Now I am looking forward to Manchester Retold ......A City’s Journey Through History, which is a special evening of readings and book signings with local authors, hosted by the History Press at Central Ref.*
As the title implies this will be an opportunity to sink deep into our collective history with Graham Phythian, Joanne Williams, Michala Hulme, Sheila Brady, Michael Billington, and me.
The subjects covered by the six historians include Manchester during two world wars, the darker side of the city’s past, the history of Urmston, Flixton and Davyhulme, and the contribution of the residents of Chapel Street in Altrincham to the Great War.
And as I promised earlier I have decided to feature each of the six in turn, and so in no particular order, the first is Joanna M. Williams, whose book “Manchester's Radical Mayor” is a biography of Abel Heywood.
“Known in his day as the man who built the Town Hall, Abel Heywood was a leading Manchester publisher who entertained royalty at his home and twice became Mayor of Manchester.
Yet before he found success his life was one of poverty and hardship, marked by a prison term in his pursuit of a free press.
A campaigner for votes for all and social reform, Heywood attempted to enter Parliament twice, but his working-class origins and radical ideas proved an insurmountable obstacle.
As councillor, alderman and mayor, he worked passionately and tirelessly to build the road, railway and tram systems, develop education, improve the provision of hospitals, museums and libraries, better the living conditions of the poor, and make Manchester a great city.
Going beyond the experiences of one man, this book explores the wider political, cultural and class context of the Victorian city. It is an honest tale of rags to riches that will appeal to all who wish to discover more about the dramatic history of industrial Manchester and its people”.**
At which point I could write about Ms Williams, but instead, you can talk to her yourself on the night.
The event will take place in the Performance Space of Central Ref, and is free ...... but with only 108 places you are advised to follow the link and book soon.*
* Manchester Retold, https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/manchester-retold-a-citys-journey-through-history-tickets-51397657778?aff=ebdssbdestsearch#
** Manchester's Radical Mayor, Joanna M. Williams, the History Press, 2017, £14.99
The subjects covered by the six historians include Manchester during two world wars, the darker side of the city’s past, the history of Urmston, Flixton and Davyhulme, and the contribution of the residents of Chapel Street in Altrincham to the Great War.
And as I promised earlier I have decided to feature each of the six in turn, and so in no particular order, the first is Joanna M. Williams, whose book “Manchester's Radical Mayor” is a biography of Abel Heywood.
“Known in his day as the man who built the Town Hall, Abel Heywood was a leading Manchester publisher who entertained royalty at his home and twice became Mayor of Manchester.
A campaigner for votes for all and social reform, Heywood attempted to enter Parliament twice, but his working-class origins and radical ideas proved an insurmountable obstacle.
As councillor, alderman and mayor, he worked passionately and tirelessly to build the road, railway and tram systems, develop education, improve the provision of hospitals, museums and libraries, better the living conditions of the poor, and make Manchester a great city.
Going beyond the experiences of one man, this book explores the wider political, cultural and class context of the Victorian city. It is an honest tale of rags to riches that will appeal to all who wish to discover more about the dramatic history of industrial Manchester and its people”.**
At which point I could write about Ms Williams, but instead, you can talk to her yourself on the night.
The event will take place in the Performance Space of Central Ref, and is free ...... but with only 108 places you are advised to follow the link and book soon.*
* Manchester Retold, https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/manchester-retold-a-citys-journey-through-history-tickets-51397657778?aff=ebdssbdestsearch#
** Manchester's Radical Mayor, Joanna M. Williams, the History Press, 2017, £14.99
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