onwine
on
Everything You Ever About Leeds... But Never
Among the hard facts of ‘How Leeds Changed the World’, a new encyclopaedia containing the myriad achievements of the city and its people, is a little bit of gossip and rumour, some myth, some legend – maybe the odd half-truth. The point being, it’s all these things that combine to make Leeds the great modern city it is today. Compiled by Mick McCann and written in an irreverent and humorous style, the book is really (a very long!) love letter to the city, that will melt even the steeliest of Loiner hearts. Here, Mick picks out a few of the people and achievements that appealed most to him …
Middleton born William Gascoigne (1612–1644) was one of the founding fathers of British research astronomy, inventing the micrometer, telescopic sextant, and the telescopic sight. He greatly improved the newly invented telescope and his inventions made him the first person to accurately calculate the size of planets and the distances between them. He died relatively young in the Battle of Marston Moor, leaving ‘a whole barn full of instruments’ that he’d developed, the secrets of which died with him. Jimmy Savile - what a guy. Culturally a man of world importance, he pretty much created the role of DJ when he was the first person to use two turntables and a mic for chatter and the continuous play of music at the Grand Records Ball, Guardbridge Hotel, in 1947. Also, the first known person in the world to play records to dance to, which he did in Leeds at the Belle Vue branch of the Loyal Order of Ancient Shepherds in 1943. Top Of The Pops, which Jimmy opened and closed (piloted by Leeds’ own Barney Colehan) was based on Jimmy’s radio Luxembourg show. Away from music and presenting he was a fine athlete, running way over 200 marathons, an honorary Commando Green Beret (as only one of two civilians to ever complete their speed march) as well as a professional cyclist and wrestler. Isabella Ford (1855–1924) was a nationally renowned campaigner for labour rights and women’s suffrage and made the first ever
40
speech by a woman at what became the Labour Party conference. She helped form many unions and political organisations in Leeds and as a young lass taught in what is reputed to be the first ever night school, set up by her parents for local mill girls. John Berkenhout (1726–1791) produced the first lexicon/dictionary of plants in the English language. He started work on Clavis Anglica linguae botanicae: or, ‘A Bbotanical Lexicon’ in 1760. Lads’ Mag. Not only was the actual first ever Lads’ Mag, conceived, written, printed and launched in Leeds but Leeds’ own James Brown conceived and first edited Loaded, London’s version of the first ever Lads’ Mag a few years later. Leeds’ EX Magazine was produced in September 1991, distributed nationally, featuring the staple of football, beer, sex, semi naked women and men’s’ ‘issues’ dealt with in a playful, tongue in cheek manner. Also, the Chick Lit genre is credited as starting with Bridget Jones, created by Morley’s Helen Fielding. Aviation pioneer Robert Blackburn built Britain’s first working planes in 1908/09. In July 1914 he started Britain’s first scheduled passenger flights, going every ½ hour between Roundhay Park and Bradford – later operating passenger flights to London and Amsterdam from Soldiers’ Field. His wife, Jessica, was one of the first female aviators, competed in races against men and was also a friend (and, I’d argue, inspiration) to an 11/12 yr-old Amy Johnson.