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In this issue:
The build up is starting and we are very excited about this year's Heritage Open Days in Coventry. Over the past few years we have recorded 30,000 unique visits across the four days and we are aiming at building on the success of these previous years to make the event even bigger and better.
Now in its 23rd year, Heritage Open Days is the largest and longest running grass roots festival of its type, bringing people together from all over England.
This year's event will take place from Thursday 7 September to Sunday 10 September with venues participating from all over Coventry, including Baginton and Stoneleigh.
 Ford's Hospital courtyard
Heritage Open Days was established in 1994 as England's contribution to the European Heritage Days.
In the UK there are five Open Day schemes altogether.
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England - Heritage Open Days (7/8/9/10 September)
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London - Open House London (16/17 September)
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Scotland - Doors Open Days (every weekend in September)
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Wales - Open Doors (every weekend in September)
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Northern Ireland - European Heritage Open Days (9/10 September)
The National Heritage Open Days is supported and hosted by The National Trust with co-funding from the People's Postcode Lottery.
www.heritageopendays.org.uk
Local level
The event in Coventry is co-ordinated locally by Coventry City Council with the help of a committee made up of representatives from Coventry Cathedral, Culture Coventry, St Mary's Guildhall and Charterhouse Trust, as well as local historians, historical writers and Blue Badge guides, all with experience and knowledge in this area.
 Coventry was proud and honoured to have a visit from Annie Reilly, the new manager of the National Heritage Open Days team in London on 15 March. Annie has only been in her new post for 8 weeks and as the new manager she is keen to get out and about and visit some of the cities around England who take part in the event. Annie originally worked at the Nuffield Theatre in Southampton where she was in the education department managing a wide-range of touring productions, workshops and engagement projects. Subsequently she moved into coordinating the theatre's wider programme of work eventually becoming the Nuffield's producer. Annie was treated to a morning tour around some of the city centre venues by Roger Bailey, Blue Badge guide, followed by a tour of Charterhouse by Jon Plumley, expert Charterhouse guide, in the afternoon.
She had a great time and responded later with an e-mail to us saying it was a pleasure and privilege to learn about Coventry and see some of its many treasures.
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 Annie Reilly with Blue Badge guide, Roger Bailey and Karen Aspin, Heritage Open Days Event Coordinator at Coventry City Council, in the courtyard at St Mary's Guildhall.
 Jon Plumley showing Annie the treasures of the Charterhouse.
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