Giant puppet of Lady Godiva 'awakes' for London 2012

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A huge puppet version of Lady Godiva is to begin its journey from Coventry to London as part of the cultural celebrations for the Olympics.

The 20ft (6m) high figure will "awake" from a chamber in University Square in a celebration featuring more than 2,000 performers on Saturday night.

The puppet is being carried to London on a purpose build 50-seater bike.

Funded by the Arts Council, the Godiva Awakes project will represent the West Midlands region at the 2012 Games.

Another 11 arts projects are representing Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England's other regions.

Lady Godiva famously rode naked on horseback through Coventry in protest against high taxes, but the puppet will be clothed.

Its coat has been designed by artists from across the region, led by fashion designer Zandra Rhodes.

The puppet is activated by four performers with Lady Godiva's head and eye movements being radio controlled.

'Spectacular' event

A team of 100 cyclists will power the bike, called the Cyclopedia, in shifts on the week-long journey to London.

They were chosen through a public ballot and from cycling clubs across the region.

The puppet will visit Rugby, Northampton, Milton Keynes, Luton, Hatfield and Waltham Abbey, arriving at Waltham Forest on 5 August.

Jane Hytch, director of Imagineer Productions, which has created the puppet, said the awakening event would be "spectacular."

She said: "We hope as many people as possible will be able to see Godiva and help send her on her way as she travels to London."

"A lot of work has gone in to this project and a lot of performers, artists, funders, supporters, creators, designers, crafters and helpers have enabled us to get to this stage."

All of the free tickets for the awakening have been taken, but the event will also be broadcast live on the big screen in Broadgate in Coventry city centre.

Lady Godiva will also appear at the city's carnival on Sunday.

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the event will also be broadcast live on the big screen in Broadgate in Coventry city centre

"Broadgate"? Surely they mean Millenium Place?

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Hundreds of people turned out to see the 6m-high puppet of Lady Godiva journey around Coventry, before being pedalled to London.

The puppet left Coventry Cathedral and made her way to Broadgate where she was dressed in her embroidered coat.

The coat was created by a team of textile and glass artists from across the West Midlands.

The Godiva Awakes event is part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad.

On Monday, the Lady Godiva puppet will begin her journey to London to celebrate the 2012 Games, powered by a team of cyclists.

The project represents the arts from the West Midlands region at the 2012 Games.

Another 11 arts projects are representing Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England's other regions.

According to legend, Godiva rode naked on horseback through Coventry in protest against high taxes, but this puppet was clothed.

Zandra Rhodes worked with students at Coventry University to design her gown and her coat was made by a team of textile and glass artists from across the West Midlands.

The puppet is activated by four performers with Lady Godiva's head and eye movements being radio-controlled.

A team of 100 cyclists will power the bike, called the Cyclopedia, in shifts on the week-long journey to London.

It begins on Monday, when Godiva will travel to Rugby, Warwickshire.

She will then go to Northampton, Milton Keynes, Luton, Hatfield and Waltham Abbey, arriving at Waltham Forest on 5 August.

[dutchman]

[dutchman]

[dutchman]

Godiva completes journey to London



A six-metre-high puppet has finished a seven-day journey from Coventry to London as part of the 2012 Cultural Olympiad.

Lady Godiva, powered by a team of 100 cyclists, was met with a carnival procession in Walthamstow.

Waltham Forest Council Leader Chris Robbins received a Book of Intent, containing the hopes of young people from the West Midlands.

The Godiva puppet took two-and-a-half years to make.

Godiva travelled 125 miles through Northampton, Milton Keynes, Luton, Hatfield and Waltham Abbey on the way to the capital.

'Real buzz'

She was propelled by 25 cyclists at a time who were seated on full-sized tricycles which are joined together in a structure called the Cyclopedia.

Cyclopedia rider Keith Hirons, 65, a wheelchair user from Coventry, had a special hand-crank added to the tricycle so he could take part.

He said there was an "electric atmosphere" and a "real buzz of excitement" after finishing the journey.

Mr Hirons added: "It goes to show you're never too old to be involved in sport."

Fellow rider Beverley Samways, 33, from London, has lived in Coventry for 10 years. She said: "It's been quite challenging. We got drenched in torrential rain but everyone was cheering each other on. The whole team got involved, not just the cyclists."

Godiva's journey to London, also part of the London 2012 Festival, represents the arts from the West Midlands region at the Olympic Games.

Lady Godiva will be housed in a "secret location" in Coventry before being "awakened" again to take part in London's South Bank Festival in September.

After September, the Godiva puppet will be in a hotel in Coventry before a "special house" is built where she will be on permanent display, say organisers.

The Cyclopedia machine which carried Godiva will be on display at Coventry Transport Museum from 6 August.