The Hummingbird is an important metaphor for human endeavour. This beautiful tiny bird hovering represents the fragility and transience of life, but the fragile shell belies an inner strength and tenacity.
The Hummingbird is seen in myth as a messenger and a stopper of time, Godiva too acts as a messenger taking the Book of Intent to London, carrying our hopes and beliefs. The Hummingbird has the ability to fly backwards and teaches us that our past informs the future. Godiva also reminds us that our history is at the heart of what is to come. Hummingbirds are tireless, working hard to find the sweetest nectar; they remind us to do our best each day to find the beauty in life and in others. Some Hummingbirds are known to fly as far as 2000 miles to reach their destination, so we are reminded to be persistent in the pursuit of our dreams, we can all make a positive impact in the world if we want to.

The origins of cycle production in Coventry lie in the manufacture of sewing machines at the Coventry Machinists Company established in 1861 by James Starley. The company produced several successful models of sewing machine, and in 1868, Starley and his company were persuaded to manufacture the French-designed bone-shaker bicycles. Starley developed the design which led to the "Penny farthing" and more practical tricycle designs. It was his nephew John Kemp Starley who was responsible for inventing the first modern bicycle, the "Starley Safety Bicycle". Produced by Rover in 1885, it was the first bicycle to include modern features such as a chain-driven rear wheel with equal-sized wheels on the front and rear.
By the 1890s the cycle trade was booming and Coventry had developed the largest bicycle industry in the world. The industry employed nearly 40,000 workers in the 248 cycle manufacturers that were based in Coventry. The peak year was 1896, but in 1906 for the Rudge Whitworth Company alone made 75,000 of the 300,000 plus cycles manufactured in the city that year. It is fitting that Godiva, coming from the home of the bicycle, will be transported to London by 100 cyclists, on bicycles made in Coventry.

Lacemaking first appeared in the Midlands in the 1500s; by the end of the 18th century lacemaking across the country was an extensive cottage industry. Towcester, Wellingborough and Northampton became centres of lace making. Lacemakers worked from home, they supported their lace and bobbins on pillows (hence "pillow lace") and Lace Schools taught the craft, with children as young as 3 ‘taking up their pillow’. The introduction of "Maltese lace" to the Midlands increased the popularity of lace making and the Great Exhibition of 1851 also instigated a revival. The number of lacemakers remained high until the 1870s, the Franco-Prussian war cut off the supply of French lace and English lace was at a premium. The decline in lacemaking in the 1880s was due to changing fashions and machine-made lace. The Education Act of 1876 dealt the final blow with children unable to make lace. As Godiva’s story has remained alive in the hearts of the people of the Midlands so has the making of Lace, with the Stourbridge based Lace Guild and its members.

In the 19th century the Black Country was the centre of iron chain making. The chains were of many dimensions depending on the use. One of the specialities of the area was anchor cables for ships, and the anchors were often made at the same works. For hundreds of years nails had been made in the Black Country. It was the main industry until the mid-1800s. Nail making by hand went into decline after the introduction of machine made nails in 1830 and many nail makers adapted their smiths and forges, and made chain. At the end of the 19th century 90% of all the chain workshops in England and Wales were in the five chain making towns of Cradley, Cradley Heath, Old Hill, Quarry Bank and Netherton. The largest and most famous ships' anchors and cable Chain Company in the Black Country started in Cradley. In the early 1800s Noah Hingley & Sons set up a forge and small chain factory and it grew in size until the firm ceased trading in 1986. The firm manufactured the anchors and anchor cables of the Titanic. The joke at the time was the anchor was the only part of the ship that worked. The decline of handmade chain started in 1903, when electrically welded chain started to be made, the chain trade continued until the 1970s. Like chain, Godiva links the West Midlands together, as different as the areas of the Midlands are, they are each joined by a common industrial history, a history of creativity, ingenuity and back breaking work, a history of immense pride in the working people who made the West Midlands great.