The project has been inspired by former employees reaching out to the hotel wanting to tell their story of the building, where everything from Coventry’s famous FA Cup win in 1987 through visits from royalty have been covered.
People can submit their contributions on the Telegraph Hotel’s website. Selected submissions will be featured on the interactive timeline and shared on social media platforms, helping to preserve the legacy of the newspaper whilst also allowing visitors to appreciate the building’s eventful past.
Amy Windsor, General Manager of the Telegraph Hotel, said: "We’re hoping personal stories, memories and photos of years gone by will really help bring the history of the Telegraph Hotel to life, creating a deeper connection between our guests and the history and heritage of Coventry, which we know is wonderfully rich.
“The Coventry Telegraph has played a huge role in the city’s recent past and we want to hear the stories of the people behind that. For half a century, every birth, death and marriage was marked in the Telegraph – with people all coming to reception to place the notices.”
After two years of construction and £15 million of investment, the newspaper headquarters was transformed into a four-star boutique hotel which opened in 2021, offering 88 bedrooms, large bar, conservatory restaurant, conference suite, rooftop bar, and loft style duplex rooms on two levels.
There are reminders of the building’s former use throughout the hotel – from the black and white prints of past front pages in every room, to the polished wooden counter in the lobby where clerks would process classified adverts. QR codes are also posted next to various printwork equipment to explain their use, such as the comptometer – an old counting machine – or the pneumatic tubes, which were used to transport documents between departments.
The hotel has already been contacted by Darrell Giles who worked for the Coventry Evening Telegraph for six years between 1987-93, reporting on rugby, cricket, tennis and golf. Darrell said: “I have amazing memories of working for the sports desk. We even bought shares in a race horse called Coventry Kid and celebrated long and hard when it actually won a race. The sports desk spent much of its time across the road at the Town Wall Tavern involved in a sing-along or two over a pint or three. Great days indeed.”
Now living in Brisbane, Australia, Darrell is returning to the UK for the first time in more than 30 years this December and is excited about visiting his adopted city and staying at the Telegraph Hotel.
Kate Humphries also reached out to the hotel to share memories of her late father, James Sheenan, affectionately known as Jim, Shay or Seamus, by his colleagues. He started working for the Coventry Evening Telegraph in 1964 as an electrician and, after 21 years, he received a carriage clock from Lord Iliffe – a former owner of the Telegraph – in recognition of his service. He worked for the Telegraph for 40 years until he was made redundant, with the advances in technology meaning they no longer required him to repair printing machines.
Kate said: “My memories from when I was a child of going into the Telegraph to see my dad would be the smell of the print. My dad would also smell of it when he came home from work and his hands were always black.
“I also loved going into the reception and asking if my dad was there, he would always appear with a cheeky grin on his face, like he had just been up to no good! He was a real character – a generous man with a great sense of humour. He was also a prankster and nearly everyone who worked at The Telegraph would have been at the end of one of his pranks, including the bosses!”
Both stories inspired a wider search for other employees and those with memories of the building – from journalists to canteen staff to office suppliers – to help collate their recollections of the former printworks.
Amy added: “We are regularly visited by former staff who will pop in for a coffee, and they love to share their stories. This is a wonderful opportunity to capture those.”
For more information about the Telegraph Hotel or to submit your own memories and photographs of the Coventry Telegraph, please visit telegraph-hotel.com/tales-of-the-telegraph/.
