Sign that brings back memories of Moira’s fish shop

community organisation, Grapevine. The charity helps local people with learning disabilities to become a full part of the community, and they went from a humble drop in at the Spon street site to a thriving organisation that has helped more than 3,000 people in Coventry and Warwickshire.

The group works to shift power to those who don’t have it, with CEO Clare Wightman describing the organisation as creating “dream-based provision which helps members create, grow and give to others.”

And what would Moira make of her shop site being used in this way?

Sheelagh said: “She would have absolutely adored it, she’d have pulled up a desk and chair, and would have been in there working with them.”

Moira’s legacy has also lived on through art, thanks to retired teacher and local musician Christopher Sidwell.

Christopher, who had always been fascinated with Moira’s Wet Fish shop said: “I’ve always had this curiosity about the place, the question everyone asks is who is Moira? To see a fishmonger’s shop with no fish in it, well I saw it was a mystery, I was intrigued by it.”

He decided to work with local historical organisations to make something creative to represent what went on at the shop.

This artistic effort came in the form of fish (named Sponnie) made out of recycled items and also incorporated the efforts of the local watchmakers who worked nearby.

There was also a life size painting of Moira, and a song and a poem created with local artist Mary Courtney. The exhibition took place on heritage weekend and was incredibly popular, seeing crowds of people come down to see Moira’s ‘return.’

Old and new came together, as Chris and his team ran workshops with Grapevine and the neighbouring Coventry and Warwickshire MIND. The workshops helped people make sea creatures out of recycled materials to ‘sell’ (or rather display) in Moira’s shop.

“The whole idea of the project was about returning Moira artistically to the wet fish shop.” Chris said.

Sheelagh was also there with her family, and recalls the weekend with fondness, saying it was brilliant to be able to hear the memories that people had of her sister’s shop.

We were overwhelmed with a response from readers who all had something to say about Moira’s Wet Fish shop.

Here are just some of your thoughts:

Richard Fulford said: “The shop was built before Christopher Columbus discovered America!”

Elaine Sidwell said: “I passed this every day on the way to school when I was small in 1979.”

Mary Mansfield said: “I used to go there with my Gran to pay the rent to Flo Westbury in the 1950s.”

Moira’s son Ben revealed the sign has remained the same since his dad painted it, and hasn’t been touched since the preservation order on the row of shops.

He said: “For paint on wood it’s lasted really well from the late 70s, it’s 50 years old.”

Richard Green said: “I remember when it was being renovated when I was in primary school and the workers let me have a look inside (with a hard hat). This would have been very early 90s. Growing up around Spon End and attending Spon Gate primary I always had an interest in those old buildings.” And for others it sparked off memories of the area in general.

Lesley Kirby said: “My late Grandma had a drapers shop there. I can see it in my mind’s eye, but would love to see an actual picture. There was Bates’s (cooked meats to the left, and a chemist to the right.), but sadly I don’t know the number of the street.(I was only about 8ish years old. Behind the shop there was courts housing.)

Moira’s sits on a row of listed and restored buildings one of which was called the London Laundry.

Lisa Banks got in touch to say her grandma, Mary Hurley worked in the London Laundry just a few doors down from Moira’s. Lisa said: “My mum and nan both worked at the laundry for a while, and used to buy fish from there.”

Weavers House also sits on the same row as Moira’s and is run by volunteers, who work hard to show how Coventry weavers would have lived and worked.

The area also used to have a bowling green which is now where Coventry and Warwickshire MIND sits, and previous to the shop being Moira’s, it was a pub called the Black Swan.

From the response we have had, and the stories you have told, it is clear that Moira’s legacy lives on in various forms. And what is it like for her family members now, driving past the shop sign?

Her son Joe said: “It is a little strange seeing the sign there just like it used to be, but my youngest daughter loves it, her middle name is Moira.”

If you have memories of Moira’s Wet Fish shop, get in touch with our community reporter Naomi: naomi.desouza@reachplc.com