Phil Upton

1 week ago | bbc.com | Phil Upton

Woman's donor plea after having life-saving plasmaMichelle said it took about 150 donors to save her life a couple of years agoA woman who received blood plasma after being diagnosed with a rare condition called thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) has said she would not be here today without donors. Michelle, from Coventry, who asked not to share her surname, spoke out after the NHS said blood stocks were running low.

1 month ago | bbc.com | Phil Upton

Florist wins first funeral flowers gold at ChelseaNicola HillNicola Hill helped create the first display of funeral flowers at the Chelsea Flower ShowA florist who helped create the first display of funeral flowers at RHS Chelsea Flower Show has said it was an honour to win gold. Nicola Hill is part of the Farewell Flowers Directory, a UK not-for-profit organisation that promotes funeral tributes, which created a 10ft high display that included foxgloves, peonies, buttercups and white lilacs.

1 month ago | bbc.co.uk | Gavin Kermack |Phil Upton

Image caption, Scott Elliott is launching a second Coventry meeting of Andy's Man Club next monthA club to support men with mental health issues is having to expand to meet demand. Andy's Man Club, a national suicide prevention charity that was set up in 2016 and now has more than 270 groups around the country, is increasing its offering in Coventry. After launching its first weekly meeting in the city last year, it has been so successful that it is about to start running a second group.

1 month ago | bbc.co.uk | Chloe Hughes |Phil Upton

Image caption, The band previously played at the festival, when it was freeA musician has said he is disappointed at being offered only a "very small fee" and not being booked for a Coventry festival. Fareed Siddiqui, manager of Impact Steel Band, said he was approached by Coventry City Council to perform on two days at the Godiva Festival, but after sending over the band's rates and receiving a smaller offer, the band was dropped completely. "The fee that they were offering was paltry," he said.

2 months ago | bbc.co.uk | Charlotte Benton |Phil Upton

Image caption, Ashley Davis runs the Morning Sunshine cafe in KenilworthA coffee shop owner has said he has been forced to reduce his employees' hours, due to ongoing disruption caused by the closure of a major A road. The A46 in Kenilworth has been shut for more than two weeks to allow the installation of a 14,500-tonne box structure as part of HS2 works.