A Coventry children’s author has partnered with two iconic venues to help bring the city’s history to life to young audiences.
Aaron Ashmore, author of, amongst others, The Time Travelling Coventry Taxi – which he co-wrote with son Oscar – and Lady Godiva’s Birthday Suit has joined forces with No Ordinary Hospitality Management (NOHM) to help young audiences celebrate and learn about the city.
A selection of his books, which also includes Meet the Coventry Kids and A 2 Tone Tale, will be available for young visitors to enjoy at St Mary’s Guildhall in the heart of the Cathedral Quarter and Coombe Abbey Hotel on the Warwickshire border.
The partnership was established during National Storytelling Week, with Coombe Abbey looking back on ten centuries of history from its founding by Cistercian monks in 1150 to its fate in the dissolution of the monasteries in the 1530s.
St Mary’s Guildhall, which alongside Coombe Abbey Hotel is managed by NOHM, has its own storied past. Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned at the Guildhall in 1569, while in 1847 Frederick Douglass spoke on stage in the Great Hall looking to advocate for the end of slavery.
Aaron said: “There is so much history to be discovered across Coventry and really exciting that our books will be in place for people to enjoy at two incredible venues to build on what they learn at St Mary’s Guildhall and add to their experience at Coombe Abbey.
“It would be great to see lots of young visitors and their families finding a moment to leaf through one the books and hopefully learn something about their city and the incredible people who have shaped its identity.”
Gemma Morgan, of NOHM, said: “We are thrilled to support Aaron and add another level of storytelling magic to Coombe Abbey and St Mary’s Guildhall.
“The books are a fantastic addition for our young visitors who can read them on-site, and we hope this link will lead to other collaborations with Aaron in the future, particularly with such an appetite for history-inspired fun across all ages.”
For more information about Aaron’s books visit etchandpin.co.uk or follow Coombe Abbey Hotel on Instagram to join them for National Storytelling Week. @coombeabbeyhotel
