory Place, we are able witness the plaques being set into the floor - so, here's a sneak preview of the main central star:

The central star

Join BBC Coventry & Warwickshire's Annie Othen in Priory Place on Friday, 16 May from 10am for the unveiling of the first ten stars.

If you can't make it down in person, listen on 94.8/103.7/104FM and DAB and here on the BBC Coventry & Warwickshire website.