Pru Porretta MBE - March
For the past 40 years, Pru has embodied the heart and soul of Coventry’s modern-day Lady Godiva, working tirelessly within the community to celebrate diversity, and devoting her time and energy to helping and raising money for charitable causes within Coventry. As founder and CEO of the Godiva Trust, Pru is devoted to helping all generations of women, men and children from Coventry’s diverse cultures better relate and reinterpret our heritage celebrations with a unique identity that reinforces the City’s international role as a Centre for Peace & Reconciliation. She always seeks opportunities to enact positive social development through artistic and cultural means.
In addition to her role in the Trust and Godiva Sisters founder, Pru is a knowledgeable Heart of England tourist guide and offers her support and commitment to tourism in Coventry by providing educational workshops, storytelling of the heritage of Godiva and is involved in multicultural events, women’s events and Peace and Reconciliation Programmes throughout the City. Even through the Covid-19 pandemic Pru never stopped her inventiveness and resourcefulness, she made educational films such as ‘Covid through the eyes of a child' to better educate communities during a dark time. In addition, she also organised a rose bed planting ceremony in the Peace Garden at Memorial Park as a touching and lasting tribute to our city’s victims of COVID-19, it is now a place loved ones can visit to pay their respects.
Pru actively promotes the City of Coventry and has built bridges with communities locally, nationally, and internationally. She is a true pioneer of Peace & Reconciliation and through her work, she has made Coventry a better place. Her actions truly reflect her character, and she is a worthy recipient of this Coventry Good Citizen Award.