Meets from 2pm to 4pm on the 2nd Friday of every month at Central Hall, Warwick Lane, Coventry, CV1 2HA.
Please contact the Midlands office before going to your first meeting by telephoning 0116 249 5780 or emailing . They will give you the group's contact details so that you can check the meeting is on.
2011 Programme
Friday 11 February: Correct Breathing techniques - Linda Heritage (Pulmonary Rehab)
Friday 11 March: Community Matron, Liz Colley, talking about her work
Friday 8 April: Sex and Breathlessness - Jane Scullion (consultant respiratory nurse)
Friday 13 May: How Alternative Treatments Could Help - Liam Halton (Osteopath) and Louise Whittington (Acupuncture)
Friday 10 June: Inhalers and Medications - Chris Loveridge
Friday 8 July: Psychological Aspects of Chronic Lung Disorder for Sufferers and Carers - Malcolm Benny (retired MHN and Expert Patient Programme)
Friday 12 August: Role of the Coventry Carers Centre - Pauline Dye (The Princess Trust)
Friday 9 September: West Midlands COPD Strategy Lead - Dr Colin Gelder (respiratory consultant)
Friday 14 October: Rebecca Gowers (British Lung Foundation)
Meet the Committee
Vera & Eric Graham
This enthusiastic and caring couple assist the group in a variety of ways. Lending a hand wherever it is needed, Eric and Vera also get involved with that least favorite task of helping out with the banking! Eric is one of the first people that a newcomer to the group will meet, as he and another team-member stand in the entrance hall of Central Hall to greet newcomers and to show them to our meeting room. He and Vera then help to ensure that no-one is left alone in the group; they bring a quiet warmth to everyone that they meet and chat to.
Both of them have chronic lung conditions. Eric dealing with his long-term COPD and Vera with asthma.
This has not stopped them leading a very useful, active and interesting life. Apart from working at variously: Morris Engines (25 years), Courtaulds, and Armstrong Whitworth, they have travelled all around the world.
They continue to do much voluntary work, including church activities & Vera's work for St John's Ambulance & Coventry Older People's Forum, as well as the work they do for Breathe Easy!
Janet and Ron Jones
Janet and Ron are very enthusiastic and hard working committee members who deal with Membership & Publicity for Breathe Easy Coventry.
Ron served in the army in World War 2, doing 19 parachute drops in all (not courageous .... but for the extra money he jests!). After the war he worked for 44 years at the StandardCar Company.
Despite having suffered with severe COPD for many years, Ron finds ways to continue to play an active role not only in the Breathe Easy group, but in life generally. He continues to go for walks when he is feeling well enough and has found novel ways of continuing his love of gardening. Ron is always laughing, and the group really values his sense of humour.
He met his wife Janet in the St John Ambulance Division of Standard Cars, where she also worked, as a secretary. As well as being part of Breathe Easy Coventry, Janet and Ron enjoy the local wine circle, and find time to attend and contribute to various Coventry NHS Forums.
Roy and Cynthia Goddard
Described by their fellow committe members as "stalwart & cheerful" members of Breathe Easy Coventry, Cynthia and Roy (pictured right) work hard at running the raffles, helping with the refreshments and fund raising. Roy is also Secretary of the group, and they have both been instrumental in the group's set-up and launch.
Despite Roy's health problems (COPD, Asthma & Heart Disease), the couple work tirelessly within their own family and the wider community to help others. This is reflected in their 40 year commitment to fostering children in Coventry, many of whom have suffered with a variety of disabilities. Roy is also chair of the youth club for boys of 11 and over who have learning disabilities.
Ann and Peter Crowley
Ann and Peter Crowley are responsible for organising the venue, arranging speakers and greeting members as they arrive at Breathe Easy each month. Peter, who has worked as a professional photographer, videos the speakers so that any member missing a talk can catch up via DVD.
Peter served his apprenticeship and worked at Alvis for 39 years. He is a Freeman of the City of Coventry. Following the closure of the company, he worked at Red Triangle, restoring Alvis cars.
Ann was a nurse at Gulson Hospital in her earlier years. She went on to work for Coventry Mind, first as a volunteer, and then as Co-ordinator for Anxiety Management Services city-wide.
Ann has suffered from asthma since early childhood, and, despite never smoking, has develoed quite severe bronchiectasis. Thanks to good intervention and self-help physiotherapy, Ann is able to lead a very full life between exacerbations.
The couple have been married for 42 years and have 3 children and 3 grandchildren who keep them very busy!
Doreen Cotton
Doreen supports the group in a number of ways and is always willing to lend a hand wherever it is needed. She has supported people with dementia for 9 years, and is now a valued member of the Coventry Breathe Easy team.
Doreen has suffered with chest problems for a number of years and has only recently been diagnosed with Bronchiectasis.
Doreen is married and has 2 daughters and 3 grandsons. She enjoys walking, reading and cooking.
Latest News
Committee members Janet and Ron Jones are pictured right, publicising the group at a recent Long Term Conditions meeting in Coventry.
The meeting was organised by Esther Peapall, Head of Public Patient Involvement, who was heavily involved in getting Breathe Easy Coventry up and running. 
Awareness Day
Breathe Easy Coventry held an Information and Lung Testing Day in association with NHS Coventry at the Broadgate Shopping Centre. Members of BE Coventry were on hand to talk to shoppers and passers-by about lung health, the British Lung Foundation and Breathe Easy.The group welcomed the support of Dymphna, one of their local respiratory nurses.Handheld Spirometry and CO2 testing were carried out on 
the day to highlight the effects of smoking and lung disease.
Breathe Easy Coventry launches!
On Friday 12 February 2010, Breathe Easy Coventry held their official launch. The launch was attended by Dame Helena Shovelton, Chief Executive of the British Lung Foundation, the Right Worshipful Lord Mayor of Coventry Councillor Jack Harrison, and Becky Gowers and Claire Battye from the British Lung Foundation Midlands office. Breathe Easy Coventry's committee had worked hard to publicise the launch and as a result the room was full, with over 30 people attending in total. The event was a great success and the new group is an important development for all those affected by lung conditions in Coventry. The group will meet monthly and already has an interesting and varied programme of speakers planned for the year. New members are always welcome.
Pictured, left to right, are Dame Helena Shovelton, Sheila Bates (group Chairman) and Councillor Jack Harrison.
