Smithsonian Networks

Photograph Quiz:

                              

Photo no. 102:- Is this interesting Blog, or is this interesting? Read on my boy…..

Dear Blog,

          OK Let’s see if you can help me with this little problem. Yesterday’s question was for yesterday, today’s question is for today …… How do I contact an important person??? For six or seven years I have had no luck in contacting this important person … e-mails, letters by the old fashioned method of employing a sticky stamp, the odd pigeon or two, bush telegraph, even phone calls to his office. I assume all his personal jobsworths are blocking access; so it’s over to you Blog. HELP me man, help me ………………

Some background. As part of my researches into the History of Coventry Godiva Harriers and other Athletic Clubs in the City, I have told you that I like to follow a little side track or two, up the junction without a paddle. Well. One ‘aside’ was to delve into the history of the club badge of  Lady Godiva, the weavers who used to make the different variations and their involvement within the club; and the use of the symbol elsewhere. I discovered that a variant of the club badge design which was the one used on the ‘club membership card’ in the 1920s, was adopted by another athletic club for its emblem. The club was in America!!! This design variant on the membership cards came about because of another internal Coventry Godiva Harrier dispute, one of many over the years since the 1879 foundation. The Lady Godiva emblem was adopted by the Carolina Godiva Track Club. It was founded in 1975 by this important person whom I wish to contact, the club was intended to cater for women runners in the Durham area of North Carolina, U.S.A.. Members of the present club have been unable to offer me much help, hence my appeal to you Blog ….

            The club was founded by the important person and was an ‘English Teacher’.

 First question Blog:- does ‘English Teacher’ mean ‘a teacher of English’ or ‘a teacher who came from England’? I have established that the person went to America on a scholarship and his name was DAVID ROYLE.

So Second question Blog:- how do I contact him? His name is David Royle and I want to ask him about the founding of the club   Why the name – Why only women – What is the connection to Godiva – and so on and so forth.

David Royle
Executive Vice President, Programming & Production Smithsonian Networks

David Royle is Smithsonian Networks’ EVP, Programming and Production. In that role, Royle oversees the commissioning, acquiring and co-producing of all programming for the Networks. Royle joined Smithsonian Networks to bring a distinctive and creative point-of-view to the Networks’ editorial direction. Since it’s launch in September 2007, the Smithsonian Channel has expanded rapidly and is now available by satellite, cable and telecom service throughout America. It has won numerous awards and critical acclaim for its original programming and in 2008 became the youngest channel ever to win an Emmy. Royle was previously EVP of Production for National Geographic Television & Film where he launched and oversaw numerous productions including Search for the Afghan Girl, SuperCroc, and the highly-rated Taboo series. He was Executive Producer of the award-winning television series, National Geographic Explorer. Under his leadership Explorer won more News and Documentary Emmy Awards than any other show on TV. 

I believe he went to America on a ‘Moorhouse Scholarship’. You can help me with this as well Blog, ‘Moorhouse Scholarship’?? The original officers of the Carolina Godiva Track Club have very little recollection of him. The suggestion for the name ‘Godiva’ was chosen by Royle as an apt name for a new women’s athletic club; was it a result of a connection to Coventry Godiva Harriers in some way? The last question being the one I wish to ask him!!!

See www.carolinagodiva.org

So comeon Blog, comeon. Get the old finger out and solve the problem. Try trudging, it helps the old grey matter swirl about abit!

                                                           Colin

P.S. I am glad you enquired about my back problem Blog. Nice of you. Waking up early this morning, I spent a careful half hour planning the moves to get vertical …. Then how to get dressed …. Then how to decend to the kitchen …. Trudging took another knock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Managed to walk up into the village to get a newspaper from the garage  ….  each step was ouch-ouch-ouch!!

P.P.S. Got to get sorted about a few more quids for Tiny Tims Children’s Centre, Blog; the reason for me writing to you in the first place, if you remember!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!